by CrownRandall | Dec 3, 2024 | Farming Report
DARKE COUNTY – On October 14, 2024 members of the Chapter brought meals to farmers in the fields this harvest season. The meal included two Winner’s cheeseburgers, a bag of chips, a candy bar, along with a note thanking the farmers for their work.
This year’s Meals on Wheels was sponsored by Axis Seeds; which is a fast-growing independent seed company. They sent a goodie bag to go along with the meals; the bag included, a small first aid kit, wet wipes, portable soap, safety glasses, a small flashlight, a keychain, plastic gloves, a multipurpose pocket knife, ear plugs, and a bottle of water.
The members who participated were Aldon Edger, Ethan Grow, Daniel Hartzell, Matalin Meyer, Casen Gower, Brooklyn Crain, Hailey Buddo, Leland Neukam, Peyton Wolfe, and Makalya Grow.
A huge thank you to Amanda Grow, Christi Hummel, Jessica Gower, Heather Manning, and Kristi Edger who drove the members to the fields. Thank you to all FFA members, community members, and Axis Seeds for your support!
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by CrownRandall | Nov 29, 2024 | Farming Report
I have had the pleasure to serve as part of the teaching team at these workshops. As we have been teaching, we have been asked a variety of farm-related tax questions, so today I would like to share a few of these with you.
In this article, OSU Extension Farm Business Management Specialist David Marrison answers multiple questions regarding taxes, particularly for dairy farmers. https://www.farmanddairy.com/columns/your-tax-questions-answered/850033.html
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by CrownRandall | Nov 29, 2024 | Farming Report
At birth, a calf’s rumen is not fully functional, and milk bypasses the rumen via the esophageal groove to be digested in the abomasum. As the calf grows, a healthy, active rumen becomes more and more essential for its long-term success. The transition from a nonfunctional to a fully functional rumen is heavily diet-dependent. Offering starter feed early on encourages rumen fermentation, which produces butyrate, a vital compound for developing the rumen’s lining and papillae. The earlier you provide access to a clean, dry starter, the sooner you can supply the rumen with all the essential compounds it needs for a smooth weaning.
Diet is a very important factor for the care of any livestock, and dairy calves in particular are very reliant on proper nutrition to develop a healthy rumen.
This article from OSU Graduate Research Associate Elizabeth Plunkett provides details on best management practices for providing starter feed to dairy calves. https://dairy.osu.edu/newsletter/buckeye-dairy-news/volume-26-issue-6/starter-success-dairy-calves
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by CrownRandall | Nov 29, 2024 | Farming Report
Although the Spotted Lanternfly does not pose a direct threat to human health, it feeds on a variety of plants, including grapes, hops, stone fruits, and hardwood trees. Its feeding weakens these plants and produces a sticky, sugary fluid that encourages the growth of sooty mold, further harming crops. While the SLF prefers the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), it can significantly impact many other species.
Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is an insect pest that has had people on high alert for some time now. While Darke County is not currently in quarantine, it is important to keep an eye out for SLF and report it if you think you see it.
This article from the OSU Buckeye Yard and Garden Team provides an update on SLF throughout the state and country. https://bygl.osu.edu/node/244
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by CrownRandall | Nov 29, 2024 | Farming Report
In dairy cattle, resumption of postpartum cyclicity is a normal process that takes place during the first 30 days in milk where cows ovulate and develop their corpus luteum. This is needed to re-establish the estrous cycle — every 21-day interval with a range of 17 to 24 days — and pregnancy after parturition. Anestrous and anovulation are often used to define cyclicity and cystic cows. However, these ovarian conditions are often triggered by different causes. Let’s define the ovarian conditions.
One important aspect of managing a dairy operation is having successful reproduction from your cows, as this both causes lactation and replenishes your herd. Multiple reproductive conditions in cattle can make it more difficult for farmers to get them bred.
In this article, OSU Associate Professor Gustavo Schuenemann writes about multiple conditions producers may encounter, and what can be done to manage them. https://www.farmanddairy.com/columns/my-cows-are-not-cycling-and-cystic-what-do-i-do/850125.html
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by CrownRandall | Nov 29, 2024 | Farming Report
By mid-November, most cow-calf operators are either feeding hay or will be starting to feed hay very soon. As a general rule, winter feed costs are the largest expense for a cow-calf operation. Hay supply was very tight coming out of 2022, but generally improved throughout the course of 2023 as production levels were higher.
As winter quickly approaches after a year of drought-induced low forage production, it is important to be aware of the current hay supply.
Dr. Kenny Burdine of the University of Kentucky shares details on the hay supply in this article. https://u.osu.edu/beef/2024/11/20/hay-supply-is-likely-up-but-winter-feed-costs-still-matter/
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