June 28, 2022
• Milk production during May was down 0.7% compared to one year earlier, according to USDA’s Milk Production report. This was the seventh consecutive month of production decline compared to a year earlier.
• Not all dairy states are in retreat mode. Texas had a 5.8% boost in production during May while South Dakota was up 15.2%. The Lone Star State is now the third largest dairy state, trailing only California and Wisconsin and recently surpassing New York and Idaho.
• Cattle and calves on feed for the U.S. slaughter market totaled 11.8 million head on June 1. The inventory was 1% above a year ago and is the highest June 1 inventory since tracking began in 1996. Placements in feedlots during May totaled 1.87 million head, 2% below 2021.
• Canada thistle is relentless.
• There’s a yield price to pay if you limit or eliminate fertilizer for bahiagrass pastures.
June 21, 2022
• Time to start scouting for potato leafhoppers.
• Harvest and maintain forage quality at its optimum level.
• This is the pasture plant we love to hate.
• The solution for fescue toxicosis is not always what we think.
• Pasturing pigs has a long history.
June 14, 2022
• Total exports of U.S. alfalfa hay totaled 231,906 metric tons (MT) during April. Year-to-date exports through April remain slightly ahead of 2021, but the past two months have been below the previous year. Total exports of grass hay were running 5% behind 2021 through April, according to USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
• China imported 110,191 MT of U.S. alfalfa during April. This was marginally below its total from a year ago, but its year-to-date total through April remains 9% ahead of 2021.
• Japan also is ahead of 2021 for importing U.S. alfalfa. Through April, it has purchased 243,840 MT compared to 208,251 MT a year ago. Saudi Arabia is well off its 2021 pace. It has only purchased 45,560 MT of U.S. alfalfa during the first four months compared to 104,637 MT last year.
• Keeping bermudagrass stem maggot in check requires multiple mitigation strategies.
• Here are some tips to speed up the hay drying process.
June 7, 2022
• Residual herbicides caused damage when this hay was sold as garden mulch.
• Hemp dogbane has few redeeming qualities.
• The Iowa Beef Center offers these alternatives for additional summer forage.
• A USDA Farm Storage Facility Loan can help with additional hay or silage storage.
• Consider these hayfield herbicide options after first cutting.
