Economics

What information do I need to keep?
I would never encourage an individual to keep records just for the sake of having records. I would recommend a person keep records on information that creates the opportunity to make sound management decisions. Naturally, this includes records of all income, expenses, capital sales and capital purchases. How can a person improve the efficiency of their operation if they do not know how much they are spending and for what items/areas the money is being spent? Also, a person cannot calculate a profit margin for a particular enterprise if they don't keep this type of information (e.g.; did I make money on this load of steers?). Other pieces of information that are useful in making future management decisions are production records. Knowing which cows have calves each year, or that a particular field typically produces 20 bushels of wheat can be extremely useful when evaluating options that will yield the most money.

For example, if a person calculates the expected costs of growing wheat to be $100/ac and the expected harvest price to be $3.50/bu, then based on historical production levels (20 bushel yield) this person will not make money ($3.50 * 20 = $70/ac).Also, knowing which cows produce larger calves each year will let you know which cows not to cull if forced to de-stock due to drought conditions. A person can get as detailed as they want to with their records, but should only record information that will be used to help make sound management decisions.

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Forage

How do I control weeds in newly established bermudagrass pasture?
For pre-emergent weed control, we can use Diuron after sprigging and before the sprigs emerge. Diuron is not labeled for seeded bermudagrass or post-emergence. Once the bermudagrass emerges, we usually like to get several leaves and/or several inches of growth before using any weed control. At this point, there are three common options. Grazing can be used if the weeds are palatable. Selective herbicide can be used for broadleaf weeds. Mowing can be used for most weeds to eliminate shading and promote spreading of the bermudagrass.

Other important factor is to ensure proper fertility. Be sure phosphorus, potassium, and pH are at proper levels or suplemented before planting. Also, wait for bermudagrass emergence before applying nitrogen (N) and do not apply more than 50 pounds per acre actual N, as excess will stimulate weed growth. Once the bermudagrass does start to grow and spread, then add more N to make the bermudagrass more competitive.

Horticulture

What slicing tomato varieties does the Noble Foundation recommend?
We've experienced good results growing the following varieties: Heat Wave, Celebrity, Mountain Spring, Amelia, Florida 91, Florida 47 and Merced. Good luck finding Merced. Merced plants are in short supply because the seed company offering this variety discontinued it several years ago. If you come across any Merced plants, be sure and purchase a few because it "was" a winner.

Livestock

What breed of cattle should I use?
The choice of which breed to use is usually governed by personal preference. But, for those coming into ranching with no preference, goals should be set as to what you would like the calves to look like and how you will market them. Do you have a color preference, i.e., black, red, smoky or spotted cattle? Do you want to make sure your calves will not have horns (Angus, Polled Hereford)? Will you be selling the calves off the cow, at the end of graze out, or will you retain ownership to the packinghouse door? If you are not interested in retaining ownership, then you may want to use a performance breed that will maximize weaning and yearling weights, such as Charolais, Limousin or Simmental. If you plan to retain ownership of the calves, then you will need to balance the growth performance with carcass traits, and you may want to select a breed known for higher marbling characteristics such as Angus or Red Angus.

In general, for a commercial cattle producer in Noble's service area, it is hard to beat a good solid black or black white-faced cow herd as the foundation of your operation. Then, you can select from a multitude of bull breeds to tailor the calf crop to your specifications. I encourage you to visit with a livestock specialist about cross breeding programs to take full advantage of hybrid vigor.

For related reading, see http://www.noble.org/Ag/Livestock/Heterosis/index.html.

Soils

How do I figure the actual cost per pound of nitrogen fertilizer?
Assuming the fertilizer value is based solely on nitrogen (N), take the dollars per ton and divide by the pounds of N in that ton.  Fertilizer analysis is given on a percent basis so 82-0-0 (anhydrous ammonia) has 1640 lbs of N per ton, 46-0-0 (urea) has 920 lbs of N per ton, 34-0-0 (ammonium nitrate) has 680 lbs N per ton, 32-0-0 (UAN liquid) has 640 lbs per ton, etc.

For example:
• $500 per ton 82-0-0 is 500 divided by 1640, which equals $0.30 per pound of actual N;
• $460 per ton 46-0-0 is 460 divided by 920, which equals $0.50 per pound of actual N;
• $440 per ton 34-0-0 is 440 divided by 680, which equals $0.64 per pound of actual N; and
• $300 per ton 32-0-0 is 300 divided by 640, which equals $0.46.

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Wildlife

What is this plant?
Many people are interested in identifying plants and rightfully so, as plant identification is one of the major keys to managing wildlife habitat or grazing livestock. Knowing which plants dominate the landscape can also tell the manager a lot about nutrient cycling, energy flow, water cycle and succession, all of which need to be functioning properly for a healthy, productive system.

There are many sources available to managers for plant identification. They range from technical plant keys to fact sheets and Web sites. Our own Plant Image Gallery www.noble.org/WebApps/PlantImageGallery/Index.aspx is a very popular online guide.

If there is a plant you plan to send to someone for identification, be sure to include as many parts of the plant as possible. The fruit, flower, leaf and stem (twig) should be sufficient for most plants. Perhaps an easier method is to take digital photographs. Many photographs can be taken of different plant parts and from different angles and emailed at little cost. Good quality photographs are a must.

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