Ag News and Views: March 1997

March, 1997 Table of Contents News & Views Archive Issues

Economics
It's important to be knowledgeable of the U.S. cattle inventory by Dan Childs
If you are in the business of growing grass and selling it through cattle, you should be interested in knowing what is happening to cattle numbers in the United States. Each year in January and July the USDA publishes an estimate of what they believe to be the cattle inventory as of the first of that month.

Forage
Indicator Plants by Charles Griffith
Lanceleaf ragweed, Western ragweed, and Annual broomweed are the most frequent forbs that we have to deal with in pasture management. We should look on the presence of high populations of these plants in our pastures as indicators that something is not right in the management of our forage resource.

Horticulture
Seeing Is Believing by Steve Upson
The difference between California's central valley and the Red River valley are weather extremes. From late spring and early fall, freezes to torrential rain and hail storms, Oklahoma's weather is good at throwing knockout punches.

Livestock
The Spring Breeding Season is Fast Approaching by Jim Pumphrey
Bulls should be evaluated for breeding soundness at least 30 days before the breeding season. This will give you time to buy a replacement(s) if you have a bull(s) of questionable breeding ability.

Research
Rye Planting in Red River Crabgrass by R.L. Dalrymple
With over 25 years on record, the field of doublecrop winter pasture and crabgrass on the Noble Foundation Pasture Demonstration Farm has the longest consecutive production that I know of. We have researched and trial and error studied, numerous combinations and methods of managing the doublecrop.

Wildlife
How Many Deer Are Too Many? by Grant Huggins
Without records, most land managers are unable to tell. Livestock managers are trained to monitor forage availability and body condition of their herd. Except in extreme cases, deer forage conditions are subtle, and body condition observations are limited to the check station.