Ag News and Views: August 1998

August, 1998 Table of Contents News & Views Archive Issues

Economics
The Business Side of Agriculture by Dan Childs
What is the single most important factor influencing the profitability of your farming or ranching operation? If several people were asked this question there would probably be several different answers given.

Forage
Native Grass - Use (some of) It, Or Lose It by Matt Mattox
This article will focus on increasing harvest efficiency on rangelands or native grass communities. Harvest efficiency is the percentage of forage grown in a year or growing season that is actually consumed by livestock.

Forage
Stocker Cattle: A Rapid Receiving and Controlled Stress Program by R.L. Dalrymple
I have been of the opinion for a long time that "usual" stocker cattle purchasing, receiving, medicating, etc., has contributed to increased stocker cattle and people stress and thus more stocker cattle sickness, death loss and poor performance during early pasturing.

Horticulture
You Say Tomato by Sean Maher
I was recently asked the question "What is the difference between a fruit and a vegetable?" It is a common question, usually pertaining to tomato classification, so I thought I would answer it here to satisfy everyone's burning need to know.

Livestock
Decisions During a Drought by Shan Ingram
Mistakes are commonly made when producers face a drough, we've outlined some helpful hints.

Plant of the Month
Little Bluestem by Russell Stevens

Soils
Is it Really a Good Deal??? by Wadell Altom
We have received calls about herbicides for sale on the phone. In one instance the product name used was not listed in any references we have available and our university contacts had no information. Claims about the potential results from the product seemed too good to be true.

Wildlife
Doe Harvest Effort by Grant Huggins
Most inexperienced deer managers envision doe reduction as a simple task. However, effective doe harvest requires an intensive effort, and it becomes more difficult over time.