October, 2006 Table of Contents News & Views Archive Issues

Economics
USDA Programs Offer Source, Age Verification of Cattle by Steve Swigert
Now that the Japanese market has reopened to U.S. beef, there is increasing demand for source- and age-verified cattle. Source and age verification must be documented and verified through a recognized United States Department of Agriculture program.

Livestock
It's Time to Consider Winter Feeding Strategies by Robert Wells
The National Drought Monitor Web site indicates the area is in either extreme or exceptional drought. As if not having adequate good-quality water for cow herds isn't bad enough, there is little to no available standing forage going into winter at a time of record-high hay prices.

Pasture and Range
Use Ryegrass to Recover Bermudagrass by Matt Mattox
Most, if not all, cattle operations in the southern Great Plains have been adversely affected by two years of drought conditions. In our travels, we have noticed that the majority of the most adversely affected forages are bermudagrass pastures.

Plant Biology
Biofuels II: Basic Plant Science Meets a New Challenge by Rick Dixon
The Noble Foundation is placed to become a national leader in the development of novel feedstocks, particularly for bioethanol production. In this article, I briefly explain how activities in Noble's Plant Biology Division will contribute to these efforts.

Soils
Are Grasshoppers and Armyworms in Your Future? by Jim Johnson
This fall, we may see an outbreak of armyworms and/or grasshoppers. If you have lush green winter pasture - or any pasture, for that matter - it may be a prime target.

Suburban Agriculture
Beware of Hazardous Materials in Barns, Shops by David Annis
Growing up, I remember going to my great-uncle's farm and looking through his barn/shop. Behind the old wooden doors, jugs of herbicides and insecticides, barrels of oil and grease, tools, his welder and whatever implements or tractor he had taken apart covered the dirt floor. When the floor got in bad shape, he would occasionally throw a shovel or two of soil over the top to "clean it up."

Wildlife
Fried Wild Duck Can Be Delicious by Mike Porter
Some people are reluctant to hunt duck, or they try to give away their harvested ducks, because they think duck tastes bad. However, wild duck is like many meats: It can taste delicious when properly prepared, or it can taste terrible when poorly prepared.