Ag News and Views: April 1998

A common thread among cow-calf producers is that they need bulls. This may be the most critical decision made by cow/calf producers. How do you make this decision? I'll share with you some of the steps I use when making the bull purchase decision.

Income tax is a topic that is perhaps fresh on everyone's mind during this time of year. Few people, if any, look forward to the process of getting information together and the trip to the tax preparer.

A cool-season perennial grass trial was initiated on October 4, 1996 at the NF Headquarters farm, in collaboration with Dr. Larry Redmon of Oklahoma State University. The establishment year conditions were characterized by intermittent wet periods during the fall and spring followed by extremely dry conditions during the summer of 1997.

Once again, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) Commission has approved, and then reversed, the addition of seven days to the deer rifle season.

As we initiate our third year of hoop house vegetable trials, now is an appropriate time to share some observations from the previous two years.

We could go into a discussion about soil testing, yield goals and productive potential of the soil, but this article is limited to efficient nitrogen rates. Research and observations have indicated that a certain amount of nitrogen must be applied to satisfy requirements of other plant parts before additional forage is produced.

While it's too early to tell whether this year will be "boom" or "bust," these management considerations might help preserve your yield potential if it turns into a bumper crop.

If you answer this question by replying that 'you can increase the stocking rate', then you probably have the cart before the horse and we need to re-think the process. The primary objective in rotational grazing should be pasture or range improvement using rest periods.