Topics in This Newsletter:
- Nitrate considerations going into the fall (Dr. Lawton Stewart)
- Custom Farm Rates Publication
- Forage Updates from Dr. Lisa Baxter
- Virtual Cattle Fencing Research in Tifton
Nitrate considerations going into the fall (Dr. Lawton Stewart)
We are getting closer to fall, and many producers are focused on their last cutting of hay. I wanted to send out a reminder of the importance of testing hay. This helps make nutritional decisions, but also it important to pay close attention to the nitrate levels. High amounts can cause health issues and possible death if not handled properly.
Here is a link to the Extension bulletin on nitrates in forages. It will give some background information and advice on how to handle nitrates. Table 2 is a great reference for nitrates and determining how to feed it. Always use the dry matter values when evaluating samples.
If you need any assistance interpreting results and developing a plan for nitrates, please reach out to your local county Ag agent.
Custom Farm Rates Publication
I had a question this month about custom rates for haying operations. The UGA economics team did a survey last year, the link below has the results summarized.
Forage Updates from Dr. Lisa Baxter
Topics this month that Dr. Baxter has mentioned include the BSM and the FAW. See the link and slides below for that information.
Virtual Cattle Fencing Research in Tifton
I attended a meeting in Tifton this past week and one of the topics covered in the meeting was virtual cattle fencing. Dr. Jennifer Tucker is conducting research on this new tool. This tool is beginning to be utilized in the mid-West on large acres, Dr. Tuckers goal is to determine how this tool works on smaller acres with more obstacles to break the cellular reception that the collars require in order to work.
