Proper Nutrition Vital for Livestock in Late Gestation

As livestock managers anticipate the beginning of the spring calving season, it's vital that they make sure their cows and heifers are getting the proper nutrition.

Rory Lewandowski, agricultural and natural resources educator for Ohio State University Extension, discussed the issue in a recent Ohio Beef Cattle newsletter, available online.  

"We have some poor-quality hay out there this year, and that's not what you should be feeding cows in late gestation -- or if you do, you need to supplement it," Lewandowski said.  <Read More> 

Weekly Outlook - Focus on South American Weather, USDA Reports

Corn and soybean prices declined sharply in mid-November and remained at the lower level through mid-December.  From mid-December through early January, the cash price of corn in central Illinois increased by $0.78 while the cash price of soybeans increased by $1.21 per bushel.

One of the factors that has contributed to higher prices is adverse weather in parts of Argentina and southern Brazil during a critical phase of crop development.  Periods of extremely high temperatures and well below average levels of precipitation in December have threatened both the corn and soybean crops in those areas.  The adverse weather followed very favorable weather conditions in November.  The weather pattern in those areas has been similar to that of 2008-09 when corn and soybean production was substantially reduced in Argentina.  Some beneficial rainfall in the dry areas is expected this week, but the forecast calls for a return of hot, dry weather next week.  It is difficult to assess potential corn and soybean production in Argentina and Brazil, but the pattern of production estimates in 2008-09 might provide some guidance.  <Read More>

Upcoming Events - Raising Poultry for Pleasure and Profit

An upcoming course hosted by Purdue Extension will cover the fundamentals of small scale poultry production for current and prospective poultry producers.  The course, “Raising Poultry for Pleasure and Profit”, will be held on Thursday evenings, February 2-March 1, from 5:30-8:30 PM, at the Spencer County 4-H Fairgrounds in Chrisney.  The course will be presented via Adobe Connect webinar technology. 

Topics will include the basics of poultry production, keeping the flock healthy and productive, developing a forage and production system, making a profit, and creating a customer-ready product. 

The cost of the program is $40 per person for the five-session series or $15 per person per individual session.  Early bird registration deadline is January 26.  After the deadline, registration cost is increased by $10 per person.  In addition to live, on-site viewing, participants have the option of viewing the sessions from home via a high-speed internet connection.  The registration cost and deadline remain the same for at-home viewing.   

For more information, please contact nheld@purdue.edu. Registration brochures are available are available here. 

January Home, Yard, and Garden Calender

Rosie Lerner, Purdue Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist

HOME (Indoor plants and activities)

• Keep holiday poinsettias and other plants near a bright window. Water as top of soil becomes dry.
• Increase humidity around houseplants by grouping plants together, placing them on a pebble-water tray or running a humidifier.
• Check stored produce and tender flower bulbs and roots for rot, shriveling or excess moisture. Remove and discard damaged material.
• Repot houseplants as they outgrow current pots.

YARD (Lawns, woody ornamentals and fruits)

• Check young trees for rodent injury on lower trunks. Prevent injury with hardware cloth or protective collars.
• Keep road and sidewalk salt away from plants. Construct a screen of burlap, if necessary, to keep salt spray off plants.
• "Leaf" through nursery catalogs and make plans for landscape and home orchard additions. Order plants early for best selection.
• Early spring-flowering trees and shrubs, such as forsythia, crabapple, flowering quince, flowering dogwood and honeysuckle, can be forced for early indoor blooms by placing cut branches in water in a warm location.

GARDEN (Flowers, vegetables and small fruits)

• Send for seed catalogs for the garden.
• Sketch your garden plans on paper, including what to grow, spacing, arrangement and number of plants needed.
• Order seeds and plants as early as possible for best selection.
• Wood ashes from the fireplace can be spread in the garden, but don't overdo it. Wood ashes increase soil pH, and excess application can make some nutrients unavailable for plant uptake. Have soil tested to be certain of the pH before adding wood ash.