The Rap on Bale Wrap

by | Jan 15, 2016

Round hay balers have made large strides in packaging the bale since their introduction. First, there was sisal twine. Rats chewed through it, or it rotted from soil contact. Plastic twine replaced sisal. Those problems were addressed, but single strand wraps still...

Solar Pump Systems for Watering Livestock

by | Jun 12, 2015

It can be cost-prohibitive to run power lines long distances to provide electricity for pumping water to livestock tanks. One alternative is to install a solar water system. Solar water pumps can be used to pump water from wells, ponds or creeks. Even if you have to...

Grazing Management is Key for Profitable Livestock Production

by | Feb 6, 2015

Jose Dubeux, , University of Florida/IFAS – North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) Pastures are different than hay fields or row crops. The final product is not the crop per se, but the animal gain obtained from grazing it. As a result, livestock need to...
Understanding Your Forage Test Report

Understanding Your Forage Test Report

by | Oct 24, 2014

Just as soil testing can provide vital information on how to fertilize crops, forage testing can provide vital information on how to supplement hay fed to livestock.  Feed and fertilizer are simply too valuable these days to simply guess, or just use the same amount...

Temporary Pastures Can Hide Ugly Surprises

by | Oct 17, 2014

Using row crop land for cool season grazing is one of the great opportunities for North Florida livestock operations. Early crops come out in time to allow seedbed preparation for planting, and late harvested crops can be aerially over-seeded with ryegrass. Corn and...