USDA Confirms Screwworms in the Florida Keys

by Doug Mayo | Oct 7, 2016

Screwworms were eradicated from the Southeast back in 1959.  This week USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of New World Screwworms Cochliomyia hominivorax in three deer in the Florida Keys.  At this point, APHIS believes...

Time to Order Cool-Season Forage Seeds

by dubeux | Aug 19, 2016

Jose Dubeux – University of Florida – NFREC Forage Management Specialist Have you booked your seeds for cool-season pastures? Fall is rapidly approaching, so it is time to book your cool-season forage seeds. Cool-season forages represent a great opportunity to...

Hay Bale Size Really Does Matter

by Matt Hersom | May 13, 2016

Now is the time to start planning for the hay making season, so let’s consider the size issue when it comes to hay bales.  In a lot of situations size really does matter, because bale size has the greatest influence on the total weight of hay in a bale, how many...

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 Michael Goodchild | 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 dubeux | 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...