Guidelines for Selecting a Consulting Forester
Ian Stone, Forestry/Natural Resources Agent-Walton County Selecting a consulting forester is a major decision for landowners with both small and large private forest management enterprises. Consulting foresters provide technical forestry assistance in all...
US Beef Cows Drop 2% in NASS July Cattle Inventory Report
- The USDA National Agricultural Statistic Service (NASS) published their annual July 1 Cattle inventory Report on July 22, 2022. There were not many surprises in this year's report, but it is helpful to know the general trend in the US. The total, "All Cattle and...
Friday Feature: Hay Bale Swimming Pool
Students in Staffordshire, England figured out a way to beat the heat wave in Europe this summer. They built a swimming pool using big square hay bales, silage wrap plastic, and then lined the square hole with a tarp so it would hold water. It is amazing what farm...
Liquid Lime: Is it Too Good to be True?
Recently, I’ve been asked for my opinion on liquid lime. "Will it work as well as the salesperson says it will? Will it be cheaper?" In this economy, anything we can do to save a few bucks or reduce costs deserves a second glance. I understand the interest in...
New Sales Tax Exemptions for Florida Ranchers on Fencing and Trailers
Source: Sam Ard, Director, Government Affairs, Florida Cattlemen's Association The Florida tax code requires a sales tax to be applied to all things sold – the only way around this is to pass a sales tax exemption into law. Our industry is required by law to fence in...
June 2022 Weather Summary & 3 Month Outlook
Rainfall June was really hot and dry across much of the Panhandle region. Typically June is one of the wetter months of the year, but not this year for much of the Panhandle. In the map to the left above, you can see areas shaded in green that received over 6", but...
Cotton Marketing News – Numbers Not Good Prices Still Falling but Likely Too Low Now
Don Shurley, UGA Professor Emeritus of Cotton Economics Crop uncertainty has taken a back seat. Economic and demand fears have taken control. December 2022 futures closed today at 83.71 cents. The chart below clearly shows the blood bath this market has taken in...
Friday Feature: Virtual Cattle Fencing Research at OSU
Yes, the title sounds sort of hard to believe, but it is a new technology being researched for feasibility. Not that unlike virtual dog fences that use collars and buried wires, this system uses satellites and base stations for wireless communication to collars on...
Grazing Management – Making the Most of the Available Forage
As I travel around Jackson County lately I have noticed that pasture grass is in short supply on most livestock operations. The combination of flash drought (95-102° temperatures without rainfall) and little fertilization of pastures has taken its toll. To me the...
More Spotted Wilt Showing Up in Florida Peanuts this Year
So far in June 2022, I’m noticing more spotted wilt in the Suwannee Valley and Gainesville areas than usual. I’ve found it in early planted peanuts in the Panhandle of Florida too, but that’s more typical. What’s rare is finding spotted wilt at similar levels...