News from Iowa Beef Center
What do Tyson Foods, Inc., Trans Ova Genetics and K&D Feedlot have in common? These three northwest Iowa businesses recently hosted 13 students enrolled in the Beef Systems Management course at Iowa State University. IBC director Dan Loy and ISU Extension and Outreach cow-calf specialist Patrick Gunn teach the course and led the day tour to northwest Iowa.
USDA-RMA says it's okay to hay/graze cover crops until May 22 this year, but there are some restrictions. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey encourages farmers to check with their crop insurance agents if they want to hay or graze after the original end date of May 10.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef veterinarian Grant Dewell said effects of last year’s drought are evident at the Iowa State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in the form of an increasing number of calves with vitamin A deficiency.
A pasture walk featuring cows grazing a cover crop of rye and hairy vetch, grass finishing, and a new “bird friendly” marketing opportunity will be held Wednesday, May 22.
Those who use grazing in their livestock operations are encouraged to register now for the 2013 Iowa Grazing Conference, set for June 25-26 in Creston. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef program specialist Joe Sellers has been involved with the conference for several years and said this year’s event has classroom and field experiences.
A new four-part series of fact sheets on contract grazing for cattle is now available on this website. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach specialists Joe Sellers and Andy Larson are Iowa representatives to the specialized working group within the Green Lands, Blue Water project that developed the new resource. See more information, including links to download these resources.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources website has information on animal feeding operations in Iowa. Linked from the site is a document (pdf) on medium CAFO permit and design criteria.
See our water management and drought resources page. Sources and resources are added as they are available. Check out the ISU Extension and Outreach resources page.