Will Gilmer's guest lecture

I enjoyed Will Gilmer's guest lecture because he showed how relevant social media is in the agriculture industry. 

Pizza Fest!

The pizza party will be held in the cafeteria of the Wise Center.  All are welcome to come enjoy some refreshments and met the new department head of the Animal and Dairy Science Department.

Are we "out of " cattle?

Since the two years of drought liquidation, the beef cattle inventory has became so low that producers are pressed with the question of will we be able to rebuild the beef cow herd?  Two issues that will help determine the ability of the beef industry to rebuild is the loss of forage land to non-agricultural uses and the conversion of pasture to crop production. 

The drought is the major factor affecting the herd liquidation and until forage conditions improve rebuilding is moved to the back burner.  In 2011, 1.07 million head of beef cows decreased in Texas, Oklahoma, and the surrounding states.  Much of these same regions, like Arkansas, are still in a drought or at least feeling its effects.  Most of these losses in beef cows can be recovered, though some regions will take years.  The drought of 2012 has yet to be documented in terms of cow numbers, but experts estimate another 400 to 500 thousand head decrease in herd numbers. 

About 30 percent of the total U.S. land area is rangeland, pasture, or non-cultivated cropland, however; this includes some land used for recreational use.  From 1997 to 2007, land used for development increased nearly 17 million acres.  Land diversion away from agriculture is an important issue, but experts suggest this does not present a large barrier for the potential rebuilding of cow herds.  Only time will tell how well the beef industry will truly recover from these losses.  

Source: Derrell S. Peel

            Oklahoma State University Extension

            Livestock Marketing Specialist 

Farmers Face "Death" taxes

What is it?

-          The “Death” tax is basically a hefty estate tax that will soon dramatically increase if congress fails to act.

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Most all of the nation’s farmers and ranchers will be dealt a serious blow if death tax rates are allowed to pass.  Rates will be allowed to jump from a 35% tax on estates worth at least $5 million to 55% on estates valued at $1 million and up. 

Kevin Kester, a rancher, inherited a 22,000 acre ranch from his grandfather two decades ago, he paid the IRS $2 million.  If the death tax is allowed to skyrocket, Kester’s children could pay more than $13 million on that same 22,000 acre ranch. 

“ There is no way financially my kids can pay what the IRS is going to demand from them nine months after death and keep this ranch intact for their generation and future generations,” Kester said.

This tax will force the break-up of ranches and farms.  This does not only hurt the ones inheriting the land but future generations to come.  Farmers and ranchers are a dying breed and this death tax, if past, will catalyze the small population America has left.    

MAFES Livestock Sale

Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) are holding its 30^th annual livestock production sale.

            Date:          Thursday, November 15, 2012

            Location:   Mississippi Horse Park; Mississippi State, MS

            Sale Time:  1:00 P.M.

There will be 40 total lots in this sale.  The first 10 lots will be composed of registered Angus and Charolais bulls.  The next 30 lots are a combination of bred heifers (x-bred) and two registered open heifers (1 Angus, 1 Charolais). 

If you are unable to attend the sale, there will be 2 interactive video bidding sites:

-          Forrest County Extension Office          Hattiesburg, MS

-          Central MS R&E Center                         Raymond, MS

For more information on this sale (directions, sale catalog, cattle lot videos) please visit: http://msucares.com/livestock/beef/mafesbeef.html

MSU Artificial Insemination School

The Mississippi State University Extension Service and Animal and Dairy Science Department host two cattle Artificial Insemination (AI) Schools each year.  The dates for these schools are as follows: 

-         October 25-27, 2012

-         March 14-16, 2013

This three day event consists of lecture portions that allow you to become familiar with terminology and lab portions which give you the opportunity to practice AI techniques.  This school will take place on MSU’s campus in Starkville and is limited to the first 25 registrations. 

How much?

-         MSU’s AI school cost $250 per person.

Are there AI schools taught in my area?

-         Mississippi State Extension service provides schools at select MAFES locations.

-         For more information on school locations go to msucares.com and click on Livestock-Beef

Ø For more information on registering visit http://msucares.com/livestock/beef/aischool.html

Winter Management in your Cow Herd

Winter management for your cow herd should not be centered only on the winter months.

Cattle farmers in Mississippi are busy plowing fields and planting their winter forages, preparing for the cold winter ahead.  By now dry-matter forage supplements such as hay, balayage, and silage have also been stored for feed preparations.  These forage precautions are necessary for maintaining cows through the winter as they produce for their calves, and also to ensure their Body Condition Scores (BCS) are adequate for rebreeding. 

            A BCS of 6 is an adequate score for cows entering the winter months.  To help cattle maintain health and body condition during the winter, the following topics should be addressed:

- Vaccinations

- Parasite Population/Deworming

- Forage varieties

- Trace-minerals

The importance of BCS is often underestimated by producers.  Dr. Ron Skinner, a DVM and seedstock producer, says about 70% of open cows in Montana each year are a result of inadequate fall nutrition.    

            The most important factor that affects your winter management is matching the cow to the environment and your management style.  Breeds, climate, and soil type are factors that should be evaluated also.  Cows that need additional feed to perform under normal standards should be culled from the herd. 

            Furth more, BCS of your cow pre-winter, environment, proper forage preparation, and management styles are the main topics that need to be evaluated, seasons prior to winter, in order to ensure proper winter management.