Water Issues Forum in Wichita and Hays to Examine Climate Change, Kansas’ Future
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The 2009 Kansas Water Issues Forum will take a proactive look this December at climate change and water -- in terms of planning for the future.
11/18/2009

 Market analyst Erica Rosa, LMIC...

Market analyst Erica Rosa of the Livestock Marketing Information Center provides this week's insight on the cattle market trends, and shares the latest L-M-I-C analysis of cattle feeding returns in 2009...she also looks ahead to the next U-S-D-A cattle-on-feed report
coming out later this week.

 DAIRY OPERATING PLAN...

It’s common for a business to establish a formal set of standard operating procedures for all employees to follow. There’s value in setting up “S-O-P’s” for the dairy farm as well, according to K-State dairy specialist Mike Brouk (Brook). Making sure that all employees are following the same management guidelines will make a difference in the operation’s productivity and efficiency.

‘Keeping the Family Farming’ Workshops Set for January in Beloit, Hiawatha

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University and the Kansas Farm Analyst Program will offer Keeping the Family Farming Workshops for families who are working through the benefits and challenges of incorporating family members and others into a farm operation or passing the family farm business from one generation to the next.

Beef Cattle Reproductive Strategies Workshop Slated for Jan. 28-29 in Conjunction with NCBA Meeting
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Beef Reproduction Task Force and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is teaming up to offer the Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle Workshop at the 2010 Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio Jan. 28-29, 2010.
11/10/2009

 Livestock economist Darrell Mark...

Livestock economist Darrell Mark of the University of Nebraska provides this week's
analysis of the cattle market trends, and talks about a wealth of price information
on ethanol by-products as cattle feedstuffs that he makes available to producers
on his web site.

 DEFENDING AGAINST MASTITIS...

Healthy teat skin is a critical component of the dairy cow’s defense against mastitis. Skin condition can be directly influenced by many environmental factors, but winter often poses the largest challenge. K-State dairy specialist Mike Brouk (brook) says certain steps can be taken to minimize potential problems.

K-State Winter Ranch Management Seminar Set for Jan. 11 in Four Locations
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The K-State Winter Ranch Management Seminar will be available at four locations Jan. 11, 2010, starting at 2:30 p.m.
11/5/2009

 Jim Robb, director of the LMIC...

The director of the Livestock Marketing Information Center, Jim Robb, supplies this week's observations on the cattle market price trends, commenting on last week's strength in the fed cattle market, and how the feeder cattle market is being held back by the prospects for higher feedgrain prices as harvest delays take their toll.

 WINTER CALF COMFORT...

Late fall and winter weather can be mighty tough on dairy calves, and it’s not too early for you dairy producers to be thinking about providing those calves comfort from the cold. Enclosing them in a heated building may not be the best answer, according to K-State dairy specialist Mike Brouk (Brook). He talks about the approaches that will get the job done, without causing undue problems.

K-State Research and Extension Teams With Fort Riley First Infantry Command

Dr. Jim Shroyer, Extension state leader in agronomy with K-State Research and Extension, talks with Fort Riley First Infantry Command team members recently at Fort Riley. The Fort Riley team was preparing to deploy to Iraq where they will work with Iraqi citizens to help strengthen their communities and agricultural operations.

 Oklahoma State livestock economist Derrell Peel...

Providing this week's cattle market analysis and commentary is Oklahoma State livestock economist Derrell Peel...he sizes up the notable improvement in fed cattle prices last week...he also remarks on the potential for cattle feeders to take advantage of feedstuff
"bargains" resulting from the extended delays in the corn and grain sorghum harvests.

K-State Specialist Discusses Wheat Pasture Considerations
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Producers who want wheat for pasture for their livestock this fall have some decisions to make that will affect both the forage production and ultimate grain yield potential of the wheat, according to Kansas State University agronomist Jim Shroyer.
10/22/2009

 PREPARING FOR WINTER...

It’s not too early to start thinking about winterizing the dairy operation, according to K-State dairy specialist Mike Brouk (Brook). And a prime consideration there is protecting the dairy cooling system from winter damage, and doing any maintenance necessary to assure that system will be ready to operate when hot weather returns.

 Jim Robb, director of the LMIC...

The director of the Livestock Marketing Information Center, Jim Robb, provides this week's cattle market analysis:  among other items, he'll remark on the improvement last week in the boxed beef market,  on the center's updated outlook on cow-calf profitability, and on the projections for the USDA cattle-on-feed report coming out later this week.

 IMPROVING DAIRY OUTLOOK...

It has been a very tough haul economically for dairy producers this year.  But there may be subtle signs that the situation is starting to turn around.  So says K-State dairy specialist Mike Brouk (Brook), who comments on the outlook for the dairy industry for the balance of 2009 and heading into 2010.

 Agricultural economist Troy Dumler (Part 2)...

K-State agricultural economist Troy Dumler continues his look at an analysis on the economic performance and outlook for Kansas farm enterprises, comparing current returns to crop and livestock production to those of recent years.

 Erica Rosa, market analyst, LMIC...

Market analyst Erica Rosa of the Livestock Marketing Information Center, reviews last week's trading trends, shares the Center's latest  projections on cow-calf production profitability heading into 2010, and talks about the impact of the next dairy herd retirement effort on cull beef cow prices.

 Today's agricultural news...

A look at today's top agricultural news. K-State researcher Lyle Lomas looks at utilizing byproducts in pasture supplementation...something he discussed at last week's Beef Stocker Field Day at K-State. Also, this week's Tree Tales.

 UNL livestock economist Darrell Mark...

Livestock economist Darrell Mark of the University of Nebraska provides this week's cattle market commentary.

 ALFALFA QUALITY SHORTFALL...

High-quality alfalfa hay may be a little harder to come by this fall and winter, because of untimely rainfall at hay harvest time this past summer. A dairy producer can compensate for lesser-quality alfalfa through good ration management, without impeding milk output. K-State dairy specialist Mike Brouk (Brook) has more on that this week.

 Today's agricultural news...

Mary Kane, president of the Kansas Junior Livestock Show in Wichita, previews the state's largest livestock show...which runs from September 25th-28th.  

K-State’s Swine Day Scheduled Nov. 19
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State University will host Swine Day on Thursday, Nov. 19 at the K-State Alumni Center in Manhattan.  This year’s program will examine factors that producers need to consider to stay competitive in a rapidly changing swine industry.
9/23/2009

 Livestock market economist Derrell Peel...

Livestock market economist Derrell Peel of Oklahoma State University provides this week's observations on the cattle markets...he'll offer his thoughts on the profitability outlook for placing calves on winter wheat pasture this fall.

 K-State beef cattle specialist Dale Blasi...

K-State beef cattle specialist Dale Blasi previews the Beef Stocker Field Day, September 24th, at the K-State Beef Stocker Research Unit near Manhattan.

 A new analytical tool for cow-calf producers...

K-State agricultural economists Kevin Dhuyvetter and Lee Schulz talk about a new online analytical tool that cow-calf producers can use to more accurately predict the returns they will get from marketing their calves.

 IS THE DAIRY FARM MAKING PROGRESS?...

What should be measured on a dairy farm? In other words, what factors need to be determined to show if the dairy farm is making progress. And, how should producers analyze the data they collect? In this week’s Milk Lines, K-State dairy specialist Mike Brouk outlines some of the steps producers can take to determine the overall health of their dairy operation.

 K-State dairy specialist Mike Brouk...

K-State dairy specialist Mike Brouk discusses the current state of the dairy industry, which is being negatively affected by low milk prices and the amount of milk being produced.

 Livestock economist Darrell Mark...

University of Nebraska livestock economist Darrell Mark provides this week's cattle market outlook. Darrell says cow-calf producers might want to look at their retained ownership options.