Farm Help

All livestock markets alter production practices through the years. One such change in the poultry industry is that large poultry houses that 20, 30 or 40 years ago were in full swing are now abandoned because of new standards that required new buildings to house the birds.

The drought provided some opportunities to work on ponds. “Some people were able to get in and rebuild the shorelines to a healthy 3:1 slope, and perhaps excavate some of the sediment that had accumulated over the years in their pond basins,” noted Dr. Marley Beem, assistant Oklahoma State Extension specialist for Natural Resource Ecology and Management. “It's very difficult to do any sort of construction work when the pond is full, and maybe a lot of people are in that situation now; they've kind of let things slide by and missed that opportunity."

As spring gets under way, the weather is perfect for completing those unfinished projects around the house or farm. What about that unsightly shed or dangerous barn that you have been meaning to renovate? Now may be the time, but what things should you consider first?

Cattle producers in the Ozarks went through a period of time where subscribing to pre-weaning vaccination protocols were valued, notably because of how highly they were rewarded at the sale barn. Everyone jumped on board to add value to the calf crop, and, it was a good opportunity – the markets responded, and higher prices were paid for calves that had some guarantee to not get sick once they hit the feedlot. But, as time wore on, some producers became disappointed in the prices they were receiving for preconditioned calves. As Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Livestock Extension Specialist, put it, “They didn’t see those vaccinated calves bringing a great deal more than cost of the vaccines, time and labor. People got disillusioned, and in the mean time we’ve seen cattle bringing higher prices whether they’re vaccinated or not.” And this is a problem.

As spring gets under way, the weather is perfect for completing those unfinished projects around the house or farm. What about that unsightly shed or dangerous barn that you have been meaning to renovate? Now may be the time but what things should you consider first?

The gardening season is beginning to reach full swing, and first time and seasoned gardeners alike may be wondering how to best improve the quality of the soil for their gardening ventures.

Jeff May, a sales and technical services representative and poultry specialist with Dawe’s Laboratories who works from Lee’s Summit, Mo., said the key to management of pest control is management.

All livestock markets alter production practices through the years. One such change in the poultry industry is that large poultry houses that 20, 30 or 40 years ago were in full swing are now abandoned because of new standards that required new buildings to house the birds.

"This country began as an agrarian nation. We can learn so much from the history of barns and agricultural buildings – in short the history of agriculture,” said Bill Hart, president of the Missouri Barn Alliance and Rural Network. However, in recent decades, many barns (that were once a prime resource for the family farm) have become almost obsolete and thus run-down and completely subject to the elements with no repairs or improvements made.

Eggs are the universal standard for perfection of protein, cheap, pre-portioned in a biodegradable container, low in calories, versatile, easily digestible, yummy and convenient, nutrient dense, satisfying, quick (always thawed out) and you didn’t have to kill the chicken to get them.