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Midwest news and notes Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Cattle industry's future brightens
Despite its traumas, the U.S. cattle industry has a much more optimistic outlook for the rest of 2007 and 2008, says Chris Hurt, a Purdue University Extension marketing specialist.
"Cattle prices have been on a roll in recent months,'' he said, adding that the industry's past difficulties seemed to have paved the way for the current optimism.
"The cattle industry has been through a lot in recent years, including BSE, restricted imports, multi-year droughts in Western states, drought in the Southeast in 2007, and fears of corn prices going above $4 per bushel,'' he said. "It's no wonder cow-calf producers have leaned more to liquidation than expansion.''
Alfalfa can go dormant in drought
Alfalfa can go dormant during extended dry periods, and is one of the few crops that can recover with adequate moisture, says Peter Jeranyama, South Dakota State University forage specialist.
It's vitally important to maintain a viable plant root system to enable alfalfa plants to survive. During drought, the alfalfa plant reduces stem number, stem elongation, and yield while increasing leaf to stem ratio. Forage quality is usually higher in drought-stressed alfalfa compared to normal growing conditions, said Jeranyama.
Photosynthesis is maintained during the early phase of drought, but slows as the drought continues and as the stomata close. Nitrogen fixation and nodule formation is reduced, but more nutrients accumulate in the roots compared to the foliage.
Summer is good time to plant alfalfa
Summer provides a good window of opportunity to successfully establish alfalfa and other perennial forages, but timing and attention to seedbed conditions are key, says Jerrold Tesmer, Extension educator in Fillmore and Houston counties.
The prospect of adequate soil moisture and a seedbed that maximizes seed-to-soil contact are critical factors.
Summer seeding advantages include less weed pressure. It also spreads out the planting workload.
Alfalfa seedlings need six weeks to eight weeks of growth before the first killing frost.
In southern Minnesota, seeding between Aug. 1 and Aug. 15 is recommended.
Take precautions against mosquitoes
Anyone working outside needs to take precautions against West Nile-carrying mosquitoes, says John Shutske, University of Minnesota Extension safety and health expert.
Warm and dry weather has caused the risk of West Nile virus to significantly increase.
"We're particularly concerned about agricultural workers or others outside who might not think about using repellents or taking other protective measures,'' Shutske said.
He recommends using mosquito repellent and avoiding the outdoors at dawn or dusk. He also recommends wearing long-sleeved clothing outdoors during those times. |
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