Fertilizing Forages Can Add Value in 2014

Beef cattle feeding and care have always been a critical aspect of cattle production in the Midwest. Meeting the most basic needs of livestock – adequate feed for efficient production and well-being – represents the major cost to and activity of producers.

"That makes hay and forage, the basic cattle feed, more valuable today, whether it is standing in the pasture, rolled into a bale or packed into a bunker," said Doug Hanson, ProHarvest Seeds forage seed lead and Illinois Forage and Grassland Council director. "As such, it may deserve greater attention in valuing its costs, and maximizing its use and value."

It is often said that a properly fertilized pasture or hayfield is the cheapest forage you can buy. With current land values and high input costs (seed, fertilizer, diesel fuel) it is important to get the most out of land that has been dedicated to forage production.

Historically, hay and forage have been abundant and inexpensive, but finding 1,200-pound quality round bales for $25 to $30 per bale is no longer an option. With forage values ranging from $120 to over $200 per ton it is important to manage forage production with the same intensity as corn and soybeans.

Pastures

Pastures will increase production with added fertility. Hanson recommends using use 200 pounds of ammonium sulfate in either spring or fall.  

“Mid to late August is the best time to apply ammonium sulfate in Illinois. Spring fertilizing can be done in late February through mid-March, which is around the same time that wheat is being fertilized. This fertilizer will provide around 40 pounds of nitrogen along with some sulfur,” he said. “Legumes will respond to sulfur like grasses respond to nitrogen.”

Ammonium sulfate is often the cheapest source of nitrogen and can be used in the granular or liquid forms depending on availability from your supplier. According to Hanson, encapsulated Urea (ESN) or comparable types of time released products are another good source of nitrogen. He recommends consulting your supplier if you want sulfur mixed in with your ESN.

To maximize pasture forage performance, try a mixture of legumes and grasses.

“Legumes can make up as much as 35 percent of the pasture, but I caution beef producers if grazing at this level.  With legumes, you can increase tonnage, but also the opportunity for bloat,” he said. “I would recommend more in the 20 to 25 percent range with good management.” 

If a pasture is in need of a legume, Hanson recommends adding white clover or red clover seed at the same time as spring fertilization.

“Three to five pounds of a good white clover (not dutch white clover) is more than enough.  If using red clover I would go with eight to 12 pounds,” he said. “A mix of three pounds white and five pounds red is a good way to hedge your opportunity. I have seen years where one type of clover will do better one year and the other type will do better the next.  Therefore, this reduces risk and provides more variety in the pasture.”

It’s important to plant early, and provide good weed control and fertility to increase yield potential.

Hay Fields

Two hundred pounds of ammonium sulfate applied to a grass alfalfa mix hay field is an excellent way to increase hay tonnage and create more healthy roots. The alfalfa will respond to the sulfur and it will respond to the nitrogen early in the season before nitrogen fixation takes place. The grasses will also respond to the nitrogen.

If a hayfield is under-performing, it is best to add grasses or red clover in the fall. It will compete against the existing plants better and will have minimal weed pressure. 

“If you realize after first cutting that a field suffered a high percentage of winter kill it is going to be too late to help the hay field for the rest of the summer and it will probably be economically wise to terminate the field after the first cutting,” Hanson said. “Terminating the hay field and planting it to a high quality summer annual could yield anywhere from six to 10 tons of good quality feed. If you add your first cutting tonnage to that number you will see why summer annuals can really help meet a farms forage needs.”

He adds that a normal producing hay field will yield three to six tons of hay depending on management, soil type and Mother nature. Approximately 45 percent to 55 percent of the yield is in the first cutting. Therefore, taking one and one-half to two tons of hay and then using a summer annual and getting another six to 10 tons of feed can be a no brainier.

Hanson adds to consider planting a high yielding summer annual that can be grazed or harvested such as Brown Mid-Rib (BMR) Sorghum Sudan Grass, Sudan hybrids and Hybrid Pearl Millet.

Cover Crops

Cover Crops by nature are designed to scavenger nutrients. They can be an excellent tool for doing so, but if you are planning on harvesting a cover crop for forage you may need to add fertility.  

Hanson shares an example of a family in 2013 that planted and harvested 100 acres of winter rye. It was on their poorest ground which also has poor drainage. It was treated like most cover crops and did not receive fertilizer. They made baleage from all 100 acres and harvested 420 bales. He admits that this is a lot of feed, but the family was actually hoping for more tonnage and it could have yielded 50 percent to 75 percent more if it had been fertilized.  Another family planted 10 acres of winter rye in a field next their cattle barn and this field was popular for spreading manure. Their field yielded 80 bales, which is twice the production of the first family. They did not add fertility in 2013, but all the years of spreading manure is better than any source of synthetic fertilizer and this is where cattle producers have a real advantage. Hanson was able to view both fields the day before they were harvested and it was apparent that added fertility is important in producing quality forage and it also has a direct relationship to tonnage.

“In order to increase our chances at profitability, cattle producers must reduce feed costs and this can be done most effectively through aggressive management of our forages. The best returns from pasture fertilization will depend on effective utilization through well-managed livestock and forage programs,” he said. “Fertilization is important in any efficient, highly productive forage program.”

FREE BQA Certification for Producers

Are you doing your part for the beef industry by earning your BQA certification? Well, if you aren’t certified, have we got a deal for you!

For a second year, your checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program is giving you the chance to become certified for free thanks to a partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) and the Beef Cattle Institute (BCI) housed at Kansas State University. The cost of BQA certification is normally $25 to $50; however, from Feb. 3, through April 15, 2014, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) will defray the cost of the certification or recertification, making it free. Visit www.bqa.org/team or www.BIVI-BQA.com to get started.

“BQA provides cattlemen with practical management tools they need to produce safe, high-quality beef for our consumers, says Ryan Ruppert, senior director of Beef Quality Assurance. “BQA also helps discover practices which can improve efficiency and ultimately, profitability.”

The BQA online programs are customized for cow/calf, stocker, feedlot and dairy operations. Developed and managed by the independent Beef Cattle Institute, these easy-to-use modules teach sound management techniques that can be applied to their operations. They also help cattle operations tell their story to consumers who might not understand all of the safety measures cattlemen take in producing the food on the table.

CattleFax - Weekly Recap

Check out today's Chart of the Day. For recent market news and analysis, visit CattleFax.com.

Steering Your Ship Through Rough Waters - Lessons on Leadership

Keynoting the opening general session of the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show was Captain Richard Phillips, the inspiration for the movie Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks. The movie is based on Phillip's book A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy Seals and Dangerous Days at Sea, a fascinating and suspenseful recounting of the first hijacking of a U.S. ship in more than 200 years.

It's the incredible story of a regular man who found the courage to lead his ship and save his crew while besieged by Somali pirates for five days. Phillips not only shared his compelling story as a "floating CEO" in charge of the day-to-day operations of a multi-million dollar ship and its crew, he also drew lessons from the dramatic events that can help you survive and thrive. He discussed the vital importance of leadership and teamwork, combined with a belief that power and potential of yourself and your team, as seen through the eyes of an unassuming hero who conquered one of the world's most extraordinary challenges.

Captain Phillips' Key Takeaways:

1. A successful leader must always hope for the best, but also plan for the worst.

2. As a manager, take care of the little things/details. The small things that go ignored can often become the crisis.

3. A dedicated and focused team can solve any problem.

4. Commit yourself to see a situation through - don't quit or give up.

5. You are much stronger and can do more than you think you can.

6. When you are in a tough situation, it's best to pray for stength and patience rather than rescue.

Manners Matter - The Do's and Do Not's of Processing Cattle Through a Chute

Any time you have people, animals, and machinery all in close proximity, the opportunity for an accident is present. It takes constant effort, a culture of safety and consistent training to ensure that accidents don't happen. Arn Anderson, veterinarian with Cross Timbers veterinary hospital of Bowie, Texas, shares the do's and do not's for processing cattle through a chute.

So how does safety become a part of your operation's culture? According to Anderson, it starts with an emphasis by management backed up by the "five P's".

Purpose 

Ask yourself why you are working cattle. Are you there to palpate cows, test bulls, or administer a vaccine? You will likely get bad manners from your crew and see bad attitudes in your cattle if you process through the chute with more than one purpose. It's important to identify that purpose and make it known to everyone involved - communicate and start your day with everyone on the same page.

Planning

Anderson joked that if your goal is to work 1,500-pound bulls through a chute with a head gate attached by duct tape and zip ties you might be in for a rude awakening when the head gate won't hold to the chute. Planning and preparation are key to prevent the scenario above.

"Make sure your chute is functioning properly, you have the vaccinations needed, and etc.," Anderson said. "And in my neck of the woods we walk handling facility alleyways to check for rattlesnakes." 

Part of planning is also training people that help with processing so they understand what is expected. Your purpose and your plan shouldn't be a secret.

People 

Anderson said you are who you run with and working with inexperienced people certainly won't lead to an efficient process. Two issues Anderson often experiences is there are too many people or not enough people to do the job and that no one knows who's the boss. It's important to figure out who is leading the process to avoid confusion.

Paying attention

"For me, it involved my mom's hand and the back of my head. In church, I often saw the light when the back of her hand came across that pew," Anderson said. "Distractions and not paying attention often lead to simple mistakes becoming dangerous situations."

He stressed the importance of eliminating things from the job scene that can distract you and your crew's ability to pay attention - cell phone, cow dog, children, and tennage boys with tennage girls. 

Politeness

There is no excuse for rudeness. The person in charge is the one that sets the standards for the crew and operation. 

"Standards for purpose, planning, and paying attention will draw the line for what is considered polite. Politeness at the chute is what's going to make your whole operation work smoothly," Anderson said.

He recommends establishing a rhythm and not switching jobs until the person in charge requests it.

Putting safety into practice allows workers to learn to be proactive in times of risk or danger rather than reactive.

Demonstrate perseverance and a positive attitude toward implementing the "five P's" the next time you're processing cattle through a chute. Today's circumstances require us to train consistently and effectively to preserve a way of like that is under increased scrutiny.

CattleFax Projections Include Improved Weather Conditions and Record Prices

Cattlemen and women gathered today at the 2014 Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Trade Show to hear CattleFax market analysts’ projections for the year ahead. Creighton University Professor Emeritus Art Douglas told the audience he expects improved moisture conditions in the majority of the United States, including improvements of the drought-affected areas of the west coast.

As precipitation returns back to more normal levels for the 2014 growing season, CattleFax predicts farmers in the U.S. should grow an adequate corn crop to build the carry over supply. The improved corn supplies should assure lower corn/input costs over the next 12-24 months, according to CattleFax Grain Market Analyst Mike Murphy.

“The lower input cost will have a direct correlation to improved feeder cattle and calf values in 2014 and with continued  help from Mother Nature, we will be in better shape with regard to hay supply and prices moving forward,” Murphy said.

Global Market Specialist Brett Stuart indicated that beef exports are expected to be near even in 2014 with record high prices being the limiting factor. At the same time, expectations are for beef imports to be near even, despite the need for 90 percent trim due to the expected lower non-fed slaughter rates in the U.S. The driving factor for stagnant imports is the growth of China demand for global beef which will continue to divert beef from Australia into the China market and away from the U.S. market.

CattleFax Senior Analyst Kevin Good indicated the combination of improved moisture conditions resulting in lower input costs and record high calf values should lead to beef cow herd expansion beginning in 2014.

Beef production in the U.S. will fall, with per-capita supply declining 4.5 percent. However, he said the pork and poultry supplies are expected to increase, leaving total meat supplies near even. CattleFax projects the Retail Beef Demand Index will improve by one percent due to continued modest economic growth.

“As we think about our consumers today, not only domestically but globally, they’re a lot more diverse than they have been in past,” Good said. “We’ve got different customers with different preferences and different pockets books.”

Good said because of the continued tighter feeder cattle supply, the margin segments of the beef production system, both feed yards and packers, will struggle with excess capacity. Look for continued closure of both packing and feeding entities over the next 12-24 months.

Prices are expected to average $135 compared to $126 during 2013, an increase of seven percent. Yearling prices are expected to average $168, an increase of 13 percent from the 2013 average of $146. According to Good, calf prices will average $193, up 13 percent from last year’s average of $168.

“After years of tightening supplies, the cow-calf sector will again remain in the driver’s seat during 2014,” Good said.

CattleFax CEO Randy Blach summarized the year ahead by saying almost all segments of the production chain will be profitable, although margin operators will continue to face challenges over the next few years.

Blach remains optimistic for the long-term cattle industry as the profit incentives will result in a larger U.S. cattle herd over the next five years, creating business opportunities for those willing to adapt to a dynamic and changing business environment.

“You can start to see the globalization of the protein markets from the 1990’s on,” Blach said. “We have the most efficient production system in the world and we are the largest exporter of protein onto the global market.”

2014 Cattle Industry Convention Kicks Off in Nashville

More than 6,200 cattlemen and women from across the country are registered to attend the 2014 Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef AssociationTrade Show, which kicked off today at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. The convention, which will run through Feb. 7, is the largest annual gathering of the beef industry.

NCBA President Scott George said Nashville is always one of the best-attended locations and this convention will be no exception.

“Nashville is a legendary city known for its rural roots and country music scene and this week America’s cattlemen and women are taking the city by storm. We’re here to highlight some of the successes of the past year while also setting goals and priorities for what lies ahead,” George said. “From today’s Cattlemen’s College sessions to the many other educational events that will take place over the next three days, cattlemen and women will have the opportunity to hear directly from the experts about how to sustain and improve their operations.”

This year the Trade Show will not only be larger, but will feature more educational and entertainment opportunities for attendees. On the Trade Show floor will be two education areas, including a demonstration area with live animals to provide hands-on instruction. New this year is the NCBA Learning Lounge, which will feature 30-minute educational sessions to provide attendees valuable educational tips from industry experts in informal, face-to-face, technology-friendly classroom settings.

Following Cattlemen’s College, exciting keynote speeches at the general sessions, and a record-breaking Trade Show, convention goers will have the opportunity to attend committee meetings and take part in the grassroots policy development.

“The grassroots policy process is the backbone and the strength of NCBA. It’s important our producers voice is heard and this week cattlemen will come together to discuss policy priorities that will lay the groundwork for the next year,” said George. “From cattle health and the environment, to marketing and tax policy issues, there will be many critical issues addressed this week.”

Stay tuned to the IBA blog for updates throughout the convention.