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3/10/2012 - Equine Excellence 2012


Agronomy
Agronomy > Agronomy Updates
CROP PROGRESS REPORT will continue in the spring.

Ohio Ag Manager, provided by Ohio State Extension, JANUARY 2012
In this issue:

  • Can I Avoid Paying Taxes on Oil/Gas Payments?

  • Financial & Tax Implication of Oil & Gas Leases Meetings to be held

  • Computerized Farm Recordkeeping Workshops

  • 2011 Farm Business Analysis-The time is now!

  • Tree Harvesting on Your Land; Legal Liability Issues and Precautions

  • AEDE New Faculty: Sathya Gopalakrishnan

  • Ohio Farm Custom Rate Survey 2012

  • Ag Lease 101-New Website Houseing North Central Lease Bulletins and Sample Leases

  • Ohio Court of Appeals Denies Township Challenge to ODA Anhydrous Regulations

  • RMA Makes Changes in Biotech Endorsement Program and Streamlines Crop Reporting Dates

  • Farm Business New Year's Resolutions

  • Targeting a Fair Rent or Crop Share Lease Agreement

  • Biotechnology and Variation in Average US Yields

  • Understanding Current Prices: Lack of a US Corn Yield Trend since 2003

  • IRS Announces 2012 Standards Mileage Rates

  • Insurability of Crops Following Cover Crops
Seven Profit Boosters For Cattlemen
By Del Deterling
DTN/The Progressive Farmer Contributing Editor

Sometimes it's the input you spend a little more on that can give you the greatest payback. (Progressive Farmer file photo)
This season's strong market is the perfect time to be thinking of ways to turn profits into even stronger, long-term returns. In some cases it's the input you spend a little more on that has the potential for the greatest payback.
Profit Booster No. 1
Consider Calf Implants. If you're looking for a good return on investment, start with implants for baby calves. According to Steve Hammack, Texas AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, an implant costs only a few dollars. It can be given at the same time calves are worked to be castrated, vaccinated or branded, with almost no additional labor. And the payoff, in pounds, can be surprising.
"Our long-term research shows an average increase of 20 pounds in gain from implanting at weaning age," Hammock reports. "With calf prices at or above $1.20 a pound, that's better than a 10-to-1 return. No other animal husbandry practice gives that kind of return."
Shawn Mercer, of Richton, Miss., says implants cost him about $1.10 each, not counting labor. "We figure it adds at least an extra 10 pounds," he reports.
Profit Booster No. 2
Shape Up Your Calves. Johnny Morrow, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and his brothers Aaron and Wilbert, of Eutaw, Ala., add value to their calves by preconditioning them prior to sale. Steers and heifers receive a complete regimen of vaccinations and health treatments, then are fed for 45 days before being sold.
Morrow estimates cost for medications and feed at $50 to $70 per animal, an expense they more than recover just in gains of 3 pounds per head per day. They then sort steers by weight, frame size and color, and sell them in truckload or semi truckload lots through special board sales.
"We've received as much as 10 to 15 cents a pound more for calves sold through these sales," Morrow reports.
They also sell heifers, either open or bred, through special Alabama Beef Improvement Association sales. He says the extra care they give to heifer development results in prices at least one-third greater than if they would sell them at auction.
Profit Booster No. 3
Buy Quality Replacements. A replacement heifer can impact your herd for seven to 10 years. So if you buy heifers, make sure they help upgrade your herd.
James Neel, University of Tennessee Extension beef cattle specialist, cautions against buying at an auction.
"In more cases than not, they're being sold at auction for a reason. They're likely somebody's culls," he says. Instead, Neel recommends buying replacements from a reputable breeder with known genetics.
"It is important to know how the offspring of your heifers will fit into your marketing plan," Neel adds.
"Get as much information as possible on the genetic makeup of the heifer, including EPDs [Expected Progeny Differences] and carcass data on half brothers."
Profit Booster No. 4
Outsource Equipment Costs. Shawn Mercer, of Richton, Miss., buys ready-mixed commodity rations for his stockers, although he estimates it may be as much as 20 percent more costly than buying straight commodities and mixing them himself.
But he figures he makes up most of the cost not having to own, maintain and operate the mixing equipment. He also picks up savings by buying feed in bulk—20- to 25-ton loads.
Mercer tries to keep 500 stockers on hand at all times, along with about 100 cows, and he has a full-time off-farm job. It is worth it to him to have someone else own the equipment and provide the labor.
"It also may cost me more to have someone else bale my hay or spread my fertilizer than for what I could do it myself," he concedes.
"But after considering my time, the cost of owning and maintaining the machinery and the extra labor required, I figure I'm coming out ahead."
Profit Booster No. 5
Avoid "Bargain Seed." Use only high-quality seed from forage varieties that were in the top group in variety tests when seeding new pastures or hayfields.
Garry Lacefield, University of Kentucky pasture specialist, says it makes no sense to buy common variety seed, which may be available for $1 a pound, instead of paying $3 a pound for high-quality seed after you already have made a major investment in seed preparation, seeding techniques and fertilizer.
Lacefield cites results from variety trials in which the top red clover varieties lasted an average of three seasons compared to one or two seasons for the lower-quality varieties. In the final analysis, the top varieties produced about $400 more in dry matter yields with the same amount of fertilizer and water.
Another example is with endophyte-free Max Q fescue. A study in Arkansas showed 662 pounds of animal gain per acre from Max Q versus 270 pounds with Kentucky 31. The Max Q fescue produced a net profit of $91 an acre compared to a net loss with the Kentucky 31.
Profit Booster No. 6
Don't Skimp on Lime. When fertilizer prices skyrocketed several years ago, many producers cut back on fertilizing and totally eliminated liming of pastures and hayfields.
Vincent Haby, former soil scientist employed by Texas AgriLife Research and now a full-time rancher, points out that many grasses and legumes are sensitive to soil acidity. Soil pH must be maintained at levels above 5.5 to prevent potential aluminum and manganese toxicities and to promote root growth; and at about 6.2 for nitrogen fixation by legumes and to ensure adequate forage production.
In experiments at the Texas A&M Research & Extension Center at Overton, Haby increased hay yields of Tifton 85 bermudagrass by as much as 1,566 pounds per acre by pushing soil pH from 4.5 to 5.5. Yields went to 3,133 pounds when pH was increased to 6.5. The increased value of the hay was $157 per acre with a cost of $90 per acre for limestone.
In another experiment on ryegrass, an expenditure of $71.40 for limestone changed soil pH from 4.5 to 6.2. Increased ryegrass production of 5.68 tons of dry matter in three seasons was estimated to increase stocker weight gain by 1,193 pounds.
Assuming a value of 60 cents a pound, this resulted in an increased gross return of $215 per acre per season, above the cost of the limestone.
Haby recommends using the highest quality limestone available, even though the cost per ton is slightly higher. In his experiments, 3 tons of ECCE 62 percent limestone (effective calcium carbonate equivalence) was required to produce the same yield as 2 tons of 81 percent limestone or 1 ton of 100 percent limestone.
Haby points out that 100 percent limestone reacts in acid soils to increase pH faster, raises pH to a higher level than coarser grinds, and maintains a higher pH over a longer time.

Profit Booster No.7
Improve Body Condition Scores. Texas AgriLife Research results show that increasing a BCS from 3 to 4 improves pregnancy rates by 19.3 percent and weaning weights by 53.4 pounds.
Moving from a BCS of 4 to 5 resulted in a 17.1 percent increase in pregnancy rates and a 36.1-pound increase in weaning weights. With calves bringing $1.20 per pound, that easily converts to more than $100 increased production per cow.
   
Check out these websites for more information.

    
Croplangenetics.com


Foragefirst.com



 


 


 


 


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