Cattle and Grassland Management
Estimating Water Requirements for Mature Beef Cows
Cattle require a minimum amount of water, reflecting the water necessary for growth, fetal development, lactation, and replacing water lost from urine, sweat, and evaporation. An adequate supply of clean, fresh water is a critical component of maintaining healthy, productive livestock.This publication explains water needs for beef cattle and estimates daily water requirements considering temperature and feed intake.
Cow-Calf Management Options When Pasture Is Limited
To remain profitable in the face of widespread drought, record grain and feed prices, and other economic uncertainties, Kansas beef producers must focus on capturing value, managing returns, and implementing least-cost production strategies. This publication helps beef producers determine appropriate management practices for cow-calf operations when pasture is limited.
Confinement Cow Feeding
When drought or other factors increase competition for grazing land, beef producers may consider moving cattle off grass and feeding them in a confinement pen. This publication provides information on culling decisions, diets, housing, and other concerns associated with this practice.
Mature Cow Size Considerations
Even though the optimal phenotype for this characteristic has been debated for many years, it continues to be an import consideration because of the impact it can have on ranch profitability, appropriate stocking rate and consumer acceptance of beef products.
Alternative Burning Strategies: Effects on Cattle, Grassland, and the Environment
This publication describes research on the effects of patch burning versus traditional pasture burning and the viability of this practice as a strategy for reducing greenhouse emissions from cattle grazing systems.
Weather, Climate and Climate Science
National Weather Service Forecasts: Serving Agriculture
This publication describes various weather tools available from the National Weather Service.
National Weather Service: Climate Outlooks Serving Agriculture
Climate Outlooks from the National Weather Service can be used to better understand weather trends. This publication explains how to use these outlooks to adjust crops or grazing to better adjust for general weather trends.
What Is the Difference between Weather and Climate
This publication explains the different measurements and meanings of weather and climate.
Top 10 Questions about Carbon and CO2 in Agriculture
This publication addresses 10 of the most common questions about carbon and carbon dioxide as they relate to agriculture.
Cover Crops and Soil Management
Managing Soil Compaction
Jason Warren, and Randy Taylor
This fact sheet discusses the causes of, plant symptoms, and how to correct soil compaction.
Using Sunn Hemp as a Cover Crop in Oklahoma
Jason Warren, Tracy Wilson, and Jeff Edwards
This Fact Sheet will provide information on some of the expected benefits and potential challenges of using sunn hemp as a summer cover crop.
Using the GreenSeeker and Sensor-Based Nitrogen Rate Calculator
PSS-2278 (OSU)
Joy Abit & Brian Arnall
The Sensor-based Nitrogen Rate Calculator (SBNRC) is a free on-line sensor-based nitrogen (N) recommendation calculator. This web-based application was developed at Oklahoma State University and has been documented to increase profit of winter wheat production through either the reduction of N fertilizer inputs without loss of yield or an increase in yields with increased N fertilizer.
Grazing Cover Crops in Cropland (Southern SARE)
Southern Cover Crops 2016 Conference Fact Sheet
Jose Dubeux, Jason Warren & Alan Franzluebbers
Cover crops are an important component of conservation agricultural systems in the Southeastern U.S. For some producers with extensive experience using cover crops, grazing can be a ‘next step’ in obtaining additional economic value while achieving environmental stewardship.
Forage Crops - Grazing Management: Toxic Plants
MF3244 (KSU)
Jaymelynn Farney, Doug Shoup, Dave Rethorst, Dale Blasi and John Holman
Cover crops are gaining popularity as annual forages but may pose risks for grazing livestock. Describes animal health problems associated with certain species.
Evaluating Multispecies Cover Crops for Forage Production
Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 2: Iss. 3
C. Davis, D. Presley, J.K. Farney, and G.F. Sasenrath
Cover crops offer potential benefits for improving soil health, but establishment and management costs can be expensive. One way for farmers to recover these costs is to graze the forage, which benefits producers by integrating crop and animal production. 2015 version.
Dual-Purpose Wheat Management
Dual-Purpose Wheat: Improving Grazing Management Using A Smartphone App
Romulo Lollato, Andres Patrignani, Tyson Ochsner, Alexandre Rocateli, Peter Tomlinson, Jeff Edwards
Canopeo is a rapid and accurate green canopy cover measurement tool developed at Oklahoma State University. Canopeo is available as an application for both Android and iOS devices and enables the user to measure the percentage of green canopy cover in real time.
Dual-Purpose Wheat: Management for Forage and Grain Production
Romulo Lollato, David Marburger, Johnathon D. Holman, Peter Tomlinson, DeAnn Presley, and Jeff Edwards
This publication describes some of the management techniques used when producers plan to graze wheat fields and harvest a grain crop.
Wheat Variety Date of First Hollow Stem, Fall Forage Yield, and Grain Yield 2016
MF3312 (KSU)
Romulo Lollato, Amanda de Oliveira Silva, Rafael Maeoka, Gary Cramer, Brent Jaenisch, and Jane Lingenfelser
To be successful in dual-purpose systems, wheat varieties often require traits that are overlooked in grain-only systems. These traits include fall forage yield potential, date of first hollow stem, potential for recovery from grazing, resistance to viral diseases common under early planting, high temperature germination sensitivity, coleoptile length, tolerance to low soil pH, and aluminum toxicity.
No-till Wheat Production in Oklahoma
PSS-2132 (OSU)
Jeff Edwards, Francis Epplin, Bob Hunger, Case Medlin, Tom Royer, Randy Taylor, and Hailin Zhang
This fact sheet discusses the many considerations to be taking into account when making a decision of switching from conventional till to no-till method of wheat production.
Wheat Growth and Development
Romulo Lollato
This 20-inch by 30-inch, full-color poster illustrates the wheat’s growth stages.
Wheat Variety Disease and Insect Ratings
MF991 (KSU)
Erick DeWolf, Romulo Lollato, Jeff Whitworth
Revised and expanded for 2016. Agronomic characteristics and expanded disease resistance information is included. Genetic resistance to diseases and insect pests is usually the most effective, economical, and environmentally sound control method. Resistance ratings represent results of multiple field and greenhouse evaluations by public and private wheat researchers. Ratings help producers select wheat varieties and minimize potential for serious yield losses.