Water is the most essential nutrient for life. The health of our livestock and their performance depends on access to clean, adequate water. WQKT host Ron Hamilton and Wayne County Extension Ag Program Assistant Matthew Nussbaum discuss providing both the quantity of water that livestock require during the summer months as well as some management practices to ensure that the provided water is as clean and safe as possible. Livestock may drink more than you think, especially in the hot and humid days of Ohio’s summer. Listen in to learn more.

All About Agriculture

Episode 71 - Livestock Water: Quality and Quantity

Tank mixing allows for the treatment of various pests, for example weeds and disease, in the same sprayer pass. Successful tank mixing can save time and money. However, when tank mixes are not compatible, dollars are lost due to decreased pesticide or product efficacy and in increased time needed to clean out a sprayer. This podcast discusses common mistakes that lead to tank mixing errors and incompatible spray mixes and provides a protocol to use when considering tank mixes.

Episode 70 - Tank Mixing Pesticides

Moisture content drives what happens to forage after it is removed from the field, whether quality is maintained or degraded. Improper moisture content can reduce storage life. If the moisture content is not correct, hay can mold and spoil, baleage and silage will not ferment properly. This podcast discusses tools available to help determine forage moisture content including microwave ovens, commercial forage moisture testers, vortex dryers, moisture probes and moisture sensors.

Episode 69 - Determining Forage Moisture Content

Baleage combines baling with ensiling. Forage is baled at high moisture content and wrapped in plastic. Baleage offers the rewards of producing a high quality, highly palatable forage under weather conditions not conducive to dry hay production. If not made correctly, there are increased feeding risks from botulism and listeriosis organisms. This podcast covers practices that ensure high quality baleage, including moisture content, bale density, and wrapping. Risk factors of potential botulism and listeriosis are identified.

Episode 68 - Baleage Rewards and Risks

Pastures respond to management. Increase pasture productivity by following the four “R’s” of grazing management; Right beginning grazing height, Remove/Reduce seed heads, Residual leaf area and Rest period. This podcast describes each of the four R management practices, concluding with a practical application of what is needed to apply these management principles.

Episode 67 - Grazing Management Increases Pasture Productivity

Dairy cows have an optimal environmental temperature of 40-60 F, so heat stress is a concern during summer months. This podcast discusses heat stress in dairy cows, the consequences of heat stress and visible indicators of heat stress. Fans are an important component of heat abatement and managing dairy cow heat stress. Basic ventilation system maintenance is outlined in the podcast.

Episode 66 - Heat Abatement and Ventilation System Maintenance

The alfalfa weevil is an early season pest that can cause damage to alfalfa in terms of both yield and quality reductions as weevil larvae chew on alfalfa plant leaves. This podcast describes how to identify the weevil larvae and their damage and the scouting procedure for alfalfa weevil. Economic treatment thresholds depend upon the number or larvae per stem and the height of the alfalfa plant.

Episode 65 - Alfalfa Weevil Scouting

Typically, farm biosecurity focuses on protecting livestock health, but the concern with COVID-19 is human health. Since farms, in particular farm labor, are not able to work remotely, this podcast discusses on farm biosecurity practices that can help to keep farm family members and farm employees safe during the COVID-19 coronavirus focusing on farm personnel behavior, modification of common practices and disinfection.

Episode 64 - COVID-19 Farm Biosecurity

Protocols are defined as a set of steps or procedures that guide or define how a larger task is accomplished. They are useful because they lay out the details of a specific task. This podcast discusses common pitfalls of farm protocols and how to write protocols that will be followed by farm employees and that will produce positive results on the farm. Some specific protocol examples are included.

Episode 63 - Using Protocols to Train Farm Employees

As we look towards the 2020 planting season, we don’t want a cover crop competing with a primary or cash grain crop. Therefore, the grower needs a plan in place to control or terminate the existing growth before the corn or soybean plant emerges. This podcast covers timing of cover crop termination and methods of cover crop termination including both mechanical and chemical termination. Mechanically, tillage, mowing and rolling/crimping are discussed. Chemical termination includes use of both systemic and contact herbicides.

Episode 62 - Cover Crop Termination

Evaluate winter wheat stand yield potential after green up. This podcast describes using stand counts and weed pressure assessments to determine yield potential and whether a stand should be kept or rotated to another crop. For stands that will be kept for grain harvest, the weed assessment also determines if there is a need for an herbicide application. The podcast closes with a discussion on nitrogen fertilization of stands, including the use of livestock manure.

Episode 61 - Winter Wheat Stand Evaluation

Calf scours or diarrhea is one of the leading causes of early calf mortality. This podcast is based on a presentation given by Dr. Jess Goff at the 2020 NE Ohio Regional Dairy Conference in Wooster. The podcast begins with a discussion of normal small intestine function. The next point is causes of calf diarrhea and the resulting disruption of normal small intestine function. The podcast concludes with a discussion of how to evaluate the severity of calf diarrhea and use of rehydration fluid as a treatment option.

Episode 60 - Identifying and Treating Calf Diarrhea

Late winter and early spring are traditionally good times to frost seed in Ohio. Frost seeding is a pasture and hayfield renovation practice. It involves broadcasting seed during periods of freeze/thaw cycles to ensure good seed/soil contact. This podcast covers what is necessary for a successful frost seeding regarding sod condition, timing, species, and seeding rates.

Episode 59 - Frost Seeding

Cattle lice are contagious and can build up to high population levels during the winter to early springtime period. This podcast discusses the types of lice, their biology and lifecycle, along with the potential for reduced weight gains, anemia and increased illnesses associated with heavy infestations. Symptoms of cattle with lice infestations are discussed. The podcast concludes with treatment options.

Episode 58 - Cattle Lice

All employers, including farms hiring farm labor need to report new hires to the state of Ohio. This podcast outlines the reporting requirements including the necessary forms such as the W4 and I-9 Employment Eligibility form that need to be filled out and filed. Timelines and resources for more information are provided. The podcast concludes with some tips for a first day orientation to provide a positive first day employment experience.

Episode 57 - New Hire Reporting and First Day Orientation

All about Agriculture is a podcast featuring recorded interviews with Wooster WQKT radio host Ron Hamilton as part of Farm Hour program broadcasts. The primary audience for these interviews is dairy farmers but the interviews often have wider application and interest. Topics covered include: farm financial management, farm employee management, manure management, milk quality, forage production and use, silage management, grain storage and more.

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All About Agriculture

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