Ag News & Views: January 2009 Table of Contents

January, 2009 Table of Contents News & Views Archive Issues

Economics
Solutions to Turbulent Times for Agricultural Producers by Job Springer
The stock market is not the only investment that has fallen in value during 2008 - the agricultural commodities markets have, too. Many agricultural producers across the United States are feeling the pinch from falling commodity prices. Because of the current downturn in these markets, it has become more important than ever for agricultural producers to manage their price risks.

Horticulture
Bareroot Planting Basics by Charles Rohla
When planting pecan orchards, producers have two options for orchard establishment: container trees or bareroot trees. A common trend is the use of bareroot trees when developing orchards.

Livestock
Take Care of Your Heifers and They Will Take Care of You by Robert Wells
About the end of every year, beef producers have sold the last calf crop and have a few weeks or months of relative calm before calving season starts. It is easy to become complacent about the cow herd and the replacement heifers, but if you don't take care of them now, they will not be able to take care of you in the future.

Pasture and Range
Why Am I Feeding All This Hay? by Chan Glidewell
How about this for a New Year's resolution? Feed less hay next winter. There is nothing you can do about your forage situation for the remainder of this winter, aside from selling cattle or buying more hay.

Research
Improved Small Grain Varieties for Livestock Forage by Malay Saha , Jerry Baker and Joe Bouton
Livestock and forage production are the largest contributors to agricultural income in the southern Great Plains. Small grains are an integral part of forage production in our region.

Soils
Poultry Litter for Fertilizer by Eddie Funderburg
There has been increased interest in using poultry litter as fertilizer since fertilizer prices have skyrocketed. Poultry litter has long been used near the point of production, but high transportation costs for its low analysis has limited its use to within about 50 miles of poultry houses.

Wildlife
Want to Learn How to Safely Burn? by Will Moseley
Prescribed burning is one of the most valuable and cost effective tools available to manage our rangelands. Fire was an integral part of the ecosystem in southern Oklahoma and northern Texas throughout history, and our plant communities are adapted to fire.