Seral stage is a reference to what developmental stage a plant community is currently within.
Plant communities which have been impacted by disturbances and set back to earlier types of plant communities are considered to be “low” or “developing” seral stage. Plant communities which are con Continue reading…
Some call it the “perfect storm” of low precipitation, high temperatures and extreme wind that has produced serious consequences for western Nebraska trees. What many residents could not detect in the early days of spring is now unmistakably obvious—brown tree tops and dying windbreaks. Even trees o Continue reading…
Heat stress is hard on livestock, especially if it is in combination with high humidity and low wind speed. The degree of heat stress is dependent on the animal’s activity, body condition, coat cover and color, and disposition.
Signs of heat stress
Signs of heat stress (depends on specie) may incl Continue reading…
This year the Panhandle is the area in Nebraska at greatest risk for damaging grasshopper feeding in rangeland, according to USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) scouting reports. Overall surveys have revealed some of the lowest grasshopper densities statewide in years (Figure 1). Continue reading…
There is no doubt that feed costs are a substantial portion of the total costs associated with growing animals. Anderson and others (2005) estimated feed costs accounts for 66% of costs in calf-fed systems and 77% in yearling finishing systems. The ability to improve the utilization of nutrients h Continue reading…
Many producers are searching for alternatives to replace high priced feed again this year. Recently, research is being conducted at several Universities to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of treating crop residues with calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide in diets that include wet distill Continue reading…
Wheat harvest in Nebraska will soon be upon us. As drought conditions continue in Nebraska it appears there will be quite a bit of demand for hay and forage this fall and winter. This may lead many producers to consider what annual forages could be planted into irrigated wheat stubble in western N Continue reading…
WINDROW GRAZING TO EXTEND GRAZING, PRESERVE QUALITY
How do you handle pastures that grow too fast? That’s what brome as well as crop fields planted to oats or cereal rye for grazing have done lately. There are several options.
The most obvious way to Continue reading…