Performing a soil test is one of the most underutilized range management tools. Knowing your soil’s fertility and what nutrients are provided is crucial. Often times producers just put out the same fertilizer they always have and hope for the best.
Soil fertility and health is important for forage production. When forage production is increased that means there is less need for providing supplements. When you have to provide fewer supplements that means less cost for you the producer. Do you see the importance of taking care of the soil?
In order to improve pasture health, productivity, and longevity an effective first step must be taken. This is where doing a soil test comes in. However, this often gets put on the back burner as producers deal with the everyday tasks of caring for their land and livestock. Here are 5 tips to get the most return from your soil test.
Prickly pear as well as with other species of cactus is a common problem in pastures. It is not an uncommon sight to have many cacti growing out in a pasture. They can interfere with the movement of livestock and cause serious health problems.
Drought can be a very devastating thing to deal with. Forages stop producing, making it difficult for ranchers to make it. All in all, drought can make things seem pretty bleak while going through it.
Looking out onto a field of perfectly rolled hay bales is a beautiful sight to see. It is even more impactful if you are the one that baled them. Can feel yourself filling with pride on a job well done.
Having a good summer pasture management plan in place can save you a lot of headaches later on. It will give you a chance to put out any potential fires, not literally, before they can occur.
Drought is one of those things that every cattle producer will have to deal with at some point. It ranks right up there with Death and Taxes. Just like those two though it is unavoidable however it is also something that most producers find themselves unprepared for.
Cedar, more accurately known as juniper, can be a very difficult plant to control. It is a very aggressive woody plant that grows here in Texas as well as in other places. It is often viewed as invasive because if left unchecked it can quickly take over a pasture choking out any grass growth.
Fertilizer costs have increased a lot over the last few decades, even more over the last year. An example of this is that nitrogen fertilizer has doubled in just the last 2 years. With the way things are going it is not looking it will change for the better any time soon.
Spring is almost around the corner. The temperatures will soon start to rise and the grass, hopefully, will begin to grow again. For most people, pasture management comes to mind when the temperatures start to rise but that is not necessarily the case. It is important to get a start on it now.
Mesquite trees are the most popular “trash” tree out there. Though mostly that popularity is due to the excellent firewood that it provides. Despite it being able to provide us with some really good firewood it does pose some problems for range managers.
