Planting tips

“The weather models are projecting more heat and moisture for next week, which should get the crop off to a great start,” he says. The pressure to get off to a strong start is apparent every year. But Peter Thomison, an Ohio State University agronomist, says farmers should avoid a few common spring planting errors that can result in lower yield potential before a single plant has even emerged. It’s often smarter to hold off when timing is poor – even if the clock is ticking, he says. “Growers who aren’t finding favorable planting conditions may want to hold off planting, especially if the weather forecast calls for cold, wet weather conditions,” he says. “Yield reductions from mudding in the corn can be more costly than delayed planting. Some years, we’ve had growers who reported outstanding yields on corn that wasn’t planted until late May.” Thomison offers seven “tried and true” pieces of advice for planting season. 1. If conditions aren’t right, don’t rush in and plant just for the sake of planting early. 2. Perform tillage only when necessary and under the proper soil conditions. 3. Avoid working with wet soil and reduce secondary tillage passes. This can cause shallow compaction and reduce crop yields. Deeper tillage is more appropriate during late summer and into fall on dry soil, and only after compacted zones have been identified. 4. Adjust seeding depth according to soil conditions. Plant corn between 1.5” and 2” deep. This will provide protection against frost and allow for adequate root development. Adjust seed depth for weather and soil conditions. 5. Adjust seeding rates by field. Fields with high yield potential, high soil-fertility levels and high water-holding capacity benefit most from higher seeding rates. Consider lower seeding rates on droughty soils or with late-planted crops. Push seeding rates only where appropriate so you don’t incur unnecessary input costs. 6. Reduce risk by planting a mix of early, mid and full-season varieties. This tactic also spreads out harvest time and workload. 7. Plant full-season hybrids first to reap the most benefits from maximized heat unit accumulation. In this video from Corn College TV Season 3, Farm Journal agronomists recap the “Systems Approach” to farming by starting with the planter, planter technology, maintenance and upkeep as a way to get more out of every planter pass.

Dog Infects Humans With Plague for First Time in US

A plague-infected dog spread the dangerous disease to four Colorado residents, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health officials told ABC News that this the first report of a dog infecting a human with the plague in the U.S. The dog, a 2-year-old American pit bull terrier, became sick last summer with a fever and jaw rigidity, among other symptoms. The dog's health declined so quickly that it was euthanized the following day at a local vet's office, health officials said. Four days later, the dog's owner entered the hospital with a fever and a bloody cough that became worse over the next few hours, but an initial blood culture was misidentified, according to the CDC report. As the patient's symptoms grew worse, the test was redone and he was found to have been infected with pnumonic plague, according to the CDC report. The remains of the dog were also tested and were found to be positive for the plague bacteria. "Frankly one of the biggest surprises of this outbreak is the source," said John Douglas, of Tri-County Health Department in Colorado and one of the study authors. "Primarily ... dogs don’t get sick at all or they get a minor illness," after being infected with the plague. Janine Runfola, of the Tri-County Health Department in Colorado and lead author of the report, explained that cats are more likely to infect humans with the disease than dogs because they exhibit more symptoms. ABC

Lucy Jane Schafer 1933-2015

Lucy Jane (Lewis) Schafer began her journey here on earth on November 21, 1933 and entered into the next leg of her journey on April 25, 2015. She was born to Eldo and Opal (Walker) Lewis and her roots run deep in the Weed and Crowflat areas. Lucy Jane married John Gilbert Schafer on April 28, 1956 in Anapra, NM. Around 1960 they moved to the Lewis family ranch on Crowflat. Lucy Jane was active in the ranching industry. She was a devoted member and officer of the Otero Cowbelles, member and board member of New Mexico Cattle Grower's Association, member of Farm Bureau, and a founding member and officer of the Otero County Cattleman's Association. She received many awards for her dedication and service to all aspects of the industry. She loved the ranch, country people, horses, a good fiddle tune, and dancing. Lucy Jane was preceded in death by her husband John, her parents Eldo and Opal, one sister Millie Dodge, and her Aunt Cordelia Lewis. She is survived by her three daughters Jonna Lou Schafer & Dale Leith of the family home, Sheri & Ken McCain from Beaumont TX, Rhonda & Earl Mitchell from Clovis NM, one grandson Jason Mitchell from Clovis NM, one sister Ruth Tanner from Pinon NM, one brother Harvey Lewis (Pow Wow) from Las Cruces NM, a brother-in-law Tom Rogers of Kingman AZ and numerous nieces and two nephews. Services will be conducted at a later date. Memorials may be given to a charity of your choice or to: Otero Cowbelles Opal Lewis Memorial Fund [%] Estelle Bond PO Box 427 High Rolls New Mexico 88325 Otero County Cattleman's Association PO Box 595 Weed New Mexico 88354 Professional care and arrangements are being provided by Steed-Todd Funeral Home, 800 E. Manana Blvd., Clovis, New Mexico 88101 (575) 763-5541. You may sign the online guest registry at www.steedtodd.com

NM Game Commission considers proposal for cougar trapping

A proposal to allow New Mexico hunters to use traps to kill mountain lions has sparked strong opposition from environmental and animal protection groups. The Game Commission will begin studying the trapping plan – and other proposed changes to cougar and bear hunting rules – at a meeting in Farmington next week. Five public meetings around the state also will be held on the idea over the next month. But a coalition of environmental groups is already speaking out, with eight organizations signing onto a letter sent Friday that urged game commissioners to reject the cougar trapping plan. “Allowing traps for cougars, in addition to all the traps that are now allowed to be scattered across public land for other species, would be irresponsible,” said Mary Katherine Ray, the wildlife chairwoman for the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club. The Game and Fish Department, which is proposing the new hunting rules for mountain lions and bears, described the trapping proposal on its website as one of several “initial ideas” the agency is considering. Currently, New Mexico hunters with a special cougar license can use rifles, handguns or bow and arrow to hunt mountain lions year-round. Trapping is not allowed, except on private land with permission from the Game and Fish Department. In all, the agency allows for about 750 mountain lions to be killed in the state each year, but it says only about 30 percent of that number – roughly 225 animals – are actually shot by hunters. The cougar population in New Mexico is estimated to be between 3,000 and 4,500. Under the proposed rule change, traps and snares would be allowable on public land in certain cougar management zones in which the annual hunting limit has not been met, according to the Game and Fish Department...more

BLM unveils dart-injection birth-control plan for Utah horses

Later this month, the Bureau of Land Management will begin administering contraceptives to free-roaming mares in Tooele County, this time using dart guns to avoid rounding up these wild horses. Horse proliferation across the Western range is among the most vexing challenges facing the federal land agency, which is obligated under federal law to both protect the animals but also ensure forage remains available for public-lands grazers. Contraception is viewed as a promising alternative to the usual practice of rounding up excess horses, which has largely been panned as a costly failure. Few horses are adopted and thousands will spend the remainder of their lives in corrals. Meanwhile, free-roaming horse populations grow, putting pressure on a range already depleted by drought and cattle. In a decision released Friday, BLM's Utah office will administer the contraceptive Porcine Zona Pellucida, or PZP, with darts to mares roaming the Onaqui Mountain Herd Management Area, a 207,000-acre patch of public land 60 miles southwest of Tooele. It currently is home to 317 wild horses, far above what BLM has determined to be an "appropriate management level."...more

CONFIRMED 2015 INDEX CASE OF VESICULAR STOMATITIS VIRUS

CONFIRMED 2015 INDEX CASE OF VESICULAR STOMATITIS VIRUS For Immediate Release: The New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB) is working with USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services on the investigation of a case of vesicular stomatitis (VS) detected in a horse in Grant County, New Mexico. VS is an infectious viral disease of livestock that typically causes painful blister-like lesions on the lips, nostrils, tongue, coronary bands and teats. Humans can become infected when handling animals, contaminated materials, tissues, blood or viral cultures. Continue reading the full press release

CATTLE OUTLOOK

CATTLE OUTLOOK – Ron Plain and Scott Brown Ag Economics, MU May 1, 2015 USDA’s April cattle on feed report said the number of steers on feed was up 5.4% at the start of April while the number of heifers in large feedlots was down 10.1%. That gap of 15.5 points is the largest since October 2005. The number of heifers on feed, 3.342 million, was only 44.8% of the number of steers on feed, 7.455 million. This is the first time the heifer/steer ratio has been under 50% since USDA started this data series in 2001. Both percentages are obvious indications of aggressive heifer retention and upcoming herd growth. The number of cattle weighing 800 pounds or more placed on feed in March was up 16.1%. The number placed weighing less than 800 pounds was down 7.8%. Placement of more heavy weight cattle mean fewer days until slaughter. Fed cattle prices this week were higher on moderate volume. Through Thursday, the 5-area average price for slaughter steers sold on a live weight basis was $159.17/cwt, up 26 cents from last week’s average and up $11.38 from a year ago. The 5 area average dressed price this week for steers was $253.90/cwt, up $1.76 for the week and up $17.52 compared to the same week last year. This morning the choice boxed beef cutout value was $254.50/cwt, down $4.28 from the previous Friday, but up $25.26 from a year ago. The select carcass cutout was $242.38/cwt this morning, down $6.90 from last week, but up $24.12 from a year ago. Cattle slaughter this week totaled 566,000 head, up 4.0% from the week before, but down 7.2% from the same week last year. Year-to-date cattle slaughter is down 7.4% and beef production is down 5.2%. The average steer dressed weight for the week ending on April 18 was 872 pounds, up 1 pound from the week before and up 28 pounds compared to the same week last year. Steer weights have been above year-ago each week since June 14, 2014. Feeder cattle prices at Oklahoma City were mostly steady to $4 higher this week. Prices for medium and large frame #1 steers by weight group were: 400-450# $306, 450-500# $278-$289, 500-550# $269-$292, 550-600# $235-$271.50, 600-650# $220-$268, 650-700# $229-$247, 700-750# $222.50-$229, 750-800# $210.25-$218, 800-900# $193-$211.50, and 900-1000#, $182-$196.25/cwt. Cattle futures declined this week. The June live cattle futures contract settled at $149.17/cwt today, down $2.03 for the week. August fed cattle settled at $147.82/cwt, down $1.90 from the previous week. October fed cattle lost $1.62 this week to settle at $149.60/cwt. December live cattle ended the week at $150.67/cwt. The May feeder cattle contract ended the week at $213.62/cwt, down 45 cents for the week. August feeders settled at $215.07/cwt which is 60 cents lower than the week before. September feeders ended the week at $214.70/cwt.