All About Agriculture: Recent Episodes
Ohio State University Extension
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What is the land rental rate in “X” county? There is not a single price point answer to this question. There are tools that can help provide a framework.
This podcast discusses the factors involved in determining a land rental rate and why this is a discussion between landowner and land renter to arrive at a rental rate. The podcast discusses why written agreements are important to prevent misunderstandings, protect both parties and provides examples of what should be included in the agreement.
The first 10 minutes of this podcast focuses on the Acreage Risk Coverage (ARC), Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program decision that farm commodity crop growers need to make by March 15 to participate in the 2018 farm bill. Each program is briefly explained, along with scenarios where each program is most likely to result in a payment.
Listeners are directed to decision help tools on the OSU Extension farm bill web site at go.osu.edu/farmbill2019 for more information. The podcast concludes with upcoming farm bill meetings in the Wayne County area during January 2020.
Calves are more susceptible to cold stress as compared to older animals because they have low body fat reserves and a larger surface area to body mass ratio, so they lose body heat more rapidly. Calf managers need to understand the lower critical temperatures of young calves as a starting point. Winter care needs to focus on the calf’s physical environment including housing, and nutrition.
This podcast provides some recommendations to keep calves dry, comfortable and growing in winter weather conditions.
Winter weather complicates general hoof care management because we get frozen and uneven walking surfaces, along with cold, wet surfaces and slippery areas. Wet conditions, and physical trauma that can result from those uneven walking surfaces and slips while walking contribute to higher incidences of digital dermatitis.
This podcast discusses the effect of winter weather on digital dermatitis management and provides some ideas and tips to keep hooves healthy and digital dermatitis at bay during the winter.
There are two primary risks associated with bunker silos and silage piles: a person working on top of the pile or the bunker falling off the pile/bunker, and second, a person or persons on the ground near the silo or pile being buried by a silage avalanche. All bunker silos and silage piles are not the same. Factors that should be considered when assessing safety risks are height of the silage, face management, and labor tasks. Safety measures and guidelines are discussed.
High somatic cell count (SCC) milk is lower quality milk. This podcast focuses on explaining the significance of SCC, its relationship to mastitis and what the farm can do to manage for low SCC. Use of bulk tank SCC as well as individual cow records can help to identify high SCC issues. Management practices to reduce mastitis and keep SCC low include good milking protocols and providing a clean environment for the cow.
This podcast covers some common methods of measuring milk quality and the quality standards associated with each including somatic cell count, standard plate count, preliminary incubation count, laboratory pasteurization count and coliform count. These quality measures are directly affected by cow health, cow handling, the cows ration, cleanliness of the cow’s environment, milking procedures, milking equipment maintenance & cleaning procedures, and post-milking handling of the milk.
Employee turnover is costly, with sources estimating anywhere from 50% to 150% of an employee’s yearly wage to hire and train a replacement. Increasing employee retention is about more than increasing wages. Surveys indicate that people stay in a job when they feel appreciated and have a sense of belonging.
This podcast discusses some strategies to provide that atmosphere for farm employees and increase employee retention.
Dairy heifer calves represent the future profit center of a dairy operation. Getting a dairy calf off to a healthy start by reducing calf-hood diseases and ensuring good average weight gains translates into a significant milk production advantage in the first lactation.
This podcast covers three management factors to start calves right; colostrum feeding, post-colostrum nutrition and the physical calf-raising environment.
As corn and soybeans are harvested, fields become available for fall manure application. Manure is a good source of both macro and micro nutrients as well as organic matter. This podcast covers some best management practices to ensure nutrients in manure are effectively utilized by next year’s crops while protecting water quality. Risk of manure movement off-site is minimized by considering soil test P levels, application rate, application method and weather forecasts.
Good communication with farm employees helps to keep a farm operation running efficiently and profitably. This podcast describes some strategies to use both verbal and written communication methods more effectively. Developing a farm employee handbook can improve and provide guidance for both verbal and written communication with farm employees.
Other communication methods covered include email, bulletin boards, white boards, one-on-one conversations, farm meetings and telephone calls.
Due to persistent rains, there was a lot of first cutting hay that was not dry baled until the end of June or early July in 2019. The result is poor quality hay. This podcast covers how to use a lab analysis to evaluate forage quality, how to find information regarding livestock nutrient needs and how to match forage quality to livestock needs.
This podcast covers practices and principles necessary to achieve high quality silage with an emphasis on how to manage the portion of the 2019 silage crop that was planted late and will be harvested as an immature corn plant.
Immature corn silage will not have the grain and starch content of conventional corn silage. Producers will need to carefully monitor plant moisture before harvest and possibly consider a cut and wilt rather than field chop harvest method.
The goal of hiring a farm employee, whether part-time or full-time, seasonal or year-round, is to hire the right person for your farm situation. Putting thought and effort into recruitment and interviewing are key factors in making the right hire.
This podcast discusses some practical steps and applications including writing a job description, how to structure the job interview and what types of interview questions to ask.
Farm culture plays an important role in the profitability and success of most farm businesses. Farm culture affects and determines how a farm does business, how communication takes place on the farm, how family members, farm employees, service personnel and visitors to the farm are treated. Understanding farm culture aids in developing an effective human resource program on the farm. This episode examines components of farm culture and how to build a productive farm culture where people enjoy working.
Growers who need supplemental forage can utilize cool-season annual crops planted in August. This episode covers the use of traditional cool-season annuals such as oats, spring triticale, oat/pea, oat/cereal rye, and annual ryegrass. The podcast concludes with non-traditional forage options of soybeans and buckwheat. These forages will all be harvested 50 to 80 days after planting. The episode covers potential yield and forage quality along with management tips.
Potato leafhoppers (PLH) are one of the major economic pests of alfalfa capable of causing both yield and quality losses. This podcast covers the biology and life cycle of PLH as well as the proper scouting procedure involving the use of a sweep net to determine PLH numbers. Sweep net sampling allows a grower to determine if PLH are present at economic treatment levels. Rescue treatment options are discussed.
Clean in Place (CIP) systems are a crucial component of producing high quality milk. This podcast discusses the factors involved in ensuring that the cleaning and sanitizing process is effective. Key factors that need to be monitored include: water temperature; timing of cleaning and sanitizing cycles; volume of water; velocity of water through the system; drainage effectiveness and the chemical balance between cleaning products and the farm’s water supply.
Successful farm transition to the next generation requires planning and is a process that requires effort, good communication, and legal assistance. Farm transition or farm succession is concerned with passing on an economically viable business operation to the next generation. This podcast discusses some of the important steps and considerations in farm transition planning.
Baleage involves wrapping a high moisture forage bale in plastic. This podcast discusses keys to making high quality baleage, including forage maturity, moisture content at baling, bale density, timing of wrapping and number of layers of plastic wrap to use. Depending upon the conditions, a baleage production system could reduce the time between mowing and baling by one-third to fifty percent compared to a dry hay system.
In farm business meetings there is the possibility that there will be difficult, awkward, or undesirable topics that have to be discussed to move the business forward. Additionally, there are difficult conversations that need to take place outside of farm business meetings, in those day-to-day interactions among farm family members and between non-family farm employees.
The focus is on communicating with persons who are under stress, communicating when there are disagreements/misunderstandings, and communicating when there are personal conflicts. The purpose in these conversations is to solve a problem, resolve a conflict, and/or create a healthier and more productive relationship or work environment.
In today’s farming environment, we have to account for the nutrients in manure and sampling manure for analysis is the only way to get a good idea of the nutrients contained in manure. Manure nutrients have value.
This podcast covers why manure should be sampled for nutrient analysis, when to collect a manure sample and some tips on how to collect a representative manure sample.
Severe heaving injury has been observed on many alfalfa fields this spring. This podcast focuses on annual forage options in situations where an entire alfalfa field or significant patches of an alfalfa field have been lost due to winter injury.
Small grains, annual ryegrass as well as some warm season annual grass and legume options are discussed.
Winter weather impacts the survivability and health of the alfalfa stand. Forage growers should plan to spend time assessing winter damage and evaluating stand health to determine if the stand can remain in production or needs to be rotated to another crop.
This podcast covers assessing alfalfa heaving damage and evaluation of stand health through stem counts and digging roots.
Economical and productive heifer management is based on keeping the heifer growing into her second lactation. Managers need to monitor heifer weight and use benchmark goals based on percentage of mature weight. Failing to meet benchmarks has economic consequences.
This podcast provides benchmark goals and discusses the management necessary to reach those goals.
Managing calves to allow them to reach their genetic potential begins at birth. Feeding colostrum up to four days before switching to a milk replacer, understanding calf nutrient requirements and managing human factors are all partof good calf management. The goal is to double body weight between birth to weaning at 56 days of age. Calves have a high efficiency of gainso managers need to optimize nutrition and strive for high average daily gains.
Farm business meetings can build the type of communication and trust that is necessary for a farm business to function more smoothly and that can help a farm succeed into the next generation. This podcast covers how to start and plan farm business meetings, presents some guidelines and ground rules that can help to facilitate orderly communication, and answers some basic questions regarding farm business meetings.
Distinguishing between contagious vs. environmental mastitis is an important component of effective mastitis management that includes the prudent and judicious use of antibiotic therapy. This podcast covers distinguishing characteristics of contagious vs. environmental mastitis, on farm milk culturing, and some strategies and tools to use in the management of mastitis.
Calculating a cost of production for a market unit of any product sold off the farm is useful to answer questions regarding breakeven costs, and to determine how competitive your farm is in the market place. This podcast examines what is needed to calculate a cost of production and how that figure can be used to answer important financial questions.
The ideal employee is both productive and passionate, and while those are personal characteristics, the farm owner/manager also has a responsibility in developing productive and passionate employees. This podcast discusses the role of recruitment, providing clear job responsibilities and expectations, defining job/farm direction and providing positive leadership and supervision in developing and managing productive and passionate employees.
Farm stress due to the current economic conditions in many agricultural enterprises is real. Chronic stress causes physical, mental and emotional damage. It is important that farmers and farm families learn to recognize symptoms of stress. While there are certainly times when professional help is needed, this podcast covers some commonly recommended strategies for managing and coping with stress.
Many dairy farms use a nutritionist to formulate specific rations for their cows, but the actual mixing of that ration and delivery to the cows is done by someone on the farm. A Total Mixed Rations, or TMR, audit reviews and examines the steps involved in gathering, preparing, mixing and delivering the formulated ration and determines if any changes or improvements are needed.
As low milk prices continue, dairy producers need to know their cost of production and where they might find opportunities for financial gain. Feed costs account for more than 50% of the total cost of milk production. This program focuses on some feed cost management practices such as farm grown forages, ration ingredients, feed shrink, and multiple TMR mixes that offer opportunities for cost savings.
In part 2 of dry cow management, the podcast focuses on dry cow nutrition and comfort. The characteristics of dry cow nutrition with regard to the far off and close up dry cow are discussed with attention to forage potassium content and the dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) status of the diet. Some general cow comfort situations regarding bunk space, heat abatement, and resting space recommendations are summarized.
Management decisions and practices during the dry period impacts the health and milk production of the cow in the next lactation. In this part 1 podcast, the topics of dry period length, how to dry off high producing cows, dry cow mastitis prevention treatment, and selective dry cow treatment are discussed.
Forages such as sorghum, sudangrass and sorghum sudangrass hybrids along with some weed species such as Johnsongrass and shattercane can produce hydrogen cyanide, commonly known as prussic acid, after a frost event. Livestock owners need to exercise caution because prussic acid is a very toxic compound, capable of producing death when consumed in relatively small quantities.
The interview outlines forage terms that are important on a forage test result, provides a simple definition/explanation of the term and provides examples of specific numbers and what those numbers tell you about forage quality and, in some cases, about forage production management.
A reliable forage test result depends upon knowing how to collect a representative sample of your forage. The interview covers how to determine forage sample lots, using a core sampler, how to sample various bale types and sizes, how many core samples to collect and how to sample ensiled forages.
Maintaining good grain quality in storage depends upon preparation, minimizing potential moisture, insect and rodent problems. The interview covers cleaning harvesting and grain handling equipment, removing old crop grain from bins, bin cleaning and repair, internal empty bin insecticide treatments and external bin treatments.
Time is a critical factor in manure spills. Emergency spill plans can lead to quicker responses and help to minimize the damage caused by manure spills. Plans should focus on the 4 “C’s” of a manure spill response; control the spill, contain the spill, comply with reporting requirements and clean up the spill.
Preventing manure spills depends upon preparation and understanding why most spills occur and where most spill commonly occur. The interview covers common reasons for manure spills along with situations, areas and places manure spills commonly occur. Farms need to identify areas of risk in their manure handling and application system and develop practices and actions that can prevent manure spills.
Production of high quality corn silage depends upon pre-harvest planning a preparation. Key factors to plan and prepare for include dry matter content of the corn plant at harvest, kernel processing, silage inoculant, silage packing and silo and/or pile covering.
Employee management requires developing a skill set that helps employees to increase their job effectiveness. Four common practices can help; develop good job descriptions, provide effective employee training programs, improve employee morale and address employee productivity issues promptly.
Stray voltage is not a common problem but if it does occur it has the potential to negatively affect milk production and animal health. The interview covers stray voltage causes, symptoms of stray voltage issues with cattle behavior, diagnosing stray voltage, and where to get help solving the problem.
Forages are harvested and stored as dry hay, baleage (wet wrapped) or chopped and ensiled products. Each requires its own management system to produce a quality product. The interview covers forage moisture management, use of preservatives, and “wet” forage production systems compared to dry hay systems.
Stored forage harvesting always involves losses. Making high quality forages is about managing and minimizing biological and mechanical harvest losses. Forage maturity, rainfall events, plant dry down after mowing, and variety selection are discussed within this context.
All spray applications, whether delivering a pesticide, fertilizer or any other product needs to be done accurately, and safely. Best management spray practices focus on knowing and following the label, using the correct droplet size, nozzle and boom height and spraying under appropriate weather conditions. The podcast covers label information, droplet size relating to drift and plant coverage, nozzle selection, boom height and weather factors affecting application efficacy.
Manure nutrients need to be valued and used properly. Determining a manure application rate takes into account the economic value and economic return of nutrients in manure. In addition, a manure application has environmental implications. Manure application rates should be determined within the context of the NRCS code 590 standards. Soil test results, crop nutrient removal rates based on reasonable yield goals, and a nutrient analysis of the manure source are needed to determine a manure application rate.
Agitating manure in liquid storage systems in preparation for hauling and application will release manure gases, which can pose a safety hazard. The gases of concern are ammonia, carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen sulfide. This podcast includes more information about awareness of these gases, hazardous levels, and precautions that should be taken during agitation and pumping of manure.
In this part two podcast of a discussion about milk components with a focus on milk fat and milk protein, the conversation is about management practices that can improve milk fat and milk protein percentage. Genetic selection, heat abatement, ration formulation, feed delivery, feed mixing, recordkeeping and cow observation can all impact milk fat and protein percentage.
While milk price to dairy farmers is reported in terms of dollars per hundredweights shipped, the milk check to the farmer is based on the milk components of butterfat, protein and other solids. Therefore, increasing milk components is one strategy to bolster the milk check. This requires understanding factors that affect milk component percentages. In this part one of two podcasts on the topic of milk components, breed, nutrition and diet composition are examined with respect to how they influence milk fat and protein percentages.
An explanation of how to put together and use the farm income and cash flow statement as part of a core financial document package for farm business analysis.
The farm income statement provides information about farm profitability or loss, while the cash flow statement shows the ability of the farm to meet expenses in a timely manner.
The farm balance sheet is considered a core financial document. The balance sheet provides a snapshot of what the farm business owns and what it owes, from which is calculated farm net worth. This podcast is a discussion on how to put together a farm balance sheet and use the information to generate some key ratios to evaluate farm financial health.
In many businesses, including farms with hired labor, there is a tradition of end of the year employee evaluations and performance reviews. Are end of year employee evaluations necessary? Do they have value? Are there better approaches for employee evaluations? This podcast discusses other methods and approaches to employee evaluations that may be more productive and increase employee performance.
Cold weather damage to the teat can result in chapped and/or cracked teat surfaces, rough teat ends, and even frostbite in extreme cases. This podcast discusses conditions most likely to result in cold weather damage to teats and how to protect teats from cold weather damage by keeping them dry, managing post milking teat dipping and providing protection from wind chills.
The first 5 minutes and 30 seconds of this interview covers some ways to manage farm stress including maintaining social networks, exercise, nutrition, rest, and mental health. The second portion of the interview is a discussion about a 2018 farm financial management school.
Welcome to All About Agriculture. In this episode we explain a bit about how this podcast got started, the format used, general topic themes and the podcast focus.