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Agriculture

  • Lawn-mowing tips from 4-H

    This week begins the results for the 4-H Talk Meet program.  The countywide competition will be held on April 28 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Catharine College. See the results listed in the second part of this week’s column.  

    As I mentioned last week, I have included more lawn-mowing tips in my column this week.

    Here are several tips to think about and to share with all members of your family that use the lawn mower.

    Click here to read more...
  • 4-H news

    More than 80 people from across the state gathered April 4 at the Mercer County Extension Office for the 15th annual Dustin Worthington “I Love Cows” Essay Contest awards ceremony.  

    This year’s ceremony saw 18 heifers given away to students who participated in the contest.

    The contest is open to all FFA & 4-H members interested in the cattle industry in the state of Kentucky.  

    Click here to read more...
  • Insurance for your breeding season

    This information is from Dr. Les Anderson, a beef extension specialist at the University of Kentucky. We think it is good information and would like to share it with you.

    I received this call a couple of weeks ago. I seem to receive calls similar to this one six to eight times each year. This particular rancher had just finished getting his cows diagnosed for pregnancy.

    He had 43 falling calving cows. Last fall, these cows were synchronized for artificial insemination and were exposed to one bull for about 5 weeks and a second bull for 7 weeks.

    Click here to read more...
  • 4-H news

    This weekend began the lawn-mowing season in many neighborhoods in Washington County.

    As families begin this spring and summer ritual, there are several considerations that should be made concerning children being around lawn mowers. According to healthychildren.org, each year, many children are injured severely by lawn mowers. Power mowers can be especially dangerous. However, following these safety guidelines can prevent most lawn mower-related injuries.

    Click here to read more...
  • Pruning clematis

    There may be no prettier climbing plant than the clematis.  These hardy vines clamor over trellises, fences and even trees and shrubs. They produce flowers in three general forms: small white flowers in panicles or loose irregular spreading cluster (generally autumn blooming), bell- or urn-shaped flowers and flat open flowers.

    Click here to read more...
  • Grass tetany in news again

    In the last month we have shared two pieces of information to cattle farmers about grass tetany. It came up again last week in a very unusual way. There was an article in the April issue of Cow Country News on page 88 titled “Cows Need Salt to Avoid Grass Tetany.”  

    This article has caused a significant conversation across the state between producers, vets, specialist and other beef leaders. Here is Jeff Lehmkuhler, University of Kentucky Beef Cattle Nutrition Specialist response in detailed to that article.  

    Click here to read more...
  • Time to control crabgrass is now

    (This is one of the news articles that UK releases for us to spread to the state, and this is good information by Katie Pratt.)

    While the winter may have wreaked havoc on many desirable plants, it did little to affect crabgrass, the most common weed in Kentucky lawns.

    Click here to read more...
  • Growing asparagus in Kentucky

    Asparagus is a long-lived perennial vegetable crop.  

    Each plant can be productive for 15 or more years if given proper care.  

    Asparagus will grow in most any soil as long as it has good drainage. Asparagus doesn’t like to have wet feet; it leads to root rot.  

    An ideal pH of 6.5 to 7.5 will give you good results; it will not tolerate a pH under 6.0.  

    Click here to read more...
  • What is grass tetany?

    Spring in the Bluegrass is a great time of greening and warming, but it’s also a time when livestock producers need to watch out for grass tetany, also called spring tetany or grass staggers.

    Some people also refer to it as wheat pasture poisoning, winter tetany or lactation tetany.

    Regardless, it?s a condition caused by an abnormally low level of magnesium in the blood.

    Maintenance of normal blood magnesium is completely dependent on absorption of magnesium from the diet.

    Click here to read more...
  • The time to sow grass is now

    Many of you have been asking, and now it is finally time to start renovating or reseeding your lawns.

    Many people in Kentucky want a bluegrass lawn, however, the best turf grass for us is actually fescue. You can plant the turf-type fescues if you want a small bladed grass, or if you are like me and want the toughest lawn possible, the straight Kentucky 31 fescue is just fine.

    I am weird, I guess, but I like the wide blades.

    Click here to read more...