Agriculture

Cool, wet weather has prevailed across much of Kentucky over the past week or so, increasing the risk of diseases on tobacco transplants.  

The current conditions are particularly favorable for collar rot and target spot.  We have confirmed a case of collar rot from a greenhouse in central Kentucky within the past few days, so the focus of this week’s article will be on recognition and management of this disease.

These days we are bombarded with special days and months to honor various causes, and there are so many, it is impossible to keep up with them all.  Although we wonder sometimes why recognition of so many days or months have been created, I have found that it helps to remind me of the importance of those causes perhaps to our community, or to our state or our country.  During April, we celebrate/honor several causes including Earth Day (April 22), Arbor Day (April 24), Kentucky Writers’ Day (April 24) and April as National Poetry Month, Children and Nature Awareness Month an

This week, the remaining results from the 4-H Talk Meet program are listed in the 4-H News including from North Washington Elementary and the County-wide Talk Meet that was held on Thursday, April 9, at St. Catharine College.  

Provide protein – Legume forages can provide up to 75 percent of the protein needed by lactating dairy cows; corn silage can provide up to 25 percent.

Provide fiber – Forages are often the only source of fiber in a cow’s diet. Fiber is essential to slow the passage of feed, thereby increasing the amount of nutrients that the cow can absorb from the feed.

Maximize intake – Forages stimulate cud chewing and rumination, which improve the cow’s appetite.  Some non-forage sources of fiber actually reduce intake.