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Agriculture

  • Control lice before they reduce beef and dairy profits this winter

    Lice can suck the profits out of your beef and dairy cattle herds during the winter.

    These cold-loving pests spread when animals bunch together in response to frigid temperatures, and we’ve already had plenty of those.

    You can reduce potential lice problems on cattle by keeping new animals separate from your herd until you’ve given them a thorough louse treatment, generally two applications of a contact insecticide.

    The first application kills active adults and immature lice, but it won’t destroy nits on the hide.

    Click here to read more...
  • 4-H news: A history of ham curing

    This week, the members of the 4-H Hooves and Horns Club will begin to cure their country hams.  

    Each member must do a speech they will present at the 2014 KY State Fair while their ham is being judged.  

    Last year, the junior 4-H members that (ages 9-13) had to do their speech on the history of country ham.  

    What they found out in their research would be surprising to many of you as it was to me.

    Here are some of the web-based facts they included in their speeches:

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  • Testing old seed

    The seed catalogs are piling up, and I am like a kid in a candy store.  

    Every year in January, I pine away for spring while perusing the seed catalogs and generally make an order or two, thinking that I will have time in the spring to get everything planted (I never do).

    But, as with most gardeners, I have a lot of leftover seed from years gone by.  

    Many of you are like me and want to use the best seed possible, but that may not always be “new” seed.

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  • Take precautions now for good fruit this summer

    Winter is an excellent time to prepare our orchards and patches for the production season when the threat of spreading some very serious disease problems is minimal.

    Primary infections for many fruit crop diseases occur in very early spring.

    Growers wishing to manage diseases of fruit crops more effectively should plan and act now so that, when the rush of spring gardening activities begins, important disease management operations can be implemented.

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  • Ways to prevent cold stress in newborn calves

    Dr. Michelle Arnold, UK Ruminant Extension veterinarian, has several thoughts on cold stress and newborn calves. Please read further for her valuable information and suggestions.

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  • 4-H News

    Kentucky weather is proving as usual to be very unpredictable with lots of “mood” swings.  

    4-H clubs and events will begin meeting right away in January, and as a reminder to all, the policy is if school is cancelled, then any 4-H event that day will be cancelled.  

    There might be rare cases where a specific livestock event may still be held. If in doubt, contact the Washington County Extension Office for complete details.

    Here is the upcoming 4-H club and project event information for the first part of January.  

    Click here to read more...
  • Chemical de-icing materials and salt can damage landscape

    With the recent cold and snowy weather, it is time to discuss protecting landscapes from unintentional harm.  

    If you like to put salt and de-icer on your sidewalks, drives and steps, you must take care not to damage valuable landscape plants.  

    Generally, physical removal of ice and snow is better for the landscape, as long as you don’t pile it on your plants.  

    However, many people aren’t physically able to shovel snow and ice.  

    In this case, chemicals are needed to keep walkways safe.

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  • Burley and dark tobacco review for 2013 and 2014 outlook

    2013 Review
    Following a 25 percent decline in world burley production in 2012, tobacco buyers were hopeful that the U.S. would supply more burley in 2013.  

    World burley production likely rebounded in 2013, but most of the growth occurred in lower quality/filler-style markets.

    U.S. burley contract volume and acres planted were up in 2013, but excessive rains in some areas destroyed acreage and likely caused yields to fall.  

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  • 4-H News: Know your pets

    Many families have pets or other animals that are in their care on a daily basis.  

    Christmas is also a time that parents select and give pets as Christmas presents.  

    Because of the extreme changes in temperatures that are experienced in a Kentucky winter, pet owners need to be especially aware of what the upcoming weather will be and protect their pets accordingly.  

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  • Forage quality could impact cow performance

    This is information we received from Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler, Extension Beef Specialist, University of Kentucky.  

    Dr. Lehmkuhler has visited with some producers in our county and has worked with them on rations.  

    These producers told me that their cattle looked better, not overly fat and are healthier.  

    They credit their success with their cattle to him.

    The wet spring this year resulted in several acres of hay that were cut and baled late.  

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