Cottonwood extension district offers resources for producers dealing with drought

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Cottonwood extension district agent Stacy Campbell shares information about the impacts and resources available to ag producers during the ongoing drought.

Transcript:

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James Bell 

The area drought is having an impact on area producers from the Cottonwood Extension District agent Stacy Campbell stops by to share some information for those dealing with the dry conditions. On this episode of the Post Podcast.

 

Stacy Campbell 

There is a well it says thirsty cattle. We've got solutions. It's next Tuesday, August the 30th. Over in Russell County at the Blunden farms, there's going to be a demo and field day about kind of some alternative ways to get water to your livestock that are feasible, doable that have been done. Stacey Minson, who's our watershed specialist has put together that program, she's got some guest speakers, Hershel George, retired watershed specialist, but very, very knowledgeable on how to get some alternative water sources to your pastures is going to be speaking and I think they might have a little demonstration. And then they're also going to talk about management strategies for Johnson grass, haying, and grazing conditions, managing feed stuffs and drought conditions, even some incorporating some cover crops into livestock operations to save on feeding days. That's next Tuesday, August 30. Beginning at 830, and Russell County, at the Blunden farms, the directions are a quarter mile north of Fairfield road, and then 170/9 road if you've got and I guess you do need to kind of believe let them know if you're coming by calling or texting Stacy Minson at 785-769-3297. So that's 7693297 If you want to come to that demonstration and Field Day on on watering sources and some grazing drought management for your livestock next Tuesday on the 30th.

 

James Bell 

Probably a very important topic if Yeah, yeah, even for a refresher, I would think probably a good idea. Yep. Yep, for sure. For sure. And speaking of water, yeah, the lack of thereof is causing all kinds of havoc for our producers. Yes,

 

Stacy Campbell 

yes, because of the drought, you know, yields aren't going to be great on our crops. And because of that, there's probably going to be some leftover nitrogen phosphorus nutrients in the soil. So before farmers plant the next wheat crop, it would be very, very beneficial to take proper soil samples to see how much is left over, could definitely save you some money by knowing instead of guessing. And we have the soil probes, the the bags, the forms and everything. And we'll even mail them off for you if you'll take them and bring them back in. And if you've got any questions on doing that, give me a call, ideally, recommended to take two different samples, one from zero to six for your phosphorus, and one from zero to 24 for your nitrogen, sulfur and chloride. So for your before your next wheat crop, it's advisable to do that. And then you've got some time if you want for your summer crops you know, you can do that either after harvest this year or early spring but something that will definitely definitely pay big dividends each and every year by doing that and taking the guesswork out. And then yeah, because of the drought. No guys are worried about nitrates in their feed and their hay. Just remind them that even though you might lose a little bit of tonnage, I don't think you'll lose much. In the no the feed is short, but if you can raise the cutting height the cutting bar up, those nitrates accumulate in the typically in the very lower portion of the stem. So instead of cutting it to three inches, if you can raise that up to six, seven, maybe eight inches, you can sure reduce the amount of nitrates in your forages in your feed and your hay and then also we've got probes that you can come and borrow the hook on to a drill that you can probe into your bales you can bring that hay back in and will send it off to the Soils Lab at K State they can also test for nitrates and test for protein if you want and then you'll know what you have there and you know you can probably if it is still turns out to be high in nitrates even after raising the cutting height you know no one what you have you can if you have some low nitrate how you can always grind it in dilute it so that is kind of the deal is dilution is the solution. If you got high nitrate Hey, but you've got some low nitrate Hey, you can blend it together by grinding it and you can usually make that work so and then just a couple of key I guess pointers because of the drought, call cows wean early preg check those are all things that can help extend extend your feed stuffs in the in the grazing season. And then wheat variety selection that's coming up planting wheat we've got information on our website triple w.cottonwood.ksu.edu click onto the crops and livestock tab and then look under hot topics. We've got our local test body Information, the K State Experiment Station, we perform its variety test plots. Colorado State has a neat little decision tool that's easy to use. That is pretty cool, I would advise you to look at that. So we've got our resources there on our website for looking at your next wheat variety if you're looking at changing, getting a different wheat variety. And then lastly, I mentioned this before, but since we're in a drought, good opportunity to clean out livestock ponds, if you do that, it's advised to put the dirt on the backside of the dam, if you put it up by the pond, it's gonna go back into the pond eventually. So and then also, if it's leaking a little bit, if you'll pack it with a, with a sheep's foot roller, really, really, really well that will generally do it. But you can also take a soul texture test if you need to, if it is leaking quite a bit and see how much clays in that soul, we can send that off to the souls lab. And then that'll help you figure out if you need to add some, some some basically some salt. We've got information we could talk about that if you need some assistance on your pond leaking, and I'm probably about out of time and that's probably it.

 

James Bell 

We're okay. I do have one follow up. How do they the producers out there? What's the easiest and best way for them to get ahold of you for your resources? Yes,

 

Stacy Campbell 

just give us a call 6289430 Monday through Friday H 12. One to five we also have voicemail so I understand farmers work many many hours so if you think of something after five you know if you'll call it you should be able to get over to my voicemail and leave me a message or you can just leave the message with Teresa and she'll give it to me. email. My email is s Campbell with just one L so it's S C A M P as in Paul B is in boy e l@ksu.edu. But yeah, give us a call at 6289430 and then if you want to look on our website, just type in Cottonwood exten