By Blake Jackson
University of Missouri Extension state beef nutritionist Eric Bailey advises cattle producers to adopt a more flexible and resilient management approach to prepare for drought conditions.
Bailey will discuss strategies for diversifying beef operations at the seventh annual NEMO/WCIL Soil Health Workshop. The event, which is free to attend, takes place Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Monroe City, Missouri.
“Drought and prolonged winter hay feeding are threats to the profitability of ranches and the sustainability of the natural resources,” Bailey states.
He emphasizes the importance of incorporating forages into a business model that allows for stockpiling fescue for winter grazing rather than relying solely on hay.
Bailey warns that farms dedicating “100% of carrying capacity to cow-calf production are vulnerable to drought risk through elevated feed prices and the need to sell cattle at depressed prices.”
Instead, Bailey recommends reducing beef cow numbers and integrating “flexible grazing units” that can be moved off-farm with minimal financial loss during drought conditions.
The workshop will cover a range of topics, including relay cropping, wide-row corn, soil health testing, herd health management, nutritional values of cover crops and summer annuals, and stocking strategies that align with pasture production. Producer panels will also be featured.
For further details, contact Lucas Brass at 573-985-8611 or lucas.brass@usda.gov.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-vwalakte
Categories: Missouri, Livestock, Beef Cattle