University Extension will offer meetings next week for livestock producers worried about how to feed cattle this winter as a drought continues in the state.
According to the Greene County Extension office, lots of people have been calling asking what to do, so they and the Lawrence County Extension office decided to offer tips August 17 for producers wanting to know how to survive the dry conditions.
Meetings will be held that day from 9 a.m. to noon at the University of Missouri Southwest Research Center, 14548 Highway H in Mt. Vernon and from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, 821 W. Independence in Springfield.
Tim Schnakenberg, agronomy specialist with University of Missouri Extension, says the drought has taken a major toll on beef and dairy farms in the area, and producers need to take extra steps to stretch their feed supplies and know what alternatives are available to address the crisis.
The programs will focus on supplementing low-quality hay, alternative feeds, herd culling, precautions with nitrates and prussic acid, fall forage alternatives and assessing the price of forages.
Producers will be able to bring lower stems of fertilized sudangrass, millet, Johnsongrass and bermudagrass for a quick subjective analysis of nitrates, according to University Extension.
For more information, contact Schnakenberg at 417-357-6812.
