MSU Extension Dairy

Field Crops

• Evaluate your crop delivery arrangements to avoid hidden risks - Advanced marketing agreements and contracts may have new meanings if this year’s crop falls short on the delivery bushels needed.
• Drought: Implications for near-term management decisions in field crops - The recent trend in higher than normal temperatures paired with lower than normal precipitation puts Michigan field crops at risk. 

Forage/Pastures

• Drought pasture management: Before and after - Management tips for pasture land affected by drought. 
• Drought: Implications for near-term management decisions in field crops - The recent trend in higher than normal temperatures paired with lower than normal precipitation puts Michigan field crops at risk.
• Sorghum species crops as a drought emergency crop - Drought conditions have been regionalized across Michigan and other Midwestern states. Sorghum species crops can be planted in droughty areas to supplement forage supply of dairy and beef producers.
• Summer planting winter wheat to supplement forage production - Many locations across Michigan and the Midwest have experienced drought conditions that have reduced forage yield. Planting winter wheat mid-summer can supplement forage yield for either grazing or hay harvest.
• Drought planning begins with green pastures - Don’t wait for the last green blade of grass to disappear in a drought before deciding what to do with pastured animals.
• Dry weather conditions increase the potential for high-ash forages - Higher than normal ash levels in forage from soil contamination can cause significant challenges when balancing diets for lactating dairy cows.
• Dry lotting your cows allows pasture to recover after drought - Drought conditions call for a drylot plan to avoid pasture stress.
• What will your beef cows be eating this winter? - Beef cow winter feeding after drought.
• Feed planning and management, more critical this year than in the past 
• Beef calf creep feeding combined with early weaning - Drought conditions across the Midwest have producers evaluating feeding scenarios for beef cow-calf pairs. As pasture conditions deteriorate, we need to be thinking about management plans for calf nutrition and performance.
• Potassium fertility impacts hay and pasture performance during drought - Adequate levels of soil potassium enables crops to better withstand stress.

Insects

• Drought: Implications for near-term management decisions in field crops - The recent trend in higher than normal temperatures paired with lower than normal precipitation puts Michigan field crops at risk.
• Potential for spider mites, especially in southern Michigan - The upcoming dry weather may set up a potential outbreak of spider mites. Judging the need to treat an infested field can be difficult. A descriptive rating system can help you make a treatment decision.
• The hidden costs of insurance pesticide applications to field crops - Some growers may be considering preventative applications of fungicides and insecticides to field crops. But just what are the impacts of preventative or insurance pesticide applications on insect or mite control?
• Scouting for potato leaf hoppers in alfalfa - Know your options for insect control prior to a problem.

Health

• Recognize the signs of heat stroke before it’s too late - Heat stroke is a serious condition that many farmers are at risk of experiencing, especially during the hot, humid days of a Michigan summer.
• Tips to stay safe in the heat - With the hot summer weather upon us, heat related issues can sneak up on people who work outdoors, especially farmers who may not have access to shade or air conditioning to cool down.