Securing Agriculture Greg Doering Kansas Farm Bureau The official dedication and ribbon cutting for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan this week is very welcome news. It also makes me feel old since the process to get here has taken nearly the entirety of my adult life.

Butterfly Gardening Butterfly gardening continues to grow in popularity. With the lengthy list of pollinator plants, knowing what species butterflies prefer can facilitate gardeners with their selections.

Pest Control on Fruit Trees It can be a challenge to know how to spray fruit trees for pest control. Spray schedules will vary depending on whether the trees have fruit or not.

Cow Herd Mineral Supplementation When thinking about meeting the nutritional needs of beef cow-calf herds, the first focus should be on the ability of the base forage to meet the energy and protein needs of the various groups of cattle on the ranch that differ by age and lactation status. Another aspect of nutrition that must also be considered is the mineral content of the diet.

Water the Landscape Much of Kansas is in a severe or exceptional drought this spring. Therefore, watering now is very important to help alleviate moisture stress even in your windbreak.

By Glenn Brunkow Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher I don’t know about you, but spring is here and I am ready for it. After a cold winter, there is nothing better than the sun on your face that first warm spring day. That same sunshine brings new growth, and we can see our pastures greening up. At first, the blades of grass barely poke through the ground, but soon with a little bit of sunshine and (hopefully) some water the grass grows at an amazing rate.

Backyard Poultry Backyard poultry can offer families the opportunity to raise their own meat and eggs. There are basics for purchasing and raising new chicks that will make up your backyard flock.

Cow-Calf Checklist for April 2023 Cowherd management Evaluate Body Condition Score (BCS) and adjust nutrition for spring-calving females going into breeding. Ensure thin (BCS less than 4.0) females are on an increasing plane of nutrition. Females in a BCS greater than 6.0 should not be losing condition. Record cow BCS and use it as a guide for future management. Start lactation rations after the first calving cycle. Pregnancy check fall calving cows and make culling decisions. How were pregnancy rates relative to last year? Do we need to re-think the fall/ winter nutrition program? Plan your mineral supplementation for this coming spring and summer. Measure your cows’ intake and adjust it as needed. If using fly control products, start them at recommended times for your area. Properly store bagged mineral and avoid damaging bags and pallets. The risk of grass tetany is greatest for lactating cows. Consider magnesium levels in mineral supplements, particularly for cows grazing the following: wheat, rye, triticale, oats, brome grass, and other cool-season forages. Use the estrus synchronization planner from KSUBeef.org to help plan synchronization protocols. Schedule breeding soundness examinations on bulls well prior to turnout. Allow yourself plenty of time to find a replacement bull if needed.