Farm Radio

Hi, This is Lorrie Boyer, Farm News Director for KSIR. Chris Shelley, Yuma County Extension Agent and Livestock Specialist recently spoke about supplements in cattle with me during one of my interviews.The first thing he says that producers need to do is to identify nutritional needs of cattle. Once a producer does that, then they can formulate the appropriate ration to meet the requirements of the animal. The needs of cattle will depend on age of cattle, male or female what stage of production they are in. At this time of the year, most animals are feeding on dormant range land, like grain stalks. Questions to ask is there enough to eat, is it high protein, its it limited in quantity and is it low quality? This will help dictate what you do next, according to Shelley. For low quality forage, protein supplements will be needed, especially pregnant cows. He says that 7-percent crude protein in the diet for pregnant cows is ideal for this time of the year. If lower, it is OK, as ...

    Duane Sinning, Assistant Director of Plant Industries with CDA and oversees the industrial hemp program. Colorado has a voluntary industrial hemp program that allows growers to apply for registration. This, which has been around since 2014. Eighty-five hundred acres and 1.1 million square feet of indoor acres have been registered for 2016. Locations are scattered throughout the mostly in Ag areas. Sinning adds that because of the growth, the CDA has went from two part-time employees to three full time employees. Two handle the 350 -plus registrations and and one that handles the seed certifications program of industrial hemp. Challenges for registrants have included banking issues since hemp was federally illegal. Furthermore, they have had issues importing and exporting seed and trying to get questions answered from federal agencies because it is still illegal federally. Higher education research has been lagging because of hesitancy regarding hemp be...

e: Colorado Sugar Beet growers had a great start this year with good soil moisture for planting. As the region as seen some spotty severe weather, about 60 acres have been abandoned due to hail so so far this year, according to Colorado Sugar beet Growers Association President, David Black of Yuma. The Western Sugar Cooperative in Fort Morgan has taken one sample with the second sample to be taken any day now. The sugar beet samples test for weight and sugar content and then will give farmers a better indication as to when early harvest will begin. The first samples were above average in weight and sugar content. In addition, Blach cited that some diseases are showing up, such as anastomosis and Rhizoc. These are popping up due to wet growing conditions. Early harvest is typically in September and regular harvest follows October.