Farm Radio

The National Western Center, once complete, seeks to be a global destination for Agriculture heritage and innovation, according to Jocely, Hittle, Director of the Denver Program Development for Colorado State University. The National Western Center is a multi-partnership between Colorado State University, The City of Denver, the National Western Stock Show, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and History Colorado. In addition to continuing the tradition of the NWSS events and shows, it will house a CSU Water Resources Center, Animal Health Building and CSU Classroom and multi use space center. J The museums will play a role as the develop and host programs at the facility. The facility will also focus on sustainable energy use and be environmentally friendly to residents and businesses around the facility.  Renovation has begun with some buildings being torn down to date and completion is anticipated within 5-6 years. However, some programs will be able to begin wi...

Colorado State Commissioner of Agriculture, Don Brown said this week in a KSIR interview that he is happy that the State of Colorado has reached an agreement with Nebraska regarding controversy in the Colorado-Kansas- Nebraska River Water Compact. He says that Colorado had some past obligations of water that is to go to Nebraska. Through litigation, the amount of water that Colorado owes, which has been messy. Brown says that a deal has been reached. Colorado owes $4 million for water owed., which Nebraska has agreed to. This agreement will eliminate all litigation and water disputes from 2003-2013. Work still needs to be done to come up with an agreement with Kansas.

                                                    Colorado Sate Veterinarian, Dr. Keith Roehr In a recent interview with Colorado State Veterinarian, Dr. Keith Roehr, he stated that a dairy in the San Luis Valley is being quarantined for Q-Fever. Q-fever is a diseases that causes abortion in livestock. In this case, there have been several cattle that have had abortions. After doing some further placenta testing goats that were also located on the dairy, they to tested positive. Dr. Roehr says that this diseases is particularly of concern because it can be transferred to people. According to the Centers For Disease Control:  Q fever is a disease caused by the bacteria  Coxiella burnetii . This bacteria naturally infects some animals, such as goats, sheep, and cattle.  C. burnetii  bacteria are found in the birth products (i.e. plac...

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.

Sunflower Industry: Acres Up & New Markets After a decline, sunflower acreage in Colorado is up 20%, which shows that producers are realizing that sunflowers are viable and profitable. The increase includes both confection and oil varieties. Karl Esping is President of the National Sunflower Association and says that this dry weather crop does well in Colorado and Kansas. The confection varieties or edible sunflower are  more popular in Southern Colorado due to the dry weather. As for prices, they have declined somewhat from last year, according to Esping. One unique product that the sunflower industry brings to the market is their premier oil, call High Oleic oil. This oil contains Omega 3 fats, or the good, healthy fats, which are good for health and can assist in preventing heart disease. A Colorado based company in Lamar, called Colorado Mills, now has its  High Oleic sunflower oil being sold in over twenty Whole Foods Stores. Esping says that this could lead...