Farm Radio

Planting season continues in Colorado. According to the latest Colorado Agriculture Statistics, Crop Progress Report, corn is now 16% planted and 1% emerged. Although some moisture has been received, primarily in Northeast Colorado. Drought conditions to prevail cross Eastern Colorado., especially in Southeast Colorado where there is a lot of concern not only for crops, but for Livestock and range conditions.  Colorado State University, Golden Plains Area Extension Agent, Ron Meyer in a press release cites Agronomists as saying that 50-55 degrees is optimal for planting corn. That along with a two-inch soil depth. CSU is conducting a groundwater use and availability study. It is called the Agricultural Data Reporting and Incentives program (AgDRIP). It is a voluntary program where individual irrigation wells will be used to collect use information and compare it to crop yields. This will show differences in seasonal water use and it's influence in crop production. No specifi...

B y: Lorrie Boyer, KSIR Farm News Director I will be heading to Washington D.C. next week for a very busy and productive few days. First, as President-Elect of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, I will be involved in our spring board meeting and taking part in a dinner with graduates of our NAFB 2018 leadership academy. Following that, I will be attending scheduled press conferences and briefings with several policy influencers, in what we call NAFB Washington Watch. One of the highlights of the visit, is a trip to the USDA Building, where attending farm broadcasters have the rare opportunity to ask USDA Secretary, Sonny Purdue direct and individual questions. Also invited to this event is Environmental Agency Administrator, Scott Pruitt, Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Program, Greg Ibach , Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Ted McKinney and Under Secretary for the Farm and Foreign Agric...

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 ...