By Carol Engle, Frontier Extension District Communications

OTTAWA, Kan. – Frontier Extension District will host a public presentation on “Ways to Stretch Your Forage Resources” for livestock producers in eastern Kansas. The educational meeting will be 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, at Neosho County Community College Ottawa Campus, 900 E. Logan St., Ottawa, Kan.

Jaymelynn Farney, KSU Extension beef systems specialist, will be the presenter. Topics to be covered include limit feeding the cow herd; utilizing stalks and fall or spring cover crops as forage; substituting grain for hay in a cow’s diet; feeding hay in rings vs. unrolling; and how adding Rumensin to a cow’s diet affects performance.

“Dry weather the last couple of years has left many livestock producers with limited pasture, hay and water resources,” said Frontier Extension agent Rod Schaub, who specializes in livestock production. “Grass and hay production varied widely this year. Some producers had average hay crops, while others baled only half a crop. Water is another issue; many ponds tested positive for blue-green algae this summer, and now most ponds have low water levels.”

The weather pattern has left producers wondering how they are going to feed their cow herd this fall and winter, he said.

“This meeting will give producers ideas to consider using to help reduce their wintering costs,” Schaub said.

Registration is not required, but Schaub encourages producers to make plans to attend. For more information, contact Schaub at 785-828-4438 or rschaub@ksu.edu.