Cattle producers always try to maximize the value of the calves they market. Group marketing efforts provide opportunities for farmers to improve market prices by allowing smaller farms to sell in truckload lots of feeder calves. One question that always remains is, “How much is it worth?” Several Clemson Extension Livestock & Forage Agents in […]
Livestock and Forages
Cool-Season Forages Management
In the southeast region, most livestock forage systems are based on use of perennial grasses. Some of these forages are warm-season species and remain dormant during the cooler months of the year. Due to our weather conditions, we are still able to grow cool-season forages to extend the grazing season and decrease our reliance on […]
Roadway Safety For Farm Equipment Operators
Spring and summer are some of the busier times of the year for farmers. Planting, cultivating, and tending crops and livestock, and making hay are just a few farm activities that usually mean increased travel time on roadways for agricultural equipment operators. Farm equipment is becoming wider and larger, and many farmers tend fields at […]
2021 SC Junior Beef Round Up
The SC Junior Beef Round Up was held August 6-8, 2018 at the T Ed Garrison Arena in Pendleton, SC. Over 95 youth from 5 southeastern states exhibited over 150 head of beef cattle at the annual event. Competitions were held for sales talk, essay, junior cattlemen’s knowledge, showmanship, and breed shows. This year’s competition […]
Fall Armyworms
It is time for hay and livestock producers to consider prevention and protection for hayfields and pastures from fall armyworms. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is known as a chronic pest in the Southeast region of the US. Climates in South Carolina favor the development of fall armyworms, with hot, dry summers being typical. As […]
Handling the Heat – How to keep your animals cool in the heat of the summer
Summer in the southeast is usually hot and humid. These environmental conditions can create stress for our livestock. As producers, we are charged with minimizing the impact this stress has on our animals. There are a variety of tools we can use to keep our animals happy and healthy through the summer months. Water: Have […]
Piedmont Research and Education Center, the REC you might not know
The Piedmont Research and Education Center, Clemson University’s newest research and education center, was established in 2015. Piedmont REC is comprised of approximately 4,500 acres spread across Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee counties in South Carolina’s beautiful upstate. The Center includes a diverse landscape from cultivated bottomland and rolling pastures to lakefront property and forest lands. […]
Bulls in the Pig Pen
The U.S. hog market situation is currently very bullish. Futures prices are in triple digits, with the June 21 lean hog contract trading at $112.85 on 05/09/2021. That is 56% higher than this time last year. The Hog prices are so high that a common joke is that hog futures prices are in a race […]
Planning for Livestock Water Needs
There are a myriad of resources available to livestock owners discussing grazing options. Rotational grazing, intensive grazing, paddock sizing, and forage varieties are all covered extensively. The one critical topic that is often overlooked is the livestock water supply. Different species of livestock obviously require different amounts of water. A 1,200-pound cow will undoubtedly need […]
When Should I Cut My Fescue For Hay?
Making hay is probably the most tradition-steeped practice on the farm. Our fondest (and most miserable) farm memories are usually centered around the making or feeding of hay. Those of us still making hay have a passion for quality and are eternally optimistic for the next hay season. So, what makes quality hay? Is it […]
