Pest pressure picking up steam in Iowa

An extension agronomist says pest pressure is becoming more prevalent in Iowa crop fields. Meaghan Anderson with Iowa State University says some infect feeding has been taking place. “From both bean leaf beetles on soybeans and then a little bit of some black cutworm feeding on corn.” She tells Brownfield additional pressure is expected in…Continue Reading

Be strategic when cutting costs

An extension ag economist says in a high cost, low margin era, farmers should be cautious about which costs they cut to stay profitable. Ben Brown at the University of Missouri says cutting crop protection and crop nutrition costs now can have long-term negative impacts. Hear more in the latest Managing for Profit. The post…Continue Reading

Study finds early life nutrition affects health, performance, carcass traits

Research shows that beef-on-dairy calves can be healthier and more profitable with the right early-life nutrition. Iowa State Extension Beef Specialist Denise Schwab tells Brownfield their two-and-a-half-year study followed 120 calves focusing on the level of starch and fiber in the diet, and how that impacted performance later in life.   She says they noticed some…Continue Reading

Cause of avian metapneumovirus spread remains a mystery

Minnesota turkey growers are struggling to protect flocks from avian metapneumovirus. Ashley Kohls with the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association says it’s unclear how the respiratory disease is being introduced. “There’s some speculation that it’s spread by wild birds, but wild bird testing has not indicated that it’s existing in wild birds. So we’re doing ongoing…Continue Reading

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