Brad Forkner, Nutrient Management Specialist: Middle Of May, Get On Schedule To Feed Away Some Problems? May 15th 2012
From flowers and asparagus to wheat heading, things are happening earlier this year. Is this from my slower response time like everything else, because I am getting older or is this the new normal? Saw wheat combined this week in western Oklahoma, alfalfa hay in the barn three weeks ago in Arthur, IL, and soybeans through the ground in Lincoln, IL that same day.
Seeing the number of new oil wells that were being drilled in southern New Mexico and West Texas have inspired me that our entrepreneurs’ still have the desire to make things better. Irrigated pecan farms full of lush green leaves and the arid areas of the high plains once again abounding with healthy alfalfa plants were a joy to observe. Dairy farms full of happy cows and the only empty feed lot was starting to build inventory of feed to bring the facility back into production.
Where are you in the Spring schedule at your farming operation? Have you thought about increasing the anti-virals and anti-oxidants in your feed to see if they can help keep PRRS and other unwanted visitors off the farm. There are ways to address both concerns for healthy animals and healthy pits. I am sourcing new products to get me on schedule to keep ahead of feed concerns and staying ahead of manure problems, before they become feed source problems when we apply them to our fields. Ask me if they will work for you.
Have you addressed air purification or air quality in the housing? Smelling ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and is there methane around? Are you still putting up with pit foaming or solids buildup in the lagoon that have snuck up on us just like increasing age. Could we do a better job in our carcass composting?
IT IS THE MIDDLE OF MAY AND TIME TO GET BACK ON SCHEDULE!!
Have you taken you sweetie for an evening stroll, or checked the newly planted crops in your field to ensure your livestock will get to eat the grain and not insects or worms in the field? Have you gone to spring track meets, ball games with your kids or grandkids? Machinery needs maintenance and ditches need mowed before Memorial Day.
Have you kept up with your personal health? The best maintenance you can do for your operation is to keep yourself as healthy as the livestock.
Are you purchased on feed ingredients or hedged for your own supply? Have you offered to help weed the flower beds? Have you fixed a meal for your workers that is special and unexpected? This can be a great moral booster on a typical day when it is least expected.
Let’s all get back on schedule…
Brad Forkner, Nutrient Management Specialists
Twitter: @BradForkner
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