How-To Library

Spring has sprung, and that means show season! Livestock shows are a great opportunity to strut your stock and win awards for all your time and hard work spent raising quality, healthy cattle. Earning accolades at these shows can make your animals more attractive to buyers and breeders and help you drive a higher price. Read on for tips and suggestions on supplies, feed, and handling equipment to make this spring's show season the best one yet.

Haymaking is so much more than just cutting and baling. Cutting at the right time can make a huge difference in the protein levels of the hay. Your equipment needs to be right for the job and you also need to monitor the moisture levels of the hay. Taking a strategic approach to your haymaking can save you time and money

It's natural to fertilize your lawn in the spring, but don't let the cooler temperatures of autumn fool you. Fall is the best time to fertilize the grass, even better than springtime. After the summer's heat and humidity, grass regains its strength before winter with a good fall fertilizing. It also helps grass develop a thick and deep root system, so it can survive next summer's heat.

If desired grasses and legumes have perished due to drought or thinned as a result of normal summer use consider overseeding. Overseeding replenishes the stand of grass and legumes within an existing pasture area.

Fall-applied herbicides are a valuable tool to manage tough-to-control weeds like marestail. Fall herbicides may allow for an earlier start the following spring. Winter annual weeds like henbit and purple deadnettle can be hosts for pests and pathogens. The use of residual herbicides in early fall will help mitigate weed emergence late in the season

As summer fades, it's easy to put the mower away and forget about yard work. Take advantage of fall's cooler temperatures to prepare your yard for winter - and next spring. Certain tasks completed in the autumn can lead to greener, thicker grass next season.

Winter weather can be responsible for stresses that can compromise your horse's health. The good news is that you can prevent some of that stress through proper feeding management. Most horses have some down time in winter, where adverse weather will not permit much riding or showing activity. It is during these times that it is easy to neglect your horse's nutrition program.

Read our advice for keeping your farm equipment maintained through the winter. Save money in the long-run & keep your farming equipment running. First, keep your machinery paperwork straight.

Energy costs can be significant expenses for farms and households of all shapes and sizes. Improving your energy efficiency is good for your wallet and the environment. If you do not have a strategic plan to conserve energy, it is time for action.

There are so many factors to consider. Breed, sex, quarry, type of hunting, the individual temperament of the dog and whether the dog will be working alone or with others, will all have an effect on the relationship and how the animal needs to be managed. However, the secret to bringing up a good hunting dog can actually be summed up in a single word: trust.

Every fall, as the leaves start falling, it's time to start thinking about how to get them off of your lawn. Consider two basic methods: mulch them into the lawn with your mower, or pile them up with a rake or blower and haul them away. There are pros and cons to each technique.