Forage and cattle management considerations for this fall and into the next year will be the emphasis of a series of meetings planned across the state to help producers make decisions given limited on-farm forage production and high feed costs. 

“Many producers have already culled and weaned earlier than normal to decrease forage demand, and going forward additional adjustments may be needed for the fall and winter,” said Sandy Johnson, a K-State Research and Extension beef specialist. 

Johnson said forages that have been grown might have issues with high nitrates and prussic acid, which can be deadly if mismanaged. Many producers may need to use unfamiliar feedstuffs with unique management considerations, according to Johnson. 

Topics to be covered at the upcoming meetings will include feedstuffs and projecting forage inventory needs; management strategies to avoid nitrate and prussic acid poisoning; considerations for feeding cows and backgrounded calves with limited forages and health concerns. 

Presenters will vary depending on each meeting’s location. Meeting dates, locations and times are as follows:

• Sept. 26, 6 p.m., Cherryvale Community Center, 123 W Main St., Cherryvale, KS 67335. RSVP to Wildcat District office 620-331-2690, or Wendie Powell wendiepowell@ksu.edu
• Oct. 4, 6 p.m., Marlow-Leitz Memorial Building, 902 Grand St., Alma, KS 66401. RSVP to Wabaunsee
  County Extension office 785-765-3821, or Shannon Spencer spspencer@ksu.edu
• Oct. 5, 5:30 p.m. (CT), American Legion Hall, Bird City, KS. RSVP to Sunflower District office 785-332-3171, or Heather McDonald hmcdonald@ksu.edu
• Oct. 6, 5:30 p.m., Agricultural Research Center-Hays, 1232 240th Avenue, Hays, KS. RSVP to Cottonwood Extension District office 785-628-9430, or Alicia Boor aboor@ksu.edu
• Oct. 10, 6 p.m., Inman Community Center, Inman, KS. RSVP to McPherson County Extension office 620- 241-1523, or Shad Marston smarston@ksu.edu
• Oct. 11, 6 p.m., Severy Community Building, Severy, KS. RSVP to Greenwood County Extension office 620-583-7455, or Benjamin Sims benjam63@ksu.edu
• Oct. 13, 6 p.m., Grainfield Extension Office, 230 Main St., Grainfield, KS. RSVP to Golden Prairie
  Extension District office 785-673-4805, or Kelsi Wertz kjwertz@ksu.edu

Topics

• Feedstuffs, forage Inventory and looking ahead
• Nitrate and prussic acid concerns in forages
• Feeding cows
• Feeding calves
• Health concerns