"Hey, why do my hayfields look bad", "why is my stand thinning", and "why do I have more weeds than I used to" are questions that I receive calls about all of the time. All of these are great questions and can have very different answers or causes. However, in a lot of the cases, something most people never think about may be the problem.

Hay or some other harvested forage is the biggest cost on most cattle farms. This is true no matter the type of cattle operation you're involved with. Given that fact, the winter we just experienced and current calf prices, let's take a hard look at our business model.

Last year Surry County made the popular press in a negative way when an announcement was made that 5 young bulls were killed by a new pest, the Asian Longhorned Tick. Well, it's time to start getting a handle on how to manage for this pest this year. With the mild winter, I expect tick pressure to be high and it makes sense for us to plan for this tick in our herds.

A weed is defined as any plant growing where you don't want it. Everyone recognizes the need for weed control. Not only does it make for better quality pasture or hay, but it also eliminates grass having to compete with the weeds. Without weeds, grass is able to fully utilize available moisture and nutrients to reach maximum yield potential. Here are some things to keep in mind when trying to control weeds.