Farm Progress
DELAY TURNOUT: Grass tetany can be found in fast-growing cool-season grasses on pasture. If possible, ranchers should delay turning cattle out to graze until plants are 4 to 6 inches tall. Monitoring herd for disorder is vital, as animal health can rapidly decline.
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Jun 15, 2021 to Jun 17, 2021
With 2021 shaping up to be a drought year, cattle ranchers might not be worrying about grass tetany. It’s a condition normally associated with wet years, says cow-calf specialist Adele Harty, “when we’re going to have a lot more of that early-spring growth with our cool-season grasses.”
Harty, with South Dakota State University Extension at the Rapid City Regional Center, says the metabolic disorder associated with grazing lush, rapidly growing pastures can occur any year even in drylot situations.
Gnats on houseplants, non-hardy evergreen, lawn thatch removal Fielding Questions columnist Don Kinzler answers questions about ridding houseplants of insects and whether Green Giant Thuja Arborvitae would prosper in the upper Midwest. He also offers information about lawn thatching versus aeration. Written By: Don Kinzler | ×
A reader asks Kinzler for help identifying insects on her schefflera houseplant. Special to The Forum
Q: I’m trying to identify the insects on my schefflera houseplant. I caught the little flies on sticky yellow traps and I’m trying to figure out what they are, and how to treat my plant to get rid of them. The plant itself appears healthy. – Alice C.
Last year took those with pop-up greenhouses by surprise. As a result of the pandemic, they found their shelves were bare as early as a month before their normal closing time. We had no idea that many people were going to start gardening, said Gayle Cole, who has operated the Garden Spot on Washington Avenue for nearly 30 years.
This year, with fresh stock rolling in from wholesale suppliers, four greenhouses in Madison are open and ready for area gardeners. Lewis Drug moved its greenhouse from the east parking lot to the south parking lot. It s kind of like a little park back here, said store manager Julie Janssen on Thursday as she watered plants. Having taken the Master Gardener class through South Dakota State University Extension, she enjoys being outside, working in the garden center and assisting customers.
Pierre, SD, USA / DRGNews
May 6, 2021 8:22 AM
South Dakota State University Extension is offering on-site livestock water testing service at all SDSU Extension Regional Extension Centers and several SDSU Extension County Offices throughout the state.
“It is critical to monitor livestock water quality, because poor quality water can have a negative effect on growth, reproduction and general productivity of the animal,” says Robin Salverson, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist. “In some cases, death could occur within days or hours after consumption of contaminated waters or water deprivation.”
Water samples can be taken to one of the sites listed below and must be collected in a clean, plastic or glass container. This includes water or pop bottles, jelly jars, etc.
In today's "Growing Together" column, Don Kinzler says those of us in the Upper Midwest should start stocking up early to avoid shortages this year as the nationwide gardening surge continues.