Page 3 - May Newsletter

Ag & Natural Resources By: Rheanna Melcher
Perennials – Spring Care
Spring is a great time to add perennials to the landscape. Choose the
right plant for the right place by evaluating the site conditions com-
pared with the plant needs. Perennials should be planted in the ground
at the same depth they were in the container. Carefully separate the
existing roots and water thoroughly after planting. Monitor regularly
for water until established. In spring, roots are actively growing which
makes this a great time to rejuvenate existing plants by dividing. Most
perennials will benefit from being divided every few years. Dig up the
entire plant and divide the root ball into smaller sections. Replant and
water thoroughly. Note: peonies, irises and daylilies are not divided
during spring. Uncover perennials that were buried under a layer of
mulch through the winter. Keep a layer of mulch over the surface of
the soil but leave a gap between the mulch and the stem of the plant.
Newly planted perennials will benefit from a starter fertilizer, which is
usually rich in phosphorus, to boost initial growth. Once established,
add a one-inch layer of compost to the perennial garden each year.
Additional fertilizers are not usually necessary but can be added if in-
dicated from soil test.
By Cynthia Domenghini
Deciding to keep or cull cows
Managing a successful business often involves making a series of decisions with the end goal of providing a quality
outcome at a profit. In the beef cattle business, one of those decisions is what to do when a cow doesn’t rebreed and
is considered open, said the experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute. “Every cow needs to have a
calf every year or it is a loss to the operation, but even with those losses it is possible to recoup some value to the
operation,” K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers said. Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast, K-State veterinarian
Bob Larson said cows that don’t rebreed or that calve late often are sold because they no longer fit into the manage-
ment program of the operation. Yet, while they may no longer fit into the management program for one producer,
that doesn’t mean they won’t work for a different operation, Larson added. “I’ve known more risk-tolerant produc-
ers who buy open or late-bred cattle and add value to them through the way they manage those cows,” Larson
said. If the cattle aren’t rebreeding because they are too thin, Larson said, improving the diet of the females adds
weight economically, for example. The key to the profitability of this management protocol is that they are buying
cattle at a reduced cost, Larson said. To know if the management strategy is financially feasible the experts agreed
that it is important to estimate the costs of maintaining an unbred cow until she is sold. “You need to know what
your feed costs will be because typically it costs $2/day in feed expense to support a cow on hay and supplement
during the winter,” Larson said. Along with estimating feed costs, K-State agricultural economist Dustin Pendell
said the cattle market prices will fluctuate depending on how many cattle are entering the system at one time. “When
deciding on whether or not to sell, figure out how long you think you’ll want to keep her and what potential value
she would bring you versus what it would be if you sold her today,” Pendell said. “Also, it is important for the buyer
and seller to communicate about how the open cow was managed so that the purchaser is making an informed deci-
sion.”
By Lisa Moser, K-State Research and Extension news service
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