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Sustainable Stocking Strategies Are Profitable In Managing For Climate Variability In A North Australian Savanna, Peter O’Reagain, John Bushell

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

No abstract provided.

Sustainable And Profitable Grazing Management In A Highly Variable Environment‐Evidence And Insights From A Long Term Grazing Trial In Northern Australia, Peter O’Reagain, John Bushell

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

No abstract provided.

Tactical Crop Management For Improved Productivity In Winter-Dominant Rainfall Regions: A Review, W K. Anderson, Ross Brennan, Kithsiri W. Jayasena, Svetlana Micic, John H. Moore, T Nordblom

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

This study reviews published information on the tactical management decisions needed to maximise economic grain yield in winter-dominant rainfall regions of the Mediterranean type. Tactical decisions are defined as those relating to the period from immediately before sowing to harvest. Tactical management is the principal means by which farmers respond to changing environmental and short-term economic conditions as the season progresses. The review considers published evidence that underpins these decisions and relates to cereal crops (wheat, barley and oats), pulse crops (field pea, faba bean, chickpea and narrow-leaved lupin) and canola.

The criteria used to guide management decisions during the …

Control Of Volunteer Corn In Enlist Corn And Economics Of Herbicide Programs For Weed Control In Conventional And Multiple Herbicide-Resistant Soybean Across Nebraska, Adam M. Striegel

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

With commercialization of multiple herbicide-resistant corn and soybean cultivars, producers have new management options for controlling herbicide-resistant weeds and volunteer corn. Corn-on-corn production systems are common in irrigated fields in southcentral Nebraska which can create issues with volunteer corn management in corn fields. Enlist corn contains a new multiple herbicide-resistant trait providing resistance to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate, and the aryloxyphenoxypropionate (FOPs). Field experiments were conducted in 2018 and 2019 at South Central Agricultural Laboratory near Clay Center, Nebraska with the objective to evaluate ACCase-inhibiting herbicides and herbicide application timing on volunteer corn control, Enlist corn injury, and yield. Glyphosate/glufosinate-resistant corn …

The Significance Of Nomadic Pastoralism For Sustaining Soil Fertility In Northern Karnataka, India, Athani B., Gopikrishna, N. Kuruba

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Pastoralist groups in India, including the Raika of Rajasthan, Pullikulum cattle breeders in Tamil Nadu, and groups such as the Dhangar, Kuruba and Kuruma of the Deccan Plateau realize a major proportion of their income from penning their herds and flocks on farmers’ fields. Focusing on shepherds from Northern Karnataka, this paper makes a first attempt at calculating the impact of penning on livelihoods, soil fertility and the national economy.

Economics Of Camel Rearing On Grasslands In Gujarat, Khem Chand, B. L. Jangid, Subhash Kachhawa

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Camel in India is primarily reared for carting/draft, agricultural operation, transportation in addition to the secondary utility of milk and hair production (Saini et al 2006). The One humped or Dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) is an important livestock species uniquely adapted to hot and arid environments (Schwartz, 1992). It is important livestock specie contributing significantly in rural economy and livelihood of desert dwellers in Kachchh region of Gujarat. It still plays a very distinctive role in various agricultural operations and rural transportation in dry land farming (Rajput and Tripathi, 2005). The Kachchh region of Gujarat has large camel …

Economic Review Of Pasture Development Options For North Australian Beef Enterprises, Neil D. Macleod, Dianne Mayberry, Lindsay Bell, Ian Watson

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Beef cattle grazing (~14 million head) native pastures is the dominant economic use of northern grazing lands (2.3 million km2). Few enterprises make positive economic returns in most years or achieve the necessary productivity gains (~2% per annum) to offset an ongoing cost-price squeeze (McCosker et al., 2010). A significant contributor to poor performance is low reproductive performance, management of first calving heifers, calf growth and weaning rates and liveweight gain - linked to nutrition and the low quality of pastures. Pasture development technologies (Gramshaw and Walker, 1988) are available but uptake has been poor. Three pasture development options …

Tall Fescue: Forage And Seed Production Economics, M. Anowarul Islam

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Irrigated grass pastures are essential components of western U.S. agriculture, especially on cattle ranches of the intermountain region. Unfortunately, the yield and quality of these grasslands are relatively low compared to the national average because of current management practices (Jacobs et al., 1993). Attempts have been made to increase forage yields of these pastures by fertilization and applying or controlling irrigations but these efforts have resulted in minimum success (Jacobs et al., 1993). The price increase of fertilizer, energy, and fuel has made improvement of these natural grasslands more difficult and thus threatens the profitability and sustainability of …

Forage Legumes Intercropping And Nitrogen Management Effects On Performance Of Guinea Grass (Panicum Maximum) Varieties In Bundelkhand Region Of India, Mukesh Choudhary, G. Prabhu

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) is one of the important forage grass of the tropics with good yield potential, palatability, persistence and quality fodder (Sukhchain, 2010). The low crude protein productivity of guinea grass can be enhanced through its intercropping with forage legumes to sustain ruminant animals throughout the year. The intercropping of legumes with guinea grass will also optimize forage production per unit area, especially during rabi season. Further, its productivity can also be increased through N management as it is heavy feeder due to perennial and multi-cut nature.

Using Forages To Conserve Water In Semi-Arid Irrigated Cropping Systems, Rick Kellison, V. G. Allen, C. P. Brown, D. L. Doerfert, P. N. Johnson, S. J. Maas, C. P. West

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Texas High Plains are part of the largest, contiguously irrigated cropland in the USA, and draws water from the Ogallala aquifer. High crop prices, increased demand for maize for ethanol production, and severe drought have increased water depletion rates. Research has shown that integrating forages and grazing cattle into the cotton-dominant cropping system can reduce overall water use (Allen et al. 2012) while still offering farmers positive net returns (Johnson et al. 2013). Integrating forages with row crops also reduces needs for nitrogen (N) fertilizer, rebuilds soil organic matter (Acosta-Martinez et al. 2010), and reduces fossil energy …

The Value Of Modeling Botanical Composition Change In Grasslands, Karl Behrendt

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The integration of grassland dynamics, livestock production and economics is necessary to improve decision making regarding grassland resource development and management. Within a sward, the relative competitive ability of different species and the way management interacts with the environment both play a significant role in determining the competition between species, future states of the grassland sward, ecological impact of the grassland and its potential for livestock production (Kemp and King, 2001). The impact of botanical composition shifts on grassland productivity will depend on the nutritive value and yield potential of the invasive species against those of the resident species. The …

Integrating Beef And Cotton Production Reduces Irrigation Needs In The Texas Southern High Plains, C. Philip Brown, V. G. Allen, Rick Kellison, P. Green, C. J. Zilverberg, P. Johnson, V. Acosta-Martinez, C. P. West

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Texas High Plains is a semiarid agricultural region located in the central south plains of the United States. This area exemplifies semiarid regions where water is becoming scarce. Crop production depends heavily on irrigation primarily from the Ogallala aquifer at non-sustainable rates of use. Irrigated monoculture cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is the dominant crop but grazing livestock in this once vast grassland is re-emerging as the aquifer declines. Environmental benefits of integrated crop and livestock systems have been suggested. We compared a cotton monoculture with an integrated cotton-forage-beef stocker steer system over 10 yr to determine effects on …

A Strategic Approach To Developing The Role Of Perennial Forages For Crop-Livestock Farmers, Rick Llewellyn, Michael Robertson, Richard C. Hayes, David Ferris, Clinton K. Revell, Katrien Descheemaeker

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

A substantial proportion of Australian animal production from grazing comes from regions and farms where cropping is the major enterprise. Developing new and improved grazing systems for mixed farms where crop production is the major driver of farm management decisions presents a unique research and development challenge. In this paper we describe a multi-disciplinary farming-systems research approach (‘EverCrop’) aimed at improving farm profitability, risk management and environmental impacts through the development and integration of new grazing options. It has been used to analyse and target new opportunities for farmers to benefit from perennial species across dry Mediterranean-type and temperate regions …

Global Impacts From Improved Tropical Forages: A Meta-Analysis Revealing Overlooked Benefits And Costs, Evolving Values And New Priorities, Douglas S. White, Michael Peters, Peter Horne

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The wider use and improved performance of planted tropical forages can substantially change social, economic and environmental landscapes. By reviewing impact-related studies published in the past two decades, this paper shows how evolving development priorities have influenced the types of impacts being documented. A meta-analysis was used to examine 98 studies according to: (1) breadth of reported effects, as related to development goals of social equity, economic growth and environmental sustainability; (2) extent of effects, ranging from intermediate to longer-term impacts; and (3) measurement precision (identification, description and quantification). Impacts have been assessed for fewer than half of the documented …

Scenario Analysis: Risk And Return Of Aluminium Tolerant Lucerne, Claire D. Lewis, J. L. Jacobs, K. F. Smith, G. Spangenberg, B. Malcolm

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Lucerne (Medicago sativa) yield is limited by aluminium stress associated with acid soils (Campbell et al. 1988; Scott et al. 2008). With the aid of transgenic technologies, the development of aluminium tolerant (Al Tol) lucerne is proposed. Modelled scenario analysis was conducted to explore the potential net benefits of Al Tol lucerne as part of a grazing system for a sheep production system in the high rainfall zone of south west Victoria.

Diversity, Trends, Opportunities And Challenges In Australian Grasslands–Meeting The Sustainability And Productivity Imperatives Of The Future?, Lindsay W. Bell, Richard C. Hayes, Keith G. Pembleton, Cathy M. Waters

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Grassland production systems contribute 40% to Australia’s gross agricultural production value and utilise over 50% of its land area. Across this area a broad diversity of systems exist, but these can be broadly classified into four main production systems: 1. Pastoral grazing of mainly cattle at low intensity (i.e. < 0.4 DSE/ha) on relatively unimproved native rangelands in the arid and semi-arid regions of northern and central Australia; 2. Crop-livestock systems in the semi-arid zone where livestock graze a mixture of pastures and crops which are often integrated; 3. High rainfall permanent pasture zone in the coastal hinterland and highlands and; 4. Dairy systems covering a broad range of environments and production intensities. A notable trend across these systems has been the replacement of wool sheep with beef cattle or meat sheep breeds, which has been driven by low wool prices. Although there is evidence that most of these systems have lifted production efficiencies over the past 30 years, total factor productivity growth has failed to match the decline in terms of trade. This has renewed attention on how research and development can help increase productivity. In addition, these industries are facing increasing scrutiny to improve their environmental performance and develop sustainable production practices. We propose several areas in which grasslands research and development might help provide gains in system productivity and sustainability. In particular, pasture productivity might be improved by filling gaps in the array of pastures available either through exploring new species or improving the adaptation and agronomic characteristics of species currently sown. Meanwhile there is a need to maintain efforts to overcome persistent and emerging constraints to pasture productivity. Improving livestock forage feed systems and more precise and lower cost management of grasslands would translate into improved utilisation and conversion of forage produced into livestock products. There is significant scope to capture value from the ecological services grasslands provide and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production. Multi-purpose grasslands provide not only grazing for livestock but produce other food products such as grain which may also have potential to integrate livestock with cropping. However, reduced human research capacity in pasture science will challenge our ability to realise these potential opportunities unless efforts are made to attract and support a new generation of pasture scientists.

Determining Profitable Forage Rotations, J. Holman, A. Obour, A. Schlegel, T. Roberts, S. Maxwell

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Annual forages are an important crop in the High Plains, yet the region lacks recommended annual forage rotations compared to those developed for grain crops. Forages are important for the region’s livestock and dairy industries and are becoming increasingly important as irrigation capacity and grain prices decrease. Forages require less water than grain crops and may allow for increased cropping system intensity and op-opportunistic cropping. A study was initiated in 2012 at the Southwest Research-Extension Center near Garden City, KS, comparing several 1-, 3-, and 4-year forage rotations with no-tillage and minimum-tillage. Data presented are from 2013 through 2018. Tillage …

Quantitative Appraisal Of Non-Irrigated Cropland In South Dakota, Shelby Riggs

Honors Theses

This appraisal attempts to remove subjectivity from the appraisal process and replace it with quantitative analysis of known data to generate a fair market value of the subject property. Two methods of appraisal were used, the income approach and the comparable sales approach. For the income approach, I used the average cash rent for the region, the current property taxes for the subject property, and a capitalization rate based on Stokes' (2018) capitalization rate formula to arrive at my income-based valuation. For the comparable sales approach, I utilized Stokes' (2018) research in optimization modeling to estimate a market value for …

Nuisance Protection Law Unconstitutional, Neil E. Harl, Charles F. Curtiss

Neil E. Harl

In late September, the Iowa Supreme Court declared unanimously that an Iowa statute providing protection against nuisance suits for agricultural operations is "flagrantly" unconstitutional. The lawsuit involved the Iowa agricultural areas statute that allows counties to designate agricultural areas of at least 300 contiguous acres. Farming operations conducted within such a designated area are not subject to nuisance lawsuits if they are operated properly.

Delayed Planting, Prevented Planting And Replanting Crop Insurance Coverage, Steven D. Johnson, William M. Edwards

William Edwards

The frequent rains that have soaked Iowa this year have left many corn and soybean fields unplanted or with flooded areas. Many producers are wondering what options they have under their multiple peril crop insurance (MPCI) policies. In Iowa, the crop insurance “late planting period” for corn begins on June 1. Corn can still be planted after this date, but the insurance guarantee on those acres is reduced by 1 percent per day until the acres are planted. Corn acres planted after June 25 will receive insurance coverage equal to 60 percent of their original guarantee. Producers should keep accurate …

Late Harvest And Crop Insurance Coverage, William M. Edwards

William Edwards

Iowa and other Corn Belt states are experiencing one of the latest and slowest harvest seasons on record. Some producers have had concerns about whether their crop insurance coverage will be still be in effect if harvesting drags into December.

Marketing Year Prices Cancel Acre Payments In Iowa, Chad Hart, William M. Edwards

William Edwards

Following the completion of the 2009/10 marketing year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its final monthly price estimates for corn and soybeans. Over the September through August marketing year the national average price for corn was $3.55 per bushel. This is $.51 less than the average price during the 2008/09 marketing year of $4.06 per bushel. For soybeans, the 2009/10 national average price was $9.60 per bushel, which is $.37 lower than the previous year’s average price of $9.97 per bushel.

Isu Extension Offers Information About New Farm Bill Programs, William M. Edwards

William Edwards

The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 contains a wide variety of legislation affecting everything from school lunches to milk checks. Some of the most immediate provisions that farmers must address are:
• New limitations on commodity payments,
• Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE),
• Supplemental Revenue Assistance (SURE) program.

Crop Insurance May Help Flooded And Wet Corn And Soybean Acres, William M. Edwards

William Edwards

Wet weather has delayed planting of corn and soybeans across the state, and flooding has severely damaged many acres that have been planted. Fortunately, nearly 90 percent of the corn and soybean acres in Iowa are covered by multiple peril crop insurance (MPCI), which can provide some relief.

Isu Extension Offers Information About New Farm Bill Programs, William M. Edwards

William Edwards

The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 contains a wide variety of legislation affecting everything from school lunches to milk checks. Some of the most immediate provisions that farmers must address are: • New limitations on commodity payments,• Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE), • Supplemental Revenue Assistance (SURE) program.

Ag Energy: Risk Management, Energy, And Grain Issues, William M. Edwards

William Edwards

Nearly everyone has been impacted by higher fuel prices this year. Custom corn and soybean harvesters are no exception. Their increased costs will likely be factored into custom harvesting rates this fall. Estimates of diesel fuel consumption of combining corn range from 1.5 to 2.0 gallons per acre. Soybean harvesting takes only about 1.0 to 1.5 gallons per acre. Larger, newer combines will typically use less fuel per acre.

Crop Insurance May Help Flooded And Wet Corn And Soybean Acres, William M. Edwards

William Edwards

Wet weather has delayed planting of corn and soybeans across the state, and flooding has severely damaged many acres that have been planted. Fortunately, nearly 90 percent of the corn and soybean acres in Iowa are covered by multiple peril crop insurance (MPCI), which can provide some relief.

Economic Impact Of Delayed And Prevented Planting, William M. Edwards

William Edwards

Most crop producers know that to achieve optimum yields it is important to plant early. However, in years like this when cold weather or frequent rains prevented tillage and planting from being completed, some adjustments may be made to the amount of coverage provided by Multiple Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) as well as other types of crop insurance. These adjustments are subject to revision each year by the Risk Management Agency and crop insurance vendors.

Adjusting Hail-Damaged Crops For Crop Insurance Reporting, William M. Edwards

William Edwards

Hail damage to crops in north central Iowa caused great losses; the total of which will become more defined with harvest. The following guidelines are intended to help farmers through the process of adjusting hail-damaged crops for crop insurance reporting.

Late Harvest And Crop Insurance Coverage, William M. Edwards

William Edwards

Iowa and other Corn Belt states are experiencing one of the latest and slowest harvest seasons on record. Some producers have had concerns about whether their crop insurance coverage will be still be in effect if harvesting drags into December.