Jen Koukol

Oct 11, 2024 | farmprogress.com | Jen Koukol

When was the last time you wrote something down. Like, took a pen to paper and wrote down a provoking thought? A list? A reminder? Most of us drop a note in our phones, make an audio reminder. But not in the 1960s. Weathered, faded and stained by time or dirt from my Grandpa Jerry’s fingerprints each time he pulled it from his front left pocket, a stack of 1960s seed company pocket notebooks were left behind. Grandpa farmed in south-central Minnesota his entire life.

Sep 13, 2024 | farmprogress.com | Jen Koukol

Husker Harvest Days 2024 offered up beautiful weather for visitors, and for the new product team to stop into to exhibits to see what was new at the show. They found plenty of new products to help on the farm and ranch that will be featured in galleries over the next few months. However, there were a few products and exhibits that really stuck out as favorites, including:This manure filtration system can filter lagoon or pit water to make it usable for drip irrigation.

Oct 30, 2023 | farmprogress.com | Tim Hearden |Jen Koukol |Jennifer M. Latzke |Sarah McNaughton

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has resurfaced in the Iowa poultry flock recently, with outbreaks confirmed at three farms by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. As the migratory birds start moving in the flyways, the spread could continue. “While we haven’t had any positive cases in Iowa since March, we know the disease has not exited the wild bird population,” says Mike Naig, Iowa secretary of agriculture.

Oct 30, 2023 | farmprogress.com | Tim Hearden |Jen Koukol |Jennifer M. Latzke |Sarah McNaughton

A frequently heard recommendation for beef farms is to separate the 2-year-olds and thin cows from the main herd during the winter-feeding period. Three-year-olds may also benefit from being in this group because they are still growing. This is important every year, and likely even more important during years of limited forage resources. For the first time in their lives, 2-year-old heifers have a lot going on over the spring and summer when they calve for the first time.

Oct 30, 2023 | farmprogress.com | Tim Hearden |Jen Koukol |Jennifer M. Latzke |Sarah McNaughton

The latest Cattle on Feed Report raised some eyebrows, showing a slight (0.6%) increase in feedlot inventory from last year. Placements of cattle on feed were up about 6% driven by higher 700-900 pound placements. In the current setting of tighter supplies and smaller calf crops, many might be rightfully surprised to see an increase in cattle inventory numbers. However, there is plenty to unpack in this report that has both short-term and long-term implications for cattle markets.