Cow Talks

In this episode of Cow Talks, Marcelo talks with Dr. Jose Dubeux (UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center) and Dr. Ed Twidwell (Louisiana State University) about preparing forage and livestock systems for hurricane season. They cover the steps to take when a storm is approaching. Dr. Dubeux shares lessons from Hurricane Michael, and Dr. Twidwell describes how pastures recovered after Katrina and Rita. They also discuss long-term resilience, diversifying forages, avoiding overstocking, and keeping trees off fence lines. For more detail, listeners can find the UF/IFAS EDIS publication “Hurricane Preparedness for Forage Crops in the Southeastern United States” on the Ask IFAS website.

Recorded live at the 40th Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia, this episode of Cow Talks covers what it takes to make high-quality hay in the Southeast.
Marcelo is joined by Josh Beeson, a North Carolina hay producer; Mark Mauldin, UF/IFAS Extension Agent in Washington County, Florida; and Dr. Liliane Silva of Clemson University. They discuss why cutting at the right time matters most, how soil fertility and testing support better hay, why hay is often put up wetter than producers realize, and how farmers are getting through a year of drought and high input costs. They also share how the Southeastern Hay Contest helps producers learn what’s in their hay.

Dewormers aren’t working the way they used to, and treating the whole herd may be part of the problem. Dr. Leonor Sicalo Gianechini, a parasitologist at the University of Georgia, explains how drug resistance develops and why targeting only the animals that need treatment, dosing by actual weight, and combining drug classes can keep dewormers effective longer. She also lays out a simple five-step plan that cattle, sheep, and goat producers in the Southeast can start using right away to cut parasite losses on their operations.

Marcelo Wallau shares the latest updates on pasture mealybug and its growing impact on forage production across Florida. He discusses ongoing research into insecticide effectiveness, forage susceptibility and biological control, along with current recommendations for identifying and managing infestations. As researchers work to better understand the pest, this episode highlights emerging strategies to improve long-term resilience.

In this episode of Cow Talks, host Marcelo Wallau sits down with Dr. Dean Pringle, the new chair of the University of Florida Department of Animal Sciences, to talk about his plans for the department, including a stakeholder-driven strategic plan. Dr. Pringle introduces the Animal Products Excellence Center (APEX), a revitalized meat science hub meant to connect genetics, nutrition, and management on the ranch to the Florida consumer.

In this episode of Cow Talks, host Marcelo Wallau is joined by Dr. Clyde Fraisse, professor of agrometeorology in UF's Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, to break down the strong El Niño forming in the Pacific and what it could mean for Florida this fall, winter, and spring. They discuss the higher odds of above-average rainfall along with why this may be a good year to invest in cool-season forages.

Marcelo Wallau talks with a panel of industry agronomists and nutritionists about growing corn and sorghum silage in the Southeast. They cover this season's challenges, such as late frosts, dry weather, nematodes, and the tight timelines dairies work underm and what those mean for fiber digestibility. The group also discusses where sorghum fits in the rotation and why hybrid selection matters less than solid management and a good crew.

In this Cow Bites technical segment, host Marcelo Wallau sits down with Maria Elena Mailhos, variety trial coordinator for the UF/IFAS Forage Team, to walk through the results of the 2025–26 cool-season forage variety trials.

Trial results, reports, and the three-year regional recommendations (developed with the University of Georgia and Auburn University) are available on the UF/IFAS Forage Team website: https://programs.ifas.ufl.edu/forage/official-variety-trials/

Questions? Reach the team at [email protected], or come see the varieties in the field at the annual cool-season forage field day in late February.

Crop insurance is an increasingly important tool for managing the production and price risks facing farmers and ranchers. In this episode, Dr. Hunter Biram of the University of Arkansas breaks down how federal crop insurance works and how it complements Farm Service Agency programs. The episode dives into discussion about what producers should know about coverage options. The conversation also explores Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) insurance, livestock risk protection, basis risk, and how cattle producers can use these programs to manage production challenges.

The links to the workbook and Hunter's podcast can be found below:

The Fundamentals of Federal Crop Insurance: https://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/MP576.pdf 

Morning Coffee and Ag Markets Podcast: https://fryar-risk-center.uada.edu/podcast/ 

Hannah Baker speaks with Dr. Marcelo Wallau about the latest pressures facing the U.S. beef cattle industry, from the announcement of increased beef imports to the reopening of the Mexican border and recent beef packing plant closures. They discuss how these developments are affecting cattle prices and decisions about herd rebuilding. Given the market turmoil, producers are left navigating a great deal of uncertainty, which this episode aims to clarify.