The Advocator

Considering declining acres dedicated to the crop, and grower challenges, what makes alfalfa continue to be worth the effort?

To stay ahead of the game, farmers continually consider diversification options and opportunities. Industrial hemp is emerging an emerging industry that is gaining attention. Steve and Dawson Vonk, co-founders of HempAgra from Rock Valley, Iowa, join the program today to provide a better understanding of how the crop is grown, what happens to it after it leaves the field, and the potential it may hold for farmers, rural communities and entirely new agricultural markets.

Facing tight margins, labor challenges, and constant pressure to improve production, dairy producers can be tempted to look at capital investments to gain an edge. On the show today, Form-A-Feed Technical Services Specialist Mario Flores helps us examine how small inefficiencies can reduce production and profitability, and how practical management improvements are the keys to unlocking hidden dairy profit.

With the goal of producing a healthy calf that is prepared for the next stage of production and attractive to buyers, producers can employ practices and management decisions that add value and make economic sense.

Fresh eggs, colorful hens, and the satisfaction of raising your own flock have made backyard chickens more popular than ever. But while getting started can be exciting, it also comes with a learning curve. From selecting the right breed to building the proper coop and protecting birds from predators, there are several important decisions to make before those first chicks ever arrive. Today we're visiting with Connor Padgett, Monogastric Nutritionist with Form-A-Feed to discuss what every first-time flock owner should know, common mistakes to avoid, and how to set yourself—and your birds—up for success.

While metapneumovirus has been a challenge in recent years, there are treatments available to help lower the virus load or eliminate it. 

On the Sioux Nation Podcast today, we are doubling down on deworming practices. The process of deworming livestock can be traced to the 1800's. Yet new findings presented by Dr. Joe Dedrickson of Huvepharma are showing the positive results of doubling up to improve efficacy and avoid resistance.

The Midwest is definitely feeling the heat, prompting extra concern about heat stress and dehydration. Allison VanDerWal, a nutritional Formulation Specialist with Form-A-Feed, talks about these issues and what cattle producers can do to minimize risk.

This episode of the Sioux Nation Podcast features Dr. Seth Monegue, Technical Service Manager for CBS Bio Platforms, who explains how SDS-PAGE can be used to determine protease efficiency. 

From birth through weaning and beyond, calves face a variety of stressors that can impact health, performance, and long-term productivity. Yet,  nutrition can play a major role—not just in responding to stress, but in preventing it. On today's episode, Dr. Carla Kuehn from Form-A-Feed illustrates how we can actively manage and even prevent calf stress through smart nutrition strategies.