Tick activity is not something producers expect to see in northern climates in the winter, but one species can impact horses and cattle.

Lots of information is often supplied by seedstock providers to use in selecting a herd sire. Understanding and using this information appropriately is key for achieving breeding goals.

The recently released reports show cattle numbers and hay stocks have decreased significantly over the last year. The potential impact on market conditions going forward is discussed.

Principles and practices to help ensure success are discussed.

Limit feeding corn to cows prior to and after calving as an option to stretch hay supplies is discussed.

Management strategies to monitor and treat the calf experiencing hypothermia are discussed.

Oats, triticale, barley and forage peas planted in late March and April can provide forage for grazing, hay and silage in late May and June.

Cow nutrient requirements increase quickly in the last trimester of pregnancy and peak 60 days after calving. Strategies to meet this need are discussed.

Hybrid rye is showing advantadges to open pollinated varieties in yield and also in being less susceptible to ergot fungal infections. This opens up new opportunities to utilize this grain in cattle diets.

Ranch ownership goals, available resoures, quality of life along with long term sustainability and profit are all pieces of the framework that should be considered when developing production systems.