Harrison County Office 668 New Lair Road Cynthiana, KY 41031 P: 859-234-5510 F: 859-234-6197

In This Issue:

A Note from Jessica

Soil Tests

Tobacco GAP Meeting

Fraud Alert

Mineral Meeting

KY Proud Recipe

Rental Equipment

Timely Tips

Other Happenings

Community Health Fair

Jessica Barnes, County Extension Agent For Ag. & Natural Resources Education

Agriculture & Natural Resources Newsletter

Don’t Forget those Soil Tests

As the ground beings to dry out a little, don’t forget about taking those soil samples and getting them into our office! Now is the time to get them in so we can

get results back to you in a timely manner before planting begins.

Tobacco GAP Meeting The Tobacco GAP Meeting will be held on Monday, March 19th at the Harrison County Extension Office beginning at 6:00 p.m. Remember

that an updated GAP card is a requirement for selling your tobacco with the tobacco companies. This year one person will not be able to have multiple cards scanned so please keep this in mind when planning who

will be attending the meeting from your operation. Please be sure to bring your GAP card and drivers license with you to the meeting so we can scan and update your information. There will be a meal served so

please call 859-234-5510 to register.

A Note from Jessica I hope this newsletter finds everyone doing well and if you are anything like me, you are eagerly awaiting the onset of Spring and dryer weather (even

though Spring typically doesn't mean dry). With all of the wet weather we have been seeing it has caused a lot of issues

with feeding and caring for our livestock, frost seeding clover, seeding grasses, etc. I am hopeful that the wet weather will surpass and we can get

a few drying days so we can begin our work in the fields. But for now we will do our best to stay afloat and pray that some rain will hold off until July and

August. Here at the Extension Office we are beginning to receive several soil tests, I am wrapping up my winter meetings this month and planning for the fall. If there are meeting you would like to have, please feel free to let me know.

Bone-In Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

Ingredients:

2 Kentucky Proud pork chops, bone-in

Salt and pepper, to taste 1 tbsp olive oil

1 Kentucky Proud apple, sliced 1 Kentucky Proud onion, sliced

1 cup chicken stock or apple cider, to deglaze 1 tbsp butter, optional

Directions:

Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels and season well with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in

a large skillet on high heat and brown the pork chops well, about 3-4 minutes per side. At this point, the pork chops will be well-browned, but not cooked all the way through. Transfer chops

to a separate platter.

Add the apple and onion to the pan and cook until softened and nicely caramelized. Deglaze

the pan with chicken stock or apple cider. Nestle the pock chops back into the pan and bring the

mixture to a simmer. Simmer until pork chops are cooked through and season with salt and

pepper.

Add butter to the sauce at the last minute for extra richness, if desired.

Beef Cattle Mineral Line-ups

On Monday, March 12 at 7:00 p.m. the Harrison County Beef Cattle Association in conjunction with the Young Farmers Association will be hosting a beef cattle mineral meeting at the Harrison County Extension

Office. Our guest speakers for the night will be Thomas Carper, Multi-Min Representative, and a representative from Purina will be here to discuss their mineral line-up.

This will be a great meeting to attend if you are currently using these products or are wanting to start using them. Each representative will be giving around a 30 minute presentation on their products and then we will

have time at the end for any questions. Southern States, Purina, and Multi-Min will be sponsoring a meal at the meeting so we ask that you please

call 234-5510 to register. We look forward to seeing each of you on Monday, March 12th.

Harrison County Beef Cattle Association Rental Equipment

A $50 deposit is required on all equipment rentals

Cattle Panels $10.00 per day

Portable Cattle Chute (with or without scales) $15.00 per day

No-Till Seed Drills $50 per day minimum / $8.00 per acre Haybuster drills—10 foot working width, can seed 2 different large seeds + 1 small seed at the same time

Great Plains—8 foot working width, can seed 1 large seed + 1 small seed at the same time

Boom-less Pull Behind Sprayers (no PTO needed) $50.00 per day Only 2,4-D type products should be used in sprayers

Tree Planter $20.00 plus $10.00 per acre

Plastic Layer $60.00 per day Plastic Lifter $25.00 per day

Water Wheel Setter $40.00 per day

Lime Spreader $70.00 per day Will hold 10-ton completely full

Portable Chain Drag $50.00 per day 20 foot width with 5/8 chain

Timely Tips Dr. Roy Burris, Beef Extension Professor, University of Kentucky

Spring-calving Herd Get ready for calving season this month! Have calving equipment, supplies and labor ready for the spring calving season. Some supplies which may

be needed are: eartags and applicator (put numbers on eartags now), tattoo pliers and ink, record book, scales for calf weights, iodine for calves' navels and colostrum supplement. Calving equipment (puller and chains, etc.) and facilities should be ready and clean.

Overall condition of the cow herd should be evaluated. Cows losing weight now are more likely to have weak or dead calves. These cows will likely be a poor source of colostrum milk for the newborn calf

Feed cows, if necessary to keep them in good body condition. Heifers may begin head-start calving in early February. Move them to a clean, accessible pasture, away

from cow herd and near facilities so that calving assistance can be given. Cows may start calving later this month. Signs of calving are relaxation of pelvic ligaments, enlargement and swelling of the vulva, and enlargement of the udder. Expect calving difficulty if (1) calf's head and two feet are not visible, (2) only the calf's tail is visible, and (3) the cow has been in labor for 1½ hours. Be sure calf is being presented normally before using calf puller. Recognize situations that are beyond your capability and seek professional help as early as possible. Calves that aren’t breathing should receive assistance. Try sticking a straw in nostril to stimulate a reflex or try alternate pressure and release on rib cage. Com mercial respirators are also available. Calves should consume colostrum within 30 minutes of birth to achieve good immunity.

Record birthdate, cow I.D., and birthweight immediately (use your Beef IRM calendar). Identify calf with eartag and/or tattoo. Registered calves should be weighed in the first 24 hours. Male calves in com mercial herds should be castrated and implanted as soon as possible.

Separate cows that calve away from dry cows and increase their feed. Increase feed after calving to 25-27 pounds of high quality hay. Concentrate (3-4 lb. for mature cows and about 8 lb. for first-calf heifers) may be needed if you are feeding lower quality hay. Supplementation may have a beneficial effect on date and rate of conception. The most important time to feed a beef cow is after calving. Thin cows don't come into heat very soon after calving. We must have cows in good condition, if we plan to breed them early in the season for best pregnancy rates, especially on high-endophyte fescue pas tures.

Sub-zero weather can mean death for newborn calves. During extremely cold spells, bring the cow(s) into a sheltered area as calving approaches to protect the calf. Be prepared to warm-up and feed new born, chilled calves. Calving in mud can also cause problems.

Watch for scours in newborn calves. Consult your veterinarian for diagnosis, cause, and treatment. Avoid muddy feeding areas so that cows' udders won't become contaminated and spread scours. Don't confine cows to muddy lots.

Replacement heifers should be gaining adequately to reach target breeding weights by May 1. Be sure that their feeding program is adequate for early breeding.

Start looking for herd sire replacements, if needed. Fall-calving Herd Breeding season should end this month – maybe Valentine’s Day. Remove bulls and confine them so that

they regain condition. Consider creep feed or creep grazing (wheat, etc.) to supply extra nutrition to fall-born calves which may

have to depend solely on their dam’s milk supply for growth. They are not getting much except their dam’s milk now (i.e. there is nothing to graze). February/March is the worst time of the year for fall-born calves.

Provide windbreaks or clean shelter for calves. Continued...

General Increase feed as temperature drops. When temperature falls below 15 degrees, cattle need access to

windbreaks. For each 10 degree drop below 15 degrees, add three pounds of hay, two pounds of corn, or six pounds of silage to their rations.

Provide water at all times. Watch for frozen pond hazards. If cattle are watering in a pond, be sure to keep ice “chopped” to keep cattle from walking on the ice and, possibly, breaking through. Keep auto-matic waterers working.

You should be feeding a mineral supplement with adequate magnesium to prevent grass tetany (~ 15% Mg) now. The Hi-mag UK Beef IRM mineral can be used now.

Control lice. Watch for signs such as rubbing. Begin pasture renovation. You can overseed clover on frozen or snow-covered pastures.

Other Extension/ Community Happenings

March 5th, 7:00 p.m.—District Board

March 6th, 10:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.—Turf Care Timeline: Spring class

March 13th, 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.—Beginning Gardening Series: Garden Management and Tips

March 12th, 7:00 p.m.—Purina and Multimin Mineral Meeting

March 19th, 6:00 p.m.— Tobacco GAP

March 20th, 6:00 p.m.—Fraud Alert

March 22, 7:00 p.m.— Fair Board

March 27th, 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.—Attracting Pollinators to the Landscape

April 5th, 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.—Community Health Fair (HCMS)

April 9th, 7:00 p.m.— County Extension Council

April 10th, 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.—Beginning Gardening Series: Gardening in Small Spaces

April 21st & 22nd— Home and Garden Show (4H Grounds)

April 24th, 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.—Beginning Gardening Series: Caring for your Crop Through the Growing

Season

April 26th, 7:00 p.m.—Fair Board

July 22nd thru 28th—2018 Harrison County Fair

Dead Animal Removal 859-299-0004