Drought management meeting set for Aug. 22

Producers, to say that vegetation needs water to grow is the “painful elaboration of the obvious”, according to the Phillips County Extension Agent, Marko Manoukian. Both forage production and water quality are deteriorating due to the lack of moisture and added heat.

On Tuesday, August 22, at 1 p.m., two Montana State University Beef Specialist will be in Malta at the Great Northern Lodge room to discuss management option during drought. Dr. Van Emon will discuss early weaning strategies, including cow reproduction and calf growth performance impacts. She will also describe various supplementation strategies with an overview of general supplement types that are available and how they can impact animal performance and forage conditions. Dr. Endecott will focus on water quality and harvested forage issues, including information on how to interpret water and forage nutrient analyses. She will also discuss impacts of high sulfate water and blue-green algae poisoning, and give an overview nitrate toxicity in forages.