California Ag Network

Tag: Silage

  • New Keith Bolsen Silage Safety Foundation Announced

    Dr. Keith and Ruthie Bolsen announce the new Keith Bolsen Silage Safety Foundation.

    The non-profit organization is dedicated to promoting safe bunker silo and silage pile

    management, and providing safety educational resources and materials for the global silage

    industry. Send everyone home safe!

     

    Keith and Ruthie’s mission is to promote safe silage. As The Silageman™, Keith has had

    his hands on more silage than anyone, and is a widely-recognized educator. He taught Cattle

    Nutrition and Silage Technology at Kansas State University, where he is a Professor Emeritus.

    The foundation will officially become public at World Dairy Expo, October 3 – 7 in

    Madison, WI. The foundation’s first presentation, “Bunker and Pile Safety – Get Your Wakeup

    Call Today” is at the Arena Building Forage Seminar Stage on Friday, October 6, 10:00 a.m.

     

    “The foundation will share the importance of silage safety through proper management

    practices from harvest to feedout,” says Keith. “Ruthie and I have experienced the pain of injury

    and death with the family members of silage accidents, and it is our goal that everyone working

    on a dairy or beef farm goes home safe every day.” The foundation’s website outlines the

    resources available: printed and video materials, speaker opportunities, training workshops,

    and scholarships for families of silage collapse victims.

     

    “Preventing silage accidents is a big challenge, and we are looking for donors – both

    industry and individual farmers – who want to support this important mission,” adds Ruthie.

     

    Keith and Ruthie will be at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin October 3 – 7 to

    introduce and promote the foundation. Please stop by their display in the Connor Agriscience

    booth, Arena Building, Space 490 and 491.

     

    Learn more at www.silagesafety.org, or call 512-301-2281 for more information.

  • Tulare County Reports on Current Crop Status

    Visalia, Calif., (July 28, 2017) – Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner released the current status today of Major crops in the most valued county in the California Ag portfolio. They report that Alfalfa fields are making excellent progress; and being irrigated, cut, and baled. Corn and sorghum for silage is still being cultivated and irrigated. The corn silage crop is in various stages of development, from already producing tassels to developing ears. Cotton continues to be irrigated, cultivated, and growing well. Cotton is blooming and forming bolls. Black-eyed beans continue to be irrigated and cultivated.

    Mid-season peaches, nectarines, and plums continue to be picked and shipped to both domestic and export markets. Domestic demand is strong enough to cause the number of export shipments to continue to be significantly less than that of previous years. Stone fruit is being exported to Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, and Taiwan. Summer pruning and topping of harvest stone fruit groves is occurring. Last season’s almonds and pistachios are being exported to the Belgium, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Walnut, almond, and pistachio orchards continue being irrigated. Both mechanical and chemical weed control continues in orchards. Asian pears are being exported to Mexico. Table grape harvest continues throughout the county, and grapes are being exported to Australia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, New Zealand, Panama, and Vietnam. As with all permanent crops grapevines are being irrigated.

    Valencia orange harvest continues primarily for the domestic market. Regreening continues to become more common due to the higher temperatures. Valencia oranges are being exported to Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Harvest is nearing an end due to the high temperatures and overall fruit availability. Olives continue to develop.

    Certified producers are picking tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers for sale at the local Farmer’s Markets. Yellow squash, Zucchini, eggplant, Bell peppers, green Chili peppers, and cucumbers are being harvested and shipped domestically. Sweet corn harvest is continuing and available at roadside stands and the local Farmer’s Markets. Melons are being irrigated and prepared for the upcoming harvest.

    Low elevation rangeland continues to dry and conditions are fair to good, but quality is continuing to decrease. Cattle are still being moved to higher elevations. The higher elevations are providing more grass than previous years. Feed costs for cattle remains high. Harvested grain fields are being sheeped-off in the southern portions of the county.

    Nursery shipments are slowing overall. Wholesale nursery shipments to Canada and domestic markets have decreased due to the hot summer temperatures. Small amounts of citrus nursery stock continue to be sold. New wells continue to be drilled, with many existing wells showing higher levels due to increases in the water table.