UW bulletin highlights cattle studies, weed control, wildlife across Wyoming
Cattle, sheep, traditional and alternative farm crops, weed control and fertilization are among research projects covered in the fourth annual Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station Field Days Bulletin.
This year’s bulletin also highlights studies on vegetable, herb and grape production in Wyoming as well as season-extension systems such as high and low tunnels.
“The intent of the WAES Field Days Bulletin is to demonstrate the vast array of activities that may be of interest to a wide variety of citizens,” said WAES director Bret Hess.
Articles summarize more than 90 completed or in-progress research projects at the four WAES research and extension centers near Laramie, Lingle, Sheridan and Powell; at the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; or at participating farms and ranches inWyoming.
“Authors address the high points of their specific projects and provide contact information in case readers wish to receive more in-depth information about a particular topic,” Hess said.
Some of these research projects were highlighted at WAES field days earlier this summer in Sheridan and Powell, and other studies will be discussed at two upcoming field days: Thursday, Aug. 21, at the James C.Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center near Lingle and Thursday, Aug. 28, at the Laramie R&E Center.
“Participants of the field days will find themselves learning about new activities occurring on the centers as well as research projects in various stages,” Hess said.
Among articles on cattle-related studies are effects of feed efficiency on reproductive performance in beef heifers; evaluation of two yearling grazing systems before feedlot entry; and feedlot performance and profitability of cattle fed mixed rations or allowed to select their own diet.
Scientists are conducting dozen of studies across Wyoming on traditional and non-traditional crops, and the bulletin includes storiesabout some of these, including alfalfa and other hay, barley, camelina, corn, dry beans, forage kochia, guar beans, sainfoin, sugarbeets, sunflowers and wheat.
Ranchers should find interest in studies about grass-legume mixtures for improved forage yield and perennial cool-season grasses for hay production and fall grazing under full and limited irrigation.
Numerous studies on controlling troublesome weeds such as cheatgrass, Dalmatian toadflax, Russian knapweed and the weedy annual kochia are covered, as are the effects of tillage and crop rotations on soil quality and nitrogen.
A wide variety of other research is also covered, ranging from crop diseases, growing vegetables in high tunnels and the effects of coal-bed methane water on crops to evaluating table and wine grape cultivars, examining the impacts of deer and antelope on irrigated hayfields and landowner preferences for protecting critical wildlife habitat and riparian areas.
New to this year’s bulletin is inclusion of Wyoming Production Agriculture Research Priorities, which were developed to document the needs of ranchers and farmers across the state, Hess said.
Agricultural producers and organizations, UW Extension specialists and others helped develop the list, which will be updated in the coming years as additional agricultural priorities are identified.
The 2014 WAES Field Days Bulletin (along with the 2011–2013 publications) is posted on the WAES website at http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn. Click on the Publications link on the left side of the page. The publication is under Important Links.
Details about the field days in Lingle and Laramie are also on the website.
–University of Wyoming
