However, producers should strive for the best combination of quantity and quality of forage from the hay that they store for winter feed supplies. The June and September dates were clearly less desirable as the June date produced about half as much tonnage as the early August cutting and the September hay quality was extremely low and produced a hay product that would be difficult for cattle to digest easily and yield little in terms of nutritional value. After a couple of drought years...

Kathleen Sebelius requested a federal agricultural disaster designation for every county that met the 30 percent crop production loss threshold because of an early April freeze that damaged wheat and alfalfa crops statewide. Department of Agriculture disaster declaration allows farmers and ranchers to receive emergency low-interest loans to cover up to 100 percent of actual production and physical losses. Kansas leads the nation in wheat production and ranks eighth in alfalfa production....

The high-quality beef that consumers buy is usually fed with hay that is produced during the spring. Hay auction prices indicate that the hay quality is competitive and quality hay is still being made, Carter said. Extraordinary hay crops, farmers say, allow them to produce high-quality beef and livestock. The hay that is there now is good quality if we can get it put up and preserved. Farmers harvest their hay crop between May and late summer in order to raise beef prime for the grill and...

She wants assistance for every county that met the 30% crop production loss threshold that damaged wheat and alfalfa crops statewide. The designation would make farmers and ranchers eligible for emergency low-interest loans to cover up to 100% of actual production and physical losses. Kansas leads the nation in wheat producers and ranks eighth in alfalfa production. Sebelius says wheat and alfalfa was damaged in 69 of Kansas 105 counties. Sebelius seeks federal help for wheat, alfalfa...

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt speaking at what is being termed as a "strategic economic dialogue" involving scores of senior officials from both countries, said the recent events have highlighted concerns over the safety of food and medicine. The topic has become a hot potato in the country following the revelation that a toxic chemical was discovered in imported pet food; this resulted in the death of some pets. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt speaking...