Minerals make up a small amount of the diet for the beef animal. However, that does not undermine their importance. Minerals are required for metabolism, immunity, reproduction, and growth (Greene, 2000). Both under- and over-supplementing minerals can be costly to animal performance.
Sooty blotch and flyspeck (SBFS) are two separate diseases but are usually managed together as a disease complex. The SBFS complex includes more than 100 fungal species worldwide. In the eastern and midwestern United States, SBFS fungi are diverse and vary by orchard and region. The fungi grow superficially on the cuticle of apple and pear and mainly reduce fresh-market value, though heavy SBFS infections can also increase fruit water loss and shorten storage life.
Whether you own 2 acres or 2,000 acres, owning woodland is both an opportunity and a responsibility. Woodlands contribute to clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat, recreation, aesthetic beauty, carbon sequestration and storage, and potential income from timber or other forest products. However, these ecosystems are dynamic—they grow, change, and respond to outside forces like weather, pests, pathogens, and management activities (or lack thereof).
Neopestalotiopsis disease, commonly referred to as “Neo-P” is an emerging fungal disease affecting cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) that has gained increasing attention due to its rapid spread and impact on plant health and productivity. When conditions are conducive, severe outbreaks can result in yield losses exceeding 50% in susceptible varieties. The disease can occur in both field-grown and greenhouse-produced strawberries.
Potassium (K) is a primary macronutrient essential for crop growth. In agriculture, K is supplied by soil-derived potassium, supplemented by nutrient applications from organic sources—primarily livestock manure—and by commercial fertilizers manufactured from mined deposits of potassium chloride (KCl) originating from ancient seabeds (Mertz-Myers, 2025).
Selecting the appropriate perennial species to grow as hay or silage requires an understanding of the soil and site characteristics, forage species adaptation characteristics, animal requirements, and the market demands for those selling hay. This fact sheet provides guidelines for selecting the optimal perennial forages for hay and silage production in Ohio.
Seasonal variability in forage growth creates ongoing challenges for Ohio livestock producers. This occurs especially during the summer slump when hot, dry conditions slow the growth of cool-season grasses commonly used in Ohio. Adding warm-season annual grasses to a forage system can help fill this gap by boosting summer forage production and strengthening the overall resilience of the system.
The New World screwworm (NWS, Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a parasitic fly that lays eggs in wounds or other openings found in the living tissue of a variety of warm-blooded animals, including wildlife, companion animals, horses, and livestock. Immature flies (larvae or maggots) feed on their host’s flesh, which can worsen wounds and may result in death if untreated. Within livestock production systems, NWS can cause significant economic loss due to mortality and reduction in animal productivity.
