Farm: In brief 07/13/08

July 14, 2008 12:13 pm

— Annual tractor show scheduled
MILLER, Mo. — The fourth annual Historic Route 66 Tractor Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 19, on a farm southeast of Miller.
The free event is hosted by farm owners Royal, Karen and Kyl Hoyer. The farm is at 13716 Highway 96, two miles east of the junction of highways 39 and 96.
Tractor parades will be held at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tractor games are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and will include a barrel roll, slow race and wagon backing.
The Miller High School FFA Chapter will operate a concession stand and the high school’s flag girls will have a bake sale.
All sizes and makes of tractors — including antique, classic and new models — can be entered at a cost of $15 for show insurance.
There will be tents to provide shade or rain protection for the public.
Last year’s festival attracted 55 tractors and some 350 people. There is ample room for parking, and, if anybody gets stuck, tractors are handy for towing.

Reduce hay waste to reduce feed costs
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Cattle producers can reduce high feed costs by reducing hay waste, said Justin Sexten, University of Missouri beef cattle nutrition specialist.
Some tools do not increase costs. An example is orienting hay bales so that they are placed tightly end to end from north to south on a slope, he said.
This enables the bales to get more exposure to the sun and allows adequate air flow between rows that are three to four feet apart.
Do not store bales in waterways, low-lying areas or under trees where water can concentrate.
Taking steps to keep bales off the ground further cuts hay loss, Sexten said. This can be done with a gravel pad, pallets, pipe or railroad ties.
During baling, make bales as dense and as large as your equipment can handle to concentrate more hay in the center of the bale.