Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Frank Wardynski
Year-end Financial Planning For Farmers
By Frank Wardynski As the year draws to a close, now the ideal time for farmers to review their financial management practices and prepare for the year ahead. This season offers a unique opportunity to project farm profitability, make informed tax planning decisions, and strengthen your operation’s financial health. Accurate recordkeeping is the cornerstone of sound financial management. If you’re still relying on handwritten ledgers, consider upgrading to an accounting software program.
Year-end financial planning for farmers
As the year draws to a close, now the ideal time for farmers to review their financial management practices and prepare for the year ahead. This season offers a unique opportunity to project farm profitability, make informed tax planning decisions, and strengthen your operation’s financial health. Accurate recordkeeping is the cornerstone of sound financial management. If you’re still relying on handwritten ledgers, consider upgrading to an accounting software program.
Input by forages and pasture (grazers) producers is needed!
The Michigan State University Extension forage team invites Michigan forage and pasture (grazer) producers to participate in a brief survey designed to help us better understand your current needs and interests. Your feedback is essential in helping us evaluate existing Michigan State University (MSU) Extension programs and shape new, relevant initiatives to better serve the forage and grazing communities.
Cow-calf benchmarking, where does Michigan rank?
Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.
USDA Projects Record-Low Hay Acreage for Michigan in 2025
By Jaime Luke and Frank Wardynski The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently released their annual Prospective Plantings report. Included in the report are national and state estimates for 2025 harvested hay acreage. Nationally, USDA NASS projects 48.5 million acres of hay will be harvested in 2025, down 2% from the prior year and 8% from 2023. In Michigan, harvested hay acreage for 2025 is estimated at 740,000 acres, a decrease of 3% from 2024 and 5% from 2023.
USDA projects record-low hay acreage for Michigan in 2025
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently released their annual Prospective Plantings report. Included in the report are national and state estimates for 2025 harvested hay acreage. Nationally, USDA NASS projects 48.5 million acres of hay will be harvested in 2025, down 2% from the prior year and 8% from 2023. In Michigan, harvested hay acreage for 2025 is estimated at 740,000 acres, a decrease of 3% from 2024 and 5% from 2023.
2025 Beef Brawl
Many years ago, beef cattle producers would boast of how heavy their calves weaned. We know that selection for larger framed, faster growing calves led to larger cows that require more feed. Debates turned to cow size: should we have big or small cows? Or cow efficiency: are small cows more efficient than big cows? And is weaned calf weight per pound of mature cow a good efficiency indicator? Is corn efficiency an indicator of forage grow efficiency? How should we look at profitability?
Season wrap-up for Farm Policy & Risk Management Series
MSU Extension’s Farm Policy and Risk Management Series has wrapped for the 2024-2025 season and released the recordings from this year’s program. The series seeks to aid producers in managing or reducing impacts from potential risks to their farms. New to this season there was added emphasis on understanding marketing environments to help managers better position their farms to take advantage of price opportunities.
Beef nutrition for beginning farmers
Ruminant animals are unique because of their digestive system, which allows them to digest forages. Beef cattle are ruminant animals with a four-compartment stomach made up of rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. The rumen and reticulum are where fermentation occurs. They are full of anaerobic bacteria that utilize nitrogen compounds and carbohydrates to grow and multiply in numbers. The microbial population is made of bacteria, protozoa, yeasts and fungi.
Marketing spotlighted in new season of risk management series from MSU Extension
Michigan farmers need to manage many risks. Production risk brought on by weather, price risk from volatile markets, and even input cost risk can be challenging to manage. To aid producers in managing or reducing impacts from these types of risks, MSU Extension is announcing a new season of the virtual Farm Policy and Risk Management Series. Last season, educational webinars on USDA insurance and Farm Bill programs were offered with a focus on specific Michigan production areas.
Capturing the Most Value in a Record Beef Market
By Frank Wardynski Beef feeder cattle prices have been at record highs this summer and are expected to stay high into the fall sales. One of the key reasons for these high prices is the low supply of feeder calves. The low supply of calves has been the sale of beef cows over the past several years, mostly due to drought conditions in various locations across the United States.
Capturing the most value in a record beef market
Beef feeder cattle prices have been at record highs this summer and are expected to stay high into the fall sales. One of the key reasons for these high prices is the low supply of feeder calves. The low supply of calves has been the sale of beef cows over the past several years, mostly due to drought conditions in various locations across the United States.
Protect High Cattle Prices With Risk Protection
By Frank Wardynski Beef Cattle prices can be severely impacted by events that occur in one day or over time. In 2019, a fire at a large packing plant severely reduced harvest capabilities in this country. That single event drove prices of feeder cattle and market ready cattle down over the next several months. In 2020, many packing plants were shut down over various periods of time due to workers contracting COVID-19 and drove cattle prices lower.
Protect high cattle prices with risk protection
Beef Cattle prices can be severely impacted by events that occur in one day or over time. In 2019, a fire at a large packing plant severely reduced harvest capabilities in this country. That single event drove prices of feeder cattle and market ready cattle down over the next several months. In 2020, many packing plants were shut down over various periods of time due to workers contracting COVID-19 and drove cattle prices lower.
Breeding soundness exams on beef bulls makes economic sense
Many beef cow-calf producers rely on multiple bulls to breed the cow herd without conducting fertility tests on bulls. Farms can have acceptable breeding rates with this strategy, however, this plan is not always successful and one missed pregnancy will have a negative economic impact. In instances where producers only have a few bulls, if the more dominant bull is infertile, he will usually dominate the breeding of cows by keeping less aggressive and smaller bulls from servicing cows.
Breeding Soundness Exams on Beef Bulls Makes Economic Sense
By Frank Wardynski Many beef cow-calf producers rely on multiple bulls to breed the cow herd without conducting fertility tests on bulls. Farms can have acceptable breeding rates with this strategy, however, this plan is not always successful and one missed pregnancy will have a negative economic impact.
Breeding soundness exams on beef bulls makes economic sense
Many beef cow-calf producers rely on multiple bulls to breed the cow herd without conducting fertility tests on bulls. Farms can have acceptable breeding rates with this strategy, however, this plan is not always successful and one missed pregnancy will have a negative economic impact. In instances where producers only have a few bulls, if the more dominant bull is infertile, he will usually dominate the breeding of cows by keeping less aggressive and smaller bulls from servicing cows.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - Current Recommendations for Beef Producers
By Frank Wardynski HPAI has infected dairy cattle in Michigan and other states. Though no known infections have been reported in beef cattle, Michigan State University Extension recommends that beef producers be diligent in their biosecurity efforts.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - Current recommendations for beef producers
While there are no known Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) infections reported in beef cattle at the time of writing this article, the purpose of this article is to make beef producers aware of the potential for infection and management practices they should use to help prevent infection.
Educational series offers insurance basics on managing production and price risk
Michigan State University Extension launched a new webinar series beginning in 2023 to aid producers in understanding risk protection programs. The Farm Policy and Risk Management Series offers educational insight and resources on United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) insurance programs designed to help mitigate production and price risk. Each webinar session focused on a specific Michigan production area.
MSU launches the Farm Policy and Risk Management Series
Michigan farmers need to manage many risks. Production risk brought on by weather, price risk from volatile markets, and even input cost risk can be challenging to manage. Insurance programs created by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) were designed as a cost-effective means to aid farmers in managing or reducing impacts from these types of risks. MSU Extension is launching a new webinar series in order to aid producers in understanding risk protection programs.
Utilize egg count to determine deworming
Using routine anthelmintics in beef cattle has long been a recommended and accepted management practice to improve animal performance and maintain animal health. For many beef producers anthelmintic drugs — dewormers — are used on a regular basis when cattle are vaccinated in the cow herd at spring and fall processing. Dewormers are used to control parasitic nematodes that attach to the gastrointestinal tract of cattle to feast on blood and its constituents.
Utilize fecal egg count to determine deworming decisions
Using routine anthelmintics in beef cattle has long been a recommended and accepted management practice to improve animal performance and maintain animal health. For many beef producers, anthelmintic drugs commonly referred to as dewormers are used on a regular basis at the same time cattle are vaccinated in the cow herd at spring and fall processing. Dewormers are used to control parasitic nematodes that attach to the gastronintestinal tract of cattle and feast on blood and its constituents.
Utilize Fecal Egg Count to Determine Deworming Decisions
Main navigation Routine and continued use of anthelmintics have created resistance in some populations of internal parasites. ( Wyatt Bechtel ) By: Frank Wardynski, Michigan State University Extension Using routine anthelmintics in beef cattle has long been a recommended and accepted management practice to improve animal performance and maintain animal health.
Utilize Fecal Egg Count to Determine Deworming Decisions
Main navigation Routine and continued use of anthelmintics have created resistance in some populations of internal parasites. ( Wyatt Bechtel ) By: Frank Wardynski, Michigan State University Extension Using routine anthelmintics in beef cattle has long been a recommended and accepted management practice to improve animal performance and maintain animal health.
Minimize Hay Waste Feeding on Fields
Feeding hay to cows on pasture and hay fields during the winter months is gaining popularity as opposed to more traditional confinement feeding. Feeding on fields has several benefits that include reduced machinery and labor of feeding and hauling manure and targeted nutrient distribution. If care is not taken to minimize excessive hay waste, the cost of feeding on fields can outweigh the benefits.
Fertilize Fields with Hay
Many Beef cow-calf producers feed hay rations to cows in confinement settings during the winter months. Feeding hay on fields away from the barn is gaining popularity. Labor and machinery requirements of hauling manure can be minimized by winter-feeding beef cattle on fields. Care should be taken with feeding practices to ensure that crop nutrients are evenly distributed.
Minimize hay waste feeding on fields
Feeding hay to cows on pasture and hay fields during the winter months is gaining popularity as opposed to more traditional confinement feeding. Feeding on fields has several benefits that include reduced machinery and labor of feeding and hauling manure and targeted nutrient distribution. If care is not taken to minimize excessive hay waste, the cost of feeding on fields can outweigh the benefits.
Fertilize fields with hay
Many Beef cow-calf producers feed hay rations to cows in confinement settings during the winter months. Feeding hay on fields away from the barn is gaining popularity. Labor and machinery requirements of hauling manure can be minimized by winter-feeding beef cattle on fields. Care should be taken with feeding practices to ensure that crop nutrients are evenly distributed.
Winter Feeding Hay in the Field | Drovers
Beef cattle producers have traditionally grazed cows through the summer months and then fed hay rations in confinement settings through the non-grazing days. It is a logical system that usually allows farmers to deal best with regions of heavy snowfall, access to barn shelter, automatic waterers and can be relatively time efficient. Another concept of feeding cows through the winter is to feed out in either hay or pasture fields. This concept is not necessarily new but is gaining popularity.
Are booster vaccinations needed for beef calves?
Soon beef cow-calf producers will be separating calves from cows, and many will precondition those calves through a weaning and vaccination program to help ensure calves remain healthy through the sale and shipping process. Preconditioning programs are well established with protocols having been set by both marketing organizations and pharmaceutical companies. In general, protocols are very similar between those developed by marketing organizations and those by pharmaceutical companies.
Are booster vaccinations needed for beef calves?
Soon beef cow-calf producers will be separating calves from cows, and many will precondition those calves through a weaning and vaccination program to help ensure calves remain healthy through the sale and shipping process. Precondition programs are well established with protocols having been set by both marketing organizations and pharmaceutical companies. In general, protocols are very similar between those developed by marketing organizations and those by pharmaceutical companies.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Frank
Contact Frank, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack