2024 Range & Pasture Steward Magazine - v1

03 PRO-LEVEL PASTURE MANAGEMENT 18 TOP INFLUENCERS SHARE THEIR STORIES 25 GET BETTER CONTROL, BETTER VALUE WITH THIS TECH

22 18 25 28

17 Views from the Field 18 Feed & Facebook, Tack & TikTok, Irrigation & Instagram: Social Media Stays True to Ranch Life 20 Whats Next in Innovation? 21 Help Meet Ranch Goals 22 Stop the Brush Control Treadmill 24 Time Is Money in Brush Management 25 Get Better Control, Better Value with This Tech 26 Tribute to Dr. Charlie Hart 27 Cookin’ on the Ranch 28 A Weed Control Success Story

01 Ruminations // It’s a Keeper! 02 Welcome to the New Range & Pasture Steward Magazine 03 Pro-Level Pasture Management 04 The Pasture Improvement Calendar 06 One Man’s Journey to Better Forage 08 The Corteva Agriscience Commitment to ESAP 09 2022 National ESAP Winner // Carter Cattle Company 10 Rebuilding? Expanding? Protect your Herd 11 Forage Foundation Builds Healthier Herd 12 Range & Pasture Portfolio: Optimize Your Investment & Your Pastures 14 Want to Shorten Range & Pasture’s Most (Un)Wanted Weeds List?

\\ New Format, Same Commitment // It’s a keeper!

For almost 35 years, cattle producers, livestock grazers and land managers have counted on Range & Pasture Steward as a leading source for pasture and rangeland management news and advice. That isn’t changing. That said, you’ve likely already noticed what is changing. We’ve moved Range & Pasture Steward from a newsletter format to a longer-form magazine — an annual range and pasture reference issue, if you will. This change ensures you have the information you need at your fingertips when you need it and that you can reference it whenever you choose. After all, what’s happening on grazing land mid-February in Ona, Florida, is quite different than in Carrington, North Dakota. Now, you can access Range & Pasture Steward anytime whether addressing a thistle problem that just popped up or planning a large-scale summer mesquite application. Rest assured, with your permission, we’ll stay in touch throughout the year with timely reminders suited to your geography. Simply visit KeepSteward.com to sign up and opt in for email updates, including eSteward, and unlimited access to the digital version of the new Range & Pasture Steward magazine. Meanwhile, give the magazine a read. And be sure to hang on to it for all the pasture management information you need when you need it. Have a great 2024 grazing season!

MORGAN BOHLANDER // U.S. Range & Pasture Portfolio Marketing Lead // Corteva Agriscience

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Tag @CortevaPastures on your favorite social platform and you could appear in the next Range & Pasture Steward magazine. Find us on X (Twitter), Instagram and Facebook. > Share your favorite spot on your ranch. > What’s a practice on your ranch that shows good stewardship? > What’s your favorite quote about raising cattle? > We don’t want to play favorites, but send us pictures your favorite cow. > Show us your favorite view from the saddle! > We love sunsets. Tag us on social media with a sunset from your area.

Welcome to the New Range & Pasture Steward Magazine

While Corteva Agriscience dedicates extensive resources to researching and developing products to meet the unique needs of cattle producers and land managers, it was a different type of need that launched Range & Pasture Steward. “Despite ranchers ranking their grazing lands among the two or three most important aspects of their operation, traditional ag media devoted limited space or time to the topic,” explains Damon Palmer, Marketing Leader, U.S. Specialties, Corteva Agriscience. “As we expanded our brands across the country, it became clear that grass farmers hungered for new tools — and for information.” Today’s Range & Pasture Steward magazine began nearly 35 years ago as two publications: Range & Pasture Press and CRP Steward. Each focused on different geographies, land types and challenges. Across the southern U.S., Range & Pasture Press helped farmers and ranchers manage broadleaf weeds and brush on their grazing lands with the goal of increasing forage and beef production. The advent of the Conservation Reserve Program launched CRP Steward, as program participants faced new challenges in meeting contract requirements for controlling invasive species and other threats, especially during grass establishment. Soon, readers found the same concepts that protected CRP ground could help them improve their grazing acres. CRP Steward simply became The Steward and the focus shifted to helping cattle producers grow more grass and improve utilization across their grazing acres. “As our legacy company DowElanco discovered the need and fit for range and pasture products in northern markets, distribution expanded,” Palmer recalls. “It made sense to create a single publication where cattle producers could read about and learn from peers across the country.” The result: Range & Pasture Steward, now in its 35th year. An Unmatched Commitment Ultimately, the goal of Range & Pasture Steward and the commitment from Corteva Agriscience is to help producers care for and enhance the country’s grazing lands, whether for livestock production, habitat or recreation. Primary to that commitment is researching, developing and bringing to market new products, technologies and services. Corteva recognizes that managing the grazing resource isn’t simple. Rainfall, ecosystem complexities, geography, topography and many other factors — including an operation’s unique, individual goals — influence decisions. “We often hear from producers about how much they enjoy Range & Pasture Steward,” Palmer says. “It’s important we continue to bring and share information across the rangeland management community. And without a doubt, it is a community.” Keep it Coming — Renew in One Easy Step! We want to make sure you continue receiving the latest information on pasture and rangeland improvement. To do that, we need your permission and confirmation of your mailing address. The good news is the process is quick and easy. Renew your free subscription today at KeepSteward.com.

\\ The right weed and brush control program can help maximize flexibility, forage quality and ROI. //

head per day. 1 If those savings are spread across your herd, it’s easy to understand how maximizing pasture productivity can help you maximize return on investment. For example, implementing weed control to remove low-value, undesirable plants and giving high- quality forage a better chance to thrive can provide an additional 30 days of grazing in a continuous grazing system or 45 additional days of grazing in a rotational grazing system. In a 100- cow herd, that’s the potential to save nearly $135 per day, simply by kicking undesirable broadleaf weeds and brush out of your pastures. Besides being unsightly, undesirable broadleaf weeds, woody plants and brush are often more aggressive than crucial forage plants — competing for light, water and nutrients. Herbicide applications can help speed the reset and return a pasture to prime productivity.

Letting a pound of weeds run wild in the pasture causes you to lose a pound or more of grass and profit potential. Controlling a pound of weeds, however, provides the opportunity to grow a pound — or more — of usable forage. Increased pounds of forage means more flexibility — flexibility to add to your herd, diversify with different livestock species, take on a custom- raising opportunity or make it through a frigid winter or a dry summer. And while there’s not much you can do to control the weather, an effective weed control program with well- timed herbicide applications as the centerpiece can provide cost-efficient control of weeds that can impact forage quality and, ultimately, beef production. It’s estimated that grazing cattle costs around $0.45 per head per day, whereas harvested hay or other stored feed can cost as much as $1.75 per

Increased forage in prime-condition pastures can mean different things to different producers, but there is a common thread: flexibility Scan the QR codes below to explore how you can boost your ROI, extend your grazing season and give your operation more flexibility. Pasture Application ROI Calculator

ROI White Paper

1 Burdine, K. The Cost of Pasture versus Hay, 2013

Whether you’re facing summer sun or winter snow, there’s always an active to-do list on the ranch — especially when it comes to pasture management. But breaking down your to-dos by season can not only help make that list less intimidating but also help give your weed and brush control program the best chance of success.

Winter When winter hits, it may be easy to kick up your feet and think about all the things you didn’t manage to cross off your to-do list before the first frost. But there are plenty of winter-friendly management decisions to be made and actions to take during this time of year. • You can start by sitting in front of the fire and evaluating your previous grazing season. From there, you can begin to plan adjustments to your grazing programs and pasture needs for the upcoming season. • Take a look at your equipment. Clean your nozzles, make sure pumps are in working order, check hoses for cracks or leaks and calibrate to ensure proper application. • A nice day in January sure beats spraying brush in the heat of summer. You can use dormant-season individual plant treatments like low-volume basal bark and basal cut-stump treatments to help stop encroaching brush before spring, as long as snow or standing water doesn’t prevent proper application. • In mesquite regions, visit LandVisor.com and request a consultation for LandVisor® Advanced Brush Management, allowing time to evaluate data for your ranch and plan your herbicide treatment. • Work with your retailer or custom applicator to plan early spring applications, including control of winter annuals and biennial thistles.

Spring Everything — including weeds — is starting to grow after lying dormant for a few months. That makes spring a crucial time to remain vigilant. • You aren’t the only one eager for spring turnout. After a winter in pens and barns, your herd is ready go back to pasture. But delaying turnout as long as possible can give stressed pastures more time to recover. • Begin monitoring pastures early — even before they start to green up. This allows you to catch and address any potential problems while they’re still small. • Watch for early emerging annual weeds and biennial thistles. If you catch any, treat early to allow grasses more time and space to grow, which will help suppress any additional weeds. • Use a herbicide with residual control, such as DuraCor® or GrazonPD3™ herbicide, to control any new weed flushes that pop up well into the grazing season. • Don’t forget to feed your pastures. UltiGraz℠ Pasture Weed & Feed lets you fertilize and control weeds in a single pass, saving you time and money. • Lastly, monitor winter hay-feeding sites for new weeds that might have arrived with purchased hay.

™ ® SM ℠ Trademarks and service marks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. GrazonPD3 ™ and Tordon ® 22K are Restricted Use Pesticides. Under normal field conditions, DuraCor ® is nonvolatile. DuraCor has no grazing or haying restrictions for any class of livestock, including lactating dairy cows, horses (including lactating mares) and meat animals prior to slaughter. Label precautions apply to forage treated with DuraCor and to manure and urine from animals that have consumed treated forage. DuraCor and Sendero ® are not registered for sale or use in all states. GrazonPD3 is not for sale, distribution or use in Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York State. UltiGraz SM with fertilizer is available for use with specific herbicides in the states of AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, KS, KY, LA, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NV, OK, OR, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV and WY. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Consult the label for full details. State restrictions on the sale and use of Remedy® apply. Consult the label before purchase or use for full details. Always read and follow label directions.

Summer Early summer opens the window for treating many perennial weeds, including Canada thistle, tall ironweed and western ragweed. Those undesirable weeds can leave your grass susceptible to weed pressure and leave your herd hungry. • Later-season weeds like ironweed and cocklebur can rapidly reach enormous heights, easily choking out grasses and becoming undesirable weeds in pastures. Be vigilant against these and other damaging weeds. • Don’t forget to keep an eye out on the ground for shorter weeds like leafy spurge, which may also start popping up. The weed reaches its true flower growth stage in mid- to late June, but all isn’t lost if it starts to flower. GrazonPD3™ herbicide provides the best leafy spurge control available and is effective on most other noxious and invasive weeds. • While you’re treating broadleaf weeds, resist the temptation to treat brush and other woody plants too early. Take time to ensure undesirable brush and wood plants are fully leafed out and actively growing, which usually doesn’t start before mid- to late June. • For renovation-type brush control programs, work with your aerial applicator to inventory species and develop a prescription tank mix that could include a foundational product such as Remedy®, Remedy® Ultra, DuraCor® or PastureGard® HL herbicides.

Fall The leaves are changing, and the temperature is dropping — fall is here. The season of recovery is the perfect time to take steps to help your grasses recover from spring and summer and prepare for winter. • Fall moisture will germinate new weed seedlings. Most are easier to control at this stage, which makes herbicide applications especially effective during this season. • Perennial weeds are also more vulnerable to fall applications. As the weeds prepare to overwinter, they intake winter food reserves — and your herbicide application. • Brush control also becomes more pleasant this time of year because of the cooler temperatures and more comfortable weather conditions. Dormant-season individual plant treatments, such as low-volume basal and basal cut-stump, can help improve pastures during the off-season. • Don’t forget to feed your pastures. Cool-season grasses benefit from fall fertilizer applications. UltiGraz℠ Pasture Weed & Feed lets you fertilize and control weeds in a single pass, saving you time and money.

Our Range & Pasture Specialists help deliver local, customized solutions across the country. For help with a seasonal plan to optimize your grazing land, talk with your Corteva Agriscience Range & Pasture Specialist. To find yours, visit Corteva.us/pastures/findmyspecialist. 05

One Man’s Journey to Better Forage Brandon Hall’s pasture management journey inspired his co-op clients and his neighbors, blossoming into opportunities and progress. In Knox County, Illinois, the breeze rustles through healthy grass in Brandon Hall’s pasture. The gentle bellows from his cow-calf herd greet him in the morning, along with the smell of hot coffee and the sight of sunshine glittering off the fencing wire. About five years ago, though, the breeze would have rustled through thistles, pigweed (spiny amaranth) and other weeds. The cow-calf herd would have been too busy nosing through a tangle of undesirable greenery to find the forage hidden within. The sunshine wouldn’t be able to reach rows of metallic fencing wire. But since finding his niche in pasture management, Hall’s pastures, and his neighbors’ pastures, are better for it. Hall is a certified crop adviser and location operation manager for West Central FS. He’s active in multiple local clubs and boards with his peers, like Knox County Cattlemen’s Association and Illinois Farm Bureau.

\\ How do we continue to maximize the relatively few acres of pastures or few acres of hay we have? That’s where it all comes together. //

“My mindset is: How do we treat our pastures like we treat our cash crops? Because our pasture is our cash crop. We know how much beef is worth right now. We know how much hay is worth,” Hall says. “How do we continue to maximize the relatively few acres of pastures or few acres of hay we have? That’s where it all comes together.” When Hall returned to the family farm a few years ago and started running a cow-calf herd with his brother, he says, he spent too much time, shovel in hand, sweating in the summer sun, determined to dig out the toughest weed challenges — literally. “I spent two summers digging out thistles,” Hall says. “And then I thought, ‘I sell herbicides for a living. What am I doing?’” And the journey toward better forages — and easier chores — began. Hall contacted his Corteva Agriscience Range & Pasture Specialist. The duo then created a plan that started in Hall’s backyard with PastureGard® HL and GrazonNext® HL herbicides. “Somebody in my industry and my area just needed to take the initiative to make pasture management a forethought instead of an afterthought. Luckily, I was the person ahead of the curve,” Hall says.

™ ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Under normal field conditions DuraCor® is non-volatile. DuraCor and GrazonNext ® HL have no grazing or haying restrictions for any class of livestock, including lactating dairy cows, horses (including lactating mares) and meat animals prior to slaughter. Label precautions apply to forage treated with DuraCor or GrazonNext HL and to manure and urine from animals that have consumed treated forage. Consult the label for full details. DuraCor and GrazonNext are not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. ©2023 Corteva.

Hall says he looks forward to learning how drones and other technology can further increase ROI. On a more traditional level, he says, he’ll continue hosting field days with his Corteva Agriscience Range & Pasture Specialist to show producers how pasture management can enhance profit potential. “Happy cows thrive in West Central Illinois,” Hall chuckles. “Through my career, I’ve met and worked with a lot of good people with the goal to help my customers and their operations.” Last year, Hall’s peers recognized his good work by nominating him for and, ultimately, selecting him as CCA of the Year. “I believe one reason I was considered for this award was because of my work in range and pasture,” he says. “It’s humbling to work with good people and to produce good results.” To stay tuned to Hall’s pasture management journey, follow him on X (Twitter): @ILSoilNerd .

Hall set out to find the proof in the pasture, conducting field trials and trying different products, including DuraCor® herbicide, which quickly earned a place on his farm. “I do a lot of trials. I like to see it before I sell it,” he explains. “If I see success, then I’ll tell folks about it. I want to shout from the rooftops, ‘Hey! This stuff really works! I’m here to help you!’” Through his tenure as a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) in Illinois row-crop country, Hall became familiar with pasture management products; he just didn’t see anyone using them. But when he started talking about the potential return on investment (ROI), his customers — and even competitors’ customers — began calling and placing orders. “By showing them how much longer they can keep their herd out on pasture and how much that can delay hay-feeding season, it makes the added cost and time easier to digest, because the ROI is there, I’ve seen it myself.” — Brandon Hall

DuraCor ® herbicide 16–20 fluid oz May 1, 2021 Knox County, Illinois

Untreated

Recognizing Outstanding Cattle Producers for More Than 20 Years As committed stewards of the land, cattlemen and cattlewomen must continuously evolve and innovate as they strive to be better producers and caretakers. Corteva Agriscience proudly supports these efforts and initiatives in multiple ways, including serving as the longest-standing sponsor of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). “It’s been our privilege for more than 20 years to help recognize the outstanding stewardship practices of U.S. cattle producers,” — Damon Palmer, Marketing Leader, Corteva Agriscience, U.S. Specialties

“We’re proud to help showcase farmers and ranchers who go the extra mile to produce high-quality beef while preserving the land for future generations.” ESAP winners are selected annually by the Environmental Stewardship Award Selection Committee — a blue-ribbon group of representatives from universities, conservation organizations and federal and state agencies. Seven producers are recognized as regional winners each year, and one national winner is selected from the regional award recipients. Nominations for the 2024 Environmental Stewardship Award are due March 8, 2024. That’s a tight timeline, so consider compiling a nomination for 2025. Such a prestigious award requires a fairly extensive nomination form. Supporting photos are helpful and can be gathered this summer head of submission next spring. Visit EnvironmentalStewardship.org to learn more about the program and submit your nomination.

ESAP Winner, Beatty Colorado Ranch, 2021

ESAP Winner, JY Ferry & Son, Inc., Utah, 2021

Congrats to the 2022 Regional ESAP Winners! > Region I > Lamb Farms, Inc. > Oakfield, New York > Region II > Carter Cattle Company, LLC > Pintlala, Alabama > Region III > Huth Polled Herefords and S&H Livestock Enterprises, LLC > Oakfield, Wisconsin > Region IV > Parks Ranch > Goliad County, Texas > Region V > Mannix Brothers Ranch > Helmville, Montana > Region VI > Fulstone Ranches > Smith, Nevada > Region VII > Jorgensen Land & Cattle Partnership > Ideal, South Dakota

2022 NATIONAL ESAP WINNER Carter Cattle Company Meet Will and Monnie Carol Carter, owners and operators of Carter Cattle Company, LLC, an operation nestled among the rolling hills and towering trees near Pintlala, Alabama. Together with their children — Sarah Elizabeth, 15, and Merit, 13 — the Carters manage a herd of SimAngus and Brangus crossbred cattle. The family was recognized as the national winner of the 2022 Environmental Stewardship Award. The family continues to demonstrate a long-standing commitment to its cattle and the environment. From rotational grazing to water distribution strategies, stewardship isn’t a buzzword for the Carter family — it’s a way of life. Most of the Carters’ grazing land is in the largest river delta and wetland in Alabama. “We’re located in the Pintlala watershed,” Monnie Carol Carter says. “Because the creek runs through the farm, it’s really important for us to manage our land and tailor our practices to protect that water source.” The cattle graze year-round, and the Carters use a rotational grazing program to protect soil and forage health while improving pasture utilization. The Carters also use electric fencing to minimize cattle access to the creek, which helps prevent contamination of the creek and watershed. “We run water lines and use water troughs in our pastures to provide a clean source of water for our cattle,” Monnie Carol says. “The practices we do aren’t hard — they aren’t rocket science — but they make a big difference.”

ESAP Winner, The Carter Cattle Company

The Carter Cattle

In addition to their efforts to maintain local water quality, the Carters implement several pasture management strategies that promote better grass production. “Our business is based on growing grass,” Will Carter adds. “We use cattle to turn a low-quality product into a high-quality protein.” Primary grasses used for forage include bahiagrass in the summer and ryegrass in the winter. The Carters also maintain white clover to improve grazing while reducing commercial fertilizer needs. When invasive species, including smutgrass and multiflora rose, became an issue on some parts of the ranch, the Carters established a targeted brush management plan. They also perform routine soil tests, allow for adequate pasture rest periods and keep detailed records to ensure cattle can make the most of the land available for grazing. “We must take care of this place, so that it can take care of us, and the next generation — and the next generation,” Will says. “My hope for the future of Carter Cattle Company is that it will continue to grow, and we’ll continue to improve the resources that we have been blessed to care for.”

Watch more about the Carter Cattle Company here!

Rebuilding? Expanding? Protect your herd.

If the positive outlook for cattle economics has you preparing your grazing acres to support more animals, it’s important to consider how you’ll protect the health of your existing herd. “Weather challenges, from extreme drought to flooded pastures, have hit grazing acres hard in many parts of the country,” says Sam Ingram, Range & Pasture field scientist with Corteva Agriscience. “These compromised pastures serve as a good reminder of the role an abundant, high-quality forage base plays in the health of the herd.” Specific to drought, one of the greatest challenges for cows is the suboptimal quality and quantity of forage, says Phillip Kesterson, DVM, with Zoetis beef technical services. Based in Bridgeport, Nebraska, Kesterson has weathered drought cycles many times with his clients and has seen how those factors can leave the herd vulnerable. As pastures return to productivity – along with favorable economics for the beef industry – cow-calf producers will once again be ready to rebuild cow numbers, typically following one of three approaches: 1. Buying open replacement heifers 2. Buying bred heifers or cows from a known source private treaty 3. Buying bred heifers or cows through an auction barn “As you bring cattle in, the biggest concern is with the health and well- being of your current cow herd,” Kesterson says. “You are exposing them to other disease pathogens and challenging their immune systems. Following basic biosecurity measures, like quarantining new cattle, can help protect your cowherd.” Kesterson breaks down the concerns with each approach to expanding the herd. Buying Open Replacement Heifers

Phillip Kesterson, DVM, Zoetis

Buying Bred Heifers or Cows through a Sale Barn/Auction 1. Involves more risk than buying privately, due to more pathogen exposure with the types and classes of cattle that sell through the auction barn. 2. In most cases, the bred animals are past the high-risk pregnancy exposure, but they have increased risk of stress or injury with loading and unloading, sorting on concrete and going through chutes. 3. If vaccination history is unknown then you need to let them acclimate at home before vaccinating with a killed Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) product with fetal protection, like Cattlemaster Gold FP. 4. It is critical to observe a six-week quarantine period before commingling with your established herd, Kesterson says. The greatest risk is bringing in a BVD persistently infected animal that could put the established herd at risk. A testing strategy for BVD would be money well spent. (con’t on page 17)

1. This can be ideal or problematic, depending on timing between purchase and breeding, potentially limiting vaccination options. 2. A solid vaccination strategy is two doses of modified live vaccine before breeding. The first dose should be given after maturity of heifers (as evidenced by cycling). Allow a three- to eight-week interval, with the second dose at least 30 days prior to breeding; 45 days is better. 3. If you are within the 30-day window, then Cattlemaster® Gold FP is strategically sound. 4. A complete health program, including parasite control, is critical to breeding success. Buying Bred Heifers or Cows from a Known Source Private Treaty 1. Best situation is a solid modified-live vaccination program with proper timing of administration, ideally at prebreeding. 2. Less ideal is if the vaccinations are inappropriately timed or based on a vaccine that isn’t labeled for fetal protection.

Regardless of cattle prices, it’s hard to argue against striving to raise and market the most pounds of beef at the lowest cost possible. That doesn’t mean running cattle on the cheap, but it can be helpful to focus resources where they deliver the greatest return. Often, that’s in the pasture. “Feed is the beef producer’s greatest expense. So, more low-cost grazing presents the most obvious impact on the expense side of the equation,” explains Jacee May, a Range & Pasture Specialist with Corteva Agriscience. “But forage quality and quantity impacts costs in other ways, such as labor and vet bills. Then, there’s the income column — from pounds of beef sold and the price those pounds earn.” Veterinarians Will Carter and Monnie Carol Carter are partners in Snowdoun Veterinary Hospital in Montgomery, Alabama, and in their commercial cow- calf operation in nearby Pintlala. They’ve built their cattle business on forages. “Grass management is the base of what we do. Everything feeds into that,” Will Carter explains. “If we don’t focus on managing the grass, we’re going to have bigger problems.”

Will Carter, Veterinarian, Snowdoun Veterinary Hospital, Montogomery AL

More Days on the Ground Another way to increase marketable pounds of beef — one that also leans heavily on cow body condition — is by having more time to gain. A tight calving window is crucial for the Carters. “It’s one of the things we monitor closely as an indicator our nutrition program is working,” Carter says. “It comes down to selling pounds of beef, and the easiest way to do that is age of calf. We expect 85% of our cows to calve within the first 45 days. More calves early in the calving season is much more profitable for us.” (con’t on page 17) \\ If we don’t focus on managing the grass, we’re going to have bigger problems. // — Will Carter, Veterinarian, Snowdoun Veterinary Hospital, Montogomery AL A strong vaccination program builds on the healthy start those cows give their calves, Carter says. Their marketing program requires a 60-day backgrounding period and a set of vaccines, along with thorough documentation. “We need to be profitable long term,” he says. “The health of our calves and how they perform is vital to our success.” Hitting their benchmarks for body condition, minimizing health complications and earning premiums at market time on a primarily forage-based ration are the Carters’ goals. They say those start with a carefully managed rotational grazing program, fertility and weed and brush control. Running cattle on healthy grasslands that aren’t overgrazed offers health benefits too. “Not grazing to the ground prevents parasites,” Carter explains. “And by frequently rotating cattle to fresh pastures, we have way fewer fly problems. During the summer in Alabama, that’s a pretty big deal.” Keeping Cows in Condition If your aim is to bring more pounds of beef to market, a great place to start is simply through more healthier calves on the ground. And that hinges on maintaining proper cow body condition. “If the cow is not in great body condition, she’s not cycling,” Carter explains. “If she’s not cycling, she’s not going to get pregnant.” Maintaining cow body condition is important year-round, but especially leading up to calving. Because a cow’s top priority is its own maintenance, thin cows are less able to help their calf reach its potential. “If she’s not in good condition, she’s not putting a lot of protein and antibodies in her colostrum,” Carter says. “So, even if a thin cow does happen to conceive, the calf will be weaker, grow less and be more likely to have health problems that stay with them all the way through the feedlot. That makes for some very unhappy customers.”

Optimize Your Investment & Your Pastures Corteva Agriscience is dedicated to offering the most complete portfolio of products specifically designed for managing weeds and brush in permanent pasture and grazed rangeland. Our commitment to those who produce our food and steward our land drives us to help farmers and ranchers increase grass production, ensure the future of sustainable grazing resources, and optimize return on investment.

Broadleaf Weed Control DuraCor ® herbicide

Brush Control Remedy ® and Remedy Ultra herbicides Flexible, long-lasting brush control.

The most extensive pasture weed control available. With the addition of Rinskor® active, the first new active ingredient for pastures and rangeland in nearly 15 years, DuraCor® herbicide offers livestock producers and land managers the widest spectrum of broadleaf weed control available for their grazing acres — and it’s loaded with benefits. Low use rates, control of more than 140 weeds, a low-odor formulation, lasting residual control and no grazing restrictions help make DuraCor the easy choice for pasture weed control. Unlike many other pasture management products, DuraCor does not contain 2,4-D or dicamba, it’s able to broadcast by ground or by air; spot treatments; and has the ability to mix with liquid fertilizer or impregnate on dry fertilizer in select states. GrazonPD3™ herbicide GrazonPD3™ herbicide advances the trusted predecessor, Grazon® P+D herbicide, in three ways; 1) Lower volatility, thanks to 2,4-D choline 2) Lower use rates for less packaging and handling 3) Low-odor formulation for a more pleasant user experience. It is especially tough on hard-to-kill perennials, including nightshades, leafy spurge, Canada thistle, horsenettle and Texas bullnettle, while providing excellent control of many other broadleaf weeds, such as biennial thistles, cocklebur, dandelion, annual broomweed, curly dock, ironweed and ragweeds. GrazonPD3 provides excellent pre- and postemergence control.

Remedy® and Remedy Ultra herbicides control more than 35 brush species down to the roots, being able to be used as an in-season foliar spray or in low-volume basal and basal cut-stump individual plant treatments (IPTs) year-round. Remedy Ultra is ideal in aerial applications. Tordon ® 22K herbicide All-purpose noxious weed control. Tordon® 22K herbicide provides all-purpose noxious weed control as well as basic invasive weed management. It also provides the best leafy spurge control available and is an excellent choice for field bindweed control. Sendero ® herbicide The standard in mesquite control. Controlling mesquite with Sendero results in increased grass production and improved wildlife habitat, and it does not harm grasses and many desirable brush species. Spike ® 20P herbicide Premium long-term brush control. Spike® 20P herbicide provides premium, long-term control of the toughest brush species — including big sage, shinnery and other oaks, tarbush and creosote bush — while enhancing the grazing and wildlife habitat.

SM ™ ® Chaparral, DuraCor, GrazonPD3, LandVisor, “One Pass. Better Grass.,” PastureGard, ProClova, Remedy, Sendero, Tordon and UltiGraz SM are trademarks and service marks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Spike ® is a registered trademark of Nutrichem used under license. GrazonPD3 ™ and Tordon ® 22K are Restricted Use Pesticides. Under normal field conditions, DuraCor ® is nonvolatile. Chaparral ™ and DuraCor have no grazing or haying restrictions for any class of livestock, including lactating dairy cows, horses (including lactating mares) and meat animals prior to slaughter. Label precautions apply to forage treated with Chaparral or DuraCor and to manure and urine from animals that have consumed treated forage. Chaparral, DuraCor, ProClova™ and Sendero® are not registered for sale or use in all states. GrazonPD3 is not for sale, distribution or use in Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York State. UltiGraz SM with fertilizer is available for use with specific herbicides in the states of AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, KS, KY, LA, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NV, OK, OR, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV and WY. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. State restrictions on the sale and use of Remedy® and Remedy Ultra apply. Consult the label before purchase or use for full details. Always read and follow label directions. © 2023 Corteva.

Broadleaf Weed & Brush Control Chaparral™ herbicide

UltiGraz SM Pasture Weed & Feed One Pass. Better Grass. SM

Fertilizer alone grows pounds of grass, but it also grows pounds of weeds. UltiGraz℠ Pasture Weed & Feed brings together fertilizer and weed control for increased forage production and the potential to raise more pounds of beef per acre. Combining the two saves an application expense and can help you make the most of your lowest-cost feed source — your grazing acres. A network of fertilizer retailers and custom applicators offering UltiGraz℠ must complete extensive education and training to become certified by Corteva. This elite group is committed to the highest standards of blending, application and product stewardship for consistent results. You’ll receive a herbicide recommendation customized to your pastures and weed spectrum. If you have your own application equipment, UltiGraz℠ gives you the freedom to self-apply, too, as long as your equipment is exclusively used for pastures. While you’re stewarding the land and raising livestock for the growing world, Corteva is right behind you, researching and developing the latest, most innovative products to help you and help your pastures reach their full potential.

Specialized broad-spectrum weed, brush and grass management. Chaparral™ herbicide is the simple answer for several significant, unique needs, like reducing the impact of toxic fescue through seedhead suppression and improving hay quality by removing Pensacola bahiagrass from bermudagrass. PastureGard ® HL herbicide Pasture weed and brush control with a single product. PastureGard® HL herbicide helps you protect, improve and restore valuable grazing acres with weed and brush control — clearing the way for more forage, better land utilization and increased property values — all while helping raise more pounds of beef at the lowest cost possible. Service Offerings LandVisor ® Advanced Brush Management A whole new way to see the potential of your land. LandVisor® Advanced Brush Management is a digital support tool that combines sophisticated imagery, data, technology and expert guidance to provide a comprehensive view of your land, giving you confidence in your land management decisions.

Coming Soon!

ProClova herbicide, currently submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for registration, is a groundbreaking weed control solution that will enable producers to preserve white clover and annual lespedeza while providing enhanced broadleaf weed control.

To start boosting your ROI and optimizing your grazing land, visit Corteva.us/pastures/steward to explore the full portfolio.

ProClova™ has not yet received regulatory approvals; approvals are pending. The information presented here is not an offer for use or sale. Always read and follow label directions.

Want to Shorten Range & Pasture’s Most (Un)Wanted Weeds List? Here’s How. From Absinth wormwood to Zanthoxylum fagara (lime pricklyash) and everywhere in between, different weeds wreak varying levels of havoc on pastures around the country. We surveyed Corteva Agriscience Range & Pasture Specialists to learn more about the most troublesome weeds. Check out these most wanted to see if your weed nemesis made the list.

TROUBLESOME ANNUAL WEEDS TOP 5

triangular, toothed or lobed and rough. In each oval bur,

two female flowers are enclosed while male flowers are in clusters on short stalks. Treatment: Apply 12 to 16 fluid ounces of DuraCor herbicide per acre. Where a nonresidual option is preferred, apply 1 to 1.5 pints of PastureGard® HL herbicide per acre. Use the lower rate in the rate range when weeds are small and actively growing. Increase rate as season progresses and plants become more mature. #3 Common/Giant Ragweed Common/giant ragweed is an erect, branching summer annual. It reaches 1 to 4 feet tall and has many lobed leaves. The weed flowers in late summer, producing large amounts of wind-dispersed pollen. Treatment: Apply 12 to 16 fluid ounces of DuraCor or 1.2 to 1.5 pints of GrazonNext HL per acre. Use lower rates when weeds are small and actively growing. Increase rates as season progresses and plants become more mature.

#5 Spiny Amaranth/Pigweed Spiny amaranth — or pigweed — has erect stems that are rough and textured. The weed grows up to 6 feet tall. Leaves alternate on long stems and are dull green in color. Small green flowers are in dense spikes at stem tips and upper leaf axils. Each flower is surrounded by three shiny bracts, and seeds are small, shiny and black. Treatment: Apply 12 to 16 fluid ounces of DuraCor per acre. Use lower rates when weeds are small and actively growing. Increase rate as the season progresses and plants become more mature. #4 Wild Mustard Wild mustard is a winter annual or biennial that emerges in the fall. The lower egg-shaped leaves occur as a rosette in the fall. As the stem elongates in the spring, the upper leaves become progressively smaller. The telltale yellow flowers emerge in the early spring Treatment: Apply 1.5 to 2 ounces of Chaparral™ herbicide per acre or a combination of 16 fluid ounces of DuraCor plus 16 ounces of PastureGard HL herbicide per acre when plants are in the rosette stage (fall to early spring).

#1 Horseweed/Marestail Horseweed, also known as marestail, is a tall-growing winter or summer annual. Its stem usually has short bristly white hairs with many alternate and lance-shaped leaves. It blooms June to August with numerous tiny, inconspicuous flowers. Treatment: Apply 12 to 16 fluid ounces of DuraCor® herbicide per acre or 1.5 to 2.1 pints of GrazonNext® HL herbicide per acre. #2 Common Cocklebur Common cocklebur has a taproot, is annual and bushy and reaches 2 to 4 feet tall. The leaves are alternate,

™ ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. DuraCor ® and GrazonNext ® HL have no grazing or haying restrictions for any class of livestock, including lactating dairy cows, horses (including lactating mares) and meat animals prior to slaughter. Label precautions apply to forage treated with DuraCor or GrazonNext HL and to manure and urine from animals that have consumed treated forage. Consult the label for full details. DuraCor and GrazonNext are not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. ©2023 Corteva. 2

BIENNIAL AND PERENNIAL WEEDS TOP 5

#2 Canada Thistle (perennial) Canada thistle is erect, up to 4 feet tall, with tremendous leaf variability. Leaves vary from light to dark green and are oblong or lance-shaped, deeply cut, often with spiny-toothed margins, and slightly hairy below. Flowers are small, bristly clusters and light lavender to deep rose purple. Plants are male and female. Treatment: Apply 16 to 20 fluid ounces of DuraCor per acre or 1.5 to 2.1 pints of GrazonNext HL per acre. Apply after the first buds form in late spring. This timing provides the best compromise between Canada thistle emergence and stage of growth of older plants. Fall to early winter applications of DuraCor can be made prior to the first hard frost. #3 Silverleaf Nightshade Silverleaf nightshade has foliage with gray or silvery appearance with violet, light blue or white flowers and is 1 to 3 feet tall. Stems are sparsely covered with short, yellow thorns. Leaves and stems have a dense silvery covering of hair. Treatment: Apply 12 to 16 fluid ounces of DuraCor per acre or 1.5 to 2.1 pints of GrazonNext HL per acre during bloom. Use higher rate in range when flowering or when weeds are larger. Re-treatment is necessary for total control.

#4 Tall & Western Ironweed Tall and western ironweed are lump- forming perennial herbs with erect stems 2 to 4 feet tall and reproduce by rhizomes and seed. Long, lance-shaped leaves are sharply toothed with short hairs on the lower surface. Reddish purple flowers are arranged along slender branches at top of plant. Treatment: Apply 12 to 16 fluid ounces of DuraCor herbicide per acre before flowering, during vegetative stage (starting when plants are about 10 inches in height) prior to bloom. Use higher rate in range when weeds are larger.

#1 Bull, Musk and Plumeless Thistle (biennials) Bull Thistle: This erect, 2- to 5-foot- tall weed has many spreading branches and spiny wings from leaves. Rosette forms first year; flowering stem elongates second year. Leaves have short prickles on the surface and are cottony below. Flowers are dark purple and somewhat clustered. Musk Thistle: This erect, freely branching weed reaches up to 7 feet tall. Leaves are dark green with light midrib and hairless on both sides, with long, sharp spines. Flowers are deep rose to purple, up to 3 inches in diameter. Plumeless Thistle: This branching plant has spiny wings that extend up to flowers. Stems grow 1 to 4 feet tall. Rarely flowers the first year; when it flowers, the blooms are purple to pink, 1 to 2 inches in diameter, and solitary or in clusters of two to five. Bracts are sparsely to densely hairy. Treatment: Apply 16 to 20 fluid ounces of DuraCor® herbicide per acre or 1.2 to 1.5 pints of GrazonNext® HL herbicide per acre during the rosette stage early in the season. Fall to early winter applications can be made to rosettes prior to the first hard frost.

#5 Carolina and

Western Horsenettle Carolina and western horsenettle have erect stems, loosely branched and covered with gray hairs, and yellow spines. The weeds grow to 2 feet tall. Leaves are dark green, oval, pointed at tip, and sharply lobed or wavy-toothed. Clusters of white to purple flowers look like tomato flowers. Bloom is May to October when yellow-orange berries form. Berries are poisonous. Treatment: Apply 12 to 16 fluid ounces of DuraCor per acre or 1.5 to 2.1 pints of GrazonNext HL per acre. Spray when plants begin to flower in the early summer.

Is your # 1 (un)wanted weed and its treatment on the list? If not, scan the QR code for the online Range & Pasture Weed ID Guide.

A passion for cattle starts early. And so should the protection. Treat your pastures with Corteva Agriscience™ herbicides to knock down weeds so your cattle can graze healthier and happier. It’s better for your herd, better for the land and better for your business. And by creating more sustainable acres, you’ll be protecting your passion for this work for generations to come. Find the latest innovations to help you at Corteva.us/pastures /steward.

™® SM Trademarks and service marks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. GrazonPD3 ™ is a Restricted Use Pesticide.

Under normal field conditions, DuraCor ® is nonvolatile. DuraCor has no grazing or haying restrictions for any class of livestock, including lactating dairy cows, horses (including lactating mares) and meat animals prior to slaughter. Label precautions apply to forage treated with DuraCor and to manure and urine from animals that have consumed treated forage. DuraCor is not registered for sale or use in all states. Consult the label for full details. UltiGraz SM with fertilizer is available for use with specific herbicides in the states of AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, KS, KY, LA, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NV, OK, OR, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV and WY. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. © 2024 Corteva. 015543_NC COR (11/23)

(con’t from pg 10) …Protect your herd. // 5. If vaccination history is unknown then you need to let them acclimate at home before vaccinating with a killed Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) product with fetal protection, like Cattlemaster® Gold FP. It is critical to observe a six-week quarantine period before commingling with your established herd, Kesterson says. The greatest risk is bringing in a BVD persistently infected animal that could put the established herd at risk. A testing strategy for BVD would be money well spent. “The ideal situation is to quarantine until calves are born and offspring is tested BVD free, then you can commingle without worry,” Kesterson says. “But if you can’t keep them separate, it elevates the importance of a robust modified-live prebreeding vaccination program in the resident cowherd.” One last reminder from Kesterson is that as cows are commingled, cows often succumb to respiratory disease. “One of the first things we think when a dead cow appears in the pasture is poisoning,” Kesterson explains. “Necropsies are critical to make sure the cause of death. Mature cows are masters at hiding the symptoms.” He encourages producers to be realistic and to take common-sense steps to protect their existing herds as they introduce cattle from outside sources. A realistic approach is important too when it comes to pasture management, Ingram says. “You can’t decide one day to add a bunch of cattle if your forage base isn’t ready,” he says. “Pasture recovery takes time. Over stocking only exacerbates the problem, from a pasture and herd health point of view.” (con’t from pg 11) Regardless of cattle prices… // Although the Carters set lofty goals for their cattle, they say reaching those heights must fall within the bounds of sound land stewardship. As the 2022 national winner of the Environmental Stewardship Award (read about their efforts elsewhere in this issue ), Carter Cattle Company, LLC, is staying true to that commitment. “We believe in a holistic view,” Carter says. “Our primary goal is to grow more, better-quality grass so that we can increase stocking rates, raise healthier cattle and wean heavier calves. The other benefits are less runoff, less erosion, better wildlife, and more organic material to help the soil retain nutrients and hold more moisture. It’s all a system, and we think you must look at the entire system.” (con’t from pg 29) Weed Control Success Story // Despite his success, Gossett cautions his program won’t work everywhere. Soil type matters. In his case, marginal soils suit cattle perfectly. “Sandy soil is non-negotiable in this type of program. If you stocked 1,800 pounds of beef per acre on different soils, you’d be out of business the first time it rained.” Staying in business, Gossett says, requires flexibility — like buying 184 cow-calf pairs in spring 2023 when the price of all-natural calves didn’t pencil out — and adapting to conditions. “It takes a lot of money to grow this grass, between fertilizer and weed control and irrigation and labor,” he notes. “The way we offset that is through pounds of beef and, with the all-naturals, the incentive of a premium at the end.”

Views from the Field 01 Good farm dogs are worth their weight in gold. Tripp says he would rather be worth his weight in treats. // Photo submitted by Will Carter, Carter Cattle Company 02 Pricklypear cactus can be an undesirable species in pastures, but we sometimes can let them slide for the sake of a beautiful Texas view. // Photo submitted by Corteva Agriscience Range & Pasture Specialist Tanner Chancelor 03–04 Healthy forage in this Texas pasture also makes the perfect hiding spot for calves. Can you find the critter? An integrated pasture management program on this Oklahoma rangeland ensures sustainability for the future. // Photo submitted by Corteva Agriscience Range & Pasture Specialist Dillon DeMuth 05 We can almost hear this picture. Cattle munching softly on some quality forage — what could be better? // Photo captured not far outside Kansas City, Missouri 06 Deep in the heart of Texas, there’s no brush for rabbits to rush around. // Photo submitted by Byron Gossett, Gossett Ranch

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