- Author: Konrad Mathesius
- Author: Gabriele Maier
- Author: Josh Davy
- Editor: Mark Lundy
Looking a little dry out there?
Dry conditions mean it's good to be cautious about nitrate toxicity in forage crops, particularly small grain hay, grasses, and anything weedy! Nitrates can harm or even kill animals. Growers should test forages and stay vigilant.
Why are dry years more of a concern for nitrate toxicity? Drought conditions in California this year are the worst they've been in decades. Many growers are considering cutting their grain fields for hay, however, that may cause some concerns for ruminant livestock if forage nitrate (NO3) levels are not monitored closely since drought stress can cause nitrate accumulation in forage plants.
- Author: Rachael Freeman Long
Fiddleneck is everywhere this year, and common groundsel is common too! As winter annuals, these weeds are early-season plants. They tend to be shallow rooted, and do best in wet conditions like we've been having with all our rainfall this season.
Colorful but Deadly. Fiddleneck (Amsinckia spp.) may look bright and colorful on our hillsides, but this weed, as well as groundsel (Senecio vulgaris), are toxic to livestock, because they contain toxins known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that affect the liver. Cattle and horses are most sensitive to PAs; pigs and chickens are less sensitive, and sheep, goats and turkeys are the least sensitive. Younger animals are more susceptible than...