It’s calving season for producers in the Dakotas and Minnesota. However, getting to this point didn’t come without a far share of obstacles. Purina beef technical specialist Amy Radunz says one ongoing problem is forage quality. “There has been a need for additional supplementation in 2020 than there might have been in the past.” Radunz adds the type of supplementation needed will vary from farm to farm. Additionally, Northern Plains cattle producers learn an important lesson in 2019 when pregnancy checking cows this winter to find a large percentage didn’t breed back. “Poor pasture quality did result in more open cows, thinner cows and lighter weight calves,” says Radunz. “If we’re starting with thinner cows coming off pasture, there is more (nutritional) catch-up to do.” Listen to the full RRFN story.