- (731) 665-7488
- 14 Circle S Road, Rutherford, TN 38369
First-generation farmers view their livestock like their pets. While that is charming, it causes some interesting questions when they visit Circle S. I’ve lost track of how many times, I’ve had a bright young person ask me why they can’t give their livestock pet food.
Your dog, cat, goldfish, hamster has different dietary needs than livestock. While you might see a horse grazing on grass, it doesn’t mean that Mister Ed is ready to mow your lawn. For that, you would need John Deere or an ornery goat.
Even grass must be carefully prepared, processed into hay and then blended into a rotation to properly supplement a diet. All your cat needs for you to do is dish out the Whiskas and get out of its face.
The reason you don’t treat your livestock like your pets is that a horse the size of your Uber needs a little more consideration than your 10-pound Pomeranian. Forget all of the Science Diet and recommendations from your vet. The little guy you take for walks around the block doesn’t require the same daily movement just to eat. Don’t believe me?
When you go driving this week, look at the local farms. All of that space that isn’t used for direct farming isn’t for showing off.
The more industrious farmers can mill and mix their own livestock feed. However, it’s not recommended. Does that mean it is impossible? Of course not. What we’re saying is that most of the people asking about making their own livestock feed, don’t have the time or resources for the commitment. But, if you want to go down this path, here are some options available.
Free-range grasses work best for animals such as horses and cattle. That means you will need to be able to rotate pastures. If you can’t rotate pastures to produce enough feed, then you must buy hay. That can get expensive and you might not always be sure what kind of hay you’re buying.
Pigs are the easiest for producing your own livestock feed. Like most of the smaller livestock options, you don’t have to worry about space. Feeding pigs usually requires making use of the scraps and related tidbits you already have on your farm. Barley, wheat and soybean remnants can be scrapped together and broken down into a baseline feed. The catch is knowing how much each size of pigs needs to chow down.
Chickens need a very fine grain. After all, our little feathered friends don’t have teeth. Still, these little guys will graze on a wide variety of grain. Even with that, your chickens should still be supplemented with a good mix of grains for a balanced diet.
But, what do you do if you’re out of farm space to make your own feed? As mentioned before, you can start getting into the pricey hay buying race. Yet, what happens if Farmer Brown treats his hay with chemicals? What happens if you buy a bad batch of hay?
Then, the effort to mill and mix your own livestock feed would be for not. You could still make your own if you have the space and time but take it from your livestock management friends. Stick to a known supplier that can keep your livestock well-fed and happy.
It’s every farmer’s dreams to have a large herd of livestock. Images of cowboys moving large amounts of cattle fill the heads of those toiling to make sure that this year’s newest critters get fed. Yet, all those dreams take a great deal of space to keep large herds happy and grazing. That’s right, fellow farmers. It’s going take wide open spaces for your livestock to feed.
Circle S Farm Supply realizes that not every farmer is working with a large swath of land. However, large herds of livestock need to roam, graze and possibly have rotated feeds. Even if you don’t make your own feed, you still must find a dedicated supplier to keep your livestock well-fed.
Even when you check off all those boxes, there still must be a set schedule to keep the livestock fed. That’s why we recommend hay rings and hay savers. Not every farmer can be out in the pasture making sure every herd eats right.
But, what you can do is buy one of our Bextra hay savers and make sure that the amount of feed is properly regulated. That’s right, farmers. Much like your stubborn house cat or littlest grand kid, you’ve got to keep an eye on how much your livestock eats.
Livestock management requires a few basics when it comes to feed. Yet, there always seems to be issues with feeding them. Most farmers write this off, as part of their daily workload. However, Circle S wonders if there is an easier way of handling this sort of thing.
Hay Rings are easy to construct and fantastic time savers. Just two pieces being snapped together will give you the means to feed your livestock. They’re portable and easy to construct. If that wasn’t enough, you also have the Bextra Heavy Duty Hay Savers. These metal creations will keep livestock from tearing apart your food dispensers.
Still, Circle S Farm Supply wonders if you’re forgetting to feed your crops. It goes beyond just watering and throwing fertilizer on them. How are you treating your soil? Have you thought about it?
Circle S Farm Supply is well known for its liquid plant food. That’s a supplement designed to better support your plants in the hot sun. However, our liquid fertilizer is designed to prime the dirt to help retain nutrients. The two factors working together will create a circle of trust that will keep your crop from withering and dying on those 100-degree days.
To the average farmer, most of this might sound silly. You know that you need to protect livestock feed. Also, you’re aware that you must treat plant food and fertilizer as two separate things. If there’s a lesson to be taken away from today’s post, it’s that you need to stay aware.
Staying aware of your ideal surroundings is essential to the successful farmer. It’s one thing to know that you’re hungry, but how will you meet the feed needs of the farming components? The balancing act is pretty intense, but one well worth engaging in for greater success.
Plant Food remains the greatest tool for prolonging your farm’s life.
While that might be a bold statement, hear me out. Fertilizer primes the soil and is ubiquitous. Every farmer worth their name knows what level of NPK they need to bring their crops to fruition. But, what about the plant food portion? You do use plant food, right?
Plant Food is that layer of defense between your prime crops and the elements. While the spring makes for a fun and fanciful planting season, you never know what the summer brings. The possible heat will dry up the water/nutrients in most crops. But, what about excessive rain and flooding?
Your water table can handle a degree of water. But, too much will eventually wash away the nutrients that your crops need to survive. What are you to do to ensure the survival of your crops?
At Circle S Farm Supply, we serve up some of the best liquid plant food in America. Those little droplets of crop goodness are delivered to you by the expert hands at Circle S. What this liquid gold does is seep into your targeted crop areas to feed and shield your plants from the unpredictable troubles of the outside world.
Plants left untreated by Circle S Farm Supply’s liquid plant food will face extreme distress. An untreated plant can exist for 10-14 days outdoors without needing plant treatment. Yet, you don’t always have the time as a farmer to pay attention to sub-sections of plants while ignoring the overall farm production. You’re not a florist.
Liquid plant food buys you that extra time to save crops and manage the continued life of your plants. On paper, that might not sound that beneficial. However, hard working farmers will understand the difference that a little extra time makes after riding a combine through 100-degree days and no air conditioning. Contact us anytime! Circle S is here to help.
All plants need Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium to grow. Most farmers can take soil reads and get a sense of what they’re missing. But, what goes beyond NPK? Are you offering the right fertilizer to your soil?
But, do you know the other organic elements included in your liquid fertilizer? Now, it’s time to examine what makes the treatment so special for your crops. After all, if most NPK fertilizers just handle the big three, what is to be gained by adding the others?
Some of the additional elements included in plant growth are:
Magnesium – part of all chlorophyll, essential for photosynthesis.
Calcium – general plant vigor and growth.
Sulfur – promotes protein
Iron – helps form chlorophyll
Boron – aids in production of seed and fruit development
Zinc – transforms carbs, regulates sugars
Copper – reproductive growth
Manganese – helps with enzymes, breaks down carbs
Molybdenum – helps with nitrogen
Chlorine – aids metabolism, essential for photosynthesis.
Cobalt – essential for nitrogen fixation in young plants.
Every farmer wants to have a bountiful harvest. As a result, you do everything in your power to create the best environment for your crops to succeed. If you have any questions, reach out to Circle S Farm Supply.
Livestock Management is the farm tested art of keeping your animals happy. It’s also the practice of keeping your farm animals from busting out and tearing up your property. Everyone that works in Ag has had to track down a horse, cow or even a goat that busted out of their pen. Wouldn’t it be easier to have modern options to keep those critters locked down?
Look no further than your friends at Circle S Farm Supply. Circle S features the latest and greatest from Stay-Tuff and Gallagher. Have you seen the new Gallagher Power Fence products? How about those Galvanized Corral Panels and Grates?
It’s ok, pal. You’re among friends that love talking livestock. We are part of a field that gets to work with our hands, nurture a bounty of farm animals and produce the best crops that the Good Earth has to offer. It’s only natural to be excited about the tools that we get to use.
The aspect of livestock management that so many forget is Livestock feeding. After all, if you’re going to manage living creatures, you’ve got to keep their stomachs full. Heavy Duty Hay Rings are in-stock at Circle S Farm Supply. These hay rings allow busy farmers to feed large amounts of hay to their cattle without having to constantly be in the middle of the feeding.
If you want something a little heavier duty, Circle S also sells the Bextra Heavy Duty Hay Savers. The purpose is the same, as these hay feeders exist to keep cows and farmers happy. Circle S Farm Supply is ready to help you upgrade your livestock management. Contact us to learn about all the wonderful things you can do for your livestock.
Those that don’t properly remove handling trouble face livestock that will have a hard time conceiving & prospering on a farm. So, how do you handle your livestock?
The goal of Livestock handling is to make the process safer. Experts have studied everything from color usage on handling tools to filtering light away from frightened Livestock. But, what matters most on your farm?
Circle S Farm Supply offers a variety of options for livestock handling and maintenance. Arrowquip squeeze chutes and cattle handling equipment are quiet, safe and efficient. They offer a rubber floor with Parallel Squeeze to keep that cattle calm as you process them.
Also, in stock is the sweep tub and alley. Nothing is scarier than watching a young farmhand trying to move your cattle. The Sweep Tub and Alley provided an adjustable means of directing cattle traffic to where you need them to be loaded up. The Sweep comes with left or right hand opening for operator ease. After you set up the Sweep Tub and Alley, you will be wondering how you ever managed without one.
Circle S also carries a wide selection of Gallagher power fencing and galvanized corral options. Customized a livestock handling and management has never been easier. Plus, they pen together with pre-installed loop connectors. All pens are included with the relevant purchased equipment. Circle S has the name brands, we have the customization options and we’re available to discuss your plans directly with you.
Stop by the Circle S Farm Supply site and check it out.
Fertilizer is a fascinating product and concept. It’s the lifeblood that helps plants to grow, but it’s impacted by every literal element on a farm. Everything from runoff to leaching can impacts its effectiveness.
As the summer rages on, your crops will need a shot in the arm to beat the heat. Various weather elements get introduced to your plants at just the right time of the year. Whether it’s a late season cold snap to start planting season, seasonal flooding or excessive heat waves…it seems like Mother Nature has it in for your agricultural livelihood.
Thankfully, you have Circle S Farm Supply to guide you through a recovery process when Mother Nature doesn’t seem to be your best ally.
Fertilizer is the lifeblood of the Ag Industry. If farmers didn’t have the proper fuel for their soil, there would be no substantial crops to harvest. Many in farming are quick to look at harvest without fully understanding the power of the planting and maintenance of crops. Many younger farmers are quick to grab any fertilizer based on volume or need.
It is ideal to take a soil sample to know exactly what is missing from your property. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
Look at the Circle S offerings to select the best option for your farm.
Quality Liquid Plant food placed in the growing zone creates an environment for plants to thrive from the beginning. While traditional dry fertilizers take time to break down and become available to the plant and soil.
Our 100% Orthophosphate Plant Food is food grade product and is in readily, usable form.
Circle S Farm Supply products have No Heavy Metals, No Chlorine, and Very Low Salt content. That means you are buying Pure Plant Food and No Undesirable Fillers. In many cases, we have seen producers raise P and K levels very significantly, sometimes nearly doubling the levels by banding our Plant Food in the growing zone.
By placing those nutrients in the growing zone you will feed the root structure with necessary nutrients. As the season goes on, the crops needs those nutrients. Your crops won’t be left waiting on ideal rain or weather conditions. Studies show that Corn seed and other seeds only produce enough energy for the plant to survive 10 to 14 days. It is important to have those necessary nutrients in the growing zone for optimum growth and development.
Many times a Foliar application has proven to be beneficial and creates Plant health and higher Yield.
A Foliar application will also help crops recover from weather stress. The foliar is cost effective, very efficient, and easily attainable. That is because producers are going to be in the field with a sprayer applying a herbicide, insecticide, or fungicide and you can piggy back a Plant Food application.