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Drought
and Nitrate Toxicity to Livestock
TEST YOUR CROPS FOR NITRATE CONTENT!
Drought conditions
can raise the nitrate level in crops. NECi, The Nitrate Elimination
Company Inc., has developed Nitrate Test Kits (Ag-NTK)
that let you know whether your feed or forage is safe for animal
consumption.
NECi Ag-NTK measure nitrate levels on-site in standing hay, corn, silage,
and forage grasses.
You can use Crop Nitrate Content info to:
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make
better harvest decisions
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set mower height in hay fields
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blend high nitrate feeds with safe sources
USA DROUGHT 2006/7
This summer of 2006, with
high temps and a lack of rain, more than 60 percent of the U.S. is in
drought. The University of Nebraska (at Lincoln) Drought Monitor has
updates with maps and other information on the drought and its impact on
agriculture; see the latest maps at:
http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html
WHAT’S SAFE FOR LIVESTOCK?
Experts suggest these
guidelines for nitrate content for cattle, pigs, and milk production:
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Generally
considered safe: zero – 1500 ppm nitrate-N
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Problem levels,
take precautions: 1500 – 4500 ppm nitrate-N
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Do not feed:
anything over 4500 ppm nitrate-N
Nitrate is reported a
number of ways depending on your state and consultant preferences.
CLICK HERE TO SEE: Table
of Nitrate Units used in Ag Reporting (PDF)
NECi Ag-NTK ARE:
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FAST:
Results in 30 minutes. No shipping or waiting for lab
results
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RELIABLE:
Accurate information you can use to make important decisions
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ECONOMICAL: As low
as $5 per test
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EASY-TO-USE: No
special skills or equipment required
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NON-TOXIC &
NON-POLLUTING: Safe to use on-site, in the field or at your home office
Two Types of NTK for Livestock Feed Testing:
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Livestock Feed (LF-NTK):
Use in medium drought conditions
Test range 0-2000 ppm nitrate-N (same as 0-9000 ppm nitrate, or 0-0.95%
nitrate).
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Livestock Feed High
range (LFH-NTK): For crops in severe drought.
Test 0-4000 ppm nitrate-N (same as 0-18000 ppm nitrate, or 0-1.8%
nitrate)
Test Livestock Drinking Water or Your Own Drinking Water:
NECi also sells NTK
for water – test your well water for drinking water safety, or test runoff
for compliance monitoring. The AW-NTK series is
set at the US EPA limit of 10 ppm nitrate-N (same as 45 ppm nitrate in
California reporting units).
NECi
stands for Safe and Accurate Nitrate Testing with Easy-to-Use Kits
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