On the Ground • Toxic larkspur (Delphinium species) cause large economic losses from cattle deaths, increased management costs, and reduced utilization of pastures and rangelands. • We recommend that you obtain a risk assessment for larkspur on your range before turning out the cattle. Submit samples to USDA–ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory for chemical evaluation at no charge. Information is available at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main. htm?modecode=54-28-20-00. • Selection of cattle resistant to larkspur poisoning could reduce cattle losses and improve rangeland utilization. • The use of genetic-based herd management decisions can provide a tool for livestock producers to improve their profit margin and enhance the economic sustainability of rural American communities.

On the Ground • The use of easily accessible information to forecast when standing forage may lack nutrients to sustain cattle production could be valuable to the ranching community. • Our study was designed to determine if forage crude protein and acid detergent fiber could be reasonably predicted using precipitation, season, and temperature. • In south Texas, monthly precipitation in the fall accounted for 63% of the variation in crude protein and 73% of the variation in acid detergent fiber. • A better understanding of how forage nutritive value changes over the year can improve strategic supplementation efforts.