Certified Livestock Manager

We completed Certified Livestock Manger training in Springfield yesterday and took the test for Large CAFO work.  This certification is needed in order to take manure samples in Illinois.  It also brings us up to date o n rules so that we can give our livestock owning  clients the best possible advice on how to manage their manure applications and stay in compliance with the Livestock Facilities Management Act.

If you are a livestock owner in Illinois, this is excellent training whether it is required or not.   Even if the training is not required, you  are still required to comply with the rules.  This means manurermuch be stored and applied in such a way as to prevent pollution and preserve water quality.  Classes are being offered throughout the rest of the winter in many locations.  Extension Service and Illinois Department of Agriculture teach appropriate sections.  Be warned that if you are taking the test, you will need more than the 3.5 hours on the schedule. 

Swamper Tales Book Review

A family friend wrote the book below about his coming of age in the 60's and 70's showing dairy and beef cattle in Southern Illinois.  The book contains the stories of the characters he met and worked for on the fair circuit.  His stories cover farm life and times.  Every tale is true.  It is a quick read and very enjoyable.  Photographs enhance many of the stories.  Roger Peach is selling the book on his facebook page.  This would make a great Christmas gift for the livestock exhibitor in your life, or anyone who grew up in the 60's.  

Veterinary Feed Directive

The Veterinary Feed Directive becomes law on January 1. It means that livestock producers will need a prescription for medications in food and water.  This means that if you  use medications, but don't have veterinarian you need to get one by the end of the year..  A veterinarian in Prairie Farmer says the law is Good For Everyone.  

Fertilizing with Organic Biosolids

We used to call it manure.  One of my clients had saved a field for manure spreading.  He will till the field to incorporate the manure and then plant soybeans.  Manure Spreading Video The fertilizer is organic, but he uses pesticides and fungicides.

Grazing Animals and Greenhouse Gases

To me, there is logic in raising grazing animals to convert inedible rass to edible and nutritionally needed protein. the grazing animals also help to manage and enhance the grassland.  becausw thw animals emit greenhouse gasses, they are seen as part of the climate problem.  In the article, "The role of ruminants in reducing agriculture’scarbon footprint in North America." researchers use existing literature to conclude that the benefits of grazing animals to the environment and to human nutrition far outweighs their negative impacts in a well managed grazing program.

Good reasons to eat meat.

A friend of mine posted this link to a Nature article " Brain Food: Clever Eating".   The article explains how meat has contributed to Homo Sapiens being Homo Sapiens.  They also talk about how adding meat to the diet contributed to both mental and physical health.  The article points out the importance of the micro-nutrients in meat.

Veterinary Feed Directive

The FDA is implementing the Veterinary Feed Directive soon.  The rule says that many drugs must be approved by a veterinarian before they are administered.  The Prairie Farmer article says to talk with your veterinarian now about the VFD's.

The real interesting part of the article for non-farmers is the part where they list human use of various antibiotics vs. animal use.  It might lead you to believe doctors are over prescribing.

Vegetarian Fed Chickens

Our local supercenter has eggs from vegetarian chicks.  One issue I have is, "what are they using for a calcium source?"  Oyster shells?  Oops that is an animal product. Limestone?  Oops, remains from shell fish.  And how do they keep them from eating insects that might make their way into cages.  And I should pay double for such a dubious product?  

I found a Washington Post Blog on the topic that is well done.  

Hog Farm with Cover Crops

Janette Swarts shared this picture of  hog farm using cover crops.

Meat Myth Crushers.

There is a lot of misinformation circulating about meat.  A web site called Meat Myth Crushers takes on the critics with factual research backed answers to the myths.  The site contains videos, links to other resources, links to experts, and a link to their facebook page.  Each one of the links is probably worthy of a blog on its own.

Study of Egg Laying Systems

A recent three year study of egg laying systems used in the United States was completed with positive results for caged systems has recently received publicity in Farm Week News and the Wall Street Journal among other places.  Researchers looked at Caged, enriched colony, and cage-free systems. The study found that caged systems were healthier for both the chickens and the workers.  Egg quality was the same in all three systems.  The reasons for putting chickens in cages seems to be valid.  It keeps the chickens from pecking each other and it makes it easier to attend to individual bird's health needs.  The study did not look at pasture raised chickens that roam the yard.

New EPA CAFO rules

By Janette Swartz - Soilright Consultant.

I attended the EPA’s meeting on the updated CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) rules. I thought I would give an update on the notes I took from the meeting.  If there is anything to take away from the meeting it would be recordkeeping.  If you have a Certified Manure Management Plan keep records when applying manure to the fields. The first thing the EPA will ask for if they show up at your farm are your records.

They discussed some best management practices that you should implement:

·       It’s important to have the proper crop information.

·       Use realistic crop yields.

·       Know the nutrient values of your manure.

·       Use the proper agronomic manure application rates.

·       Properly dispose of any chemicals.

·       Protocols for proper spill prevention and control.

·       Annual reviews of practices.

·       Maintenance of records.

·       Maintain Soil Analysis.

·       Test manure at least once a year.

The land application fields should now be sampled twice within five years. The phosphate levels need to be maintained at levels lower than 300 pounds per acre. The new rules state manure applications are to be 50 feet from a grass waterway when applying manure unless there is a vegetative buffer. The setback from a residence for manure applications are a quarter of a mile, two hundred feet for surface waters, and a hundred feet from a tile inlet. Applications of manure on snow covered or frozen ground will require a written notice to the EPA by December 1^st of that year.

Judge Rules that Manure is a Pollutant

A Federal Judge has ruled that a dairy farm in Washington is polluting ground water by over application of manure.  His ruling may change how manure application is regulated.  I suspect the case will go to the Supreme Court because the judge is ruling based on an act that specifically exempts manure application when it is used as fertilizer.  The Yakima Herald Republic seems to have the most complete story.  Click on the link. 

My comment is that farmers need to be diligent in how they manage manure and fertilizer in order to be seen as good neighbors.  In Illinois at least, Farmers must prove in their CNMP that they have enough land to properly apply the manure at rates that will minimize pollution.  The ruling also cites the fact that application records are incomplete.  One of the things we stress, is to keep good records.  One of our consultants works with a manure hauler who keeps application records on rate and location by GPS.  I am not sure how the plaintiff in this case proved that all of the pollution was caused by the dairy farm.  It seems to me that it would be a difficult case. 

This case certainly goes hand in hand with the case where the City of Des Moines is suing counties upstream for excessive nitrates in the Des Moines River. 

Grass-Fed Milk

Consumers are faced with an ever increasing array of specialty farm products.  These products give consumers choices and give producers a chance to earn a premium for their product.  A Prairie Farmer Article this month is written about Grass-Fed Milk.  Since grass fed beef has found a niche among consumers, I am sure grass-fed milk will too.  The article does not mention intensive grazing, but that would seem to be imperative for maximum production.  I am curious if some of the pungent flavors found in some pastures come through into the milk. 

Meat Production

National Geographic has been running a lot of articles on food and food production.  This one on beef production is well done. Proponents of Paleo, Vegan and Vegetarian diets seem to think we are doing huge damage to the environment by eating meat.  They are missing something.  First, cattle, sheep, goats, and other ruminants spend much of their life converting grasses and forages that grow on less productive land into food that we can eat.  If we all stopped eating meat, why would people keep cattle on that land.  What would fill that ecological void.  Another thing to consider is crop production.  While some would dispute the fact, we seem to grow all the fruit and vegetables that the market demands.  Cutting back on grain demand by not eating meat would have a huge negative impact on the global economy.  What would become of those acres that are currently used to grow feed?  Who would decide which farmers go bankrupt? 

In less developed countries, poultry and swine also take advantage of foods that we humans are not really hungry for.  Chickens in Africa pick at seeds and insects and convert those to good quality protein for human consumption.  Hogs often are the local garbage disposal and eat food waste that we do not want.  Even in the cattle business, cattle are fed distillers grains and citrus pulp that would otherwise go to waste.

Yes we need to work on better distributing the animal waste produced in large operations.  We need to be cautious about feed additives.  But in the end, animal agriculture is good for our health and good for our economy, and it is possible to produce meat even in large operations, in ways that are environmentally sensitive. 

Newborn Calf

I ran across this newborn calf with mom today. 

How are you Doing with your CNMP

Today I read a recent article "Nutrient Management Plans - How Closely do Farmers Follow Them?" in Crops and Soils Magazine.  They cite a study that seems to indicate that only about 27% of livestock farmers are following their Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans. My guess would be that the plans are so detailed that their is no way they are certain they are following the plan.  It would also be my guess that if they are doing the soil testing as required, and the record keping as required, they are pretty close to be i compliance.  One of the issues raised was  that farmers are not sure about release rates especially of nitrogen.   My solution would be that they use the presidedress nitrate test and add extra nitrogen as needed.

The article also points out that written plans are needed only for large Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations CAFO's).  What is seldom pointed out is that all livestock operations must comply with rules no matter what size.

I think the plans need to be much simpler so that farmers will actually look at them from time to time.  The smallest one I ever wrote was in a 1 inch binder. The largest one was ina 3 inch binder.  Even though I reviewed it page by page with the clients, I suspect that review may be last time they looked at the plan. I always tried to get critical information on one page if possible.  When to spread manure and where on one page, and additional nutrients needed  on each field was on another page.

Oklahoma City Stockyards

Today's agriculture stop was at National Stockyards in Oklahoma City.  We were able to walk around and see much of the stockyards.  We also enjoyed shopping at Langston's Western store and several others.  The stop was completed with a wonderful lunch at the Cattlemen's Steakhouse.  The steak was tender and properly cooked and the wait staff was attentive without hovering.  There used to be places like this in Chicago and East St. Louis near the stockyards there, but now we have to go west to experience it.

stockyards entrance

Cattlemen's Steakhouse

Animal Rights?

You read Denise Maxwell's comment on  this article  here earlier, but I thought it was worthy of more comments.  I know most farmers are aware of the situation whereby animal rights activists want to eliminate human use of animals entirely.  I am not sure where the notion of animals having rights comes from.  I know some think it emanates from Disney movies.  I guess if  you do not grow up with animals, you lose sight of the fact that animals do not talk.

Since the beginning of human history, humans have used animals to feed and clothe themselves.  Animals have been used as beasts of burden, work animals, and hunting helpers.  The human use of animals is supported in the archeological record whereever humans have lived.  The notion that animals have rights cannot come from history.

What do animal rights activists think will happen to farm animals when we can no longer use them for anything except as pets?  How many pigs will there be.  How many horses will people keep if they cannot ride them?  How many cattle will there be if we are no longer allowed to eat a steak?  How will we keep deer from overrunning our crops if we can no longer harvest the deer by hunting?  What will we eat when crops are destroyed by animals with no natural predators in the area?

The above article does a good job explaining  the difference between animal rights and animal welfare.  When will the campaign start to give animals a trial by a jury of 12? 

Do Animals have rights?

By Denise Maxwell - Technician for Soilright Consulting Services. 

My great grandfather was a teamster. He kept 4 horses to support the family by delivering milk, hauling timber, hitching with neighbors to harvest crops and transport the products of industry. I own, love and work horses. I am embarrassed to admit that I thought the education I received in upstate New York was excellent. Given this controversy over carriages I am sad and beginning to wonder how it is that city people, who rarely get to know another species, can claim an opinion and believe these activists.

Everyone who truly loves another species should rejoice in their existence and keep them in the community doing what they do be nature. It will be very hard to be human, much less humane, when the animals are gone. 

Shame New York City, your dogs and cats will be next and you will all become Vegan! 

 I posted this article on facebook yesterday.  It has more with more comment on the plan to ban carriages in Central Park.