K-State Vet Urges Cattle Producers To Watch For Pinkeye

from: cattlenetwork.com

“It shows up every year and to the unlucky cattle that contract it, Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), more commonly called pinkeye, is incredibly painful and if left untreated, can lead to loss of the eye, a Kansas State University veterinarian said.

“Pinkeye is usually caused by the bacteria Moraxella bovis,” said K-State Research and Extension veterinarian Larry Hollis. “However, we´ve found that in many cases – especially the extremely difficult cases – another bacteria, either Branhamella ovis or Mycoplasma bovoculi, is also present.”

The disease is spread by flies, said Hollis, which means that good fly control around cattle production areas should always be a priority.

In its early stages, pinkeye is usually easier to treat, he said. The disease can accelerate rapidly, however, and if not treated aggressively can lead to damage to the eye or complete loss of the eye.

“It is painful as all get-out,” said Hollis, who added that cattle with an active case of pinkeye or those with permanent damage are discounted at sale time. “Watch or animals that are producing an unusual amount of tears (discharge) that show up on the face,” he said, adding that “there will always be a carrier animal in the vicinity – either in your herd or one down the road.”

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Farm ‘experiment’ tests subsistence

from: bangordailynews.com

“Fred Sherburne, 57, and his nephew Shawn Sherburne, 35, watched as honeybees flitted over the sea of golden yellow sunflowers that surrounded them, a crop both men hope will help their struggling multigeneration dairy farm survive.

The elder Sherburne, who operates Top of Maine Farms off the Ripley Road, planted about 18 acres in sunflowers this year — and much more of his approximately 400 acres in oats, wheat and corn — in an attempt to diversify and to help offset the loss from dropping organic milk prices.

“Diversification is the key to the whole [farm] thing,” Fred Sherburne said Monday.”

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Concerns swirl around creamery sale

from: times-standard.com

“With Humboldt Creamery’s sale to Foster Farms Dairy expected to close today, concern is growing among the company’s cash-strapped dairy producers who say they likely won’t see another milk payment until October.

”I don’t know how we’re going to pay bills around here,” said creamery member and 35-year dairyman John Vevoda. “There’s real concern. This is real.”

Humboldt Creamery filed for bankruptcy protection in April, just two months after its former CEO Rich Ghilarducci abruptly resigned, alerting the company to inaccuracies in its financial records. An FBI investigation into allegations that Ghilarducci committed fraud is ongoing.

Earlier this month, Foster Farms Dairy agreed to purchase the company’s main assets in Fernbridge and Stockton for $19.5 million at a bankruptcy auction. The largest privately owned dairy in the state, with more than 5,000 cows spread across five dairies, Foster Farms Dairy intends to continue operating the creamery, and will reportedly buy milk from the area’s producers through Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), which held a 25 percent stake in the creamery.

But local dairymen’s concerns over the arrangement are growing. Specifically, it’s the arrangement for the purchasing of organic milk that they say is worrisome.”

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Ranching family creates value in conservation

from: capitalpress.com

“When he’s not managing the ranch, running his farmland brokerage or performing with his bluegrass band, Scott Stone likes to watch the Swainson’s hawks and burrowing owls roaming his family’s Central Valley rangeland.

“The most we ever counted was 75,” Stone said on a recent morning while watching a group of hawks circle a nearby field. “It’s pretty cool.”

Building on a personal interest in land conservation, Stone and his family — he owns the Yolo Land and Cattle Co. with his father, Hank, and brother Casey — are gradually building a direct-to-consumer, grass-fed beef operation.”

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U.S. farmers warm to community agriculture model

from: reuters.com

“As he finished packing corn, tomatoes and blueberries into shopping bags at a Massachusetts farm, software engineer Alex Lian said his new shopping habits had changed his attitude to food.

“As a city person, I’ve never had this much connection to the seasons and eating things as they’re picked,” the 32-year-old said as he looked out over fields at Tangerini’s Spring Street Farm where his produce had been grown.

Tangerini’s is one of a growing number of mostly small-scale U.S. farm operations that have turned to community-supported agriculture as a new business model.

The 74-acre farm sells shares of its crop of vegetable and fruit crop in winter and early spring. Its 230 customers pick up their share of the produce every week at the farm, starting in June and running through the growing season.

Laura Tangerini has been farming for more than 20 years. But in the two years since she’s adopted community-supported agriculture, her family’s outlook on the farming business has changed dramatically

“What I’m seeing with the CSA is a future for my farm past me,” Tangerini said in an interview at her farm about 20 miles southwest of Boston. She no longer has to borrow money to buy seeds and pay other early-season expenses, and her college-aged sons are starting to show an interest in farming.”

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New Tools for Sustainable Farming

from: usnews.com

“Environmentalists are just as fond of talking about it as are politicians, economists or marketing experts – “sustainability” has become a buzzword. The problem is that the term sustainability can refer to many things and have manifold interpretations. Agricultural scientists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen have shed light on the subject. Together with colleagues in theoretical and applied science they have managed to give the term “sustainability” a more definite meaning. They have helped to make this multi-faceted concept quantifiable – a benefit to farmers, food manufacturers and consumers alike.”

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Forages, equipment, management strategies at heart of Forage Day

from: news.uns.purdue.edu

“A field day designed for forage enthusiasts will provide helpful tips on topics such as controlling weeds, looking at different forages and making hay crop silage and equipment demonstrations.

Purdue Forage Day, set for Sept. 17 near Cambridge City, Ind., combines educational sessions, demonstrations, challenges from an operating forage producer and university expertise to provide participants with solutions and ideas they can implement on their farm, said Keith Johnson, Purdue Extension forage management specialist.”

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Minnesota Offers 10% Livestock Grants

from: dairytoday.com

“Minnesota livestock producers can apply for funding to offset the costs of improving or expanding their operations through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Livestock Investment Program. The program gave the state’s livestock industry a much-needed boost when it was first launched in 2008. This year, applications will be accepted through November 30.

“Qualifying producers would be reimbursed ten percent of the first $500,000 of investment, with a minimum investment of $4,000. Qualifying expenditures include the purchase, construction, or improvement of buildings or facilities for the production of livestock, and the purchase of fencing as well as feeding and waste management equipment. Improvements made since January 1 of this year are eligible for consideration.”

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Value Added Agriculture Grants To Be Available

from: hoosieragtoday.com

“Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says USDA will soon be accepting applications for grants to assist agricultural producers seeking to add value to the commodities they produce. The Secretary says, “these grants will help farmers and ranchers add value by using them for planning activities such as feasibility studies, marketing and business plans, or for working capital.” Approximately 18-million dollars will be awarded nationwide.”

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United Kingdom – Organic Statistics 2008

from: thepoultrysite.com

“There have been significant increases in the numbers of cattle, sheep and pigs reared to organic standards between 2007 and 2008, while organic poultry numbers have fallen slightly.”

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Dairy goat field day set for Juneau, Wisconsin

from: midwestagnet.com

“Keith, Jane and Tylor Schwartz of Suga-Breeze Dairy Goat farm in Juneau will host a field day Saturday, Sept. 19. Field day activities will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a cheese tasting and registration and end at 2:30 p.m. Attendees are welcome to stay and watch the beginning of milking. The Schwartzes milk more than 200 head of dairy goats on their family farm. Topics and speakers will be:

Dairy goat facts — Harvey Ziemer, field representative for Kolb-Lena Cheese

Mineral and vitamin needs of dairy goats — Doug Wilke, Farmasyst Agri-Services

Better sanitation for milk quality — Jerry Schulz, Gehring Sales and Service Inc.

Forage options — Art Tessmann, representative for Jung Seed

Making baleage better — Al Schellinger and Mike Schellinger, Agri-King

Farm tour and baleage demonstration — Keith, Jane, and Tylor Schwartz, Suga-Breeze Dairy Goat Farm

The field day is an opportunity for goat enthusiasts to come and share their knowledge on dairy goat care and management, and the dairy goat industry. It is free to the public, but pre-registration, is required by Friday, Sept. 11 to assure enough materials will be available for all attendees. To register or for information, contact Jeanne Meier, jeanne.meier@wi.gov, 608-224-5121.”

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Understanding the Ruminant Animal Digestive System

from: thebeefsite.com

“Ruminant livestock include cattle, sheep,and goats. Ruminants are hoofed mammals that have a unique digestive system that allows them to better use energy from fibrous plant material than other herbivores, writes Dr. Jane A. Parish, Dr. J. Daniel Rivera and Dr. Holly T. Boland in this Mississippi State University Extension Service report.”

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Private-Label Organics Help Consumers Cut Costs

from: fb.org

“Growth in sales of private-label food products at the expense of name brands is a trend that’s been strong for a few years and continues to gain momentum. Where organics are concerned, the story is slightly different, as the market remains less developed.

There’s little mystery behind private-label organic foods. Lower-cost, private-label organic products allow consumers on stretched budgets to continue buying essentially the same foods they’ve been purchasing for less cash. At right is a look at how this trend is playing out.”

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Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Establishes Dairy Advisory Committee and Requests Nominations

from: usda.gov

“Advisory Committee Will Review Key Issues Impacting Dairy Industry and Generate Additional Ideas About How USDA Can Help Struggling Producers.”

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Eat local challenge Trying out aspects of the 100 mile diet

from: bclocalnews.com

“How do you eat local?

That’s what one resident wants to know, and she’s looking for anyone interested to take up the challenge with her.

Julia Nieckarz is putting on an “Eat Local Challenge” for the months of September and October, explaining that these are the two easiest months to tackle for the first try as the Farmers Market will still be open and selling fresh produce.”

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