MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/E3298237/2010_07.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK ─

F= ROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK ─
THE SOCIAL SIDE OF RATION FORMULATION

 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Over the past month or so, I've= been summarizing the published research on management and social factors that influence feed intake. We currently adjust our predictions of dry matter in= take based on environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, muddiness, and daily distance walked. But an important question remains: Do= we know enough about the effect of the cow's social environment on feeding behavior and feed intake to begin incorporating these factors into our nutritional models? After digging through the published data, I would say t= he answer is "yes." We do know enough to begin using this informatio= n on stocking rate, parity, and grouping strategies to adjust our predictions of feed intake and do a better job of formulating diets for cows in specific feeding environments.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>I found a total of 14 studies t= hat measured dry matter intake and usually some component of feeding behavior. = All studies fed TMR to dairy cattle housed in free-stall barns. All of the stud= ies measured short-term responses to varying stocking densities and so we still don't have quantitative information on the long-term consequences of overcrowding stalls or feed mangers. Of course, this is a major limitation,= but the short-term response is still a good place to start.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>One of the first things I learn= ed as I sifted through the research is that greater feeding time is not highly associated with greater dry matter intake. This is unfortunate because an assumption underlying much previous research was that if a management change improved feeding time, it likely also improved feed intake. Why is the relationship between increased feeding time and actual feed intake low? I d= on't think anyone knows for sure, but I did find some clues when I summarized se= ven studies that evaluated the effect of greater feeding frequency on dry matter intake. It seems that increasing the frequency of TMR feeding may enhance feeding time and even dry matter intake, but only up to a certain point. Be= yond about 4 to 5 times per day, it is common to observe reductions in dry matter intake even though feeding time is increased and feed efficiency is increas= ed, possibly reflecting better rumen conditions. But amount of time spent lying= is substantially reduced. In other words, the cows appear to be spending more = time on their feet eating at the expense of lying down. Under these conditions, = feed intake is depressed. So, greater feeding frequency is good but let's not over-do it. In fact, Canadian research showed an advantage of twice per day feed delivery over once daily, but there was no further improvement for four times daily delivery of TMR.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>When I summarized the stocking density research, there was no relationship between dry matter intake and manger space available to the cow. But, there was a good relationship betwe= en manger space and feeding rate – cows that were overstocked ate faster= due to the greater competition for feed and feeding space. Long-term, this increased feeding rate, commonly called "slug feeding," would have negative consequences for rumen health and cow productivity. The summarized data also showed that dry matter intake of first-calf heifers does drop off with decreased manger space compared with mature cows. Cows can adapt to restricted manger space more readily than heifers because they are larger a= nd often more dominant. And, you guessed it – as stocking density goes u= p, resting time is reduced for both parities, but particularly for younger cow= s.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>            =

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>The bottom line is that inputs = for key components of the social environment will become important in the futur= e as our nutrition models are improved. In fact, I can see a time in the hopeful= ly not-too-distant future where time budgeting (with a focus on the eating-res= ting interaction) will become an initial, important, and routine first step in ration formulation.

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─ Rick Grant, grant@whminer= .com

 <= /p>

HELP US PLAN FOR = THE FUTURE!

Please take a moment= to fill out a short survey at www.whminer.org = and help us with our five-year strategic plan for Miner Institute.  We appreciate your support!  Thank you. 

 

A= TRAZINE IN THE PUBLIC EYE — YET AGAIN

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>No herbici= de has been studied more than has atrazine. In spite of being around long enough that our grandfathers used it, atrazine continues to be a hugely popular herbicide in corn weed control programs. O= ne report estimated annual use at 76 million pounds, suggesting that with curr= ent application rates of a pound or so per acre, a fairly high percentage of our corn gets a snort of atrazine. And why not, as = one university weed control specialist remarked, atrazine<= /span> just makes most weed control programs better.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>But its long-term popularity keeps atrazine in the publ= ic eye, and beady-eyed environmental activists are once again calling for yet another review of the herbicide, with the goal of banning it entirely. Was = this based on new scientific evidence? Nooo, EPA's c= urrent interest in atrazine was reportedly based on an activist-inspired article in The New York Times. Atrazine use has been linked in one study to mutations in frogs, but proponents of t= he herbicide claim that the results aren't repeatable and that the mutations m= ay have been due to some other factor. Can corn farmers live without atrazine? Sure. Would they prefer doing so? Probably not. We could also live without HDTV, air-conditioned vehicles and Cherry Garcia ice cream, but we'd rather live = with them. 

 

V= ET'S CORNER:
PARASITE EVALUATION CLINIC 2010

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>In conjunc= tion with Dr. Don Bliss,
Mid America Agricultural Research, www.midamericaagresearch.net, our practi= ce conducted another parasite evaluation clinic in early June. For several yea= rs we hadn't focused on the importance of internal parasite control in dairy cattle and operated under the assumption that OTC pour-on dewormers were providing adequate coverage. Last year we learned that all of our graz= ing herds and many confinement herds carried economically significant parasite loads. With Dr. Bliss's guidance, various deworming strategies were devised for individual farms and we had many testimonials of improved production of 5-8 # of peak milk and improved body condition.=

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>Again this spring we found mild to heavy parasite shedding on nearly all pastured catt= le. Most herds that tested positive for worms dewormed once last summer and used a pour-on in the fall to reduce parasite egg coun= ts, but this approach did not completely eliminate the problem. Mild winter conditions allowed parasite eggs to overwinter well and the cattle were building renewed parasite loads again this spring.  Our strategy for these herds will = be to deworm immediately and retest in July or August to de= cide if a second deworming will be necessary before = barn-up time.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>A common f= inding was parasites in fresh cows from free stall barns that are allowed to live outside on small dry cow pastures. A strategy was devised to feed dewormer to the close-up dry cow group at a reduced d= osage every week. The dewormer accumulates in the wor= ms, not the cow, and if the cow receives 2 or 3 doses in the CUD group, the wor= ms will be eliminated for the early peak of lactation time when she goes back = into confinement. In the fall when all cattle come back into confinement, further parasite testing will be done to see if a complete pour-on dewormer is needed or if the farm simply needs to use a more economical delousing pour-on if no internal parasites are found.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>An unfortu= nate finding was that our rotational grazing, organic herds continued to carry t= he heaviest parasite loads. Parasite treatments are limited with this style of farming. Our practice has been lobbying USDA officials to approve an effect= ive treatment that has no milk or meat accumulation and unanimously passed the National Organic Standards board three years ago.  Preventative medicine is the name = of the game for organic producers, and we are concerned that the natural immune response is suppressed by endoparasitism and is= a risk to the overall health of the organic stock.

 = ;

─ Kent Henderson, DVM

Northwest Veterinary Associates, Inc.

Hugamoo@co= mcast.net

 = ;

IT’S NOT THE HEATR= 30;

<= span class=3DGramE>…but = the humidity, especially for dairy cattle. I was reminded of this while perusing some curren= t U.S. da= iry statistics the other day. (Actually I was doing so while sitting on our deck having some milk and cookies with The Bride and listening to the birds sing. The Crops Dude can multitask!) Milk production per cow varies widely among = the states, from a high of over 24,000 lb/cow in New Mex= ico to a low of 10,000 lbs in Ala= ska. Alaska is the exception, and I think this number may be a WAG anyway since = the reported figure of exactly 10,000 lbs seems a bit too, ah, convenient.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>In general we can group states = into three categories and production levels: Hot and humid =3D low production; temperate and humid =3D medium production; hot and dry =3D high production.=

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Some specifics: First, the &quo= t;Deep South" states where it starts to get stic= ky in April and by midsummer is really rough on a dairy cow.  Arkansas, Alabama, Louisian= a, and Mississippi all have herd averages that are under 15,000 lbs= .

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>"Hot and dry" states = New Mexico, Arizona and California all h= ave herd averages of at least 22,000. In the middle are some major milk-producing st= ates that don't get nearly as hot as the Southwest does, but are much more humid. Average milk production is about 20,000 lbs/cow in most of these states, including New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Obviously, it's a lot easier de= aling with heat than with humidity…and the combination of two is really rou= gh. Just ask any Louisiana dairyman this time of year. For many years I told the college students at M= iner Institute that it's much harder to achieve and maintain a high herd average= in the deep South; it's not only the direct effect of the weather on the cows,= but low digestibility forages resulting from hot, wet growing conditions. 

            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;         ─ E.T.

C= ORN IS FLEXIBLE

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Corn hybrids vary in how the ear responds to changes in plant population and growing conditions, a trait pla= nt breeders term "flex." Some seed company cata= logs state this information for each hybrid they sell; some do not. A hybrid wit= h a lot of flex will respond to decreases in desired plant population (due to planting problems or insect and disease losses) by putting more grain on ea= ch plant. Sometimes this means a bigger ear (highly visible), more often the kernels are longer (much less visible), but the result is pretty much the s= ame. Recent research by Farm Journal agronomists suggests that flex hybrids aren= 't necessarily superior. When faced with stress including drought, low fertili= ty or compaction, flex hybrids decreased in yield faster than non-flex (determinant) hybrids.  <= /o:p>

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>The FJ research evaluated grain production, but corn silage producers should also take note since the amoun= t of grain on a corn plant has a significant effect on both yield and silage quality. Weather greatly influences the NDF digestibility of corn stover, but because the grain only contains a small a= mount of fiber, the ear on a corn plant is a silage producer's "crop insurance." There'smore grain quantity in = good seasons than in bad, but grain quality is quite consistent.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>On a relat= ed note, do you know what your corn plant population is? Not what the planter manual indicates that you planted, how many seeds you counted if you ran a = test strip in the barnyard (a particularly unreliable method), or even how many seeds you actually planted. The only number that counts is final plant stan= d, and if you haven't done so yet, now is a good time to head out to the field with a tape measure or a length of baler twine tied to two stakes (I prefer twine tied to a pair of 20d nails). For 30" rows, count the number of plants in 17'4" and add three zeros. 32 plants =3D 32,000 final stand.= Do this at least several times — ideally 10 or more counts per field. Ten counts will determine not only average plants per acre, but some idea of uniformity of plant population. A variation of several plants between high = and low counts is OK, but many more than this is a sign that you should do some trouble-shooting to determine the cause of the uneven stand. In most cases = fewer than 30,000 plants/acre means that you’re = losing some yield potential. This is true for both silage and grain production. 

            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;         ─ Ev Thomas thomas@whminer.com

AG FACTS & FIGURES

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>• In 2009, farms with 500+ cows represented 5% of U.S. da= iry herds, 56% of dairy cows, and produced 59% of the milk. There wasn't any ch= ange in the number of 500+ cow herds, but there was an increase in the percentag= es of total cows and milk production on these large farms.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>• Depressing signs of the times: The University of Illinois Extension is closing 12 regional Extension centers due to state budget cuts. Closer to h= ome, Penn State is eliminating about 40 positions in agriculture and Cooperative Extension, noting that if state funding remains flat, another 160 positions= may have to be eliminated in the next few years.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'> =

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>• Bas= ed on the current rate of crop yield increases, we won't increase food production= in the next 40 years by nearly enough to meet expected global food needs. In f= act, at this rate it appears that we may be 25% short. Maximum economic yield ha= sn't lost its importance.

BROWN ROOT ROT RESEARCH IN = NORTHERN NY

<= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Northern New = York has become a significant cente= r for research on brown root rot, the soil-borne fungus causing root and crown ro= t of alfalfa, other perennial legumes, and overwintering grasses. The fungus Phoma sclerotioides, asso= ciated with yield loss, winterkill, slow crop emergence after winter dormancy, and stand decline, was first detected in the eastern U.S. in a Clinton County (Northern NY) alfalfa field in 2003.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>With small grants funding from = the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, Cornell University established research tr= ials and a BRR-resistant alfalfa nursery program at Miner Institute in Chazy.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>"Becau= se the Cornell-managed BRR test plots at the Miner Institute contain natural populations of all five subtypes of the BRR fungus that occur in eastern No= rth America, the Northern New York site is an ideal location for evaluating alf= alfa germplasm for BRR resistance," says BRR pr= oject leader Gary C. Bergstrom, a Cornell Plant Pathologist.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>"I bel= ieve the research plots at Chazy are the only ones i= n the eastern U.S. that have been inoculated with the BRR fungus," he adds. "The research being conducted in Northern New York is critical to helping farmers manage brown root rot by identifying resista= nt varieties."

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>Preliminary research suggests that alfalfa cultivars resistant to one subtype of the fu= ngus may be susceptible to other subtypes. At least seven genetically distinct subtypes of the BRR fungus occur in North America and five of the subtypes = are found in eastern North America. Identify= ing varieties that will show BRR resistance across New York and the Northeast requires screening against all major subtypes of the fungus.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>"Ident= ification of varieties with resistance to multiple subtypes is important," Bergs= trom adds.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>The Norther= n New York Agricultural Development Program, which receives funding from the New = York State Senate, underwrote a six-county survey to determine if BRR is affecti= ng forage crops in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>"The g= ood news is that while we found BRR present in the forage grasses in Northern N= ew York, it does not appear to be causing much, if any, damage to bromegrass, tall fescue, orchard= grass, reed canarygrass, perennial rye or timothy, or in winter wheat crops evaluated in southern New York State," Bergstrom says.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>"The b= ad news is that alfalfa appears to a primary host for the fungus, and it survi= ves in a number of weeds making it a broad-host organism that will not allow control by crop rotation practices," Bergstrom adds. "The long-te= rm solution to BRR is in identifying, breeding and planting resistant varieties."

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>Cornell gra= duate student Michael Wunsch – now a plant pathologist at North Dakota State University – conducted foundational research to characterize BRR in the Northeast and he began the work to identify the more BRR-resistant varieties of alfal= fa growing under Northern New York conditio= ns. He also collected BRR research data from Western Canada= where farmers have seen success with BRR-resistance varieties. <= /span>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>"A multi-year, two-location field study conducted in Saskatchewan fields with = high brown root rot pressure showed that in the second and third production year= s, alfalfa varieties with elevated BRR resistance yielded 40 to 65 percent hig= her than varieties highly susceptible to BRR. Alfalfa varieties with moderate B= RR resistance yielded 23 to 43 percent higher than alfalfa varieties highly susceptible to the fungus," Wunsch says.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>"Peace= " and other BRR-resistant alfalfa cultivars grown in S= askatchewan and Alberta, however, perform poorly in = New York. <= /o:p>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>"North= ern New York provides a perfect screening laboratory for testing varieties in t= he harshest environment where brown root rot exists, and the nursery program a= t Chazy dedicated to identifying the alfalfa varieties = that will best tolerate BRR is creating a foundation for selective breeding of BRR-resistance alfalfa," Bergstrom adds.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>Cornell Pla= nt Breeding & Genetics researchers Julie L. Hansen and Donald R. Viands are spearheading the continuing BRR nursery at Chazy and will conduct yield evaluations. An analysis of plants that have been through one winter of BRR-resistance testing is currently underway at the Cornell p= lant pathology lab at Ithaca, NY.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>BRR researc= h, photos and analyses are accessible at the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program website at www.nnyagdev.org in the Alfalfa section.

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<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>CONTACTS

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:.1pt'>Northern Ne= w York Agricultural Development Program Co-Chairs: Eastern NNY: Joe Giroux, 518-565-4730 (work); Western NNY:  Jon Greenwood, 315-386-3231 (farm)= .

EV DOES ONTARIO

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>I spent a = few days in Kitchener, = Ontario last month, speaking at a farmer meeting and visiting with farmers and agribusiness reps. It was a busy trip, and while= I passed many seemingly fascinating attractions including the Canadian Canoe Museum, the Ontario trolley and streetcar museum a= nd the Ponderosa Family Nudist Camp, unfortunately I didn't have time to stop. However, one visit I did make was to the Joe Loewith and Sons dairy farm in Lyndon<= /st1:City>, Ontario. This third-generat= ion farm, also known as Summitholm Holsteins, has t= he highest herd average and Management Score in Ontario. The similarities between the = Loewith farm and the Miner Institute farm are almost = eerie:

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>• Bo= th have 330-340 Holstein dairy cows, housed= in a modern free stall barn with fans and curtains. Both facilities are very attractive and well-maintained inside and out, providing a positive image f= or visitors.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>• Bo= th farms are very well known, with frequent visits by farm tour groups. <= /o:p>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>• Fo= rage rations on both farms are 2/3 corn silage and 1/3 hay crop silage, TMRs are mixed using a Keenan Mixer.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>• Loewiths moved to 100% BMR corn this year, while Miner Institute is 2/3rd BMR. Most silage on both farms is stored in bunker silos= .

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>• Mi= lk production (3X milking) on the Lowewith farm is= 84 pounds per cow, about 10 lbs. less than at Miner Institute. (Note: No bST can be used in Canada.) Both farms have very= good milk com-
ponents, including 3.8-3.9% butterfat and two groups of dry cows.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>Obviously,= there are some differences: While Miner Institute has several rations for the var= ious production groups, Loewith feeds a one-group TM= R. Southwest Ontario has a longer growing season, with= BMR corn hybrids about 105 RM while Miner Institute's are in the 95-100 RM rang= e. Terrific soils out there, with prices to match: Loewit= h's son Ben, the third generation on the farm, quoted a price of $10,000 per ac= re. And while Miner Institute grows alfalfa-grass and grass, Loewith's hay crop silage is 100% alfalfa.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'> = ;

─ E.= T.

T= HE SUPREMES COME THROUGH

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Not the erstwhile singing group= but the United States Supreme Court, which on June 21, in a 7-1 decision, overturned the ruling three years ago prohibiting the planting of Roundup R= eady alfalfa. Monsanto expects to have everything in place for farmers to plant = RR alfalfa this fall.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>The ruling doesn't permit the planting of RR alfalfa right away, but it could allow the USDA to permit interim planting, with some restrictions, while it completes an environment= al impact study.  We're doubtful = that this will happen in time for "fall seedings" in the Northeastern U.S. since they usua= lly occur not in autumn but in August. Given the glacial pace at which the Fede= ral government usually operates, RR alfalfa planted anywhere in the Northeast in 2010 is a long shot indeed. At any rate, the court ruling is a victory for = the coalition of agricultural organizations (including the American Farm Bureau) that filed a joint friend-of-the-court brief in support of the petitioners.=  

CROPS UPDATE

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>The growing season came on fast= this year and has been a pretty good one thus far.  Soils were getting dry about the e= nd of May or so, but the month of June brought needed rainfall to the area and was well timed.  As of June 24, we= 've accumulated about 877 growing degree days (86/50) at the Institute. Corn is looking fairly good, except where the Canada geese went on a seed f= eeding binge in one field.  I doggedly chased them away every time I spotted them, (even Rick got into the action…), but they still did quite a number.  Not surprisingly, some low spots i= n corn fields are looking a little pale and stunted, not unlike other fields in the area. A lot of our corn looks a little thirsty for nitrogen and is getting a needed drink of it this week via the drop tube.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Thanks to the hard work of our = Crops Crew; Jake Ashline, Shawn Bech= ard, and Henry Meseck, and some of our dairy barn st= aff, we harvested some nice yielding, high quality (NDF in the high 40s and low = 50s) first cutting alfalfa and grass.  We have also harvested 45 acres of 2nd cutting alfalfa-grass so far, which is = also very good looking forage.  Thi= s year we have a bag tender, which means no more self-unloading wagons to deal with when bagging hay crop silage- just back up and dump the truck.  Jake says that it's working out we= ll and that they aren't missing the wagons.   

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>We have several field crops res= earch projects going on this year.  = We are working with Quirine Kette= rings at Cornell on a starter nitrogen trial for corn and on a potassium trial for alfalfa-grass.  There is a stu= dy that is looking at the feasibility of chloride fertilization of forages to lower DCAD.  Between the alfal= fa potassium trial and the chloride study alone we harvested 96 (100 ft= 2/plot) plots this week.  In addition, we are in the first f= ull season of a tile drainage study that is looking at drainage water quality.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>  We are also partnering with a cons= ulting firm to investigate sediment phosphorus dynamics in = Missisquoi Bay, a study that is supported by = the Lake Champlain Basin Program.  Of course, this project entails a boat trip each time we sample, but it’s not exactly a joy ride — taking water and sediment samples while figh= ting the wind, waves, and nausea doesn't leave much time for sight seeing or the fishing rods.        =    

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

─ Eric Young, young@whmin= er.com

A MIDSUMMER HAY IDEA

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>It's usually easier to make dry= baled hay in midsummer than at any other time of the season. The soil has dried o= ut and there are near-maximum daily hours of sunlight. If you have a grass hayfield that you haven't manured in 2010, you = might consider harvesting it for dry hay specifically for pr= efresh dry cows.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Warm, dry conditions somewhat decrease grass potassium uptake, and the potassium in dry hay is less avail= able to ruminants than if the same crop was harvested as silage. You'll want to confirm the K content of this hay by forage analysis, and be sure to have t= he mineral analysis done using wet chemistry, not NIR.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Midsummer grass hay tends to ha= ve a soft texture since it's mostly leaves, and therefore is highly palatable. T= his can be important when fed to prefresh dry cows = since they're notoriously picky eaters. (You might recall that during those last couple of weeks before giving birth, your wife probably wasn' in the best of all possible moods.) A bit of pampering pays big dividends, whether the expectant mom has two legs or four.          =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;    

<= i> 

─ E.T. 

THE ABCs OF FARMING COLORING BOOK

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>There is a new online coloring = book high-
lighting farming, offered exclusively by Feedstuffs "FoodLink" (www.feedstuffsFoodLink.com). The book was created by Feedstuffs FoodLink artist Jessi Brummer and author Sarah Muirhea= d. It features 6th generation farmer Trent Loos, w= ho raises beef cattle, pigs, goats, and chickens in central Nebraska. Loos is also a columnist for Feedstuffs newspaper and a partner with Feedstuffs in = FoodLink. He is committed to addressing issues affect= ing U.S. an= imal agriculture and today's food production.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'> = ;

<= span class=3DSpellE>FoodLink indicates that you can download and distribute the coloring book as you wish as long as you give appropriate credit. I've shar= ed this book with my family and friends. My son's favorite page is "D&quo= t; with a tractor and wagon.( By the way, his tract= or is colored RED.)

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>It's great= to find a book that honors U.S. farm families dedicated to production of our food and proper care of our fa= rm animals. Here are the ABCs used in the book:

<= b>A is for th= e Animals raised on United States farms and ranches that bring us the essentials of l= ife – food, fiber, fuel and pharmaceuticals.

<= b>B is for Beef, a naturally rich source of nine essential nutrients that our bodies need to= be healthy and to grow.

<= b>C is for Cured Meats, which are good for our heart health.

<= b>D is for th= e Dedication of farmers and ranchers who always strive to do what's right for you and your family.

<= b>E is for th= e Environment and everything farmers and ranchers do to protect our soils, water and air.=

<= b>F is for th= e Farm Families that make up 98% of today's food producers. It is families = 211; not corporations – that produce your food.

<= b>G is for Green. Farms and ranches today are far more efficient at producing food than they = were in the 1930s and 1940s.

<= b>H is for Horses, which once did much of the = work on the farm. Now, gas-powered tractors with the latest in technology allow farmers to feed more people than ever before.

<= b>I is for Ice Cream that tast= es great and is good for you. The fat and calcium in ice cream help you grow a= nd stay strong.

<= b>J is for all of the Jobs agriculture contrib= utes to our society.

<= b>K is for th= e Keepers. Today's farmers and ranchers keep their animals healthy and comfortable so = they can produce high-quality foods.

<= b>L is for th= e Land upon which our cattle graze and our crops are grown.

<= b>M is for Meat and Milk and all the valuable nutrients and fats they provide for our proper growth and development.

<= b>N is for Nature. Today's famers and ranchers= are producing food on their land and creating a habitat that is friendly to bir= ds, animals and butterflies.

<= b>O is for Options. We all deserve a variety of options in the food we eat.

<= b>P is for Pasture, where some farm animals are raised. Others are raised inside temperature-controlled building away from the often harsh conditions of Mot= her Nature.

<= b>Q is for th= e Quality of life we enjoy in the United States because of the efforts and care t= aken by our farmers and ranchers.

<= b>R is for th= e Resources farming generates to feed, power and clothe the world.

<= b>S <= /b>is for = Safety and all that famers and ranchers do to ensure the production of a safe and wholesome food supply.

<= b>T <= /b>is for = Transportation. Trucks and railcars carry food from the farm to the supermarket and actually often leave less of an environmental footprint than food found at a farmers= market.

<= b>U is for the= U.S. Department of Agriculture, which, along with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, regulated how farm animals are raised and what they are fed.

<= b>V is for the= Variety of feed ingredients farm animals consume – from corn to soybeans to co-products.

<= b>W is for = Why! Feeding the world is why farmers and scientists team up to bring you the sa= fest and most affordable food possible.

<= b>X is for the= eXcellence United States farmers strive = for every day in everything they do.

<= b>Y is for You! You and your family are what’s really important when it come to food safety and good health.

<= b>Z is for = Zinc. Zinc is one of the essential vitamins found in many food products.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'> = ;

─ He= ather Dann, dann@whminer.com

WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FAR= M

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Our new summer interns have adj= usted well and are now jumping into the regular routine on the farm. They are involved with milking, feeding calves, herd health and crop work. They have= all done a great job in every task, even while putting in some long days. But e= ven after those long days the students are eager to work and prep their show animals. As the Clinton County Fair is closing in, they are working with th= eir animals on a more regular basis in hopes to prepare them the best they can.=

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>We continue to keep busy out in= the field! The bunker silos that were empty at the beginning of the summer are starting to fill up and we have also started filling some Ag Bags. Although= it has been a rainy start to the summer, there were a few good weeks of weathe= r to get some hay silage done. So hopefully you had your equipment ready and help lined up and you were able to get moving and start your haying season. It i= s a relief to have all of the summer students here because they can help pick up the slack around the barn while everyone else is in the fields or on vacati= on.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>As summer gets underway remembe= r to keep your cows cool and harvest some quality hay to prevent a large loss in milk production. Stay busy but remember to have fun!

 

─ Jenna McNeil
mcneil@whminer.com

Q= UESTION BOX

<= span class=3DSpellE>Ev's phone and email inbox have been busy of late, with farmers and others asking a variety of crop questions. Here’s a sampl= ing, with his comments in italics.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>• My alfalfa has some alfalfa weevil damage, and I'm going to mow it again in ab= out two weeks. Should I apply an insecticide? Tough question; if mowing was goi= ng to be within one week the answer would be NO, but two weeks is iffy. The decision depends on the severity of weevil damage and being able to meet the legal interval between spraying and mowing.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'> = ;

<= span class=3DGramE>•  I want to plant sudan-sorghum but also would like to get an alfalfa s= eeding going in the same field. Can I seed both, using the summer annual as a companion crop to the alfalfa? NO. Summer annuals are much too aggressive to permit good establishment of the alfalfa. This in spite= of one farmer who did exactly that with excellent results, probably because of very high fertility and plenty of moisture. He was lucky that time…but I told him never again.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'> = ;

<= span class=3DGramE>•  My foot-high corn has purple le= aves yet soil test phosphorus and pH are both high. What's wrong? Perhaps nothing. Purple corn can be caused by high anth= ocyanin concentrations, which can be the result of genetics or the combination of s= unny days and cool nights. Soil compaction and poor drainage can make purpling worse, but sometimes everything is A-OK and the corn still turns purple. Un= less drainage and/or compaction are the cause, the corn should grow out of it wi= th little or no yield loss.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>• I harvested first cut g= rass several weeks ago but didn't get a chance to apply nitrogen after cutting. We'll cut again in about two weeks—is it too late to apply urea? YES, it's too late. And straight urea wouldn't be my choice anyway since volatilization losses can be very high during warm, humid weather. I'd pref= er either UAN + a stabilizer such as Agrotain, amm= onium sulfate, or a 50-50 blend of urea + ammonium sulfate. There could still be = some losses in the urea-AMS blend but only about half as much as with straight u= rea.

CPM 3.0 DICTIONARY UPDATE AVAILABLE

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>Yes, the C= PM 3.0 Feed Dictionary update is now available as a downloadable feedbank file at cpmdairy.net. The update has many new feed entries (mostly Commerci= al products) as well as many updated feed entries.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>An Excel file is provided on the cpmdairy.net website as well that lists the new and edited feeds by feed category: Forage, Energy, Protein, MinVit and Commercial. This file has a brief description of the edits as well as some = of the notable non-edits or simple name changes. For instance, what was former= ly known as SeaLac is now named Special Select, the original MetPlus with Talc is now MetPlus, and Energy Booster is now Energy Booster 100 with an updated fatty acid profile.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>The files available on the webs= ite include updated feeds only. Loading the feedbank files will not replace the built-in CPM-Dairy feed dictionary feeds. Users = can preview the contents of each file online before downloading. However, it puts the responsibility on all u= sers to be aware of new feeds, edited feeds and those that have changed names or= are no longer used in the marketplace.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>PLEASE, review feeds online and= in the Excel file and take note of the new products, the name changed products= and products that should be ignored in the original feed dictionary.  I suggest printing the Excel file,= which lists products by type and manufacturer as handy reference since products a= re listed alphabetically in the fdb file.  For all the non-CPM users, by clic= king on the update link above and then "View Feed Updates Online," thi= s is a means of reviewing product information in this update without having CPM.=

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>Since AA nutrition is a hot top= ic, we struggled with updating BloodMeal. Based on Dr. Boucher's (aka Sarah) protein degradation work we now understand the varying extent of protein/AA digestibility of blood meal. Instead of replacing the original, we have included a lower digestibility (RUP digestibility 65%) bloodmeal as well as denoting the original Bloodmeal that is 90% RUP digestibility. There are al= so many new amino acid products in the update.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>There are = also a few "Notable Non-Fixes" that should be mentioned. Since this is a dictionary update only, the program itself has not been updated for unequal= CHO B3 and Pro B2 kd. Th= e fatty acid profiles have not been expanded to include long chain fatty acids, the liquid and solids flow rates are unchanged, still equal, and porcine blood still not included due to limited dataset.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>Although i= t is possible that the CPM program's built-in feed dictionary could be updated at some point, no such updates are currently scheduled. However, with .fdb file downloads, we will always be able to provide updated feed data. Thank you all for your patience.

─ Kurt Cotanch=

cotanch@whminer.com<= /span>

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

A BRIEF FARM REPORT HISTORY

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>Most Farm = Report readers are long-time subscribers, but for others a brief history of this newsletter may be of interest. Or not, but:

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>When Harry= Randy and I were members of the regional Cornell Cooperative Extension Dairy and Field Crops Team, we wrote and published a monthly newsletter mailed primar= ily to farmers and agribusiness professionals in Northeastern NY<= /st1:place>. When we left Cooperative Extension and joined the Miner Institute staff in 1981, we continued doing a monthly newsletter. The Miner Institute Farm Rep= ort started out with much the same mailing list as the Extension newsletter, but slowly expanded in the number of subscribers and where they lived.  Eventually we cajoled other staff members into submitting articles. We tried to count Farm Report readership noses a few years ago and came up with several thousand, but because the newsletter is published on our website and isn't copyrighted (and therefore= can be reprinted without permission), we really have no idea of the total.=

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>I was the = editor of the Farm Report when I worked at Miner Institute and continue in this ro= le in semi-retirement. Most of the short articles and other items that don't h= ave a name attached are either mine or I shamelessly plagiarized them from elsewhere, so if you want to blame someone for an article you don't like= 230;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.1pt'>As Rick Grant noted in the current Miner Institute Annual Report, "The Farm Report continues to be our outreach effort wi= th the single greatest impact on crop and dairy farmers." As the Farm Rep= ort heads into its 30th year, Public Relations Coordinator Rachel Dutil does a great job of organizing the material (she's = also responsible for many of the photos) and nagging our talented group of write= rs about upcoming deadlines. Since arriving as President, Rick has missed only= one deadline, and that month I "ghostwrote" a dairy nutrition article= for him. After reading that one, Rick says he'll avoid missing another deadline= at all costs.         &= nbsp;     

─ = Ev Thomas

thomas@whminer.com

E= MPATHY IS IMPORTANT FOR THE
IMPROVEMENT OF FARM ANIMAL WELFARE

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>The welfar= e of farm animals is largely beyond their control. Instead, farm animals are rel= iant on farmers to determine how their basic necessities are provided. With this= in mind, the quality of the human-animal relationship on farms will, to a large extent, determine the level of welfare experienced by the animals. Recent survey work conducted in Norway and published in the Journal of Dairy Science investigated the role of empa= thy on farmers' attitudes toward welfare and indicators of on-farm welfare. In = studies that involved showing individuals images of humans experiencing painful situations, the activity of the brain was similar to the individual experiencing pain directly. Similarly, a survey of dog owners suggested emp= athy across species was possible, which led to the hypothesis that empathy would factor into farm animal welfare.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>The study = was conducted as part of a larger investigation on the role of freestall designs in affecting the welfare of dairy cows. An emailed questionnaire including pictures of 21 different conditions was sent to 221 farms and responses received from 149. Farms were asked to assess the level of pain associated with each condition on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 equaling no pa= in involved and 10 equaling unbearable pain. These data were combined with herd level data of productivity and health. Finally, farmers were asked to agree= or disagree with the statement "animals experience pain as humans do" and separated into two groups for analysis. 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>Farmers participating in the study ranged from 26 to 68 years old and most had at l= east a high school education. Herd size was relatively small compared to U.S. fa= rms, ranging from 18 to 82 cows that produced 10,900 to 20,300 lbs of milk per y= ear. Mean value of the pain assessments was 5.3 with fracture of the hook, diffi= cult calving, and severe mastitis considered the most painful conditions for adu= lt cows and lower limb fractures, lame/swollen joints, and pneumonia considered the most painful conditions for calves. Most farmers (70%) agreed that anim= als experience pain in a similar way as humans. Farmers were more likely to agr= ee with the statement when they ranked the pain of each condition higher or wh= en skin lesions were less prevalent on the farm. Education, sex, management st= yle (organic vs. conventional), and years of experience with cattle were not associated with agreement with the pain statement. Farmers were split into three groups according to the mean response of the pain assessment. Farmers= that ranked the conditions as most painful tended to be older and had cows with lower milk production, lower prevalence of skin lesions, and a higher fertility. Finally, the mean responses of the pain assessment provided by farmers were similar to those given by veterinary students in both Norway and the United Kingdom.

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'> = ;

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%;letter-spacing:-.2pt'>This study= was a novel approach to assessing the role that empathy plays in the human-animal relationship. Given the previously established association between the human-animal relationship and the productivity of cows (a positive human-an= imal relationship was related to increased milk production), the concept of empa= thy towards an animal's pain may prove to be a means for evaluating how a poten= tial employee may perform on the job. Additionally, the data presented in this s= tudy suggests that further investigation into the pain perception of animals is needed.=

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

─ Peter Krawczel =

krawczel@whminer.com

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

<= i>Reference: Kielland<= /span>, C., E. Skjerve, O. Ø= ;sterås, and A. J. Zanella.  2010.  Dairy farmer attitudes and empathy toward animals are associated with animal welfare indicators.  J. Dairy Sci.  93:2998-3006.

L= ET THEM EAT … VEGGIES

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'>The United Nations International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management, consisting of 27 "experts," has issued a report calling for a shift in diets away = from animal-based proteins toward plant proteins "to dramatically reduce pressures on the environment."

<= span style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;line-height:120%'> 

However, the animal calculations used as a basis for the recommendations in a 2006 U.N. report on greenhouse gas emissions have been proven to be way off, yet the U.N hasn't revised its report. And the new dietary recommendations are in direct conflict with the U.N.'s own Food and Agriculture Organization, which promotes the use of goats and cattle in developing countries. The report apparently ignores the fact that livestock= can eat highly fibrous forages, something humans cannot do. Substantial portion= s of agricultural land in the world can produce feed for livestock but because of topography, water availability, etc., couldn't produce crops that humans co= uld eat. This simple fact apparently escaped the 27 so-called experts.

 

Closing Comment

If you think that OS= HA is a small town in Wisconsin, you may be in trouble.

 

 

 

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