Animal health

Rural America is Facing a Mounting Labor Crisis

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 21:02:49 GMT

The American labor market is reaching a critical turning point that could tighten labor availability in rural industries and slow growth across the U.S. economy. A new quarterly report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange warns that demographic shifts and recent policy changes may start impacting businesses as soon as late 2025.

From livestock and crop operations to food processors and rural cooperatives, this labor shortage is becoming especially noticeable in the heart of America’s farmland. Many producers are already struggling to fill roles, and the challenge is expected to intensify in the coming months.

“Barring an unforeseen change in labor force participation rates or immigration policies, the pool of available workers is set to shrink sharply in the next few years,” says Rob Fox, director of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange. “The problem will be even more serious in states with slower population growth in the Upper Midwest, Corn Belt and Central Plains.”

Demographic Pressures Mount

Fox says the warning signs have been building for years. Labor force participation has steadily declined, birth rates have dropped and immigration policy has become more restrictive.

Between 2022 and 2024, nearly 9 million immigrants arrived in the U.S., driven by global humanitarian crises and relaxed federal rules. While that influx temporarily eased labor constraints, Fox says it only masked deeper, long-term trends.

U.S. fertility rates have fallen from 2.12 children per woman in 2007 to 1.62 in 2023, meaning fewer young people are entering the workforce just as the last of the baby boomers retire. In addition, labor force participation has slipped from a peak of 67% in 2000 to 62% today. Nearly 2.5 million working-age Americans have left the labor force in the past eight months alone.

“There is no single reason people are stepping away,” Fox explains. “It’s a combination of rising caregiving responsibilities, job skill mismatches, mental health challenges and higher disability rates. These are complex issues that won’t be resolved overnight.”

Shrinking Workforce Hits Agriculture Hard

The effects are already being felt across rural America. Farms, food processors, equipment dealers and cooperatives are struggling to find and keep the workers they need to maintain daily operations. Seasonal labor has become harder to find and full-time positions, especially those requiring specialized skills or long hours, are increasingly difficult to fill.

In regions with slower population growth, such as the upper Midwest and central Plains, the challenge is even more acute. These areas often lack the population inflows that help offset workforce losses elsewhere in the country.

While labor has been tight for several years, Fox warns that conditions are poised to deteriorate further.

“What we are facing is not just a cyclical labor issue; it’s a structural one,” he says.

Border encounters have dropped sharply since August 2024, signaling a steep decline in immigration. Combined with rising political pressure to increase deportations, the agricultural labor pool could shrink even more in the months ahead.

“Immigration has long been a key pillar supporting the rural workforce,” Fox notes. “Without a steady flow of new workers, farms and agribusinesses will have to get creative, either by increasing wages, automating tasks or changing how they manage production.”

Technology Offers a Path Forward

In response, more agricultural businesses are turning to technology to help offset the labor gap.

“The key to addressing labor scarcity always lies in innovation,” Fox says. “AI and robotics are no longer limited to the factory floor. They are increasingly being used in fields, dairies and food plants.”

A recent Gallup poll found that nearly one in five workers already uses artificial intelligence in some form each week. At the same time, the cost of robotics has dropped by nearly half in the past decade, making automation more accessible for a broader range of farms and agribusinesses.

CoBank’s report notes that many farm supply customers are using new tools to increase efficiency, improve decision-making and free up time for employees to focus on higher-value responsibilities.

Planning for What Comes Next

As producers look toward 2026, a combination of labor constraints, volatile input costs and shifting policy landscapes will continue to shape decision-making. Fox thinks adaptability will be essential.

“Technology will be critical to agriculture’s future,” he says. “AI and robotics can help farmers do more with fewer workers, boosting efficiency and margins. But investment decisions must be made carefully, especially in this uncertain economic environment.”

Until clearer policies emerge on trade, labor and energy, rural America will need to prepare for continued pressure.

“This is a pivotal moment,” Fox concludes. “Farms that plan ahead, embrace innovation and stay flexible will be best positioned to succeed.”

It's Not Just Drought Meteorologists Are Concerned About This Summer, It's Also Heat

Tue, 20 May 2025 15:11:21 GMT

With the record heat across the Plains and South last week, a sudden burst of cold across the upper Midwest and the outbreak of tornadoes that tore across the country over the weekend, it’s been an active weather pattern so far this May. That trend is set to continue.

As forecasters look ahead, NOAA’s latest summer outlook points to dry conditions across much of the western U.S. as well as above-normal temperatures across the country.

Summer Pattern Takes Shape
USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the U.S. has been in “atmospheric limbo” for the past six weeks. That’s been the catalyst for the weather extremes.

“Think back to the early April flooding in the Mid-South and the early May flooding in the Southern Plains. We saw a heat wave across the Northern Plains last week, so very extreme weather. But it’s shifting around,” Rippey says.

He says now we’re waiting for the arrival of the summer lock-in, a pattern that typically takes shape by Memorial Day and provides a fairly stable pattern for the summer months.

The precipitation outlook for the month of June.

(CPC )

“It’s starting to look like by the end of May into June we will see a ridge developing somewhere across the western half of the country as that begins to lock in. This is the expectation for June, which is below-normal precipitation in much of the western half of the country, possibly extending onto the High Plains. And then wet conditions will either develop or continue in the East,” says Rippey, pointing to the latest outlook from the National Weather Service.

Heat and Drought Ahead
Rippey says the outlook shows a stark difference between the East and West of the country, where the East is expected to see moisture, and the West is expected to be dry.

Summer Precipitation Outlook, which includes June, July and August

(CPC )

The outlook for summer points to warmer-than-average temperatures across the majority of the U.S.

(CPC)

“The June, July and August outlook from the National Weather Service is kind of the same picture,” Rippey says. “The climate models have been very consistent for a number of months now in showing we will have a ridge across Western North America that could lead to either drought development, drought continuation or even drought expansion across some of the Northern Plains and northwestern areas of the country.”

The summer outlook also looks to bring the heat. The latest forecast indicates the entire U.S. will likely experience above normal temperatures this summer.

Recent Rains Were Needed

Precipitation totals from the past 72 hours.

(Pivotal Weather )

The north Central U.S. received some much-needed rain over the weekend. Nebraska and the Dakotas saw anywhere from a trace of rain to 4", but Rippey is concerned that moisture may be short-lived.

“We could trend back into a warmer, drier pattern as we move into the summer. Watch for that drought to potentially expand eastward as we move into and through the summer months,” Rippey says.

Drought Expansion

The seasonal drought outlook for summer.

(CPC )

The U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook, which is also released by the NWS Climate Prediction Center, shows the expectation drought will either persist or develop during the June, July and August time frame.

“By the time we get to the end of August, this is their expectation for drought coverage. Note the expansion in places like the Dakotas, even into the Western Corn Belt. That’s where we’ll be watching because it starts intersecting some of our major crop areas where we could see significant drought during the growing season,” Rippey says.

According to the Climate Prediction Center outlook, there are conflicts when it comes to Arizona. The outlook points toward wetter-than-normal conditions in much of Arizona, but CPC says models provide conflicting and generally weak indications. That means it’s unclear as to exactly which areas of the monsoon region may receive meaningful rainfall, and whether it would be enough to improve the drought designations by at least one category during the summer season.

Goodbye, La Niña? Eric Snodgrass Dissects What the Shift Means for Weather This Spring and Summer

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:23:44 GMT

La Niña is weakening, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) expects neutral conditions to develop in the next month . But even with La Niña fading, meteorologists are still concerned about drought this spring and summer.

NOAA this week said forecasters expect ENSO-neutral conditions to develop in the next month and persist through the Northern Hemisphere’s summer. According to NOAA, La Niña’s signature is cooler-than-average surface water in the east-central tropical Pacific, stronger-than-average trade winds, and drier conditions over the central Pacific.

ENSO-neutral means conditions could be close to average, but Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien’s principal atmospheric scientist, says that doesn’t mean the weather will be normal this spring and summer.

“I do expect changes,” Snodgrass says. “Think about it like this: The previous winter was an El Niño winter, and it was very mild and very wet. So, we got into spring ’24 with tons of moisture. I mean, Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota flooded out. Then we had this incredibly dry fall as the La Niña began, and it reached a peak twice. It actually hit a peak in December, and then a secondary peak about a month later at the end of January. It’s been fading ever since. The big question is, as we go into neutral conditions for this upcoming growing season, is it going to be one that paints a picture of precipitation extremes? Did it leave us with any sort of kind of problems from winter that are carrying over?”

Snodgrass says the severe weather outbreaks on Friday, that brought high winds, dust storms and wildfire warnings across the Plains, is a reminder how dry it is in the Southwest.

“We’ve got major pockets of the country that are still dealing with some pretty big drought conditions. It is fading, and that is a signal we have to pay attention to,” Snodgrass says.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey is also concerned about what impact the shifting pattern will have on farmers this spring. But it’s not just the dryness. It’s also the fact areas are getting inundated with rains that could pose problems.

“With this stormy weather pattern in place, that is going to create some difficulty for spring field work in some areas. It looks like the primary storm track may be through parts of the middle of the country extending into the lower Midwest and eventually the interior northeast. That is one area where we already have fairly wet conditions,” Rippey says.

How sea surface temperatures in the Niño-3.4 region of the tropical Pacific changed over the course of all La Niña events since 1950 (gray lines) and 2024-25 (black line). This shows the traditional calculation for Niño-3.4, the monthly temperature compared to the most recent 30-year average (1991–2020 for the 2024 line). By this measure, the La Niña threshold was crossed in December 2024, but La Niña remains weak.

(NOAA)

La Niñas and El Niños Are Strongest in the Winter
Snodgrass points out La Niñas and El Niños are always strongest in Northern Hemisphere’s winter, which means they fade in spring and summer.

While La Niña-like conditions were a trademark in late fall, we didn’t reach the official definition of La Niña until January.

“The atmosphere way back in November was already treating our winter timeframe like a La Niña,” Snodgrass says. So, we were getting the influences of it as it comes in and goes out. And now the question is, what’s it going to do?”

February 2025 sea surface temperature compared to the 1985-1993 average. The surface of the east-central tropical Pacific is slightly below average temperature, but much of the global ocean remains warmer than average.

(NOAA )

“This is a great map to look at,” Snodgrass says, referencing the map above. “If you focus right in the middle, you see the large area of the cooler colors. Our line is now shifting to the central and West Pacific and behind it over by South America. All of the warmer water is beginning to emerge. And that’s what’s killing it because there’s a trade wind across that area from the east to the west. We’re going to watch this fade carefully during the spring. But the question is: Do we get winter’s leftovers?”

What Fueled the Dryness This Winter?
During the winter, Snodgrass points out there was no subtropical jet. That’s what fueled drought in the Southwest and Northwest.

“I’m actually kind of worried about the beginning of April having another shot at cold air after what we’ve been experiencing in March, which has been so very, very mild. Then you say, well, we’ve had so much dry air in place. Are we still worried about more dry air coming back? To be honest, these big storm systems coming through the central U.S., if we could get four, maybe five more of those by early April, we’re going to hate it. It’s nasty weather. It’s not fun, and it’s dangerous, but it returns moisture. That could be part of the mix of things, including the fading of La Niña that could help bring us away from these major early season drought risk scenarios.”

55% of corn production, 46% of soybean production, 33% of the cotton growing area and 27% of the winter wheat production are currently experiencing drought.

(U.S. Drought Monitor )

Growing Drought Concerns
What if it doesn’t? What if we don’t see more of this severe weather hit the Southwest and Plains, and moisture remains absent as we get into the height of spring? Well, the area will enter into the height of the growing season dry and reduce their chances of seeing moisture this summer.

“That’s a box we check every spring,” Snodgrass says. “If the drought monitor saw a reduction in drought over winter, then that gives us a different look for spring. But what we see here is two-thirds of the country in some stage of drought, including the abnormally dry category. But it’s the epicenters of drought that are so concerning. Look at the Western Corn Belt. Look at the Southwest. We just wonder if that funnels into the Mississippi Valley as we go forward.”

At the same time some areas are seeing drought, Kentucky, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas and the boot heel of Missouri are all experiencing heavy rains and flooding.

“By May 11, I want to know what the drought monitor map looks like. If it looks no different, then I’m going to be sounding alarms going into summer with concerns this will start to creep and move because as soon as we get into the summer weather, all we get is convective storms pop off. And what do they do? They just locally deliver rain - not big broad swaths of it,” Snodgrass says.

Tale of Two Weather Scenarios
He says the forecast leading up to May 11 is a tale of two weather patterns, with the Mississippi River being the dividing line for moisture.

“If you are along it and east of it, I think we’re going to have tight windows to plant. You could include a little bit more of Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota in that as well,” Snodgrass says. “I think we’re going to see repeated storm systems. The best moisture is east. It keeps avoiding that southern plains area.”

What to Watch: Where the Storm Chasers End Up
Snodgrass says if storm chasers are busying chasing severe weather across the Ohio Valley, the mid-south and the southeast, but not in Kansas and the Plains, that’s a key indicator there’s a problem with the moisture getting back into the plains.

“If it’s not there by the time we start June, it’s very difficult to rely on the atmosphere to return it once you get into the summer months if you live in the central plains, which is where they could build from,” he adds.

To watch the complete discussion with Snodgrass, visit Farm Journal TV and take advantage of the free trial.

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Pew Livestock Report Biased, Say Animal Scientists

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:19:25 GMT

The Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) has analyzed the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production’s report “Putting Meat on the Table: Industrial Farm Animal Production in America” as well as the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) response to the report. After a review by FASS’ Scientific Advisory Committees, FASS agrees with AVMA that there are significant flaws in the Pew report.

As an organization dedicated to sound science as the foundation of any policy recommendations, FASS is concerned that the process utilized by the Pew Commission to ensure an unbiased work product was insufficient. As pointed out by the AVMA, the process for gaining scientific expertise in the technical reports was biased and did not incorporate the findings and suggestions of a significant number of participating scientists. This represents a fundamental problem in the way the report was constructed.

In addition to procedural deficiencies, there are substantive problems with many of the recommendations in the report. For example, the Pew report recommends restricting the use of antimicrobials in food animal production to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance to medically important antibiotics. Banning the use of antibiotics before science-based studies and risk based evaluations are done to determine if there is an actual risk to human health would be detrimental to animal and human health. Additional research is needed to determine what, if any, policy changes to antibiotic use are appropriate.

In the area of animal welfare, the Pew report seems to assume that all intensive farming operations are inherently inhumane. It is possible to have good animal welfare in both small and large scale production systems and there are positive and negative trade-offs when choosing among different production systems. FASS also believes that housing type cannot be considered in isolation from other important factors that influence animal welfare, including management, feeding systems, environmental features, and animal type.

FASS encourages policy makers and other interested parties to consider both the Pew report and AVMA response when looking at policies for animal agriculture. FASS appreciates that both Pew and AVMA recognize the value of more research. It is important to maintain a continued dialogue on these issues and increase support for additional research in the area. Science must be the foundation as animal agriculture looks to the future.

The Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) was formed in 1998 by the three founding Member Societies: the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS), and the Poultry Science Association (PSA). The mission of FASS is to strengthen the common interests and collective good of member societies through a unified science-based voice that supports animal agriculture, animal products, and food systems globally.

San Francisco Grocers Must Report Antibiotic Use

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:04:46 GMT

San Francisco has become the first U.S. city to require grocers with 25 stores or more to report annually the use of antibiotics in the raw meat and poultry they sell. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the ordinance which will take effect in April of 2018, and it could affect 120 stores.

According to the law firm Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP, grocers’ annual reports to the state’s Department of the Environment must include the purposes for which the antibiotics were used, the number of animals raised, the total volume of antibiotics given and whether their use was “medically important.” The ordinance could impose fines of up to $1,000 per day for violators.

Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, who sponsored the ordinance, told The San Francisco Chronicle he intends to chip away at “the very real problem” of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that spread infections.

Barry Carpenter, CEO of the North American Meat Institute, told The Washington Post the San Francisco ordinance a recipe for failure. “The significant costs associated with the segregation and record-keeping for meat and poultry products to be sold in San Francisco will increase the cost of meat and poultry for consumers there and reduce options available,” he said.

California Department of the Environment director Debbie Raphael told The San Francisco Chronicle she hopes consumers in San Francisco will shift to buying meat with lower antibiotic content once they have the information. That statement should draw a red flag as it further underscores the confusion consumers and even government officials have about antibiotics.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) conducts a monitoring program to ensure that antibiotics are effectively eliminated from animals’ systems and that no unsafe residues are detected in meat and poultry. Government officials, especially those advocating for stricter regulations, should know when FSIS finds antibiotic residues in meat products a recall is initiated. Animals given antibiotics during production may not go to slaughter until after a specific withdrawal time.

According to the North American Meat Institute, the vast majority of antibiotics are usedare used either in people, or in animals, but not both. Three compounds, penicillin, fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins comprise 70 percent of the total sales for humans, while two compounds, tetracyclines and ionophores comprise 70 percent of the total volume sold for animals.

Hear more on this story from AgriTalk:

How Low Can You Go?

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:29:34 GMT

Decreasing ration protein is environmentally and economically sound

Research shows that milking rations as low as 14% in crude protein still yield 90 lb. to 100 lb. of milk per cow per day, even with midlactation cows. But does this work in the real world?

Larry Chase, a Cornell University dairy nutritionist, thinks it does. In fact, he knows it does.

There are, of course, some caveats:

On-farm feed management must be accurate and consistent.
Daily variations in forage quality and dry matter need to be minimal, and adjusted for when they change.
Forages must be accurately tested for fiber, fiber digestibility, protein and soluble protein.
Producers and their nutritionists must determine how much of a “safety net” of excess crude protein requirement is needed to minimize the risk of not meeting needs and jeopardizing milk flow.

The benefits of lowering crude protein result in more efficient use of the protein fed, less loss of protein in urine, lower ammonia emissions and improved income over feed cost (IOFC). Fewer acres are needed for manure application since nitrogen levels in manure are lower.

Bonus Content

Risk of Residues

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:29:46 GMT

Pfizer offers online assessment tool

Antibiotic residues—whether in milk or meat—are not something to mess with. Not only do they affect consumer confidence, they threaten producers’ ability to operate.

Key to minimizing the risk of residues is working with a veterinarian who is actively involved in setting up disease identification and treatment protocols. To that end, Pfizer Animal Health has developed an online tool that allows veterinarians and producers to assess how much risk a dairy has of residues based on current practices.

Bonus Content

Online residue risk assessment

The tool’s list of 10 questions was based on U.S. Food and Drug Administration findings from dairies that were investigated because of beef carcass residue violations.

“Two things really jump out from those assessments,” says veterinarian Mike Lormore, director of dairy technical services for Pfizer. “In the overwhelming majority of residue investigations, either no veterinarian is involved in the treatment decisions or producers don’t keep adequate treatment records. In fact, in half of all cases, both of these are true.”

The online tool weights the answers, depending on how a dairy implements antibiotic treatments, to assess the level of risk. For example, more weight is given to written treatment protocols that are reviewed every six months by both the veterinarian and producer. “It’s critical that protocols be reviewed on a regular basis, because there is a lot of turnover on dairies,” Lormore says.

It’s just as important that protocols are reviewed with employees every six months as well. “Over time, there is a lot of procedural drift. If employees aren’t retrained on the protocols with the veterinarian involved, they start doing different things,” Lormore says.

Training employees to identify specific diseases is essential. “When we review records, we often see the reason for treatment as ‘sick’ or ‘fever.’ How do you treat an animal with such a general diagnosis?” Lormore asks. “If she is diagnosed with metritis, you can use specific protocols.”

In sum, Lormore says, the keys to a successful residue avoidance program are working with your veterinarian, developing disease identification and treatment protocols, training and retraining employees to execute these, and maintaining excellent records.

Novus Launches C.O.W.S. Program

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:24:06 GMT

Novus Launches C.O.W.S. Program

Source: Novus International, Inc.

Novus International, Inc., is introducing an innovative program to help dairy producers enhance the comfort and well-being of their herds so they can better maximize productivity and enrich dairy industry sustainability.

“While dairy producers have been the model of efficiency and productivity over the past six decades the industry is under increasing pressure to produce more high-quality output with fewer inputs. With a growing world population, more improvements are vital to the continued success of the industry,” says Stephanie Gable, Novus Global Marketing Manager, Ruminants.

“C.O.W.S. is an exclusive program that has been tested to work. We are confident it will help our dairy customers – and the industry as a whole – achieve even greater levels of efficiency and productivity that will enhance overall sustainability.”

C.O.W.S. stands for Comfort, Oxidative Balance, Well-Being and Sustainability. Each of these four key pillars of the program play an integral role in the objective, systematic approach Novus takes in helping dairy producers evaluate the major factors that impact productive efficiency.

“Overall comfort is critical to health and productivity. Housing plays a key role, but comfort and oxidative balance are closely linked. Cows stressed by environmental factors can show signs of oxidative stress,” says Gable. “The C.O.W.S. program provides perspectives on environmental factors that affect overall comfort, including free-stall design and management, and feeding areas.”

According to Gable, oxidative balance – the O in C.O.W.S. – is a linchpin for the other three pillars. Sound nutrition and proper oxidative balance are crucial in keeping cow immunity levels high for optimum health and performance. Oxidative stress can be induced by disease challenges, physiological conditions, environmental conditions and diet.

“Oxidative stress is displayed through a number of costly clinical signs that reduce profitability, from mastitis to reproductive inefficiency,” says Gable. “Dealing with that stress requires energy that cows could use for milk production, growth, longevity and overall productivity. A good nutrition program, with an antioxidant, can reduce stress and maintain oxidative balance, negate the effect of dietary fat on rumen microorganisms, and improve milk production and milk fat levels.”

Comfort and oxidative balance intertwine with well-being. C.O.W.S. evaluates well-being on the basis of gait scores that measure lameness, hock lesions and body condition scores. Lameness can mean less feed intake, reduced milk production, reproductive inefficiency and early culling.

The final pillar of the C.O.W.S. program is sustainability. Increasing the productive longevity of a herd by enhancing the overall health and well-being of the cows within that herd goes right to the core of improving the sustainability of individual dairy operations and the industry as a whole, says Gable. The C.O.W.S. program can be a valuable management tool to help producers achieve greater levels of productive efficiency and sustainability within their own operations.

“Novus products are geared towards maximizing output and minimizing waste. By leveraging our broad product portfolio, we take a comprehensive approach to optimizing health,” says Gable. “We can fortify cows against disease and lengthen their productive lives while also delivering higher quality milk production.”

Dan Meagher, Novus Vice President of the Americas views the C.O.W.S. program as a perfect complement to the company’s vision of helping feed the world affordable, wholesome food.

“Sustainability is a critical cornerstone of our corporate vision,” Meagher says. “The C.O.W.S. program is a shining example of our belief that through innovation, education and collaboration we can not only enhance sustainability but improve quality of life for people around the world.”
The C.O.W.S. program will be offered to individual key Novus customers as a complementary, value-added service. Confidential farm evaluations will be performed by Novus specialists and include:

Cow lying time measured with electronic data loggers;
Gait scores and hock health;
Facility design and management measures that affect cow comfort including bedding frequency, stall dimensions, neck rail placement, feed bunk space and more.

A customized report is provided to each farm, along with benchmarks of other operations in the region, so producers can gauge whether they have problems that should be addressed.
U.S. program benchmarks are currently being established through the evaluation of 140 dairy operations in California, New Mexico, New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania and Texas. The program is based on a recently completed study by the University of British Columbia Animal Welfare Program that analyzed on-farm cow comfort assessment with 43 free-stall dairies in that province.

Dr. Bob Stoltzfus, with Lancaster Veterinary Associates in Salunga, Pennsylvania, encouraged several of his client dairy farms to participate in the benchmark herd analysis that Novus initiated in the Northeast region in the latter part of 2010.
“We had five farms participate in the C.O.W.S. program, ranging in size from 200 cows to 800 cows. All of the operations had a very positive experience,” Stoltzfus says. “From my point of view cow comfort is crucial both from the perspective of dairy profitability but also from the perspective of animal welfare, which is becoming an increasingly important issue for producers and the industry as a whole.

“The C.O.W.S. program is so valuable because it applies objective, concrete measurements to a range of aspects of cow comfort that have a direct impact on profitability on a dairy farm,” Stoltzfus adds. “The C.O.W.S. program provides producers with information they need to identify bottlenecks in their operations that they can then address to improve their efficiency, productivity and profitability.”

One of Stoltzfus’ customers who experienced the C.O.W.S. program firsthand is Steve Harnish, co-owner of Central Manor Dairy of Washington Boro, Pennsylvania. Harnish and his family partners milk approximately 200 cows three times a day in an operation that features both free-stall and compost bedded pack housing.

“I’ve found the C.O.W.S. program to be very effective in measuring metrics on the farm that directly affect cow comfort and operational profitability,” Harnish says. “As dairy farmers I think we all tend to be a bit biased towards our own facilities and management. We assume this is as good as it gets, or this is all I’m capable of. But the C.O.W.S. program provides us with an independent unbiased perspective that’s important to help us identify areas of improvement that we might not recognize on our own.

“I would definitely recommend the C.O.W.S. program to other producers,” Harnish adds. “It can verify strengths but it also identifies problem areas that can be addressed to achieve higher production and greater efficiency and profitability.”

More information about the C.O.W.S. program can be obtained through Novus representatives or by visiting www.NovusCows.com . Learn more about oxidative balance in dairy cows by visiting the web site www.dairybalance.com .

Novus C.O.W.S. Program Q&A

What is the C.O.W.S. program?
The C.O.W.S. program is a joint collaboration between Novus International, Inc., and the University of British Columbia Animal Welfare Program.

The aim of the program is to provide U.S. dairy producers with an objective, systematic approach to improving management systems in order to optimize cow comfort, well-being and productive efficiency. C.O.W.S. is based on a recently completed University of British Columbia Animal Welfare Program project that analyzed on-farm cow comfort in 43 free-stall dairies in that province. The ultimate goal is to achieve greater herd productivity and industry sustainability.

Why is Novus offering the C.O.W.S. program?
Sustainability is one of the cornerstones of our corporate vision of helping feed the world affordable, wholesome food. The U.S. dairy industry has been the model of efficiency and productivity over the past six decades, but sustainability is critical to its ongoing success.

The total U.S. dairy herd decreased from 25 million cows in 1944 to nine million head in 2007, while milk production increased from 117 to 186 billion pounds over that same timeframe. However, U.S. dairy farms are under more pressure than ever to produce even more high-quality output with fewer inputs.

We believe the C.O.W.S. program can help the dairy industry as a whole, as well as serve as a valuable tool to help producers maximize the comfort and well-being of their own animals for peak productivity and efficiency and enhanced sustainability.
What specifically is included in the C.O.W.S. program?
The C.O.W.S. program consists of four pillars that are key factors in productivity:

Comfort. Overall cow comfort is directly tied to the productive performance of dairy cows. C.O.W.S. evaluates comfort based on lameness, facility design and management.

Oxidative Balance. Sound nutrition and proper oxidative balance help keep cows healthy and productive. The program evaluates feeding and nutrition.

Well-Being. Environment and nutrition have a direct impact on the overall well-being of dairy cows. C.O.W.S. helps identify opportunities to enhance the well-being of herds.

Sustainability. Healthy cows with higher levels of productivity enhance sustainability through reduced carbon footprints and lower environmental impact per unit of milk.

Why is oxidative balance important to dairy production?
Oxidative balance is really a linchpin for the other three pillars of the C.O.W.S. program. Sound nutrition and proper oxidative balance are crucial in keeping a cow’s immunity levels high for optimum health and performance. Dealing with oxidative stress requires energy from the cow that could be used for milk production, growth, longevity and overall animal productivity. More information on oxidative balance is available at www.dairybalance.com .

What can producers expect from the program?
Each dairy farm that signs up for the program through a Novus sales representative will have an on-farm evaluation completed by Novus-trained personnel. Qualified representatives will:
Measure total lying time of cows with electronic data loggers;
Evaluate gait scores and hock health;
Perform body condition scores;
Analyze facility design and management measures that affect cow comfort, including bedding frequency, stall dimensions, neck rail placement, bunk space and more.

Each participating farm will receive a customized, confidential report that compares their operation to others in their region. Benchmarks can help producers identify whether or not they have problems that should be addressed. All individual farm information is anonymous and kept confidential.
Who can participate?
Novus is currently developing program benchmarks by evaluating 140 dairy operations in key dairy states, including California, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Texas and New Mexico. Novus representatives are currently considering operations in these and other key dairy-producing states as candidates for participating in the C.O.W.S. program. For more information, contact your local Novus sales representative.

What does it cost to participate?
We’re offering the C.O.W.S. program as a complimentary, value-added service to key customers. Consult your Novus representative for more information.

Where can I get more information or sign up for the program?
Contact your Novus representative, or visit www.NovusCows.com .

Chinese Cows Produce More ‘Human-like’ Milk

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:24:40 GMT

Chinese researchers have announced they’ve produced a bio-engineered herd of dairy cattle that produces more “human-like” milk that has 20% more milk fat and several key proteins, including lysozyme.

The story, reported today in the British newspaper The Telegraph , says commercialization of the genetically-modified (GM) cows will take another decade. But the researchers say milk from these GM-modified cows more closely resembles human milk, and could be targeted for use in infant formula.

And because these cows produce higher levels of lactoferrin, they might be better able to resist mastitis infections themselves, say scientists from the China Agriculture University.

New Mexico State University Collaborates on $9.75 Million Grant to Study Bovine Respiratory Disease

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:33:37 GMT

CLOVIS, N.M., June 8 -- New Mexico State University issued the following news release:

New Mexico State University is partnering with Texas A&M and other universities across the country on a $9.75 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to research bovine respiratory disease and how to reduce its prevalence in beef and dairy cattle.

NMSU’s Southern Great Plains Dairy Consortium, a Cooperative Extension Service program in Clovis aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability of New Mexico’s dairy industry, will play a key role in making this research a success.

“NMSU got involved in this research because of the consortium and we can use this resource as a wraparound tool for this grant,” said Robert Hagevoort, an Extension dairy specialist. “The consortium is a multi-state, multi-university, multi-disciplinary entity. We already have the tools in place for the teaching and extension side of this grant. By combining these with the research aspect of the grant, we are maximizing and leveraging the available resources that might not otherwise be available to NMSU or its students.”

Milton Thomas, professor of animal and range sciences, and Tim Ross, department head of animal and range sciences, are co-principal investigators on the research.

Bovine respiratory disease is recognized as one of the leading causes of death in beef and dairy cattle, resulting in significant economic loss for farmers and ranchers, Hagevoort said. Typically, it is the calves that are affected by the disease.

“We have good medication to treat the disease, " Hagevoort said, “but we don’t know if there is a subsequent effect that could influence their performance down the road after they are cured and go on to live their lives.”,” he said.

Researchers plan on finding 500 affected and 500 healthy dairy heifers in New Mexico and monitoring them from birth to calving and their first lactation. Hagevoort said there are indications that the disease could be genetic. Through this research, they will try to identify genetic markers for cattle that might be predisposed to the disease.

The data will be used to develop diagnostic tests and genetic selection tools to identify animals that are resistant to the disease. Animal welfare will also be assessed.

Scientists will already have contacts with dairies in New Mexico that are participating in the consortium that may be willing to participate in the project.

On the teaching side of the consortium, students from participating universities attend a six-week summer program that gives them hands-on experience learning large herd dairy management.

Hagevoort said the consortium’s goals fit right in with what is being accomplished through the grant.

“We are already talking about the bovine respiratory disease through the consortium,” Hagevoort said. “Now, we can pass along the information we find through this research and make that an emphasis of what we teach.”

Scientists from the University of California-Davis, Colorado State University, the University of Missouri, Washington State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service are also studying BRD in their respective regions through this grant.

On-Demand Webinar for Drug Residue Avoidance

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:26:22 GMT

Source: American Farmers for the Advancement of Technology

American Farmers for the Advancement and Conservation of Technology (AFACT) has posted a free webinar on avoiding drug residues in dairy cattle.

The 58-minute webinar features: Mike Lormore, director of U.S. Dairy Operations for Pfizer Animal Health; Jennifer Garrett, a farmer and nutritionist; Greg Jans, a Minnesota dairy producer, and Jim Misna, a veterinarian and Wisconsin dairy producer.

Simply click here to view the webinar at your convenience. It’s a good review and refresher for every dairy producer and dairy employee who administers antibiotics to cattle.

Dairy Care Initiative Rapidly Being Adopted

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:26:54 GMT

Nearly 50% of U.S. milk supply now under FARM umbrella.

Source: National Milk Producers Federation

Today’s consumers want to know that the food they purchase is safe, wholesome, nutritious, and produced with integrity.

U.S. milk producers are demonstrating that commitment by enrolling at a rapid pace in the National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM). In fact, since enrollment began in September 2010, 45% of the nation’s milk supply now comes from farmers, cooperatives, and proprietary processors implementing the FARM program.

Voluntary and open to all producers, FARM is a national dairy animal care, third-party verified program designed to demonstrate dairy farmers’ commitment to outstanding animal care and a quality milk supply. Independent dairy producers, proprietary processors, and cooperatives are quickly coming on board.

“Telling this story is essential at a time when consumers want to know how their food is produced,” said John Miles, Land O’Lakes FARM implementation leader. “The FARM program helps us reach out to customers, consumers, and the entire marketing chain. It sends a strong message that Land O’Lakes member producers work hard caring for their animals and producing quality milk.”

FARM was created by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), along with support from Dairy Management, Inc. FARM provides thorough animal care education for producers, on-farm evaluations, and objective third-party verification, giving customers and consumers the assurances they deserve.

“Dairy farmers are passionate about the care they provide to their animals and have an excellent track record of responsible management practices,” said Jamie Jonker, Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at NMPF. “This program quantifies that passion and allows them to speak with one voice as they market nationally and internationally. The pace of participation has surpassed our expectations.”

Developed in partnership with producers, veterinarians, and animal care experts, FARM is a comprehensive program that incorporates the latest innovations in animal care from birth to marketing.

Participating producers are provided comprehensive training materials and undergo an on-farm evaluation conducted by a trained veterinarian, extension educator, co-op field staff member, or other FARM-trained professional. Evaluators then provide a status report and, if necessary, recommendations for improvement.

To protect the integrity and credibility of the program, a certain number of participating dairy farms will be randomly selected for objective third-party verification. Validus, an Iowa-based certified auditing company with more than 10 years of experience verifying on-farm animal care, has been selected to conduct all third-party evaluations and will begin that process this summer.

In addition to Land O’Lakes, participating cooperatives and proprietary producers include Agri-Mark, Inc., Hilmar Cheese Company, Foremost Farms USA, and Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers (MDVA) Cooperative.

“In today’s society we have to prove that animal care is important to all dairy farmers in a manner that our neighbors and customers can understand and respect. The best solution is FARM,” said Kevin Satterwhite, a dairy farmer and MDVA member from Newberry, S.C., who is an active participant in the FARM program.

A complete list of participants and all training materials in both English and Spanish can be found at www.nationaldairyfarm.com .

The National Milk Producers Federation , based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance the well being of dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. The members of NMPF’s 31 cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of more than 40,000 dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.

Dairy Management Inc., based in Rosemont, IL, is the domestic and international planning and management organization that builds demand for dairy products on behalf of America’s 60,000-plus dairy producers. DMI works with state and regional dairy promotion organizations to integrate marketing, promotion, advertising, public relations, nutrition education, and nutrition, product and technology research programs.

DocTalk: Wintertime cattle nutrition and water management

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 04:42:48 GMT

Dr. Dan Thompson speaks with Dr. Chris Reinhardtabout wintertime nutrition and water management for beef cows for feedlot cattle.

Purdue Wraps Up Air Emission Study

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:56:56 GMT

Source: Purdue Universtiy

Purdue University researchers have delivered data to the Environmental Protection Agency on a two-year National Air Emissions Monitoring Study that gives a look at air quality on and around livestock farms.

Al Heber, a professor of agricultural and biological engineering and leader of the study, said he will now move to the next phase of his work: studying and publishing the dynamics and causes of the emissions and “mining” the extensive data for more information. At the same time, EPA is using the data to develop formulas that could be used by animal feeding operations or agencies to estimate their emissions.

“What we collected is baseline data,” Heber said. “The quantity of emissions depend on how waste is collected, treated and stored; the number and type of animals; and the weather.”
Heber and his team collected data from more than 2,300 sensors at a total of 38 barns on 14 farms in North Carolina, Iowa, Indiana, Oklahoma, California, New York, Washington and Wisconsin. For barns, there were five dairy sites, five pork production sites, three egg-layer sites and one broiler ranch. Outdoor swine and dairy manure lagoons were monitored at nine farms. A dairy corral in Texas also was tested.

The team measured for emissions of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, three sizes of particulate matter and volatile organic compounds. Emission rates were calculated every minute.

“The dataset is very extensive,” Heber said. “If we were to analyze 1 million data points per day, it would take us seven years to analyze - and that’s just for the barns.”

Heber said that estimates for these compounds at given types of farms will most likely be calculated from barn temperatures, animal density in the barns and barn airflow rate. Farm type is a major factor. For example, greater amounts of hydrogen sulfide are emitted from swine barns than from dairy freestall barns. And the type of manure collection systems, such as flushing versus scraping manure from barns, influences the numbers.

The National Pork Board, National Chicken Council, National Milk Producers Federation and American Egg Board funded the research through the nonprofit Agricultural Air Research Council. The EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards oversaw the work and is currently developing emissions-estimating models from the data.

Purdue researchers collaborated with others at Cornell University, Iowa State University, North Carolina State University, Texas A&M University, the University of California-Davis, the University of Minnesota and Washington State University.

Cattle Nutrition: Nutrition Improves AI and Embryo Transfer Success

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:57:11 GMT

Reproductive technologies such as AI and embryo transfer (ET) are excellent methods to improve the genetics of your herd. However, whether due to cost or labor requirements, neither technology is widely used in the beef industry. Less than 10% of all beef cows are bred using AI and far fewer producers use ET.

Constraining the use of these technologies is the inconsistent success of either program. The most common sources of failure in AI and ET programs are improper protocols, not adhering to the protocol, inability to detect animals in estrus and incorrect technique. However, many producers who successfully employ the protocol still fail to get cattle pregnant. Nutrition is often overlooked in these situations and, while the animals may appear to be in good condition, significant problems may exist.

The most accurate way to assess nutritional status in cattle is to evaluate body condition score (BCS). In order to rebreed in a timely fashion, a heifer should have a BCS of 6 and a mature cow should have a BCS of at least 5.5 prior to calving.

Energy and hormones.

Balancing rations for nitrogen (protein) and energy is the key to a successful AI or ET program. Both technologies rely on a cow producing at least one viable oocyte (egg). In order for the cow to do so, she must resume estrus, which requires a ration that meets her energy and protein needs. First-calf heifers require an 11% protein ration and cows require a 10% protein ration, with adequate energy.

Energy is important in breeding females because certain hormones (i.e., insulin) are increased by
energy consumption. These hormones signal the body to resume estrus and produce oocytes. This is especially important to cows in ET programs. Supplementing donor and receipt cows with a small amount of starch can help boost insulin and other hormone levels to increase embryo yield and viability.

While inadequate nutrition is detrimental to AI and ET success, overfeeding can be equally, and perhaps more, problematic. In ET programs, many donor cows are overconditioned because they do not have a calf every year. Rations that provide excess protein and energy can reduce embryo viability and pregnancy rates.

Cows handle excess nitrogen (protein) by producing ammonia and converting it to urea, which is excreted in the urine. Cows are more susceptible than heifers to the negative effects of high-protein diets because their rations are often lower in energy and they require less protein, leading to a greater excess in the body.

When ammonia levels increase, the acidity of the blood increases, leading to acidity in the uterus and reducing the viability of sperm and embryos. For example, a cow in superovulation for ET may respond well but yield few fertilized embryos. It’s possible that there was too much protein in her diet, compromising sperm viability. If there is a high percentage of degenerate embryos, perhaps their viability was compromised by the acidity of the uterus.

As a rule of thumb, balance cow rations for less than 12% to 14% protein and heifer rations for less than 15% protein. Cattle on pasture are often less susceptible because there is adequate energy available.

AI and ET technologies are excellent ways to improve your herd’s genetics. But without the proper nutrition, both will fail.

Dan Larson is a ruminant nutritionist at Great Plains Livestock Consulting, Inc. His experience in both cow–calf and feedlot cattle operations offers a unique perspective on the beef industry.

Cattle Healthline: Learn Your Label to Maximize Your Investment

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:56:35 GMT

During processing, it’s easy to go through the same old routine without giving much thought to things you’ve done many times before. Take some extra time, however, to look at the labels on the animal health products that you administer to your cattle to improve efficacy and maximize your investment. The illustration below highlights the parts of a label that contain important information.

Other tips for vaccination. Beyond the label, contact your veterinarian for guidelines on which vaccines would be most beneficial in your operation. Never combine vaccines or use disinfectant on a syringe used for modified live. Use a new needle to load a syringe.

Needle cleanliness enhances the effectiveness of products and prevents adverse reactions such as
injection-site infection.

Avoid injecting animals through areas of manure or mud that might be on the hair coat. Always change bent needles instead of straightening them; the bend will weaken the needle and could cause it to break. Record broken needles on the processing record; if a broken needle is in the calf, remove the piece. Change dull or burred needles, as they cause excessive tissue trauma. Change all needles every 15 to 20 head. Dispose of needles in a sharps container.

Maintaining and using clean syringes is important for the successful administration of animal health products. Clean all syringes thoroughly at the end of each day.

Modified live vaccines are a critical component, and proper handling of these products is necessary for the protection of your calves. Usually, the viral product is the only modified live product. As a rule of thumb, if you need to reconstitute a powder and liquid component of the vaccine, handle it as a modified live product. These products work by a small amount of replication after injection to stimulate the calf’s immune system. If the product is inactivated, it will not work.

Once the products are mixed, precautions should be taken to prevent the premature death of the viruses. Mixed product is viable only for 60 to 90 minutes after combining the liquid and powder; unused product at the end of this time should be discarded. Mix only the amount of vaccine that can be used in one hour.

Higher Forage Quality

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:56:15 GMT

*Extended comments are highlighted in blue.

Zach Myers
Jonesville, N.C.

From plate coolers and heat exchangers to land application of manure, we do several things to lessen our carbon footprint. These common moneysaving practices are good for the environment if done properly.

Forage quality also contributes to an operation’s carbon footprint. We put significant research into selecting hybrids that give us good tonnage as well as high digestibility. If we can maximize forage digestibility, the cows will more efficiently turn nutrients into milk.

Fecal excretion is directly correlated to feed intake. For example, a cow eating 120 lb. of feed will excrete more feces than a cow eating 100 lb. of feed on a daily basis. Feeding higher-quality forages results in more energy available to convert nutrients into milk, compared to lower-quality forages. This helps maintain higher milk production with less feed intake.

So, if a cow eating 100 lb. of feed produces the same amount of milk as the cow eating 120 lb., I have reduced my carbon footprint. I have less manure to handle and transport and I don’t need as many acres of land to support the number of cows I have.

Another way we ultimately reduce our carbon footprint is by recycling and reusing our sand bedding. Two years ago, we put in a passive sand separating system. Prior to sand recycling, the sand eventually ended up in the lagoon. It was removed twice a year and spread on our cropland. We went from buying four loads of sand a week to eight to 12 loads per year. We hope it will be several years before we have to consider dipping sand out of a lagoon again.

Finally, we use some common industry practices that reduce our carbon footprint. Commercial fertilizer is expensive and it takes considerable energy to create, but as dairy producers we have the ability to use cow manure as fertilizer. We are able to recycle the undigested nutrients back to the land to grow our crops.

The plate cooler and heat exchangers historically have been used to save producers money, but by saving money they reduce energy usage and thus our carbon footprint. The milk is cooled nearly 30ºF just by recirculating well water with a small 1-hp pump through a plate cooler. This uses less energy than using refrigeration units to cool the milk down from 102ºF to 36ºF.

It is the same for our heat exchangers. The heat exchangers use the heat generated from the refrigeration units to heat well water to more than 100ºF prior to entering the propane water heater. The heat exchangers use less energy than it would to heat well water to 185ºF with our propane water heater.

We as dairy producers should be proud of our efficiency and the attention we pay to detail. Our desire to be more efficient and profitable resulted in our being “green” before “green” was popular.

Myers’ January Prices
Milk (3.5 bf, 3.0% prt):	$16.71/cwt.
Cull cows:	$55/cwt.
Springing heifers:	$1,400/head
Alfalfa:	n/a
Cottonseed:	n/a
Ground corn:	$180/ton
Soybean meal:	$370/ton

Plus EZ Milk Replacer Enhanced with NeoTec4

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 05:55:58 GMT

Plus EZ milk replacer from Provimi North America has been reformulated with NeoTec4. NeoTec4 is a novel combination of essential fatty acids research-proven to help improve calf performance in four ways:

Improved ADG
Improved feed efficiency
Reduced scours
Improved frame growth

NeoTec4 works to help calves metabolically utilize nutrients that contribute to bone growth and muscle mass and improve gut health. This accelerated development helps calves to become ruminants faster and aids a quicker transition to starter feeds. Plus EZ is formulated with NeoTec4, is a leading milk replacer in the Nurture calf formula line, and the product calf raisers look for when they need great performance without paying a premium price.

New FDA regulations regarding reduced levels of Neo-Terra in milk replacers will likely leave calf raisers looking for new solutions to enhancing and maintaining calf health and growth. Nurture calf formulas with NeoTec4 will be exactly what calf raisers need: a milk formula product line that is easy to mix and proven to support calf health—cost-effectively.

Learn more about Nurture by visiting www.nurturecalf.com and NeoTec4 by visiting www.NeoTec4.com .

DFA Advances Its Animal Well-Being Program

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:18:35 GMT

Source: Dairy Farmers of America news release

As animal welfare issues gain prominence in the consumer and agriculture communities, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.'s (DFA) board of directors and management are taking a series of proactive steps to emphasize its commitment to proper treatment of animals.

“Animal welfare is a critical issue for our members and is vitally important to producing high-quality milk,” said David Darr, vice president of sustainability and public affairs. “We have a responsibility to clearly articulate our expectations regarding animal well-being and, equally important, to help educate consumers about those standards.”

A key initiative is the second round of DFA’s Gold Standard Dairy quality assurance program. DFA introduced the program in 2007 to proactively address the concerns of consumers, retailers and processors who are interested in how food is produced. The on-farm review includes animal well-being, environmental stewardship, employee training, and milk safety and quality. More than 90 percent of DFA member farms have participated in the Gold Standard process.

When the second round of the Gold Standard Dairy process begins in 2010, the program will incorporate measurement criteria from the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) program, a nationwide, verifiable animal well-being program that demonstrates U.S. milk producers are committed to producing high-quality milk in a high-quality environment.

Further demonstrating its commitment to animal welfare, at its March meeting, DFA’s board approved a resolution affirming that the public image of dairy, including animal housing and care, is of utmost importance to DFA and its dairy farmer members. The resolution states that DFA will continue to emphasize an expectation of proper and caring treatment of animals through individual dairy farm quality programs, the Gold Standard Dairy program, and participation with other dairy industry organizations to establish animal well-being standards for the U.S. dairy industry.

In addition, the board welcomed special guest Charlie Arnot to its March meeting to discuss the growing consumer interest in animal welfare issues, and how consumer perceptions influence demand and consumption. Arnot is chief executive officer of the Center for Food Integrity and president of CMA, a consulting company that works with companies across the food chain on issues management, communications and public relations.

University of Florida Finds way to Reduce E. Coli in Cows, Improving Food Safety

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:08:52 GMT

By: Brad Buck, University of Florida

A new biological treatment could help dairy cattle stave off uterine diseases and eventually may help improve food safety for humans, a University of Florida study shows.

Kwang Cheol Jeong, an assistant professor in animal sciences and UF’s Emerging Pathogens Institute, examined cattle uterine illnesses because they can make cows infertile, lower milk production and because those maladies are often linked to bacteria, he said. The UF researchers did their experiments in labs and at the Dairy Unit on the Gainesville campus.

Jeong and his research team infused chitosan microparticles - an antimicrobial material derived from dissolved shrimp shells - into diseased cow uteri. When bought in stores, chitosan can be used to treat many ailments from obesity to anemia. On its own, chitosan only works at acidic pH levels, Jeong said. For cattle, Jeong’s team developed chitosan microparticles, which work in acidic and neutral pH, because cattle uteri have a neutral pH.

The study’s findings suggest chitosan microparticles kill bacteria in the uteri, he said. Jeong said it may someday be possible for chitosan microparticles to be used to help humans who have become ill from consuming E. coli-contaminated food, but more research is needed.
Developing a new antimicrobial agent is critical to human and animal health, said Jeong, a member of UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

“Dangerous infections are diminishing the role of some antibiotics, making them less able to treat infections, as pathogens are developing resistance to the drugs,” he said, adding that about 23,000 people die in the U.S. annually because of exposure to pathogens that don’t respond to antibiotics.

Once bacteria become resistant, whether on farms, hospitals or in the environment, they can infect humans, through water, food or contact with contaminated feces, Jeong said.

Further, some antibiotics used to treat humans and animals kill good and bad bacteria. Scientists can use the UF study’s findings to begin to develop better drugs that target bad pathogens but leave beneficial bacteria, Jeong said.

E. coli are everywhere, including the human gut, but can contaminate beef, unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses made from raw milk and raw fruits and vegetables that haven’t been washed properly.

The most recent outbreak of meat-traced E. coli was in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That year, 21 people in 16 states fell ill from the pathogen, including one in Florida, the agency reported. A foodborne “outbreak” happens when two or more people get the same illness from the same contaminated food or drink, the CDC says.

Jeong’s latest study was published online March 21 by the journal PLoS ONE. Jeong co-wrote the paper with Soo Jin Jeon, a doctoral student in the UF animal sciences department and Klibs Galvao, an assistant professor in the large animal clinical sciences department at UF’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Wisconsin Dairy Odor Study Completed

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:17:10 GMT

A recently completed study by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the Department of Natural Resources has increased the understanding of air emissions and odors on larger-sized livestock farms, and lays the groundwork for future studies in this important area, officials say.

The multi-year project to study odor and air emissions from Wisconsin dairy and livestock farms was supported by a Conservation Innovation Grant from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Larger livestock farms volunteered to be part of the study. Five dairy farms and one heifer raising operation were selected. The farms ranged in size from 400 to more than 2,500 head of cattle. Four manure management practices were evaluated: anaerobic manure digesters, an impermeable cover placed over manure lagoons, a permeable manure lagoon cover, and a solids separation and aeration system.

“The project evaluated the air emissions and odor levels from six dairy and livestock operations and then compared the odor levels both before and after the installation of best management practices that were intended to reduce odor or emissions,” said Steve Struss, project co-manager with the state agriculture department.

More than 2,000 air samples were collected during the project. The samples measured odors and the airborne concentrations of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, two compounds most likely to be present on livestock operations.

“Keep in mind that we were not measuring the amount of emissions from entire farms,” Struss said. “The samples were collected at the edge of practices such as manure lagoons, sand separation channels or an animal feed lot.”

While the number of farms within the study was limited, it appears that impermeable covers significantly reduce ambient concentrations of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. Not surprising, when stored manure was agitated or pumped, higher concentrations of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide were detected. The project will also provide some valuable data for the existing livestock facility siting rule.

“The siting rule uses a model to predict the amount of odor that might be produced from new or expanding livestock operations. One goal of this project was to compare the levels that the model predicts with actual odor levels measured on farms,” Struss said. “The study gives us some real world data that we can consider in evaluating the odor model.”

Based on sampling results, it appears that the odor model used in the DATCP siting process accurately predicts the odor from covered manure storage lagoons and the amount of odor from manure lagoons between two and four acres in size. However the model appears to underestimate the amount of odor from small manure lagoons and manure digesters.

The findings of the study suggest options for farmers who wish to reduce odors from their farm, among them:

Minimize surface agitation of waste storage lagoons to limit exposure to the air including the use of submerged inlet pipes and mixing below the surface of the lagoon.
If a manure digester is used, maximize the time manure is kept inside the digester to reduce odors from the manure lagoon. A high quality flare with a reliable igniter to burn off gas also avoids unintentional releases of digester gas.
Installation of new manure storage lagoons would benefit greatly from an impermeable cover which can reduce odors by 100 percent.
Existing manure storage lagoons would benefit from a permeable cover which can reduce odor by about 70 percent.
Keep stored feed clean and dry. Wet feed produces odors and reduces feed quality.
A solids separator can be used to produce bedding materials and reduce odor by approximately 25 percent.
Keep animal densities low on open feedlots as high stocking rates increase odors as well as runoff and erosion.
Separation distance from neighbors is a simple, but effective tool to reduce odor impacts, place new livestock housing or manure lagoons as far as possible from nearby residents.

“The entire project illustrates what can be accomplished when public agencies work cooperatively toward a common goal. This project was a great effort by staff from our agency and the Department of Natural Resources over a three year period,” said state agriculture secretary Rod Nilsestuen. “We’re grateful to our federal partners at NRCS for their financial support and to the farmers who participated in the study.”

Al Shea, DNR Air and Waste division administrator said, “The strong partnership and excellent work by both our staff and DATCP staff benefitted greatly from the Conservation Innovation Grant. This effort produced a greater understanding of management practices on odors and air emissions on Wisconsin farms.”

“This project is exactly the type of work that Conservation Innovation Grants are for,” said Pat Leavenworth, State Conservationist for the USDA NRCS in Wisconsin. “Testing new technology on the farm, and tackling the big environmental issues like air quality on livestock operations are important topics.”

The final report and farm specific data is available on DATCP web site at www.datcp.state.wi.us/arm/agriculture/land-water/odor/index.jsp .

Minnesota Raw Milk Farmer a ‘Rebel’

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:08:57 GMT

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports this morning that the dairy farmer who sold raw milk linked to four cases of illness has a history of defying state law. One of those sickened with an E. coli infection, a toddler, remained hospitalized Thursday.

According to the newspaper report, Michael Hartman, Gibbon, Minn., has been fined for selling uninspected meat in 1993. In 2001, he had his Grade A milk license revoked. And he has been fined and jailed for zoning and building permit violations.

The current raw milk case is still under active investigation, so no decision has been made on whether any charges will be filed, says Mike Schommer. communications director with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Jerome Cheese Will Allow Resumed Use of BST

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:17:30 GMT

Jerome Cheese Company , based in Jerome, Idaho, recently announced it would allow its producers to once again use BST in their herds.

In March, the Idaho Dairymen’s Association circulated letters from its producer members requesting state dairy processors lift the ban on BST use.

“We believe the economics, the consideration of sustainability in agriculture and the growing need to a feed a world of expanding future populations, makes it necessary that we allow our milk producer suppliers to decide for their individual purposes whether or not they use BST,” says Jon Davis, chief offerations officer with Jerome Cheese.

The company quietly made the announcement in a letter to its producer suppliers May 5. When contacted by Dairy Today this week, Davis was still unsure how many of Jerome Cheese’s producers will resume BST use. The company does not pay a premium for non-BST supplemented milk.

Very few of Jerome’s dairy customers demand products be made with milk not supplemented with BST. “When the conversation comes up, they want to talk about our carbon footprint and whether we are BST-free,” says Davis. “Those are contradictory issues—you can’t have both. So the conversations usually ends there.”

Heat Warnings Sweep Across U.S.: What You Should Know

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 20:37:49 GMT

This week, dangerous heat is sweeping across Texas to Wisconsin to Ohio to Georgia.

It’s particularly important to watch out for yourself and each other when heat indexes reach 91 degrees or higher, as referenced by the Mayo Clinic. The heat index is a value calculated with the outside temperature and humidity—which is important as in high humidity environments you can’t effectively sweat. This makes people more prone to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

(Farm Journal)

Health experts say it can take several weeks to adjust to higher temperatures. With this sudden onset of wide-spread heat, it’s important everyone takes steps to stay safe.

Watch Out for Each Other

Iowa State Extension highlights how the signs of heat stress are often overlooked by the victim. As their report details, “The individual may at ﬁrst be confused or unable to concentrate, followed by more severe symptoms, such as fainting and/or collapsing. If heat stress symptoms occur, move the victim to a cool, shaded area, give him or her water, and immediately contact a supervisor or another individual to provide assistance.

8 Tips to Stay Safe Outside in Heat

Stay hydrated, which helps your body swat and keep a normal body temperature.
Eat light—but often.
Protect your skin. Wear hats with brims, sunblock, sunglasses. Reapply sunscreen every two hours (or more often if swimming or sweating.)
Wear loosefitting, lightweight clothing.
When possible, schedule activities in cooler part of day.
Take breaks
Take extra precautions with certain medications that affect your body’s hydration or ability to dissipate heat.
Be cautious if you have certain conditions or a history of previous heat illness.

To help everyone stay safe and be aware, Superior Ag Safety and Compliance Manager, Ryan Coleman, reminds everyone to make hydration and safety a priority in this video: