Fall is nearly here!
Alfredo DiCostanzo, Nebraska Beef Systems Extension Educator
It was not long ago; we were talking about preparations to prevent heat stress in cattle. Summer came, and it is now nearly gone. Thankfully, heat stress was moderate to low, and we received much needed precipitation at least early in the summer. Now kids are off to school, crickets are chirping, sun rays hit at a different angle, tree foliage is brittle, winds are picking up, and we have had a few nights below °50 F.
Other than it is a nice, transition time, early fall, and the threat of cooler weather, remind us of a few things to do in
preparation for winter around the farm or ranch. Preparations for winter vary from getting spring-born calves ready for weaning and sale or backgrounding to getting ready to receive calves at grow yards and feedlots. Generally, other activities such as facilities repairs, upkeep, and upgrading occur currently also.
Pouring that last slab of concrete on the shop, alleyway, apron, or home project may be on your list. If it is not raining or snowing, pouring concrete may take place anytime from now until November, provided it is permitted to cure with an accelerator under blankets. Incidentally, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is forecasting precipitation to be slightly lower than normal for the months of October to December.
Other minor repairs will make life much easier, particularly if we end up with a lot of snow. Re-hanging gates and repairing fences in pens and alleyways will provide greater security and will make it easier to accomplish certain tasks when it is cold and snowy.
Calves weaning in the fall of 2024 will likely bring a premium relative to the past 10 years. This is encouraging and it supports preparing them for a life in the feedlot or grow yard with vaccinations, deworming and other disease prevention practices as suggested by your veterinarian.
Fall cows will be getting ready for breeding soon. Their calves selling in the spring or fall of 2025 should still bring a premium relative to previous years. Preparing to achieve the most breeding success, particularly after we had less precipitation in late summer. Is it time to consider supplementation of young fall-calving cows? If so, there are plenty of options at attractive feed prices.
Calves coming into the grow yard or feedlot may require extra care. Late-summer pasture conditions were not ideal, particularly in the Southwest. Spring-calving cows lost condition, and likely quit milking. Calves coming into the feedlot may need extra care as they transition to life in the yard.
In certain cases, because of the growing interest in adding concrete surfaces to pens, preparations should be made to manage cattle on concrete differently. Aprons require scraping to eliminate manure and mud cover on a regular basis. Loafing
areas surfaced with concrete will also require different management approaches.
During extreme cold, manure balls up, from cattle traffic, and prevents cattle from moving about or laying down. Bare concrete, on the other hand, could lead to frozen hair or hide onto the surface. Therefore, planning to build a manure pack on loafing areas will prevent these issues. Adding ample bedding (10 to 15 lb per head to start) to these areas ahead of precipitation events will create a base. Continued bedding at rates between 4 to 8 lb per head as soon as the pack becomes sticky (but before it begins to weep) will keep this area dry and high. Generally, scraping concrete off the apron and around the loafing area occurs ahead of bedding.
A question arises: will new bedding added to the pen affect intake? The answer is yes as cattle will prefer to play around the bedding and will consume some of it. However, this effect does not last more than a few hours. The bedding becomes trampled fast, and cattle lose interest in it as feed.
Other preparations are also taking place: silage harvest and soon, harvest of grain as earlage, high-moisture corn or corn. Certainly, farm shops are busy getting equipment ready for harvest. A good summer carries hope that the harvest will be plentiful. Hopefully, the excitement of harvest will not distract from operator (and other personnel) health and safety.
This is probably a good time to review safety protocols on the farm. Once the decision is made to open fields, remind everyone on the operation of harvest dates. Provide clear directions relative to the right of way. If necessary, install flags (to warn operators) or convex mirrors (to enhance visibility of corner) at blind intersections. Although most individuals involved in sales and service to farm and ranch are familiar with harvest operations, a sign at the entrance indicating harvest is under way will prevent careless driving.
You and your crew have worked hard throughout the year. Fall is a busy time. A little preparation will go a long ways for a productive year. A bit extra preparations will ensure a safe and productive harvest season.
Youth experience swine production
The Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Swine Cohort is designed to enhance the traditional 4-H swine project and cultivate the next generation of leaders in the swine industry by providing opportunities focusing on swine production as a goal of the 4-H member's project, along with accurate and complete record-keeping, industry knowledge, and engagement by the 4-H member. In order to participate, youth must be 4-H age 8-18, complete YQCA, and farrowed their project animals.
Youth involved in the cohort participated in learning opportunities hosted by Extension Swine Specialist Benny Mote about nutrition, feeding, genetics and more. They also maintained records related to swine management and basic care, which resulted in turning in a record book this weekend. Finally, they exhibited their Farrowed and Owned project animals at the 2024 Nebraska State Fair with the opportunity for special recognition for participating in the cohort.
The 2024 Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned division at the Nebraska State Fair was sponsored by Parks of Nebraska LLC.
The following youth met the requirements of participating in 75% of the educational meetings from February - June and participating in the interview portion of the cohort at the 2024 Nebraska State Fair.
Olivia Beel, Brown County
Eli Beel, Brown County
Deven Dose, Hamilton County
Kendall Goedeken, Platte County
Cullan Schmidt, Fillmore County
Trevin Steuk, Saline County
Results from the live show:
Grand Champion Farrowed and Owned Breeding Gilt: Cullan Schmidt, Fillmore County Reserve Champion Farrowed and Owned Breeding Gilt: Olivia Beel, Brown County
Grand Champion Farrowed and Owned Market Hog: Kendall Goedeken, Platte County Reserve Champion Farrowed and Owned Market Hog: Trevin Steuk, Saline County
Cohort members learned the importance of accurate record keeping through a detailed record book they compiled with information about their farrowed and owned projects. The record books are used during an interview each cohort member participates in at the state fair. The interview is an important part of the cohort experience, as members gain valuable life skills from this experience. Results from the interview portion of the cohort:
1st Place: Olivia Beel, Brown County
2nd Place: Deven Dose, Hamilton County
3rd Place: Kendall Goedeken, Platte County
Congratulations to all 2024 Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Cohort members!
For more information about Nebraska 4-H Farrowed and Owned Cohort learning opportunity, please visit https://4h.unl.edu/farrowed-owned.
Naig Announces Availability of Crop Insurance Discount Program
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will once again offer its Crop Insurance Discount Program for acres that are planted with cover crops. Farmers and landowners who plant cover crops this fall will have the opportunity to apply for a $5 per acre discount on their spring crop insurance premiums.
The sign-up period will begin on Monday, December 2, 2024, and will close on Friday, January 24, 2025. Participants can learn more about enrollment by visiting CleanWaterIowa.org or by contacting their crop insurance agent.
“Our cost-share programs for cover crops have seen a surge in demand already this summer and fall, so we are expecting similarly strong interest from farmers in our Crop Insurance Discount Program when the application window opens in December. The Crop Insurance Discount Program has proven to be successful at encouraging cover crop usage while also helping farmers save money on their crop insurance premiums,” said Secretary Naig. "Given the numerous benefits of cover crops, including improved water quality, enhanced soil health, forage for livestock, and various other agronomic advantages, we continue to see increasing cover crop acres in Iowa."
Now in its eighth year, this innovative program has become a model for other states as well as the federal government. To date, nearly 2,000 farmers have enrolled more than 1.2 million acres of cover crops in the program. To qualify for the program, the cover crop acres cannot be enrolled in other state or United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) cost share programs.
Program Details
The Crop Insurance Discount Program is jointly administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA). Iowa’s program has served as a model and has been replicated by the USDA as well as Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. To qualify for the Crop Insurance Discount Program, the cover crop acres cannot be enrolled in other state or federal cost share programs. Farmers should visit their local USDA Service Center to learn about other cost-share funding available to support the implementation of conservation practices. Some insurance policies, such as Whole-Farm Revenue Protection or those covered through written agreements, may be excluded. Participants must follow all existing farming practices required by their respective policy and work with their insurance agencies to maintain eligibility.
Anaerobic Digestion to Be Featured on Fall Webinar Series
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will hold an innovative series of webinars focused on the rapidly evolving field of anaerobic digestion.
Hosted by Daniel Andersen, associate professor in agriculture and biosystems engineering at Iowa State, this engaging series is set to uncover the potential of anaerobic digestion technologies in modern agriculture.
Titled "Emerging Science of Anaerobic Digestion," the webinar series is designed to inform farmers, technical service providers and project developers about the essentials of anaerobic digesters, the opportunities for their adoption, the promising future of biomass digestion and the challenges with implementation. Scheduled to begin on Oct. 8, these monthly sessions aim to provide a comprehensive overview, from basic digester operations to the impact they could have on sustainable agriculture.
Webinar schedule
Oct. 8, 1 p.m. CT: Digester Basics. This foundational session details digester functions, integration methods on farms and overall benefits.
Nov. 12, 1 p.m. CT: Why Digesters, Why Now? This session delves into the shifting policies encouraging anaerobic digestion adoption and outlines the financial opportunities now accessible.
Dec. 10, 1 p.m. CT: Why Biomass Digestion May Be the Next Big Thing. Exploring beyond manure, this webinar discusses the significant role biomass plays in enhancing the feasibility of digestion projects.
Through this series, participants will gain valuable insights into the latest research efforts aimed at improving the feasibility and efficiency of anaerobic digestion technologies. Each session will also highlight the challenges and opportunities that farmers and project developers may encounter during implementation.
Targeted primarily at agricultural professionals and farmers, this series stands as a critical resource for those looking to explore and implement climate-smart agricultural practices.
Registration information
Participation is free, but registration is required to obtain the necessary login information. Interested parties are invited to secure their spot by registering at https://iastate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEuceGurTMtGtE3ggCl5jSe3hynrAJfA-en. Register today to shape the future of sustainable farming with ISU Extension and Outreach.
For more information about the "Emerging Science of Anaerobic Digestion" webinar series or to inquire about registration, contact Daniel Andersen at dsa@iastate.edu or 515-294-4210; or Melissa McEnany at mmcenany@iastate.edu or 515-294-9075.
Farmers Union Members Descend on Washington with Urgent Message: Pass the Farm Bill
Nearly 300 Farmers Union members from across the United States have converged in Washington this week to meet with lawmakers and advocate for the timely passage of a comprehensive five-year farm bill before the end of 2024, emphasizing its importance given current challenges faced by America’s family farmers and ranchers.
“Family farmers and ranchers can’t wait – they need the certainty of a new farm bill this year,” said National Farmers Union President Rob Larew. “The farm bill is an investment in our food system, rural economies and the future of American agriculture. With net farm income projected at historic lows, growing concentration in the agriculture sector, high input costs and interest rates, and more frequent and devastating natural disasters, Congress can’t miss this opportunity to pass a five-year farm bill. Our members are taking valuable time away from their farms to make sure policymakers hear that message, loud and clear.”
Farmers Union members will participate in hundreds of meetings with members of Congress throughout the week, meet with more than a dozen federal agencies and hear from prominent government officials, including Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan, Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division Jonathan Kanter and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan.
Farmers Union members will also bring NFU's ongoing Fairness for Farmers campaign to Washington, outlining how a lack of competition in the agriculture sector harms family farmers and ranchers.
Secretary Vilsack addressed Farmers Union members, offering insights into the USDA's ongoing efforts to support American family agriculture and ensure their continued viability in today’s challenging environment.
Leaders from other federal agencies also provided policy updates about Farmers Union priorities.
“The Environmental Protection Agency views the agriculture sector as a key partner in achieving our climate goals,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “Farmers play an essential role in creating smart and sustainable climate solutions, all while delivering a resilient and abundant food supply. EPA will continue supporting farmers and ranchers in their efforts to reduce emissions, sequester carbon, and protect our environment.”
“Promoting honest and competitive agriculture markets means farmers can get a fair shake and Americans can enjoy a more affordable and resilient food system,” said Chair of the FTC Lina Khan. “I’m grateful to learn from National Farmers Union about the challenges facing family farms. From protecting farmers’ right to repair their equipment to combatting monopolistic tactics in the marketplace, FTC will keep fighting to ensure farmers can enjoy the economic liberty that fair and honest competition provides.”
“…agricultural enforcement has been a huge priority of ours at DOJ and it will remain one going forward,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “That’s because the consequences of concentration in agricultural ripple out. It affects us all.”
Farmers Union advocacy efforts will continue throughout the week, ensuring that lawmakers hear the voices of family farmers and keep the farm bill at the forefront of legislative priorities.
National Farmers Union and USDA Announce Agreement to Strengthen Farm Service Agency County-Level Operations
National Farmers Union (NFU) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address staffing levels and improve customer service at USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) county-level offices.
Under this MOU, NFU and USDA will work together to gather feedback on the experiences of family farmers and ranchers when interacting with FSA staff and the programs they deliver. By hosting listening sessions in local communities, NFU will provide a platform for farmers to share their concerns and ideas for improvement. USDA will use this feedback to inform ongoing investments in customer service and program delivery.
FSA county offices are a critical resource for family farmers and ranchers participating in farm safety net, disaster recovery assistance and conservation programs and seeking direct and guaranteed financing for their operations. Demand for FSA program assistance remains high and continues to grow making it more difficult for existing staff to manage the increasing workload and related customer service needs of American agriculture.
“In 3 ½ years of traveling the country, I’ve not heard a single producer say that fewer county staff are part of any solution. As an agency, our employees are our greatest resource and the agricultural producers we serve are our top priority; they deserve the best work or customer experience we can provide,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “I’m extremely pleased to enter into this MOU with NFU. Our hope is that the information gathered through this MOU can be used to guide better investment in the capacity of our local offices. Leveraging this partnership and the outcomes derived from NFU’s access to local input will greatly benefit FSA employees and the farmers and ranchers we serve — it’s a win-win.”
NFU has long advocated for policies that enhance the quality of life for farm families and their communities.
“Family farmers and ranchers need access to reliable, efficient services at the county level,” said Rob Larew, NFU President. “This MOU solidifies our commitment to work closely with USDA to gather input from those who depend on FSA’s farm and loan programs to help improve the systems that support them. We appreciate Administrator Ducheneaux’s leadership on this important issue.”
Through NFU’s annual grassroots policy process, Farmers Union members passed a resolution highlighting a critical need to partner with USDA in addressing gaps in staffing and service delivery. This MOU represents NFU and USDA’s commitment to collaborate on practical solutions to these challenges, ensuring that FSA offices deliver efficient and effective programs for family farmers and ranchers.
Medgene Collaborating with Iowa State University to Develop Vaccines for Sheep & Goat Industry
Prescription platform vaccine manufacturer Medgene announces that it will be expanding its vaccine offerings to help keep sheep and goats healthy in partnership with Iowa State University.
“Partnering with Medgene offers many benefits to university researchers, allowing them to continue to serve the needs of animal agriculture,” says Dr. Alan Young, Medgene co-founder and Chief Technology Officer. “A collaboration of this type is also a benefit for Medgene, where the expertise of grant principal Dr. Jodi McGill can be used to solve tough problems for the animal health industry that can be rapidly implemented.”
The two-year grant that makes these sheep and goat vaccines possible is from the USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Animal Disease Preparedness Response Program.
“Iowa State University is routinely contacted by goat producers who submit diagnostics for diseases and are looking for biologic solutions. Currently, they are forced to use tools developed for cattle with few products developed specifically for goats,” says Dr. Michael Roof, Chief Technology Officer, Immunovac, Iowa State University. “Because of the variety of different diseases that need solutions, Medgene’s prescription vaccine platform is very appealing, as it can be applied quickly across numerous diseases, including bacterial and viral diseases.”
The grant has three objectives, all based around pursuing vaccine solutions for diseases affecting sheep and goats, including bluetongue virus (BTV), Cache Valley Fever and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with the team at Medgene,” says Dr. McGill. “I think this will be a really productive partnership. I’m also really excited to address this important need for our sheep and goat producers and am looking forward to seeing these vaccines used on farms that need them.”
Pneumonia caused by respiratory infections such as RSV cause production losses and even death in young lambs and kids. Currently, most RSV and other respiratory viral pathogens that are recommended annually for cattle, but there are currently no vaccines available for sheep and/or goats.
In sheep and goats, Cache Valley Fever can cause abortions, malformed fetuses, infertility and congenital abnormalities. Mosquitoes transmit the disease, which is endemic in many parts of the U.S. Developing vaccines to prevent this disease will benefit producers and improve animal welfare for small ruminants.
NASS releases 2022 Census of Agriculture Web Maps application
Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), launched a collection of interactive maps to allow data users to access key Census of Agriculture information. The newly redesigned Ag Census Web Maps application offers the public access to maps and accompanying data to help visualize, download and analyze Census of Agriculture data down to the county level. The application assembles maps and statistics from the 2022 Census of Agriculture in five broad categories – crops and plants, economics, farms, livestock and animals, and producers – as well as associated subcategories.
“NASS is excited to provide the public with customizable, interactive and accessible ways to work with the vast trove of Census of Agriculture data,” said NASS Administrator Joseph Parsons. “The Ag Census Web Maps application allows users to visualize the state of American agriculture in a way no other Census of Agriculture product provides.”
An Ag Census Web Maps user can: select a map to display from any of the general categories and associated subcategories; create maps showing the variation in a single data item across the country (for example, average value of agricultural products sold per farm); select a county and view and download the county’s data for a general category; download the U.S. county-level dataset of mapped values for all categories and more. The resulting products give producers, agribusinesses, policymakers, community planners and the general public easy access to factors that affect agriculture and producers in more than 3,000 counties across the country.
NASS has also made available on its website a range of new products related to the 2022 ag census: Market Value of Ag Products Rankings; State and County Profiles; Congressional District Profiles and Rankings; the Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Profiles; the Watersheds report; and the American Indian Reservations Report. In addition, the 2022 Puerto Rico Census of Agriculture data were released July 18 and can be viewed on NASS’s ag census web page.
Upcoming ag census releases include the Specialty Crops publication on Oct. 17 and Zip Code Tabulations on Nov. 7. Other products to be released this fall include additional ag census Highlights publications found on the NASS website at nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights. Census of Agriculture Highlights cover topics such as producer demographics, commodity specifics, and more.
Spanning more than 6 million data points about America’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them, the full ag census report can be accessed at nass.usda.gov/AgCensus. Ag census data can also be found in NASS’s searchable online database, Quick Stats.
In preparation for the 2027 Census of Agriculture, NASS is already asking for content change suggestions and for new producers who did not receive a 2022 Census of Agriculture questionnaire last year to sign up to be counted in future censuses and surveys. Both forms can be found at nass.usda.gov.
Amp Americas Dairy RNG Projects Have Reduced More Than 2 Million MT of CO2e
Amp Americas, a leading dairy methane capture and renewable natural gas (RNG) company, today announced that its projects have reduced more than 2,000,000 metric tons (MT) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions since 2012 – equivalent to the emissions of more than five natural gas-fired power plants in one year.
Amp Americas partners with dairy farmers across the United States on projects that reduce methane emissions from dairy waste. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas – 84 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in driving global warming over a 20-year time span. Amp Americas provides an immediate, measurable and at-scale solution to methane emissions by capturing methane on dairy farms that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. Dairy RNG also reduces the cost of managing dairy waste and produces digestate that can be used as fertilizer.
“For 12 years, we have worked alongside farmers to make a real, quantifiable impact on greenhouse gas emissions while improving the air quality in rural communities,” said Grant Zimmerman, CEO of Amp Americas. “Two million metric tons is a milestone we’re proud of, especially since there are no other near-term solutions that can tackle methane emissions like our RNG projects. We are grateful for our farm partners and excited to work with them to increase our impact. With access to new markets, Amp will develop additional projects on more and smaller farms across the United States.”
Amp Americas is committed to creating beneficial environmental and economic impact for its partners and the rural communities in which it operates. Amp’s 17 RNG projects across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Idaho and Kansas create well-paying jobs and help dairy farmers improve air quality and reduce risks to water quality in their rural communities. Amp’s projects will prevent 700,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions per year by the end of this year, delivering the same climate impact as taking 166,601 cars off the road for one year.
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