Survey seeks input on agritourism Farmers throughout the country are being asked to participate in a short survey PUBLISHED ON December 9, 2019

 

 The data will be used by cooperative extension and research personnel to develop resources to help increase the success of small- and medium-sized farms that offer on-farm direct sales, education, hospitality, recreation, entertainment and other types of agritourism. (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Public Domain)

 BURLINGTON, Vt. — Interest in pursuing agritourism opportunities is increasing among farmers and value-added producers in Vermont and other states as a means of enhancing farm viability and profits.

Many manage farm stands and pick-your-own operations. Others host on-farm suppers, farm stays, school field trips, public tours, outdoor recreation and harvest events, among other experiences.

To gauge the scope and impact of the industry nationwide, farmers throughout the country are being asked to participate in a short survey for a study led by the University of Vermont. The data will be used by cooperative extension and research personnel to develop resources to help increase the success of small- and medium-sized farms that offer on-farm direct sales, education, hospitality, recreation, entertainment and other types of agritourism.

The survey, which will take about 10-15 minutes to complete, is available online at go.uvm.edu/agritourismsurvey. All responses will be kept confidential, and participants may opt out of answering survey questions at any time.

In addition to demographic and farm information, the survey will collect data on direct sales and agritourism experiences offered, visitor numbers and goals, successes, challenges and future plans for agritourism. Farmers also will be able to provide input on the types of support needed to achieve success with agritourism including on-farm direct sales.

This multi-state survey and research project is being coordinated by Extension Professor Lisa Chase and Associate Professor David Conner, both with the University of Vermont, and funded through a Critical Agriculture Research and Extension grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Collaborators include research and cooperative extension faculty in California, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon and West Virginia.

For questions regarding the survey, contact Lisa Chase at lisa.chase@uvm.edu or (802) 257-7967, ext. 311.

–UVM Extension

USDA suspends timeline for transition to electronic ID Where does official ID go from here? PUBLISHED ON December 3, 2019 Texas Animal Health Commission

USDA is reviewing agency policy to determine how they will proceed with the timeline. (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Public Domain)

WASHINGTON — Last April, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced they would transition from metal identification tags to electronic identification tags in beef cattle, dairy cattle and bison.The previously announced transition dates are suspended. The USDA is reviewing agency policy to determine how they will proceed with the timeline associated with the transition of visual to electronic official ID for cattle and bison. For USDAs full statement click here.
What do you need to know about official ID?

• Questions about the rollout should be directed to: traceability@aphis.usda.gov
• Official identification requirements for cattle and bison in Texas or entering Texas remain unchanged.
• The USDA is allowing tag companies to continue manufacturing and selling metal NUES tags until further notice.
• To prepare for any future tag requirement decisions, producers should make sure they have a Premises Identification Number (PIN) or Location Identification Number (LID). You can obtain a PIN or LID by contacting the TAHC Animal Disease Traceability team at animal_id@tahc.texas.gov or 512-719-0733.
• Metal NUES Brucellosis vaccination tags for accredited veterinarians are still available from the USDA.

The Texas Animal Health Commission will keep producers and veterinarians updated when any decisions are made by the USDA.

–Texas Animal Health Commission

How Much Hay Will A Cow Consume? Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist November 4, 2019 09:57 AM

Estimating forage usage by cows is an important part of the task of calculating winter feed needs.  Hay or standing forage intake must be estimated in order to make the calculations.  Forage quality will be a determining factor in the amount of forage consumed.  Higher quality forages contain larger concentrations of important nutrients so animals consuming these forages should be more likely to meet their nutrient needs from the forages.  Also cows can consume a larger quantity of higher quality forages.
Higher quality forages are fermented more rapidly in the rumen leaving a void that the animal can re-fill with additional forage.  Consequently, forage intake increases.  For example, low quality forages (below about 6% crude protein) will be consumed at about 1.5% of body weight (on a dry matter basis) per day.  Higher quality grass hays (above 8% crude protein) may be consumed at about 2.0% of body weight.
Excellent forages, such as good alfalfa, silages, or green pasture may be consumed at the rate of 2.5% dry matter of body weight per day.  The combination of increased nutrient content AND increased forage intake makes high quality forage very valuable to the animal and the producer.  With these intake estimates, now producers can calculate the estimated amounts of hay that need to be available.
Using an example of 1200 pound pregnant spring-calving cows, lets assume that the grass hay quality is good and tested 8% crude protein.  Cows will voluntarily consume 2.0% of body weight or 24 pounds per day.  The 24 pounds is based on 100% dry matter.  Grass hays will often be 7 to 10% moisture.
If we assume that the hay is 92% dry matter or 8% moisture, then the cows will consume about 26 pounds per day on an “as-fed basis”.  Unfortunately we also have to consider hay wastage when feeding big round bales.  Hay wastage is difficult to estimate, but generally has been found to be from 6% to 20% (or more).  For this example, lets assume 15% hay wastage.  This means that approximately 30 pounds of grass hay must be hauled to the pasture for each cow each day that hay is expected to be the primary ingredient in the diet.
After calving and during early lactation, the cow may weigh 100 pounds less, but will be able to consume about 2.6% of her body weight (100% dry matter) in hay.  This would translate into 36 pounds of “as-fed” hay per cow per day necessary to be hauled to the pasture.  This again assumes 15% hay wastage. Accurate knowledge of average cow size in your herd as well as the average weight of your big round bales becomes necessary to predict hay needs and hay feeding strategies.
Big round hay bales will vary in weight.   Diameter and length of the bale, density of the bale, type of hay, and moisture content all will greatly influence weight of the bale.  Weighing a pickup or trailer with and without a bale may be the best method to estimate bale weights.
Utilizing the standing forage in native and Bermudagrass pastures to supply much of the forage needs during fall and early winter months will reduce hay feeding.  An appropriate supplementation program will help the cows digest the lower quality roughage in standing forage.
When standing forage is in short supply or covered by snow and ice, hay will become the primary source of feed.  The number of days that hay feeding is necessary is hard to predict going into the winter months.  Looking back at previous years’ records may be the best source of information to help make that determination.

Shop Safety Mini Series Produced by the Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention and Education October 2019

					Torch Safety Perhaps some of the most versatile and useful tools in a shop environment are torches. They can be used for brazing, soldering, cutting, bending, and other tasks.   Types of Torches Oxyacetylene torches use a combination of highly flammable acetylene gas and oxygen to make a flame burning 6,330 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the only torch able to cut steel. Oxyacetylene torches are widely used for underwater welding and cutting activities, heat treating stone, and fire polishing glass, in addition to more everyday shop tasks. Acetylene tanks and hoses are red, and oxygen tanks and hoses are green or black. Plumber’s torches can be found in many shops as well, since they are more compact. Most of these are propane fueled, burning at about 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. They are mainly used for soldering copper pipes or loosening stuck fasteners and are not powerful enough to cut, braze, or melt most metal. They can also be found fueled by butane, propylene, or a blend of gases. Safety The cylinders or “bottles” used to hold fuel for oxyacetylene are under immense pressure. Acetylene is kept at about 3000 psi. Combine this with acetylene’s explosive abilities, and the tanks become a hazard. When transporting the cylinders, always remove the regulator and install the valve cap. Chain cylinders to prevent their falling over. An oxygen cylinder with over 2,000 psi in it becomes a lethal projectile if it falls over and its cylinder valve is damaged. Always keep them vertical. Also, keep hoses and tanks away from flame. When using the torch, use the correct tip size and pressure. This can cause the flame to 'flashback' and travel into the hose and potentially into the tank. This is usually accompanied by a loud popping or hissing sound. Flashback arrestors should also be employed to prevent this. Although torches are not as dangerous as welding, they still produce eye damaging light. Eyewear with a shade of 2-5 should be worn. Also, many metals, alloys, and anti-rust coatings give off harmful fumes when heated. Galvanized metal is notorious for this. Always make sure to be in a well ventilated area when using a torch. Never oil regulators, valves, or torches, as oil is flammable. Always bleed off the hoses when finished with the torch, and always light fuel first, then introducing oxygen. Finally, do not use oxygen as a substitute for compressed air, to blow off clothes or surfaces. The oxygen is absorbed by clothing and makes them extra flammable in the event of ignition. Stay tuned next month for the last article in the Shop Safety Mini Series.  Make sure to take the quiz below to see if you know how to be safe around torches. References and Photo Sources: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/376050637611386192/ https://www.harrisproductsgroup.com/en/Expert-Advice/tech-tips/oxy-fuel-equipment-safety-guidelines.aspx https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2004/05/01/soldering-copper-pipe-2

USDA Abruptly Halts Animal ID Plan Greg Henderson October 28, 2019 10:06 AM

APHIS says the need for ADT still exists. ( FJ )

USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced Friday (Oct. 25) it has suspended its plan to phase-in the use of electronic ID (RFID) tags for cattle and bison.
APHIS said in a statement the policy shift was in response to executive orders from President Trump that have highlighted the need for transparency and communication of issues “before placing any new requirements on American farmers and ranchers.”
In April APHIS announced its plan for Animal Disease Traceability with a factsheet posted to its web site. The factsheet detailed USDA’s plan to transition to radio frequency identification (RFID) tags from metal ear tags for cattle and bison. At the time, USDA said it would stop providing free metal tags, though approved vendors would still be permitted to produce official metal tags for one year. On Jan. 1, 2021, USDA would end approval of vendor production of metal ear tags with the USDA shield.
The animal disease traceability (ADT) plan set January 1, 2023, as the date all animals that move interstate and fall into specific categories would need official, individual RFID tags. The plan specifically omitted feeder cattle.
In its statement withdrawing those regulations, APHIS said it has “listened to the industry’s feedback.”
One of the loudest voices against RFID was heard earlier this month when R-CALF USA filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Casper, WY, seeking to halt the plan. Joining the suit were the New Civil Liberties Alliance and rancher plaintiffs Kenny and Roxie Fox of Belvidere, SD, and Tracy and Donna Hunt of Newcastle, WY. The suit alleged the proposed requirements were in opposition to USDA’s own policy that had previously allowed the use of a number of different kinds of identification including metal tags.
In its statement Friday, APHIS said the factsheet was removed because it “is no longer representative of current agency policy.”
Despite the executive orders whitdrawing the ADT plan, APHIS acknowledged the continuing need for a national animal ID plan.
“While the need to advance a robust joint Federal-State-Industry Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) capability remains an important USDA-APHIS objective, we will take the time to reconsider the path forward and then make a new proposal, with ample opportunity for all stakeholders to comment,” the APHIS statement said. “We continue to believe that RFID devices will provide the cattle industry with the best protection against the rapid spread of animal diseases, as well as meet the growing expectations of
APHIS said USDA’s goals to enhance ADT have not changed, and the agency aid to:

• Encourage the use of electronic identification for animals that move interstate under the current ADT regulation;
• Enhance electronic sharing of basic animal disease traceability data;
• Enhance the ability to track animals from birth to slaughter; and
• Increase the use of electronic health certificates