That Was Then.

Melissa Sandfort

Then: My grandparents started out every morning by pulling their one-legged milking stool from the wall of the barn, then managed a balancing act with the stool and a bucket between their knees to catch the cow’s milk. One at a time, the cows would file into the barn, all three to five of them in the herd, to be milked by hand twice a day. It took about 10 to 15 minutes to milk each cow. They used the milk at home for their family, and leftovers to feed the hogs; they also used a crank-handle separator and sold the cream. That was then.

Now: Dairy producers utilize modern technology such as rotary milking parlors that offer a constant flow of cows and ease of operation. With some set-ups, producers can milk approximately 40 cows in the 17 minutes it takes for the carousel to make a complete rotation. Slow milking cows can be held in their stall and go around again. The carousel has variable speed control and can be reversed if needed. Then milk goes into a cooled bulk tank.

Rotary parlors are designed for herds larger than 1,000 cows, which goes to show that milking cows has come a long way since the milk bucket balancing act.

But there were some every day “advantages” back in the good ol’ days. For instance, once they learned the proper mouth-wide-open stance, farm cats used to enjoy the occasional drink of milk. I doubt they dare to get in the way of cows entering and exiting a rotary parlor.

Until we walk again…

Uncategorized

Corn and Soybean Growers At Pioneer Field Day

Chuck Zimmerman

Pioneer Hi-Bred Technology Field DayI have to believe that Pioneer Hi-Bred was very happy with farmer attendance at their Crop Technology Field day held in Carrollton, MO. Each of the tour stops were packed with an attentive audience.

I spoke with two of the farmers in attendance. One was Paul Tracy from Denver, MO. Paul was there to see and learn more about new Pioneer corn and soybean varieties. He likes to try them on his farm to see if they hold up to his farming practices. His corn was planted early as well as his soybeans and he says it’s all looking good right now except some spots that had too much water. You can listen to my interview with Paul here: Paul Tracy Interview

I also spoke with Curtis Swearingin, Carrollton, MO. He wanted to learn more about new technologies and chemical programs due to weed pressure. He says his corn is not doing good do to a cold and wet May. He has started shelling corn and moisture is drier than he expected. You can listen to my interview with Curtis here: Curtis Swearingin Interview

2010 Pioneer Hi-Bred Crop Technology Field Day Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Farming, Pioneer

NCBA Urges Producer Comment on GIPSA Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is urging all producers, from the biggest to the smallest, to get engaged in the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule and make their voices heard.

“Every producer should be concerned because the trickle down effect from everything that’s going to result from this rule is going to impact the way we market cattle,” says NCBA vice president of government affairs Colin Woodall. “The only way that we can stop it, or try to change it, is if there is truly an outcry from producers across this country.”

Colin says it is important for producers to not only read the rule, but to understand the implications and interpretation of it. “We’ve got a lot of great summaries and talking points on our website (beefusa.org), we’ve got a big red box that has all the background information and tool kit that we’re using to inform our producers.”

NCBA also provides information on the website on how easy it is for producers to provide comments on the proposed rule, which can be done until November 22. In addition, there’s a video producers can watch where Colin explains the concerns that NCBA has and why they believe this rule will have a negative impact on the industry as a whole. “That’s why it’s so important to educate yourself, understand what the interpretation is, and then get engaged and deliver the message to this administration that real producers, boots on the ground ranchers, don’t want the government dictating what price they can get paid for their cattle,” Colin says.

Listen to or download my interview with Colin here: Colin Woodall Interview

NCBA will also be actively engaged in the upcoming USDA/DOJ public workshop on competition in the livestock industry in Ft. Collins, Colorado on August 27 and encourages producers to attend that if they are able. The agenda for the workshop includes several panels as well as three hours dedicated to public testimony which will be split into two sessions, one at mid-day and the other after the final panel.

Audio, Beef, GIPSA, Livestock, NCBA, USDA

Vote for Your Fav Farmer’s Market

Cindy Zimmerman

Vote For Favorite Farmers MarketHave you cast your vote for your favorite farmer’s market yet?

American Farmland Trust (AFT) is tracking the votes for its America’s Favorite Farmers Markets™ contest with an online leader-board of the top 20 markets in each of four categories. The lists of boutique, small, medium and large markets track up-to-the-minute results during the final month of voting, which closes on August 31.

But your favorite market needs to be signed up for the contest in order for you to vote for them. I found that out today when I went to vote for our local Cole County (MO) Farmers Market, which sets up three times a week in the Kmart parking lot on Missouri Boulevard. I was pretty bummed to find out they were not in the running at all, since it is nice to visit them each week and get fresh, homegrown produce. I guess they would be in the “boutique” category, since they normally have less than 15 vendors.

According to the online leader board, the defending champion for the large market category – Davis (CA) Farmers Market – is in second place to the City of Rochester (NY) Public Market. Last year’s medium market winner, Williamsburg (VA) is only in fifth place right now, with Falls Church (VA) in first. And in the small market category, first place is currently Easton (PA), with last year’s winner Collingswood (NJ) in third. King George (VA) is in first place in the boutique category, which is new this year.

There are more than 1,200 farmers markets that enrolled in the contest, representing 49 states and the District of Columbia.

Farming

Nitrogen Use Efficiency In Corn

Chuck Zimmerman

Becoming nitrogen use efficient in corn is a big goal but one that Pioneer Hi-Bred is helping farmers figure out how to accomplish. At the Pioneer Hi-Bred Crop Technology Field day held in Carrollton, MO, Greg Luce, Technical Product Manager, presented ideas for accomplishing this and took some questions during his presentation.

2010 Pioneer Hi-Bred Crop Technology Field Day Photo Album

Agribusiness, Corn, Pioneer, Video

Corn Agronomy Lesson

Chuck Zimmerman

Scott DickeyNot all corn comes out of the ear looking like you want it to. Sometimes there are factors affecting the kernel production that might yield some surprises. At the Pioneer Hi-Bred Crop Technology Field day held in Carrollton, MO, Scott Dickey, Area Agronomist, did a little show and tell. He had some ears of corn that looked good and were what you expected from a test plot and then in the buckets he had some that didn’t turn our quite as well.

He asked farmers what they thought would cause this type of problem and had one farmer suggest the correct one, at least according to his findings. It happened to be surfactant application. Listen to Scott explain this during his presentation here: Scott Dickey Presentation

2010 Pioneer Hi-Bred Crop Technology Field Day Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Corn, Pioneer

Pioneer Hi-Bred Introduces Refuge In Corn Made Simple

Chuck Zimmerman

Bill BelzerThe media were very much in attendance at the Pioneer Hi-Bred Crop Technology Field day held in Carrollton, MO. Here’s Janet Adkinson, KMZU, doing a live interview with Bill Belzer, Senior Marketing Manager, Corn, Pioneer Hi-Bred. I had my turn after his presentation at our first field day tour stop. Our subject was “refuge” and in case you don’t know what that means in row crop farming don’t worry. Bill explains it.

Bill had some great charts at his field classroom stop to show current refuge planting strategies compared to using the new Optimum AcreMax 1 insect protection which received EPA approval earlier this year. It is an in-the-bag solution that reduces the traditional 20 percent corn rootworm refuge in half. It’s makes it easier and increases flexibility for the planting of corn borer refuge.

You can listen to my interview with Bill here: Bill Belzer Interview

2010 Pioneer Hi-Bred Crop Technology Field Day Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Corn, Pioneer

Farm Foundation Event to Highlight Local Control of Zoonoses

John Davis

Some researchers believe local prevention could be the key to controlling zoonoses, infectious diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans or humans to animals. That’s why the Farm Foundation has organized a Sept. 23-24 symposium, titled “Zoonoses: Understanding the Animal Agriculture and Human Health Connection” at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Washington, D.C.

Creating community environments in which zoonoses have difficulty surviving is a critical yet often overlooked factor in controlling these transmissible diseases shared between animals and humans. “Resources are often focused on studying specific disease threats. Yet there are social conditions, which, if left unaddressed, can greatly impact animal and human health,” explains Dr. Bonnie Buntain, a professor of public health at the University of Calgary.

Buntain is among the international experts from multiple disciplines who will examine the interrelationships of zoonoses, animal agriculture and human health…

While it is important to address specific disease threats, Buntain places equal importance on the need to prevent opportunities for zoonotic diseases to thrive. “We must work together to understand the social roots of ill health in certain populations and their animals. There are social conditions that result in the inability of certain populations to have access to adequate animal or human health care. These conditions exist even locally, in our own backyards, with needy or disadvantaged people,” Buntain explains. “If the health needs of these populations are not addressed, the impacts on animal and human health are often higher rates of disease and death. We have a social responsibility to address these issues.”

You can register for the conference … $300 if paid by Sept. 1, 2010, after that the fee will be $350 and a special student registration rate of $175 is also available if paid by Sept.1, after which it will be $200 … by going to the Farm Foundation website.

They’ve also reserved a block of rooms at a special symposium rate of $209 a night (good through August 25) at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1000 H Street NW, Washington, D.C. Contact the hotel at (202) 582-1234 for reservations and more information.

Farm Foundation

GIPSA Rule Causes Concern For Pork Producers

Cindy Zimmerman

When Iowa hog farmer Sam Carney got his first look at the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule released on June 22, he was shocked. “I thought it would be something to get rid of vertical integration,” Sam says. “And to me, this is just something that looks like they’re encouraging vertical integration.”

Sam is president of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and a wean-to-finish operator in Adair, Iowa. He is also a small cow-calf operator, so he can look at the proposed rule from the viewpoint of both the pork and the beef industries. “Overall, I think that cattle and pork will be affected a lot more similar than poultry, but they’re trying to throw all three groups together, and I think that’s very risky because all species are different in the way their operations go,” he said.

Sam’s biggest concern with the rule is the potential loss of risk management and how that might impact a producer’s borrowing power. “If you’re not able to have some kind of marketing agreement, how’s your banker going to give you money?” He says that NPPC is “very much against” the proposed rule because they believe it goes way beyond the scope of what the Farm Bill intended.

Listen to or download my interview with Sam here: Sam Carney Interview

NPPC is working together with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to make sure that producers are informed about the proposed rule and encouraged to make comments. The two groups will be holding a joint event for members the day before the USDA/DOJ public workshop on competition in the livestock industry in Ft. Collins, Colorado on August 27.

USDA has just released the agenda for the workshop, which includes several panels as well as three hours dedicated to public testimony. This will be split into two sessions, one at mid-day and the other after the final panel.

Audio, Beef, GIPSA, Livestock, NCBA, Pork, Poultry, USDA

Who’s Your Butcher?

Chuck Zimmerman

Who is your butcher? That’s the question and you can vote on the entries in the contest here. This contest is being conducted by Protein University and was brought to my attention via email today by Kari Underly, Range, Inc. So watch her video entry and go vote!

Food, Video