i36-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 19,2002 A! Dairy Days Under Way Agent: Don’t Let Up On Biosecurity DAVELEFEVER Lancaster Farming Staff LEESPORT (Berks Co.) Producers eager to keep up on the latest information have begun attending “Dairy Days” being offered in counties throughout the region. Sponsored by the Penn State cooperative extension, the semi nars cover diverse topics such as biosecurity, nutrition, environ mental issues, and cow comfort. Extension agent Clyde Myers hosted a Berks County Dairy Day attended by about 65 pro ducers here this week. Myers started the day by speaking on the continued and increasing importance of biosecurity on dairy farms. Continued vigilance for foot and mouth disease, BSE, and the possibility of bioterrorism is crucial, Myers reminded the group. A strict biosecurity pro gram will also help avoid the threat of more common diseases. “Dairy farmers need to have an updated biosecurity plan,” he said. “It needs to be written down and not just be in the farmer’s mind.” All family members and workers involved in the opera tion need to understand and help enforce the biosecurity plan. At a minimum, all visitors to the farm must wear thor oughly disinfected rubber boots, Myers said. Nutrient Management Update At Franklin Co. Dairy Day Feb. 28 Permit Deadline For Smaller CAFOs DAVELEFEVER Lancaster Farming Staff KAUFFMAN STATION (Franklin Co.) — Nutrient man agement concerns and the future of Pennsylvania and fed eral policy were the focus of a presentation given to a gather ing of dairy producers here Jan uary 4. “(Nutrient management) is a very rapidly changing area,” said Charles Abdalla, Penn State department of agricultural economics and rural sociology, Abdalla reminded producers that operations falling in the range of 301 to 1,000 animal equivalent units (AEUs) with more than 2 AEUS per acre of land suitable for spreading manure must apply for a permit by Feb. 28 through the Pennsyl vania Department of Environ mental Protection (DEP). One AEU equals 1,000 pounds of live animal weight. According to Abdalla, 187 mature cows (averaging 1,300 pounds,) 94 replacement ani mals, and ISO acres of land available for manure would add up to 310 AEUs and 2.1 AEUs per acre. Such an operation would be classified as a CAFO and required to apply for the permit. CAFOs with more than 1,000 AEUs were previously required to apply for the permit by May 19 of last year. Required by the National Pol lutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) through the DEP, the permit requires opera tors to comply with specific design and operating standards including a state-approved nu trient management plan, erosion and sediment control plan, best management practices, and self inspection. Abdalla also urged producers to find out in which watershed People such as salesmen who travel from farm to farm need to carry rubber boots, a scrub brush, bucket, and disinfectant along with them. Clean clothes are also important, Myers pointed out. The terrorist attacks of Sep tember 11 have also increased concerns about bioterrorism threats. “Farmers need to be mindful of strangers in the area,” he said. Other topics at the Dairy Day focused on forage quality, with silage fermentation, silage addi tives, and TMR particle size in the spotlight. Jud Heinrichs of Penn State shared findings on the effect of particle size in dairy rations, concluding that recent trends may have “gone too far” toward larger particle sizes. At the same time, Heinrichs warned against chopping feed too finely and advised against chopping hay in the mixer along with the rest of the ration. As the hay is being chopped, other feed particles are also getting smaller he noted. “Chopping (hay) in the mixer leaves a whole lot of room for error,” he said. A high proportion of tiny par ticles in the TMR will pass out of the rumen too quickly and create excess acid, he said. Heinrichs demonstrated a their farm is located. Some watersheds are designated as “special protection” and require a more extensive, individual permit in addition to the general permit. “Location matters,” Abdalla said. New and/or expanded CAFOs of more than 1,000 AEUs and operations with direct dis charges to surface waters must have individual permits, regard less of their watershed location. Abdalla outlined the three principle laws governing nu- (Continued from Page A 10) Jan. 24, Montgomery County 4-H Center, Creamery. Animal Nutrition, Health and Profit, West Coast Salt Lake Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah, also Jan. 23, (801) 521-7373. Virginia Farm Show, Augusta Expoland, Fisherville, Va., also Jan. 23,9 a.m.-4 p.m. Central Susquehanna Dairy Day, National Guard Armory, Lewisburg, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., (570) 988-3950. Franklin County Corn Clinic, Kauffman Community Center, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Hoof Care Seminar, Hartley, Del. and Hagerstown, Md., 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., (410) 778- 1661 or (301) 791-1304. Annual Meeting of the Farm series of tour screens that can be used to determine particle size distribution in TMRs. According to Heinrichs, an in correct older recommendation is that 10-15 percent of the TMR should consist of particle sizes greater than I.S inches. Recent studies point to a finer recom mendation: 2-8 percent of the mix should be greater than V* inch. Particle size distribution in the mix should be less than pre viously believed. “We want a narrow range (in particle size)” Heinrichs said. Heinrich encouraged produc ers to closely monitor their ra tions. “The more often you check particle size and dry matter, the more you can fine tune your ration,” he said. A panel of dairy nutritionists handled a variety of questions from producers. Carl Brown, Dave Casper, Frank Janicki, and Tim Kis sling shared their views on feed ing issues, as well as topics such as the problem of high culling rates, the future of dairy indus try, and some key problem areas they observe on dairy opera tions. Included in their concerns were insufficient moisture test ing of feeds on farms, lack of feed consistency, lack of atten tion to transition cows, and water quality. To find out when your local Dairy Day is scheduled, keep an eye on the Lancaster Farming calendar. Call your local exten sion office to learn more about dairy topics. trient management in Pennsyl vania: the Pa. Clean Stream Law, the Pa. Nutrient Manage ment Act of 1993, and the Fed eral Clean Water Act of 1972. He also took a look into the future of nutrient management policies, on both state and fed eral levels. One proposed EPA rule of in terest to Pennsylvania agricul ture will be the inclusion of poultry under CAFO defini tions, effective in December of this year. Federal policy is also shifting vcr v-T'-- - % * ' v-* t rm Calendar ❖ . s' •> .Vs and Home Foundation of Lancaster County, Lancaster Farm and Home Center, 6:30 p.m., (717) 392-4911. Clarion, Venango Milk Quality and Mastitis Workshop, Foundry, Reynoldsville, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Passing on the Farm Workshop, Hugo’s Restaurant, Washing ton County Extension, 9:30 a.m.-4:4S p.m. Warren County Extension Annual Meeting, Warren County Library, 7 p.m. Armstrong/Indiana Cattlemen’s meeting, Sandy Kaye’s Res taurmd 1 7p ; m ; _^___ > __ Southeast Pa. Crop Confi Days Inn, Allentown, 9:30 a.m.-l:30 p.m. Virginia Pork Industry Confer- Jud Heinrichs shows part of a dairy feed ration after shaking it through a series of screens to determine parti cle size. According to Heinrichs, the trend toward larger particle size in recent years may have gone too far. ‘‘The more often you check particle size and dry matter, the more you can fine tune your ration,” he said. This panel of dairy nutritionists at the Berks County Dairy Day fielded questions on topics ranging from feed and water quality to the future of the dairy business. From left, Carl Brown, Frank Janicki, Dave Casper, and Tim Kis sling. towards a more phosphorus based nutrient management system. In October, USDA’s Natural Resource and Conser vation Service will begin requir ing phosphorus-based nutrient management plans for opera tions that accept government cost-sharing funds for nutrient management, according to Ab dalla. Meanwhile, the course of ence, Airfield 4-H and Con ference Center, Wakefield, Va. Maryland Crop Insurance Workshop, Kent, Cecil, Queen Anne counties, Howard Johnson’s, Milling- ton, Md., 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Nutrient Management Orienta tion, Pa. Dept, of Agriculture, Harrisburg, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., also Jan. 24,9 a.m.-noon. Ohio State Extension USDA program, Hancock County Agricultural Services Center, Findlay, (419) 422-3851. PC Dart Training, Link to Learn v Computer, Meadville, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Pa. Environmental Issues Con- ference, Room 140, Main Capitol Harrisburg, 8:30 a.m. Accepting Venison Donations, Gov. Mifflin Middle School parking lot, Shillington, 6:30- 9 p.m.. (610) 856-1124. Ssßo^^^^^sanAnton^ Texas, Crops Day, Montgomery County 4-H Center, Cream ery. Farmer Production Workshop, Comfort Inn, Lewisburg, 10 ference, (invention, Pennsylvania’s Nutrient Man agement Act is under discussion, with changes in the works defin ing concentrated animal opera tions, phosphorus management, regulations on exported manure, and monitoring of nutrient man agement plans. Changes in the Nutrient Man agement Act are scheduled to take effect in 2004. a.m.-3 p.m. Also Jan. 29 and 30 and Feb. 5 and 7. South Central Holstein Show and Sale meeting, 10:30 a.m. Allentown Fair Aug. 27-Sept. 2 Kickoff Special Celebration, William T. Harris Agricul tural Hall at the Fairgrounds. Tri-County Vegetable and Small Fruit meeting, Penn Town ship Community Building, Shippensburg, (717) 263- 9226. Cumberland County Crops Day, Penn Township Fire Hall, 9 a jn.-2:30 p.m. Central Susquehanna Valley Vegetable Meeting, Carriage \ Comer, Mifflinburg, (570) 837-4252. PenlvJersey Pasture School, evening, Phillipsburg, N.J., (610)746-1970. Clar ion/V uiango Quickbooks Training) Clarion County Shlppenville, 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. , Biosecurity Training, Lady of Lourdes Church, Cochran fast. University of Delaware, (Turn to Page A4O)
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