Housing - Facilities

Robotic Power Washing vs. Manual Power Washing: Which is Better?

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 01:23:18 GMT

Can new technologies and tools reduce the need for cleaning crews to move from farm to farm? A recently completed Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program research project funded by the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC), along with the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and the Pork Checkoff, took a deeper look at this topic.

“The study compared the efficacy and efficiency of the robotic power washer compared to a manual power washing crew with regards to cleaning time, manpower, water volume usage and cleanliness rate,” explains SHIC Director Megan Niederwerder, DVM.

Cleaning crews that move from farm to farm present a biosecurity hazard not only in the actual individuals, the personnel, but also the cleaning equipment that may go from farm to farm, she adds.

Led by Francisco Cabezon, vice president of Pipestone Research, the study evaluated two seasonal wash events to account for the aspect of season with regards to the study outcomes. The study was conducted in a 2,400 head wean-to-finish barn with two rooms of 1,200 head capacity (196 feet x 50 feet) with 44 pens each. One wash event took place in February and one wash event was held in August. The barn held a group of nursery pigs that were placed in the barn and raised until harvest.

“One room was cleaned with traditional manual power washing methods from a contracted service crew. The other room was cleaned with a railed robotic power washing prototype that was then followed up with manual power washing to remove any additional debris for a post-robotic power washing touch up,” Niederwerder says.

Overall, this study found that the robotic power washer compared to manual power washing required more water and more time to clean the room. The big advantage to the robotic power washer was that it did reduce overall manual labor hours that were required for the room to be washed. However, it didn’t provide advantages to either overall time or water usage.

Cleaning score differences before and after washing were significant for each power washer method, at all sites in a pen, and in each testing method. The visual cleanliness trend was from very dirty to clean or very clean. For the robotic power washed room, the post-wash touch-up by the manual power washing team was necessary for the median value to reach the “Very Clean” score.

Greater bacterial count, higher rotavirus detection, and increased ATP levels were found after the washing process for both wash methods. Power washing does not disinfect the barn, Niederwerder emphasizes. It is solely a means to remove debris and must be followed by a disinfection process. Power washing should be completed to the necessary level to ensure that disinfection can be performed effectively.

Cleaning expectations of this barn were extremely high per the investigators and could explain, to some degree, the long touch-up process, she adds. The robotic power washer cannot easily access the feeders and as such, the washing crew spent considerable time washing the feeders. The number of feeders in the barn will be a limiting factor to the efficiency of the robotic power washer. The barn used for this research has a low pigs:feeder ratio (27 pigs per feeder, doubled one-hole wet dry feeder). Another limiting factor for the automated power washer was the number of rails and their positioning. In the current study, four rails were installed in the room. This allowed walls to be washed at a maximum height of 10 inches from the slat level; however, the robotic washer did not cover the central hallway.

“Any automated technology needs to be economical and efficient for producers to use,” she says. “Robotic power washers are certainly a technology that has potential for our industry in the future with regards to overcoming labor shortages and enhancing biosecurity. But with this specific experimental setup, it didn’t appear that the robotic power washer provided a significant advantage over manual power washing on water or time. However, it’s certainly a start to understanding the potential of this technology and what additional research questions may be needed to advance our knowledge on use for the future.”

Niederwerder is hopeful more research and time can improve technologies like this, allowing barn crews to spend even more time with the pigs.

“It could be a real avenue for us to effectively use people as much as we can in the animal rooms with the animals as opposed to in the pens washing,” she says.

Power washing is important to reduce organic material prior to disinfectant, so it’s a necessary and needed part of biosecurity and cleaning barns between pig turns, Niederwerder points out.

“We know it’s time intensive, it’s labor intensive, it’s water intensive. If any producers or veterinarians are interested in looking at robotic power washing, I think one of the aspects to consider are the angles that would be necessary to access the feeders and the number of rails that may be necessary to comprehensively cover each pen and each barn,” she says.

Niederwerder is encouraged about the additional engineering that can take place now to make robotic power washers as effective as possible.

“I think it’s an exciting area, and certainly one that deserves more research and investigation,” she says.

Read the full report here.

Sludge Advice: Basics of Lagoons and Anaerobic Digester Clean Out

Fri, 03 May 2024 12:00:00 GMT

By Sarah Fronczak, Michigan State University Extension

Sampling and cleaning lagoons and anaerobic digesters is a dirty, but important job. Here are a few safety considerations and tips to remember when it comes to dealing with sludge.

What is sludge?
Sludge is the residue of biological manure treatment that accumulates in lagoons and digesters. It is lower in organic matter and higher in solids and minerals because of the longer treatment time in the manure storage structure. This also makes sludge denser than manure. Sludge has a lower odor intensity than manure.

Why clean out the sludge?
Sludge storage in the facility reduces the treatment volume of the structure. When mixed with the liquid portion of manure, sludge can increase the nutrient content of recycled liquid pumped out of the facility. Issues with barn air quality and pathogen issues have also been noted in manure storage facilities. Finally, the high levels of zinc and copper in digester sludge can affect the microbe populations and the treatment performance.

How can you measure sludge volume and nutrients?
Test the depth in multiple locations across the facility as some areas will be deeper than others. To measure sludge depth, use a weighted plate or disc with a rope attached such as a Sludge Judge type of product or an acoustic tool like a fish finder. Sludge sampling can be done with a clamshell sampler, a Sludge Judge, or other custom solutions. Send these samples off to get tested by a lab. Plan to apply the sludge to fields that show a need for the nutrients in the sludge, particularly copper, zinc and phosphorus. Expect the cost of collecting information on sludge depth and nutrients to cost around $325 per million gallon according to a study by the University of Missouri.

How should you clean out the sludge?
In lagoons it is common to use PTO powered pumps and floating pumps or boats. Dredging and dewatering is done less often but can be used if sludge needs to travel a significant distance to be spread.

Covered lagoons and digesters can be more difficult to pump out. Submerged pump-out lines with ports as well as sludge suspension and pumping are usually the best method in this situation. In some cases, partial or complete removal of the cover may be necessary. It is estimated that the cost to agitate and land apply is $151,000 or approximately $0.0188/gallon at a million gallons a day.

Lagoon solids removal can be tricky especially if there is a high level of solids in the sludge. This may result in the need to dilute, agitate and dilute again before pumping and land application.

Finally, train employees to be safe around manure gases that can be released when agitated. Other potential hazards include PTO shafts, confined spaces and pressurized hoses.

Animal Disinfectants Market Projected to Reach $4.6 Billion in 2027

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 14:53:55 GMT

The global animal disinfectants market is expected to reach $4.6 billion by 2027, according to a Markets and Markets report , up from $3.2 billion in 2022. Growth of this market is attributed to the rise in disease incidences in livestock as well as growth in livestock production in general that is driving the usage of animal hygiene products.

As an industry highly impacted by innovation, manufacturers are constantly looking for new processing techniques to produce low risk disinfectants with high disinfection quality thereby focusing on catering to the increasing demand from the meat product industry and consumers, a Whatech.com article says.

The report “Animal Disinfectants Market by Application (Dairy Cleaning, Swine, Poultry, Equine, Dairy & Ruminants, and Aquaculture), Form (Liquid and Powder), Type (Iodine, Lactic Acid, Hydrogen Peroxide), and Region- Global Forecast to 2027,” projects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6% during the forecast period.

What’s Causing the Spike in Growth?
Animal disinfection is a technique that involves cleaning both the animals such as swine, equine, ruminants, poultry and fish, as well as the surfaces they live in in order to guarantee that microbial and other illnesses do not affect the animals or enter the food chain through the production process at the facilities, experts explain.

The report attributes industry growth to the increasing trade of sanitation amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing demand for meat and other animal products among countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, the UAE, India and China.

The increasing consumption of meat products in developing countries such as India, China, South Africa and Brazil is causing significant growth increased production around the globe.

The Leaders
By type, the iodine segment is estimated to drive the largest share in the animal disinfectants market in 2022. On the basis of product type segment, the report notes the iodine segment is estimated to dominate the animal disinfectants market in 2022. Recently, China is emerging in the animal disinfectants market due to the increasing awareness in sanitation and increasing livestock production. Authors point out the use of iodine has dominated because of its availability and wide applicability.

By application, the dairy cleaning segment is projected to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period in the animal disinfectant market, the report says. It’s projected to grow at the highest CAGR in the animal disinfectants market, in terms of value. Disinfectants are widely used for cleaning dairy equipment.

“Rough and porous surfaces are difficult to disinfect in comparison to smooth surfaces. Both the milking parlor and milking machines must be cleaned daily to ensure more hygienic products,” the authors point out.

Europe is estimated to account for the largest market share in the animal disinfectants market in 2022 because of it’s large consumer base with opportunistic growth prospects. Growth in the region is projected to be driven by developments in the livestock and meat industry in Eastern European countries. As meat consumption increases in this region, the report shows it has also compelled manufacturers to source and export animal disinfectants to other parts of the world for an uninterrupted supply of advanced disinfectants.

Learn more here.

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Winter Storms are Brewing: Is Your Barn Ready?

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 02:29:48 GMT

As the U.S. braces for Arctic Christmas weather, now’s the time to make sure your barns are ready. A powerful holiday-week storm will unfold across the central U.S. from Thursday into Friday and unleash heavy snow and strong winds. Areas farther south and east won’t get as much snow, but other threats will develop, AccuWeather meteorologists say .

For farmers in some areas, the predictions of 12 to 18 inches of snow carry all of the “typical” concerns plus more. Large snowfalls require extra diligence to keep animals safe and warm, not to mention maintaining agricultural building integrity.

Snow and ice accumulations can cause roofs to collapse when the roof is not strong enough to resist the load. If you need to remove snow from a roof, use extreme caution.

“More often than not, attempting to remove snow from a roof is more hazardous than beneficial, posing a risk to both (people) and the roofing structure,” the Federal Emergency Management Agency says in the Snow Load Safety Guide.

Removing snow from roofs is dangerous – not only because of the risk of falling, but it also can allow the snow up slope to suddenly slide down, burying people or animals below. Use a roof rake from a safe distance away to help lower the risk to the person removing the snow.

When snow adds up

FEMA says there are many factors that go into “snow-induced structural failures,” including a roof’s shape, slope, construction, maintenance, exposure to wind and the type of snow that has accumulated.

One foot of fresh snow can weigh as little as 3 lb. per square foot for light, dry snow compared with 21 lb. per square foot for wet, heavy snow, FEMA reports . Ice weighs much more. One foot of ice weighs approximately 57 lb. per square foot. When considering the size of most farm buildings, it’s easy to see how the weight of snow and ice can add up to dangerous sums fast.

Use caution when removing snow

Brian Holmes, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, offers some precautions when removing snow from a roof:

• Hire a structural engineer to look at the roof system to see if corrosion or rot has weakened the structure.

• Ask a structural engineer to look at the roof system to see if sufficient bracing has been installed during construction.

• Producers with very large roofs could ask the fire department to spray water onto the roof to melt the snow and encourage it to slide from the roof. This would have to be done strategically so the water doesn’t build up in the snow, increasing the load on the roof and causing a failure due to the process.

• In uninsulated sheds, use a portable heater to warm the interior and encourage snow to slide off the roof so you don’t have to manually remove it. Unvented heaters can cause oxygen depletion and carbon monoxide accumulation in an unventilated space. Carefully ventilate the warmed shed before reentering.

• Use a snow roof rake if possible. This allows you to stand on the ground in a safe place. These are typically available at the local hardware store or building supply store. Removing snow from the edge of the roof could allow snow above the edge to avalanche. Avoid the fall zone when scraping snow from a smooth roof surface.

• Use fall protection equipment when workers are on the roof. Use safety harnesses so workers don’t fall from the roof.

• If ladders are used, locate and secure them so they do not fall while workers are standing on them. Position ladders so they do not fall if snow slides off the roof, knocking workers off the ladder or leaving them stranded on the roof.

• Generally remove snow from the most heavily loaded areas first.

• Remove snow in narrow strips instead of large areas to help keep loading somewhat uniform.

• Don’t pile removed snow onto snow-covered roof areas increasing the load in those areas.

• Use plastic shovels or wooden roof rakes to avoid damaging roofing material.

• It’s ok if you don’t remove all the snow. A layer of snow next to the roof surface can protect the surface from damage during the snow removal process.

• Do not pick or chip at ice near the roof surface to avoid damaging roofing material.

• Do not use snow blowers as they can damage the roof.

Warning signs of overstress conditions

Overstressed roofs typically display some warning signs. Wood and steel structures may show noticeable signs of excessive ceiling or roof sagging before failure. The following warning signs are common in wood, metal and steel constructed buildings:

• Sagging ceiling tiles or boards, ceiling boards falling out of the ceiling grid, and/or sagging sprinkler lines and sprinkler heads

• Sprinkler heads deflecting below suspended ceilings

• Popping, cracking, and creaking noises

• Sagging roof members, including metal decking or plywood sheathing

• Bowing truss bottom chords or web members

• Doors and/or windows that can no longer be opened or closed

• Cracked or split wood members

• Cracks in walls or masonry

• Severe roof leaks

• Excessive accumulation of water at nondrainage locations on low slope roofs

Read More:

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Protect Your Calves During Fly Season

Tue, 17 May 2022 15:18:17 GMT

With fly season at its peak, calves need extra protection to stay healthy and stress-free.

Stable flies are particularly damaging to calves, because their painful bites on the lower legs are stressful and damaging to calves’ tender skin. Sarah Morrison, researcher at the W.H. Miner Institute, Chazy, NY, said the damage from stable flies can be severe enough to cause noticeable hair loss and scab formation. “Stable fly populations will increase throughout the summer, and have the greatest numbers by the end of August and early September,” noted Morrison.

Biting flies like stable flies also have been identified as a vector that can spread vesicular stomatitis , which is a growing concern in the southwestern U.S. Common houseflies are more of an annoyance but also can spread diseases, and have been recorded in populations as much as 8-fold greater than stable flies.

“Unfortunately, calf housing is an awesome breeding ground for fly populations on the farm,” said Morrison. “Fly maggots grow and develop in accumulations of manure; spilled grain and milk; other spoilage piles; and straw bedding.”

She noted an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan can be helpful in minimizing fly populations and protecting calves from their damage. IPM focuses on (1) sanitation; (2) biological control; and (3) chemical control. For IPM in calf environments, she advised:

Sanitation – Clean pens weekly and remove excess manure regularly. Mow areas around calf hutches, and elevate hutches to encourage airflow and keep bedding dry. Consider sand, gravel or sawdust as bedding materials instead of straw in warm-weather months.

Biological control – Releasing natural predators in the spring can help keep fly populations from blooming. These natural enemies include black soldier flies, rat-tailed maggots, beetles, mites and wasps.

Chemical control – Chemical sprays should be rotated to prevent insect resistance. Larvicides can be used in heavy breeding areas such as manure storage, but should be used with caution because they also destroy beneficial insect populations. Oral, feed-through larvacides are especially helpful in managing fly populations in calf environments. Baits and traps also are useful in lowering adult fly populations throughout the farm.

“A whole-farm approach should be taken to maximize fly control, and also will positively impact the calf-rearing area,” said Morrison. “Plus it also creates a more pleasant environment for the people caring for the animals.”

Winter Storms Are On the Way: Are Your Barns Safe?

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 16:09:22 GMT

Winter Storm Landon is on its way, expected to spread a big mess of snow, sleet and freezing rain from the Rockies to the Plains, Midwest and parts of the Northeast as February begins.

For farmers in some areas, the predictions of 12 to 18 inches of snow carry all of the “typical” concerns plus more. Large snowfalls require extra diligence to keep animals safe and warm, not to mention maintaining agricultural building integrity.

Snow and ice accumulations can cause roofs to collapse when the roof is not strong enough to resist the load. If you need to remove snow from a roof, use extreme caution.

“More often than not, attempting to remove snow from a roof is more hazardous than beneficial, posing a risk to both (people) and the roofing structure,” the Federal Emergency Management Agency says in the Snow Load Safety Guide .

Removing snow from roofs is dangerous – not only because of the risk of falling, but it also can allow the snow up slope to suddenly slide down, burying people or animals below. Use a roof rake from a safe distance away to help lower the risk to the person removing the snow.

When snow adds up

FEMA says there are many factors that go into “snow-induced structural failures,” including a roof’s shape, slope, construction, maintenance, exposure to wind and the type of snow that has accumulated.

Fresh, fluffy snow can weigh as little as 3 lb. per square foot compared with 21 lb. for wet, heavy snow, FEMA reports. Ice weighs even more coming in at 57 lb. a square foot. When considering the size of most farm buildings, it’s easy to see how the weight of snow and ice can add up to dangerous sums fast.

Use caution when removing snow

Warning signs of overstress conditions

Overstressed roofs typically display some warning signs. Wood and steel structures may show noticeable signs of excessive ceiling or roof sagging before failure. The following warning signs are common in wood, metal, and steel constructed buildings:

• Sagging ceiling tiles or boards, ceiling boards falling out of the ceiling grid, and/or sagging sprinkler lines and sprinkler heads

• Sprinkler heads deflecting below suspended ceilings

• Popping, cracking, and creaking noises

• Sagging roof members, including metal decking or plywood sheathing

• Bowing truss bottom chords or web members

• Doors and/or windows that can no longer be opened or closed

• Cracked or split wood members

• Cracks in walls or masonry

• Severe roof leaks

• Excessive accumulation of water at nondrainage locations on low slope roofs

Read More:

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What Should You Do If Someone Breaks Into Your Farm?

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 17:24:32 GMT

If you notice something is not right on the farm or you see evidence of a break-in, it’s time to activate your plan to protect your farm.

“We’ve seen instances where activists have broken into farms and stolen livestock, but not come forward until months later. Any sign of trespassing or anything being out-of-place on your farm should put you on high alert, even if you aren’t sure it is related to activism,” said Hannah Thompson-Weeman, vice president, strategic engagement at the Animal Agriculture Alliance during a presentation at the Iowa Pork Congress last month.

So, how should you respond to a break-in?

1. Stay calm.

2. Contact your supervisor.
First, call your supervisor, but then call the barn owner and local authorities, she recommends.

3. Check for cameras.
“If you do find a camera or other recording device, it’s really important that you do not attempt to remove it yourself. Call law enforcement first so they can come out and observe its location and check for fingerprints,” she said. “Be on the lookout for cameras in any areas where animal handling occurs, especially sensitive procedures like euthanasia.”

Keep in mind that today’s cameras are very small. Activists are getting better at mounting the camera along with hotspots so they can stream footage to a cloud storage system.

4. Focus on people care and animal care.
Animal care and the wellbeing of employees need to remain top priorities, even in times of crisis or as you focus more on farm security, Thompson-Weeman said.

“Being beyond reproach in terms of animal welfare and caring for the environment is not only the right thing to do, but it is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from activist issues,” she said. “Employee morale is also critical, especially during a crisis situation.”

5. Put others on notice.
“Once the immediate crisis has been handled, make sure to notify your state association as well as the Animal Ag Alliance. Groups like ours can provide advice on how to proceed as well as collect information to spread the word to others who might be targeted,” Thompson-Weeman said.

If there’s a known activist in the area, the pork industry has become really good at information sharing with each other. Tell neighboring growers as much as you can – whether that’s sharing makes and models of cars, license plates or descriptions of the suspect. The more information you can share with others, the more likely you’ll be able to catch the activist in action.

Don’t confront
If you are approached by an activist on your farm or catch an activist in action, don’t confront them. Remember the goal of most activists is to agitate and make you look foolish and lose your cool for the camera, Thompson-Weeman said.

“It’s almost a guarantee that if you are interacting with an activist, they are either recording you or livestreaming on social media, meaning you’re being watched by hundreds or thousands of people. They will repeatedly make accusations or ask heated questions to try to get you to react and engage with them. It’s important not to take the bait,” she said. “You do not owe them any answers, and they aren’t really interested in information anyway. Keep your cool and only interact with them to ask them to leave and notify them of trespassing.”

Having a plan in place with your team makes these situations a little easier. Know who’s going to lock the door, who will call the authorities – make sure you walk through the plan and delegate responsibilities.

Don’t live in fear
“Don’t let the fear of animal rights activism stop you from doing the job you’re passionate about or proactively engaging with consumers and influencers about pork production,” Thompson-Weeman said. “You might never encounter any of these issues, and I hope you don’t, but if you do you will be very thankful that you took the time to create a plan.”

Read more:

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Winter Storms are Brewing, Keep the Lights On!

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 17:00:55 GMT

Mother Nature teased us earlier this month with little snow and mild temperatures. Now it seems that Old Man Winter is back in full force and is gearing up to blanket large parts of the country with snow yet again.

While keeping a generator on the farm may seem like a “no-brainer” when it comes to preparing for a storm, making sure this life-saving device is ready to go at any moment is a necessity.

“Generators can lose their efficiency over time when left unused so it is a good idea to not only run them periodically but also have them checked and serviced by a qualified electrician,” says Andy Overbay, extension agent and unit coordinator in a Virginia Cooperative Extension Dairy Pipline article.

When selecting a generator for your operation, Overbay suggest talking with your utility provider who will supply you with your kilowatt usage. For power take off (PTO) powered generators, it’s important to remember that for every kilowatt of power your generator is rated to provide, your tractor must supply 2 horse power (HP) at the PTO.

“If you have a generator rated at 60kW then your tractor needs to be at least 120 HP at the PTO,” Overbay says. “This is especially important to remember as most of today’s tractors’ rated horsepower is engine HP at the flywheel.”

Some producers believe that high voltage situations are the main concern when running a generator. While this should be monitored, Overbay says that low voltage levels are the real danger because it actually generates more heat.

“If you are using a generator that is not providing the proper voltage to your breaker box, fires can be a real possibility,” says Overbay.

With several months remaining during the winter storm season, be sure to look over your equipment to make sure everything is working properly. It’s hard to run an operation in the dark!

For more articles like this, read:

Get Lame, Stay Lame

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 03:07:08 GMT

It’s one of those nasty problems that plague dairy farmers everywhere: Once a cow becomes lame, she tends to become a chronically lame cow.

She might get a bit better with hoof trimming and isolation, but the conditions that caused her to go lame initially often persist in facilities in how cows are handled and managed.

“Poor cow comfort and increased standing on hard surfaces was [in the past] recognized as a secondary factor increasing lameness severity,” says Nigel Cook, a dairy veterinarian specializing in cow comfort with the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin. Cook participated in the recent 4-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference held virtually in early June.

“It is now becoming increasingly probable that standing alone could be the primary cause of claw horn disruption pathogenesis…not just a secondary factor,” he says. “Increased load bearing from insufficient rest is the most likely cause of inflammation!”

It works like this: Decreased lying time means hoof overload which causes lameness. Once cows become lame, they have abnormal resting behavior which doesn’t allow for proper hoof healing. That, in turn, means continued lameness. And the cycle becomes an endless loop of chronic lameness. Once a cow becomes lame, she frequently remains lame. In other words, ‘get lame, stay lame.’

Foot inflammation is the likely cause of lameness. And increased load bearing from insufficient rest is the most likely cause of inflammation. “Sole ulcers is short for standing up disease,” says Cook. “Cow comfort is the most important thing we do in preventing lameness.”

What that means is that pretty much all aspects of how cows are fed, housed and managed can play a role in their susceptibility to lameness. Over-stocking can create access problems to feed and time at the bunk, restricting lying time. Poor stall design can result in poor stall usage and reduced lying time. Poor pen design and barn ventilation can result in bunching, increased standing time and less lying time.

“Heat stress can have a massive effect on the cow,” says Cook. Heat stress in July means lameness in September.”

Cook says lameness is all about the micro-environment where the cow lives and spends her time. One study showed that cows had 3 ½ hours less lying time per day when the temperature humidity index rose from 68 to 79. “That insult alone can be linked to lameness,” he says.

Bedding material in stalls also plays a roll. Deeply bedded sand stalls are often regarded as the gold standard. “[But] there is equal pressure for new cases of lameness between mattresses and sand herds,” Cook says. “There are mattress herds with low levels of lameness.”

The impact of sand is really on reducing the chronicity of lameness, because it allows a more comfortable bed which encourages use and time to heal.

Mattress herd owners can control lameness if:

• They have excellent stall design.

• Identify new cases of lameness and treat effectively.

• Allow lame cows to recover on a bedded pack.

• Control infectious causes of lameness through effective foot bathing.

• Use sufficient bedding over mattresses to reduce hock injury.

Routine footbath use is critical to reduce pathogens which can cause lameness, says Cook. Footbaths should be used 4 times per week when first introduced to maintain control of these pathogens. Frequency can be reduced as control improves, with some herds using foot baths just once weekly.

Cook also recommends using an antibacterial agent that has evidence of efficacy against digital dermatitis and foot rot. These compounds should have no higher than 5 percent copper sulfate, no higher than 4 percent formalin (avoid formalin use in cold weather because it has activity issues at lower temperatures), and use of an acidifier with a pH no lower than 3.0.

“Use the bath as long as it is effective, about 150 to 300-plus cow passes,” he says. And don’t forget to treat all life stages of the cow, including dry cows. Longer foot baths, 10’ versus 12’, are preferred because they ensure each hoof will be treated at least twice.

Cows hooves also need to be trimmed twice per year, unless wear is an issue in your facility. “Good trimming should be done every 4 to 6 months,” Cook says. Most herds trim at mid-lactation and at dry off. But some herds, if they are seeing more lesions, will do their first trim at 80 to 120 days post-calving to head off problems.

Finally, here are the factors to reduce the risk of lameness:

• Less time standing on concrete.

• Less restrictive neck rail locations in freestalls, low rear curb heights and absence of lunge obstructions in stalls to encourage stall use.

• Wider stalls.

• Use of manure removal systems other than automatic scrapers to reduce surges of manure that contaminate hooves.

• Use of non-slippery, non-traumatic floor surfaces rather than slats.

• Access to pasture or an outside exercise lot.

• Wider feed alleys.

• Access to a trim chute for routine treatment and use of effective foot baths.

• Prompt recognition and treatment of lameness.

You can view Cook’s entire presentation on lameness here .

SIDEBAR: Lameness Can Start In Heifers

Over the past few years, veterinarians and hoof care specialists have noticed an increasing rate of lameness in first-calf heifers, particularly if those heifers are raised in sand-bedded freestalls with headlocks.

Heifers front claws are being permanently and irreversibly damaged in what has become known as corkscrew hoof damage, says Nigel Cook, a dairy veterinarian specializing in cow comfort with the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin.. It’s caused by heifers placing stress on their front feet as they strain to reach for feed through headlocks.

To avoid this syndrome, consider:

• Raise heifers on bedded packs at least up to breeding age.

• If you use freestalls, consider using organic bedding. Avoid using recycled sand.

• Reduce use of headlocks to the breeding pen only, and use slant bars or post/rail restraints in grower pens and post-breeding pens.

• Use floors designed specifically for heifers, including micro-grooving floors.

• Provide access to outdoor pens and pastures.

Avoid Next-Door Drama

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 16:47:41 GMT

As a responsible farmer you take steps in your business not only to produce the best, highest-quality crop you can, but also to protect the health of the land or the welfare of your livestock on a daily basis. But in doing so, you may still have neighbors who aren’t happy with your operation’s impact on their lives, whether it be true or a misperception. Over time, disgruntled feelings have the potential to fester into lawsuits against your farm. Here are a few ways to practice good neighbor hygiene, and how to handle it should you find yourself facing a lawsuit.

Check in with neighbors. A quick check-in can head off issues by providing an opportunity for two-way dialog. Contacting your neighbor periodically in general and alerting them of upcoming changes to your business plan gives them an opportunity to share any issues or concerns relating to your farm that you may be unaware of.

“If a neighbor who already has some concerns about your farm—potentially unexpressed concerns—suddenly sees backhoes show up at your property, they’re going to be nervous and curious what’s going on over there. If they’ve had issues with odor or insects before, they’re going to naturally assume the worst,” says Chad Blomberg, JD, of Lathrop GPM . “That may not be true at all. Instead, you may be adding something to the farm that will make things better or you may be adding new technology. To help alleviate these concerns your neighbors might have, talk to them and help dispel misinformation about what’s going on.”

Evaluate your practices. The legal standard for a nuisance claim is unreasonable land use, so a farmer has to act reasonably in developing and implementing farm practices, and stay up to date on available technologies, equipment and management practices, says Jennifer Griffin, JD, of Lathrop GPM .

“Nearly every state has Right to Farm statutes that provide some form of protection against nuisance suits. But some states’ statutes—like Missouri’s—say that the expansion or new practice cannot create a substantially adverse effect on the environment or create a hazard to public health or safety,” she notes.

Educate your community. Building an understanding of farming practices, including the fact that your farm operates under a permit that is monitored by state and meets all requirements to continue operation can also be key in staving off lawsuits.

“Public education of members of the community can be useful in avoiding litigation and helping to mitigate misconceptions (or misinformation) about farming practices,” Blomberg and Griffin say. “Many types of information (e.g., permitting, regulatory requirements, your periodic reports) are public records, and can be shared or communicated with the community, including neighbors and others in the community who have relationships with them.”

What to do if you get served with a lawsuit.

Do you know what to do should you find yourself in a legal dispute with a neighbor? “Though catching up over a cup of coffee can go a long way in building relationships over time, after a lawsuit has been filed, the opportunity for casual conversation disappears,” says Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, JD, associate professor & extension specialist of agricultural law at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. At that point, anything you say could be used against you in court and could hurt you in the long run. Once you’ve been served, you need to find legal counsel to represent you.

Don’t put insurance policies on autopilot. Blomberg, Griffin and Lashmet all agree that one of the most important steps in fighting a lawsuit is to get in touch with your insurance carrier and talk over your coverage. It is crucially important to review coverage on an annual basis and stay away from auto-renewal year after year, they say. Policies can change, and you may not be covered for what you thought you were 10 years ago.

Find resources to help you. While it may be tempting to represent yourself, it is easy to underestimate the complexity of the issues and the time it can take to resolve a suit, and it will benefit you to have expert help.

“The best-case scenario is that you’ve got an insurance company that provides you a defense. They hire you an attorney and the attorney steps in and takes over representing you,” Lashmet says. “The first phone call I would make is to my insurance company to find out if we’ve got an event for which an attorney would be provided. If not, I would recommend to anybody who’s facing a lawsuit, at least consult with an attorney to figure out what’s going on, whether it’s worth hiring someone, and determine how serious it is.”

Sprawling Urban Development Threatens Livestock Production

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:38:38 GMT

Two thousand acres of farmland are lost every day, increasing the pressure for farmers to grow more food on less land to feed a growing population.

Low-density residential (LDR) development claimed 7 million acres of agricultural land between 2001 and 2016, according to a new report, “ Farms Under Threat: The State of the States ” by the American Farmland Trust .

“Protecting farmland and ranchland is critical for all types of agriculture, but livestock producers are some of the hardest hit by sprawling, LDR development,” says Mitch Hunter, research director at American Farmland Trust.

Large-lot housing on 1-to-20-acre parcels is stifling out farmland.

“All across the country, scattered, large-lot housing has been fragmenting and disrupting farming and ranching for years,” says John Piotti, president of American Farmland Trust. “Until this report, no one has been able to map and measure it.”

This is not a surprise to farmers and ranchers with medium- to large-city neighbors, and it is cause for concern. Agricultural land in LDR land areas was 23 times more likely to be urbanized than other agricultural land.

“When non-farming neighbors start moving in, it gets much harder to farm,” Piotti says.

For pig farmers, in particular, the rise of LDR development is causing more and more challenges as people move into closer proximity with animal agriculture.

For North Carolina, the No. 2 most threatened state for agricultural land conversion, this increase of people moving closer to animal agriculture has resulted in more nuisance lawsuits.

“Many non-farmers aren’t aware of what it takes to raise livestock, which can lead to disputes and even nuisance lawsuits over odors and noises that are a standard part of livestock husbandry. Even having a few scattered houses on the landscape, which may not look like it threatens agriculture, can make it a lot harder to farm,” Hunter says.

From 2001 to 2016, 11 million acres of agricultural land were paved over, fragmented, or converted to other uses, according to the report.

“That means, farmers and ranchers, on average, have 2,000 less acres every day on which to work to feed our communities, to sequester carbon, to make a living and support their families,” Piotti says.

While the 11 million acres of agricultural land is only about 1% of the 897,400,000 acres in farms in 2019, it does show a steady trend in the decline of farmland acres.

The AFT report layers on the productivity of the farmland to identify nationally significant land. This designation includes the most productive, versatile and resilient (PVR) land for sustainable food and crop production.

Learn more at farmland.org/farmsunderthreat .

Key Stats about U.S. Farmland

10%: The U.S. is home to 10% of the planet’s arable soils—the most of any country.

From 2001 to 2016, 11 million acres of agricultural land were paved over, fragmented or converted to other uses. Of that total,

4 million were converted to urban and highly developed land (ex: subdivisions, big-box stores and parking lots)
7 million were converted to low-density residential land (ex: large-lot housing)

Agricultural land in low-density residential land areas was 23 times more likely to be urbanized than other agricultural land.

Top Forces Behind Agricultural Land Conversion

Development pressure
Weakened farm viability
Challenges of transferring land to a new generation

The Most Threatened States for Agricultural Land Conversion*

Texas
North Carolina
New Jersey
Tennessee
Georgia
Rhode Island
Connecticut
South Carolina
Massachusetts
Delaware
Florida
Pennsylvania

*based on the amount of agricultural land converted from 2001 to 2016. The rapid pace of conversion in these states can be partly explained by population growth and weak land use policies, according to American Farmland Trust

This map from American Farmland Trust shows, in red, where non-federal farmland and rangeland were converted to urban and highly developed land or low-density residential land.

See maps, policy scorecards and more in the American Farmland Trust’s “Farms Under Threat: The State of America’s Farmland” report .

Read More
Our Incredible Vanishing Resource

Farmland Disappearing at an Alarming Rate

10 Ways to Protect Your Barn from a Fire

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 05:23:46 GMT

Barn fires move fast. In less than four minutes, a fire can fill a barn with smoke and completely engulf it in flames in less than five minutes.

According to Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health , the majority of farm structure fires occur late at night or in early morning hours, often going undetected until it’s too late.

Every farm is different, so the National Fire Protection Association encourages farm owners to talk to their local fire department to address safety concerns that are unique to their farm.

Here are 10 checkpoints to assess areas of weakness in your fire preparedness plan:

1. Have workers received proper training for emergencies, including regular fire drills?

2. Are electrical outlets, electrical panels, fans and lights clean and free of debris?

3. Have you inspected your wiring lately to make sure it’s free of damage and unexposed?

4. Are barn exits clearly marked with cleared pathways?

5. Is machinery maintained and free of combustible materials and buildup?

6. Is there a class ABC fire extinguisher located in all buildings near every exit and within 50 ft. from any point in the barn?

7. Do you have fully functioning smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and/or sprinklers located inside livestock buildings and buildings with flammable material?

8. Are flammable liquids, like fuel and oil, stored away from sources of heat and livestock in ventilated areas?

9. Have you confirmed that heat lamps are securely placed, free of dust and debris and in good repair?

10. Is smoking restricted to designated areas only?

Discover how the Epperson family rebuilt their 5,000-head sow farm after a devastating fire in May 2018 destroyed the entire farm and killed 18,000 pigs.

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

The Night the Fire Took the Farm

After the Fire: Kylie Epperson Finds Her Voice in Agriculture

Is Your Livestock Barn At Risk For A Fire? Here’s A Safety Checklist

Check Out Day Two of Farm Journal Field Days

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 05:22:17 GMT

Farm Journal Field Days will be back starting at 8 a.m. CDT this morning! Here are a few highlights for another fun-filled and information-packed day.

Login to Farm Journal Field Days Live Now to Start the Day!

Today’s agenda highlights include:

8 a.m.

Early Riser Session: The Politics of Agriculture. Farmers Talk Trade, Policy and 2020 Election ( Learn more. )

9 a.m. - Noon

Predicting Chaos – Weather Risk in Production Agriculture
2020 Cash Rental Negotiations: Overcome the Noise and Negotiate Like a Pro

Noon

Farm Journal Live & #FarmON Highlights
Used Machinery Values, Trends and Predictions
How Do I Motivate “Joe” and Myself?

3:30 p.m.

What Farmers Must Know About the Evolving Food Consumer

4:15 p.m.

Networking at the Beer Garden hosted by Zach Johnson (aka the Millennial Farmer) and Mitchell Hora of the Field Work Podcast

Plus...check out the learning pavilions for specialized content and product showcases you can view live and on demand

Crop Pavilion
Livestock Pavilion
Business & Grain Marketing
Technology & Machinery
Ag Retail
Lifestyle & Rural America
Machinery Pete
Farming for Today + Tomorrow

Don’t forget to visit the Expo Hall where you can visit leading ag businesses and event sponsors.

As a registered attendee you have a chance to win one of 1,000 prizes throughout the Farm Journal Field Days virtual event!

We look forward to seeing you there! For the best Farm Journal Field Days virtual event experience, login via desktop computer or ipad.

Register here (it’s free!)
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Farm Journal Field Days is a new farm show designed to provide farm and ranch leaders across America with three days of virtual discussion, tours, solutions, entertainment and information from key industry leaders that is accessible from anywhere. It’s taking place this week – Aug. 25-27. Register now to join the fun!

Check Out Day Three of Farm Journal Field Days