The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute March ... · semen. The impact of sexed semen on the dairy industry is complex. As we all know, use of sexed semen decreases conception

New research from Kansas State and Harvard University fi nds that H o l s t e i n dairy cows p r o d u c e more milk when they have given birth to a female rather than a male calf. Is this apparent barn-yard gender bias of practical signifi cance, or simply trivia to impress your friends at the coffee shop?

The title of the published paper is: “Holsteins favor heifers, not bulls: biased milk production programmed during pregnancy as a function of fetal sex (Published February 3, 2014; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086169).” That’s a mouthful, but what did the researchers fi nd out?

The research team evaluated 2.39 million lactation records from 1.49 million dairy cows and found that cows produce signifi cantly more milk after having a heifer compared with a bull calf. This is the fi rst study that demonstrates a direct infl uence of the sex of the developing fetus on the dam’s subsequent milk production. Cows that gave birth to daughters produced about 1.6% more milk throughout the ensuing lactation.

Specifi cally, cows that gave birth to a daughter produced 313

p o u n d s more m i l k

d u r i n g t h e lactation. Dairy c o w s

lactate while pregnant, and those

cows that bore a second daughter in a row produced almost 1,000 more pounds of milk over two lactations than those cows that had only sons. Although milk yield was affected by the sex of the fetus, milk composition was unaffected.

Interestingly, the difference in milk production following birth of a son versus a daughter was essentially eliminated when rbST was used. The authors did not know why use of rbST negated the bias in milk yield, but it looks like if you live in a part of the country where use of rbST is allowed, then this information really may be just trivia for you.

The research group does point out one potential impact of this gender bias on the dairy industry: greater use of sexed semen. The impact of sexed semen on the dairy industry is complex. As we all know, use of sexed semen decreases conception

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK:BOVINE GENDER BIAS?

The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute March 2014

In This Issue:

Alumni Corner: Pen Moves and Stocking Density 2Country Music is not Just For the Birds: Cows Like It Too!

Prenatal Stress Affects Calves

Glyphosate-Resistant Grass; Preventing Bird Damage

What's Happening on the Farm: World Ag Expo

Soil Fertility 101: Don't Forget the Basics

3

4

5

6

7

GMO

Food News; Brevity

Planning Ahead; Travels with Ev

8

9

102014 Herd Health and Nutrition Conference 11

FARM REPORT

See GIRLS, Page 5

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Miner Institute's Ag & Society Speaker Series

Kicks off May 29!

See page 9 for more info.

The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute Farm Report March 2014 ─ 2

Switching pens and regrouping is a fact of life for dairy cows on most farms these days. Depending on size and management strategy, during her lactation cycle a typical cow might be housed in a fresh pen, high production pen, low production pen, far-off dry pen, and close-up pen. She may also transition between a sick or hospital pen and her normal housing. It’s also likely that stocking density will vary among these housing situations. The interaction between regrouping and stocking density has had very little attention despite how often cows are asked to adapt them.

The Animal Welfare Program at the University of British Columbia addressed this situation in a recent edition of Journal of Dairy Science. Behavioral data from 72 mid-to-late lactation Holstein cows averaging 42 lbs of milk per day was collected. Cows were housed in pens containing 12 or 24 freestalls (either 3 rows of 4 stalls or 3 rows of 8 stalls), milked twice daily, fed a TMR (52% forage and 48% concentrate), and provided free access to water. Feeding space was constant at 23 inches of bunk space per cow. Stocking density at the freestalls varied from severely undercrowded (4 stalls per cow) to undercrowded (2 stalls per cow) to at-capacity (1 stall per cow). Cows were regrouped a total of 8 times to

progress through the various combinations of freestall stocking density and pen size. Lying and feeding behaviors were monitored from 1 day before regrouping to 1 day after regrouping. Social aggression at the feed bunk was monitored for 3 hours following the delivery of feed on the day before and after regrouping.

Change in stocking density affected the cows’ response to regrouping. When cows were moved into a pen with a relative higher stocking density, time spent lying following regrouping decreased. Alternatively, when cows were moved into a pen with a lower stocking density, their total lying time increased. However, the size of the pen also played an important role. When cows were moved into a smaller pen from a larger pen, a decrease in lying time occurred and vice versa. Due to the consistency in feed bunk stocking density, there was no effect on feeding behavior. This suggests that relative pen size does not affect feeding behavior. Similar to lying time, social aggression increased when stocking density increased and decreased when stocking density decreased following regrouping.

These data provide some insight on how the combined effects of stocking density and regrouping might interact.

The major limitation of this study was the range in stocking density included, which went from severely undercrowded (25% capacity of freestalls) to a maximum of an at-capacity pen (i.e. 100% stocking density). As these stocking densities would not refl ect what a cow would likely face when moving between pens in commercial facilities, there remain unanswered questions. Evaluating the response of cows moving among at-capacity pens and varying degrees of overstocking would provide a basis for estimating the cost to a cow of regrouping within an environment that she will likely be challenged with. On the other hand, these data do suggest the importance of keeping hospital pens and fresh pens understocked to reduce the challenges inherent in these pens, especially as it will likely be a smaller pen than a cow’s normal home pen.

— Peter [email protected]

* Peter Krawczel was a graduate student at Miner Institute and earned his Ph.D. in animal behavior from the University of Vermont in 2011. Peter is now a Dairy Research and Extension Specialist in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

PEN MOVES COMPLICATED BY

STOCKING DENSITY


COUNTRY MUSIC IS NOT JUST FOR THE BIRDS, COWS LIKE IT AS WELL!

Music has played an important part in all of the university dairy barns I have had the privilege to enter. In fact, on any given morning, the soothing sounds of country music can be heard emanating from the milking parlor at Miner Institute. Some may say that the country music is for the cows as much as it is for the milker to enjoy, but can music, or the environment, in the milking parlor alter lactational performance?

Though my musical preferences may not lean towards country, it seems that cows can appreciate the slow tempo that often accompanies country music. Two psychologists from Oxford University showed that playing music with a slow tempo increases milk yield by 3% when compared to cows exposed to fast tempo music. This study suggests playing Beethoven or Simon and Garfunkel in the parlor as the slow tempo of these songs doesn’t stimulate adrenaline secretion that can interfere with milk letdown as faster tempo music does. Japanese research found that playing music prior to and during milking increased the number of cows entering automatic milking systems by 23%. This data suggests that music alters the

willingness of cows to approach and enter an automatic milking system. Anecdotal reports from farmers can point your musical tastes in the direction of classical music due to its calming effects and lack of vocals as well as the aforementioned country music.

Though not as pleasant as the soothing tunes of George Strait or Alison Krauss, playing calf vocalizations during milking has been shown to increase milk yield by 1 to 2%. However, this increase in milk yield was not associated with an immediate increase in milk letdown; the increases in milk yield were observed one to two days after exposure. The reason for this may be that vocal communication between calf and dam plays a role in establishing and mediating the physical bond between the two. Since vocalizations by calves typically demonstrate their need for a resource such as nutrition, it may serve as a reason for the observed increases in milk yield. This is bolstered by the fact that dams exposed to vocalization recordings of calves of a similar age to their own calves had a greater increase in milk yield. Though the mechanism for the effect of calf vocalization on milk yield isn’t yet fully understood, it serves

as a means to increase milk yield while also possibly bolstering well-being.

Regardless of what music you or your milkers choose to play in the parlor, creating a low stress environment for the cows is critical. The milking process starts when cows enter the parlor, not just when the milking units are attached. Due to this, ensuring that cows are brought to the holding area in a calm and gentle manner as well as minimizing the time spent standing in the parlor are important precursors to proper milking procedure. Shouting while bringing cows to the parlor may result in stress that stimulates the release of adrenaline into the blood stream. Release of adrenaline can interfere with the release of oxytocin, the main hormone that signals milk letdown, resulting in slower milk letdown and possibly reduced milk yields. Listening to calm music can also reduce the stress level of the person in the parlor while also improving their mood. So the next time you are in the parlor try some Simon and Garfunkel, or maybe even country music!

— Heather [email protected]

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EQUIDAY AT MINER INSTITUTE- MARCH 22, 2014Free & Open to the Public!

Joseph C. Burke Education and Research Center at Miner Institute,586 Ridge Rd., Chazy, NYAGENDA:

9 – 9:30 a.m.: Registration & Refreshments9:30 – 10:45 a.m.: Keeping your Horse, Barn Safe from Diseases: Dr. Betsy Greene, UVM Equine Extension Specialist10:45 a.m.– 12:15 p.m.: Investigating Animal Cruelty:Sue McDonough, NYS Humane Association12:15 – 12:45 p.m.: Lunch Break

12:45 – 1:15 p.m.: Adirondack Tack’s Annual Fashion Show:Carol Tetreault, Adirondack Tack1:15 – 2 p.m.: Current Issues in the Horse World:Karen Lassell, Equine Manager, Miner Institute 2 – 3 p.m.: Cowboy Mounted Shooting- What it is and How to Get Started: Christine Boudreau, Cowboy Sports Association & Single Action Shooting Society, Belmont, VT 3 p.m.: Door Prize Drawing- must be present to win.

For more information, contact Karen Lassell at [email protected] or 518-846-7121, ext. 120.


PRENATAL STRESS AFFECTS CALVESPrenatal stress has a negative effect on the offspring of many mammals. In nonruminants, prenatal stress has been shown to alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis which is a major part of the neuroendocrine systems that controls reactions to stress and regulates many physiological processes such as immune function, digestion, and metabolism. Cortisol, often referred to as “the stress hormone,” is released in response to stress and increases blood glucose, suppresses the immune system, and aids in fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. There is growing evidence that prenatal stress can affect HPA regulation in cows and their calves.

Researchers from the School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University (Japan) investigated the stress level of the cow before and after calving and its impact on the newborn calf. One week before calving, cows were moved to individual 9.5’x 11.2’ calving pens with a concrete fl oor that was covered with sawdust and fed TMR, bean cake, and grass silage. Calves were left in the calving pen with their dam for 6 hours after birth and then separated and fed colostrum by a teat feeder. As expected, there was a direct positive relationship (Pearson correlation coeffi cient = 0.97) between plasma cortisol concentration of the cow before calving and plasma cortisol concentration of the newborn calf. This indicated that a cow with a high plasma cortisol concentration had a newborn calf with a high cortisol concentration. In contrast, the colostrum cortisol concentration was not related to plasma cortisol concentration of

cows before calving or calves after birth. These results indicate stress is transferred from the cow to her newborn calf through the placenta and not by colostrum. In this study, half of the calves had failure of passive transfer. It is not clear if this is due to the elevated plasma cortisol concentration or delay in feeding colostrum. Interestingly, the researchers suggested that calves born by natural delivery from cows that suffered mild stress before calving may cope better with subsequent stress after birth than calves born from cows that experienced severe and/or prolonged stress, such as diffi cult calving.

In a study at Miner Institute, moving and isolating heifers to an individual calving pen during calving interrupted the normal calving progress and increased labor duration by ~30 minutes. Interestingly, this delay in calving increased hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and metabolic acidosis in the newborn calves and resulted in increased time to fi rst standing and reduced appetite at 12 hours of birth. It appears that the stress of moving and isolating heifers negatively impacted the newborn calves.

A University of Florida study evaluated the effect of late-gestation maternal heat stress on growth and immune function of calves. Cows were dried off at about 45 days before expected calving and housed in a freestall barn. Half the cows were cooled with sprinklers and fans to minimize heat stress and the other half the cows were not cooled and experienced heat stress. Heat stress during the dry period of cows decreased calf birth weight (81 lb vs. 94 lb) and weaning body weight (145 lb vs.173 lb). Passive

immunity was compromised in calves from heat stressed dams compared with calves from cooled dams. The calves from heat stressed dams had lower total serum IgG and total plasma protein during the fi rst month of life indicating an impaired capacity of IgG absorption in the intestine at birth. Also, the calves from heat stressed dams had compromised cell-mediated immune function during the preweaning period. The researchers suggested that prenatal heat stress may affect the HPA axis of the bovine fetus and alter the response to stress in the newborn calf.

We know that transition success in our cows is achieved by optimizing nutrition during the dry period while minimizing stressors. It is now becoming clear that we can also improve our preweaning calf success by minimizing prenatal stressors, such as social stress and environmental stress which lead to compromised fetal development and postnatal performance and health.

— Heather [email protected]


rate and increases semen cost. Because of these negative changes in conception rate and semen cost, some consultants remain skeptical of the economics of routinely using sexed semen on dairy operations. But, based on this new research we now know that greater milk production needs to be factored into the economic analysis. Time will tell if this new information encourages greater adoption of sexed semen technology.

How can the developing fetus infl uence milk production by the dam? According to the researchers it is probable that hormones from the fetus and placenta differ between fetal sons and daughters. These hormones enter the maternal bloodstream and enhance milk-producing cells in the mammary gland. As a result, the dam is able to secrete more milk following parturition.

We have known for a while that nutrition and hormonal conditions during pregnancy can have substantial long-term impacts on the calf, but exactly how the developing calf in utero can affect the dam is new territory. Stay tuned because it’s likely that this research report will have substantial follow-up as the industry wrestles with its application.

One fi nal note: the authors speculate that it’s possible that a similar mechanism operates in humans as well. As I was writing this article, my son called home from college and when I told him about the research, he said it merely confi rmed a suspicion he’d had all along: his sister has always been Mom’s favorite!

— Rick [email protected]

Learn more about Miner Institute at

www.whminer.org

GIRLS, Continued from Page 1

GLYPHOSATE-RESISTANT GRASS

After years of testing it appears that the Scott’s Miracle-Gro company will soon release a glyphosate-resistant bluegrass intended for use as a lawn grass. This would please The Bride, a turf purist who hates lawn weeds, even rather attractive species such as white clover and birdsfoot trefoil. But establishing the genetically modifi ed grass would mean having to start from scratch, which in our case would be ripping up a pretty decent lawn, weeds and all. Ain’t gonna happen. Environmentalists are concerned about GM bluegrass seeds getting carried by birds, wind, etc. to

where they’re not welcome, and where control would be diffi cult.

However, if the Scott’s plant breeders can insert the glyphosate resistance gene into bluegrass why couldn’t breeders of forage grasses do the same? Then we could plant Roundup Ready alfalfa and glyphosate-resistant tall fescue (for instance), spray the whole shebang with glyphosate, and not worry about fi rst (or succeeding year) weeds. — E.T.

PREVENTING BIRD DAMAGE

IN BAGGED CORN SILAGE

Farmers using silage bags know that birds quickly fi gure out which ones contain corn silage. Once they determine this, they (the birds, not the farmers) peck holes in the plastic in search of a meal. As reported in a recent issue of Hoard’s Dairyman, Ken Long, a Pennsylvania farmer with a crow problem, fi gured out a cheap and effective way to prevent this. Using a can or two of black spray paint, he simply sprays a black squiggly line across the top of the silage bag. Crows apparently think it’s a snake and avoid it. As he noted, “It sounds silly, but it works.” Hey, anything that’s cheap and effective isn’t silly! Mr. Long said that one year he didn’t spray his bag of corn silage and the crows pecked holes all over it. The next year he used the spray paint and the cows didn’t put a single hole in it.

If you bag corn silage you might want to clip this out so you can remember it this coming fall. Better yet, buy a couple of cans of black spray paint now while you’re thinking of it and set them on top of the corn head of your chopper! — E.T.


WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FARM:WORLD AG EXPO

Early this February I had the privilege of going to the 60-acre World Ag Expo in Tulare, California and was able to see how different the agriculture industry is there. From cropping machinery to animal facilities and even what they strive for in their milk, it’s a different world and all due to the very warm and dry climate on the West Coast.

Before heading out I had heard that there was a serious drought in the west but didn’t realize what they meant until I saw it for myself. A reservoir close to where we stayed was only at 17% capacity. This lack of water has had the biggest effect on what farmers are able to grow and feed.

Water is something they are always in need of in the West. This has affected the crops farmers are able to grow. Here in the Northeast we grow corn, alfalfa, grass, and soybeans. While corn is grown in the West, wheat, oats, almonds, olives, fruit and many by-products of these crops are utilized to feed animals and for sale to the world market. I was able to see a lot of the machinery used to grow and harvest these products. There were over 1500 exhibitors for the three-day event including crop equipment companies exhibiting nut tree shakers, tree-top pruners and shredlage attachments. Along with crop machinery at the expo there was also housing setups for cows which look nothing like housing here in New York.

There were no curtain displays and no de-icers for waterers. Instead, fans and sprinklers were predominantly displayed. On the two farms I visited, animals were housed in open air barns with large barnyards where the animals were able to roam. The parlor was even in an open air barn. Bedding was not sand or sawdust, but almond hulls and manure that had been separated and dried. There were fans in every barn and sprinklers in the holding pens, and while many farms do use those systems here, it’s commonplace on farms there.

Lastly, I toured Hilmar Cheese and Crystal Creamery while on the trip. It isn’t often that I get to see the end point of the product I help to produce, and it was very interesting to see the ins and outs of how it works and what they look for and strive for in the West. While here in the East we focus on fl uid milk, in the West they strive for components for cheese production. At Crystal Creamery we saw the multitude of uses for milk and also the other things that go into making the fi nal product such as making milk jugs out of a small pill of plastic blown into the mold of a milk bottle. It’s not something you think about when you open the fridge door at your local supermarket – that there is a specifi c way to make the jug as well as the milk inside the jug.

It’s so interesting to see fi rsthand the many differences in agriculture across the US and yet we all have the same goal and purpose, to provide a quality product in a cost-effective and humane way.

— Ashleigh [email protected]

Bird's-eye view of World Ag Expo.

D & E Jerseys, Hilmar, CA.

San Luis Reservoir, Central Valley, CA.


SOIL FERTILITY 101: DON'T FORGET THE BASICS

When it comes to happy cows and crops, nutrition is vital. In the crop world, soil fertility is often the starting point for determining crop nutrition needs, not unlike a forage test is the start of a ration. Like cow nutrition, testing is only a part of the process —“fi eld soil fertility” (A.K.A “reality”), per se, is much more than just a “soil test.” Fertility in the fi eld is an integration of the growing crop and all soil and management factors (e.g., native yield potential, drainage capacity, soil quality, weather) and their interactions in a given year. Given an ever-uncertain Mother Nature and no shortage of variation in the fi eld, it’s important to keep the important factors in mind for your crop nutrition planning.

Beyond the more familiar fertilizers and amendments, today there is a long and growing list of additional fertility additives for any application and scale – these include various pop-up fertilizers, soil conditioners, specialized micronutrient packages, nitrogen stabilizers, various chemical chelation compounds claiming to increase uptake, and humic acid derivatives, to name a few.

At a recent meeting, I heard how humic acids (a very abundant and naturally occurring class of organic acids that come from soil organic matter) could increase phosphorus solubility, increase nitrogen effi ciency, and produce superior plant health. My concern is that all of this was talked about without much mention of how more important factors like soil test P level, manure history, soil type, pH, drainage, and weather interact to affect nutrient availability.

Soil pH too often is neglected; it has a tremendous infl uence on phosphorus (P) availability and microbial activity. While Cornell does not explicitly factor in pH for P recommendations, the University of Vermont has done so for over thirty years. This is because the amount of P removed from the soil solution strongly depends on soil minerals and pH status. As pH decreases from 7.0 to 5.0, aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) become geometrically more soluble and are thus able to react with phosphate anions making them unavailable

for crop uptake. With a pH <6, most of the added P will be removed from solution before crops can utilize it, so it’s important to add lime to raise the pH before adding purchased phosphate fertilizer. The ability to fi ne-tune P recommendations based on site-specifi c factors other than just soil test P level (e.g., pH, texture, soil health, organic matter content) will become more important in the future.

Soil organic matter level and drainage capacity are both key to mineralizeable N potential. Organic matter contains about 5% N on average, so more soil organic matter means more potential for plant-available N release (ammonium- and nitrate-N) during the growing season. Both simulation models (e.g., Adapt-N) and soil-test based N availability tools (Illinois soil N test) strongly depend on the amount of soil organic matter present to predict N availability to corn.

It’s hard to talk about N and not talk about the weather, since weather has the largest impact on crop yield potential and N dynamics in any given year. While we can’t control the weather, we can utilize cropping practices that help to minimize weather-related risks. Some of these would include building soil organic matter levels, using adaptive nitrogen management, growing winter annual forages as cover crops to increase N retention, utilizing soil tests to optimize both P and K effi ciency, installing tile drainage where it’s needed, and taking time to develop good crop rotation plans.

Having grown up on a dairy farm and being passionate about my life-long work with agriculture, I get a little nervous when farmers aren’t presented with clear science. Crop nutrition decisions should be based on the best available science. It’s important to realize that not all nutrients are needed at the same place, at the same time, in the same amount and the importance of weather. While many of our crop inputs are needed, the focus should be on the potential for an economic benefi t as seen from the fi eld.

— Eric [email protected]


GMOThe technology of genetically engineered (GE) plants is now 30 years old. The benefi ts of this technology to agriculture are well known; disease, pest and herbicide resistance of corn, soybeans, canola, cotton and sugar beets to name a few. The result has been increased crop yields and decreased use of herbicides and pesticides. Yet public opinion and some scientists still question if not outright disapprove of the use of this technology. Many wonder if there is some hidden or direct effect on our ecosystem or human and animal health that has not yet been realized. As a result there’s continued debate and rhetoric over the safety of genetically modifi ed organisms (GMO) and the need for labeling of products derived from GMO crops. Often the facts are misrepresented or not represented at all in these discussions. A clear presentation of the facts is certainly in order for these “debates.”

Jon Entine in Forbes magazine recently summarized a scientifi c review article published in “Critical Review in Biotechnology.” A group of Italian scientists reviewed 1783 studies conducted between 2002-2012 that looked at GMO safety and environmental impact. Their review grouped the research papers into categories of general literature, environmental impact, safety of consumption and traceability. It’s well worth reading the entire article to gain factual knowledge of the topics being discussed. Here are just a few highlights from the review paper and Entine’s summary article.

The group of general literature papers outlined the international differences in GMO regulation process. The European Union (EU) focus is in the process of GM development, whereas the U.S. focus is on evaluation of the end product, seed or plant material. These different approaches to regulation worldwide result in different review and approval criteria, thereby increasing the non-scientifi c debate/dispute.

Environmental impact was the focus of 68% of the 1783 papers reviewed. These studies focused on the impacts of GMO relative to crop, farm and landscape effects. The overall conclusion from these studies was that there is “little to no evidence” of negative impacts from GMO crops. Of primary concern is the issue of “gene fl ow” from GMO crop to either a related plant species in the wild, other crops or to other microorganisms primarily in soil. The Italian reviewers noted that gene fl ow is a natural process of plant reproduction (pollination) and plant propagation. Concerns arise relative to cross-pollination of non-GM crop, which can and has occurred. (Legal issues here are a human construct, not relevant to the biology.) Practices to minimize this occurrence include crop isolation, maintaining minimum distance between crops and post-harvest treatment of soil and crop residues.

Effects of GMO on other species such as birds, other fl ora and fauna and soil organisms were none. There is some development of weed and pest resistance to the GMO, requiring proper crop management

by the farmer ensuring safe haven zones of non-GM crop.

Of the research regarding food and feed safety, there is no evidence of GMO resulting in new allergens or toxins. As part of the approval process, all GMO are tested against a database of known allergens. The traceability of GMO derived food/feed or DNA is quite complex and involves issues of proper sampling, detection methods and establishment of threshold limits of DNA to determine origin, GMO or non-GMO. This makes the idea of labeling products virtually impossible to verify and enforce.

This review of ten years of research projects focused on determining the safety of GMO crops, and concludes that they are safe. Debate will certainly continue regarding the philosophical acceptance of GE technology, but the science and factual evidence needs to prevail in order to maintain public safety and sustainability of agriculture and our ecosystem.

— Kurt [email protected]

Link to Jon Entine's recent article:http: / /www.forbes.com/si tes/j onen t ine /2013 /10 /14 /2000-reasons-why-gmos-are -sa fe -to -ea t -and-envi ronmenta l ly -sustainable/

Italian research group review paper:Nicolia, A., et al. 2013. An overview of the last 10 years of genetically engineered crop safety research. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology. Informa Healthcare USA.


FOOD NEWS• Cheerios cereal is now promoted as “Not made with genetically modifi ed ingredients.” However, as Cornell University’s Margaret Smith from the Department of Plant Breeding and Biometry notes, “Corn starch and sugar are highly refi ned products, so they contain no DNA (which is what is introduced into a genetically engineered organism) and no protein (which is what the new DNA would produce in a genetically engineered organism). Because of that, corn starch and sugar from a genetically engineered corn variety are nutritionally and chemically identical to corn starch or sugar from a non-genetically engineered variety. This means that the new version of Cheerios that is being made without use of genetically engineered varieties will be nutritionally and chemically identical to the previous version.”

• Eventually the decision on labeling vs. no labeling of genetically modifi ed foods may be made in the hallowed halls of Washington, DC, but in the meantime the New Hampshire House

of Representative recently voted down a bill that would have mandated the labeling of GM foods. This is bad news indeed to labeling advocates in Maine since its labeling law states that in order for the law to go into effect fi ve other states must pass labeling laws and they must share at least one border. Guess which is the only state bordering Maine.

• Butter is back, if it was ever really gone. Butter has had a 65% increase in sales since 2000, and at 5.6 lbs. per person, consumption is at a 44-year high. It’s a “which is worse?” battle between the saturated fats in butter and the trans fats in some margarines. Given the choice we’ll take saturated fats every time, and consumers agree since margarine sales are the lowest in 70 years. A number of nutritional and cardiovascular experts are now saying that butter isn’t as harmful as once thought, and used in moderation can even be good for you! The Bride and I never abandoned butter in the fi rst place: Butter is better.

— E.T.

On November 19, 1863 two men gave speeches at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg. (I was there a couple of years ago and it’s worth the visit). The featured speaker was Edward Everett, former congressman, governor and president of Harvard University, who spoke for two hours. He was followed by President Abraham Lincoln, whose speech lasted for two minutes. Few recall what Mr. Everett said, but we surely remember Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

We aim for brevity in the Farm Report, which is why most articles are one page or less, and we’ll postpone an article (almost always one of Ev’s) until a future issue instead of having the newsletter longer than its normal 12 pages. In previous evaluations by our readership the newsletter’s relatively short length was cited as a plus. — E.T.

BREVITY

MINER INSTITUTE LAUNCHES AG IN SOCIETY SPEAKER SERIESMAY 29, 2014 at 7 p.m.

Dr. John Bramley — Feeding the World in the 21st Century

At Miner Institute, we feel that we must engage the farm and non-farm community alike on issues that cross-cut agriculture and society: food safety and security, environmental impacts of farming, animal well-being, and sustainability of our food production systems — regionally and globally.Dr. John Bramley was born and educated in the United Kingdom. His research has focused on bovine mastitis and he led a team of researchers in cloning a gene that led to the world’s fi rst mastitis-resistant animals. He became chair of the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Vermont in 1990 and was appointed Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Director of the Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station in 1999. From 2007 to 2011 he was the President and CEO of the Windham Foundation, the largest private foundation in Vermont which owns and operates the Old Tavern at Grafton and the Grafton Village Cheese Company.

The event will take place at the Joseph C. Burke Education and Research Center at Miner Institute, 586 Ridge Rd., Chazy.This event is free and open to the public. For more information or to register, contact Rachel at [email protected].


PLANNING AHEAD

Is there something you would like to know more about?

Send Farm Report article suggestions to Rachel at [email protected]

Visit us online at www.whminer.org

It may seem premature to mention something that wouldn’t be done for about six months. The topic is double-cropping, a practice that’s rapidly increasing in the Northeastern U.S., and if you haven’t tried it yet this spring might give you a chance to observe the results of farmers in your area who planted rye or triticale last fall. This winter has been a rough one for overwintering crops, so it would be encouraging if winter cereals made it through the winter in good condition.

Winter triticale is replacing rye for double cropping after corn silage. We’ll go light on the details for now, but triticale has become popular enough, in the Northeast as well as in the Northwest and Southeast, that seed has sold out for the past three years. Planted soon after the corn is harvested, triticale is harvested for silage when it’s in the fl ag leaf stage (pre-heading) — usually early to mid-May depending on where you farm. Research in Central N.Y. found that even if you have to plant an earlier-season corn hybrid, 2-3 tons of triticale dry matter per acre more than makes up for the slightly lower yield potential of a corn hybrid that’s 5 or 10 days less in Relative Maturity

(RM) than what you’d normally plant. (Note the italics; that’s because Cornell University silage trials have shown that some short-season corn hybrids will yield very well, especially if you push population to at least 35,000/acre.) Triticale harvested in the fl ag leaf stage is “milk cow feed,” especially if N was applied in the spring to increase both yield and crude protein. Triticale harvested after heading is still OK for heifers and perhaps dry cows, though the potassium level often found in winter cereals might be too high for prefresh dry cows. And the time between fl ag leaf and heading is days, not weeks…

Keep your eyes open for fi elds of winter cereals in your spring travels — they’ll be the fi rst fi elds to green up. As the fi elds are harvested and ensiled, don’t be bashful about asking the owner how this crop is working out. Farmers are usually more than happy to share their results. Particularly if the results are good… — Ev Thomas

[email protected]

TRAVELS WITH EVSmart phone users, have we got an app for you. Waze is a free interactive GPS app that’s superior to most purchased GPS devices. If you don’t know how to download the app, ask any teenager. Waze covers the U.S. and Canada (among other countries), and both audio and visual directions include street names. Waze is interactive, involving you and all others using it. Wazers report vehicles by the side of the road, accidents and other road hazards (including police cars and “staties”), all reported to other Wazers on that route. As you pass the site of a reported problem Waze asks via a question on your smart phone screen if the problem is still there, you indicate yes or no by tapping a screen icon, and the information is instantly updated for all the Wazers behind you. In the event of construction, Waze highlights the affected portion of the route and approximates the speed of traffi c. In the event of a detour or traffi c jam, Waze automatically fi nds the best alternative and offers to send you on it, indicating approximately how much time you’d save.

“Baby Wazers” must use Waze for 100 miles before they lose their newbie status and can start to report problems, but they get all the other info right from the start. Waze takes safety seriously, and won’t allow the input of a new destination while the vehicle is moving. Looking for a gas station? Waze will list the closest ones on your route including the current price of gasoline for each, and then get you there! It also stores both home and work addresses and will calculate the route to either. Waze gobbles up a lot of power so you’ll need to plug in your car charger when using it. You can buy a smart phone holder that clips onto a vent in your car or truck. Since becoming a Wazer I don’t use my old GPS device — there’s simply no reason to.

— E.T.


2014 HERD HEALTH & NUTRITION CONFERENCEMark your calendar now to attend the 2014 Herd Health and Nutrition Conferences on April 8 at the Doubletree Hotel in East Syracuse, NY and April 10 at the Fireside Inn and Suites, West Lebanon, NH. The conference will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in both locations. These conferences are presented through a partnership between PRO-DAIRY and Northeast Ag and Feed Alliance (NEAFA). This conference is an ideal educational opportunity for agriservice professionals, feed industry representatives, veterinarians, and dairy producers alike. 5 ARPAS CEU credits available.

Topics for the 2014 Conferences include: • Achieving Excellence - Dr. Gordie Jones, Central Sands Dairy, Nekoosa, WI• Genetics of Feed Effi ciency and Applications for the Dairy Industry - Dr. Stephanie McKay, University of Vermont• Innovations in Feed Storage Technology - Dr. Rich Muck, US Dairy Forage Research Center, Madison, WI• On-Farm Technologies for Dairy Production Producer Panel – Moderator: Corwin Holtz, Holtz Nelson Dairy Consultants

Registration information will be available at: http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/prodairy/HHNC/For sponsorship & Syracuse site information, contact: Heather Darrow, Conference Coordinator 272 Morrison Hall Ithaca, NY 14853 Phone: (607) 255-4478 [email protected]

For West Lebanon site information, contact: Sue Kinner, Financial & Administrative Support 27 Elk St. Albany, NY 12207 Phone: (518) 783-1322 [email protected]

STATEWIDE HOOF HEALTH & LAMENESS PROGRAMMINER INSTITUTE - CHAZY, NY

The regional dairy teams of Cornell Cooperative Extension are collaborating with Cornell PRO-DAIRY, regional SUNY campuses, Miner Institute, Wyoming County Dairy Institute, the National Hoof Trimmers Association, and local hoof trimmers to offer a state-wide module on hoof health and lameness. The module will be held from 6:30 to 9:00 pm, March 25 and 27 and April 1 and 3.

Topics include: • Economic impact of lameness on longevity, reproduction, and milk production • Public image and welfare issues • Anatomy and physiology of the lower leg • Heritability of hoof and lower leg conformation • Lameness prevention, environmental considerations, and cow comfort • Factors that contribute to lameness, metabolic, digital dermatitis, trauma, laminitis • Why the hoof needs to be balanced • Learn trimming techniques • Practice trimming a cadaver feet on farm • Use and misuse of foot baths • Locomotion scoring on herds

You MUST pre-register for this program! Contact Kim Morrill (315)-379-9192 or [email protected]


www.whminer.org518.846.7121 Offi ce518.846.8445 Fax

Closing CommentWe all think we’re pretty smart until we try to turn on some else’s shower.

YOUR MARCHFARM REPORT IS HERE

ENJOY!

Documents

The William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute March ... · semen. The impact of sexed semen on the dairy industry is complex. As we all know, use of sexed semen decreases conception