DHI Report: April

Available

Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets. (2023). Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://agriculture.vermont.gov/ne-dbic-funding-calendar-0

Open April – Aug 2023 ng Dairy Processor Expansion Grant: Tier 3

April – June 2023

Dairy Branding Services

Grant

Tiered grants for specialized equipment needed to increase processing capacity of regionally produced milk.

Grants for established value-added dairy processors and producer

Dairy Processors Ben Eldredge, ben.eldredge@vermon t.gov , (802) 522-9478

April – May 2023

The Dairy Farm Cohort

Technical Assistance Program

Service providers will be able to submit proposals to develop cohorts of dairy farmers to address relevant areas of technical assistance.

Dairy Processors, Producer Councils

Ali Boochever ali.boochever@vermon t.gov , (802) 261-5740

Technical Assistance Providers Laura Ginsburg, laura.ginsburg@vermo nt.gov , (802) 522-2252

Early Summer 2023

Dairy Packaging Grant

Grants to support modernized sustainability, scalability, and marketability.

Dairy Processors, Manufacturers, Producer

Chain Businesses,

Kathryn Donovan, kathryn.donovan@ver mont.gov , (802) 5854571

Fall 2023 On-Farm Milk Storage Grant

Grants to provide dairy farmers with funds that support the purchase and supplies to improve milk storage,

Dairy Farmers Ben Eldredge, ben.eldredge@vermon t.gov , (802) 522-9478

Plants That Are Toxic To Cattle

Written by JM Luginbuhl and Heather Smith Thomas

Submitted by Katie Gasior, Horticulture Program Coordinator

Just because something is “natural” doesn’t mean it is safe to eat for dairy cattle. There are many toxic plants that humans and livestock should avoid. Some plants are toxic to cattle if eaten. Planning crop rotation, and being aware of the various species growing is important when considering grazing fields and nutrition management for cows. Some toxic species can be safely eaten in small amounts or in certain stages of growth while others are toxic at all times. Some parts of a plant may be more toxic than others; the toxin may be mainly in the roots, or seeds, etc. Poisoning often depends on palatability (some plants are never eaten unless the cattle have nothing else to eat), stage of development, portion eaten, or growing conditions. Poison hemlock can grow on the ditch banks and encroach into hayfields and get harvested with hay. Since it remains toxic when dried, cattle may consume enough in the hay to be poisoned. “This is especially true with todays’ harvesting and feeding methods, when hay is mixed with other components of diet—processed in a feed mix or with silage or corn or some other kind of grain. Then cattle are unable to sort it out. In this situation, they generally wouldn’t get a big enough dose to cause problems, but sometimes when cattle are fed fresh green-chopped hay containing poison hemlock, they may be affected.”

Animals accidentally eat certain plants as they graze. A notable example of this is water hemlock. This plant emerges in wet areas, which are the first to become green in early spring. Animals eager to eat the fresh young grass may accidentally bite off the crown of this plant with fatal results. Another type of accidental poisoning occurs when large amounts of cockle are present in wheat, which is fed as grain. Rhododendron, mountain laurel and black nightshade are also all toxic and can cause cattle poisoning. Buttercups contain an acrid, volatile alkaloid-amenenol, strong enough to blister the skin and cause inflammation of the intestinal tract. Cattle and goats poisoned by buttercups produce bitter milk and a reddish color. The toxic material volatilizes and is lost when buttercups are dried as in hay. A heavy growth of buttercup is an indication of low soil fertility. Have the soil analyzed and apply ground lime and fertilizers as their need is shown. The increased grass growth soon crowds out buttercups. It is important to have a basic understanding of plant toxicity and be able to identify problem species when planning space for cattle.

Sources:

Thomas, Heather Smith.“Poisonous Plants That Affect Cattle.” American Cattlemen, 31 Mar. 2022, www.americancattlemen.com/articles/ poisonous-plants-affect-cattle.

Luginbuhl, JM.“Poisonous Plants to Livestock: NC State Extension Publications.” Poisonous Plants to Livestock | NC State Extension Publications, 17 Sept. 2020, content.ces.ncsu.edu/ poisonous-plants-to-livestock.