Letter from the Executive Director

Summer is here! The corn is over knee-high.

Hopefully you are finding the time to sit in the shade with a cold beverage of choice while taking a glance at a new Organic Broadcaster format published by Marbleseed.

As an organization very much in tune with farming seasons, the manifestations of pre-season planning are with us now, in the height of summer. It has been a busy spring, wrapping up the conference and implementing a re-brand. And we launched the Ag Solidarity Network (agsolidaritynetwork.com) with many partners, as an extension of the community we all crave that brings us back to La Crosse every year.

We did our best to communicate these changes, while assuring everyone that what is most important about our work will remain the same. In this issue, I sit down with Liz Graznak, the NOSB’s newest Environmental Seat member and USDA certified organic farmer. Liz represents most of us in a passion for continuous improvement and commitment to organic systems. Liz was also the 2021 Farmer of the Year! We had a great conversation about leadership, legacy, and moving from growing organic vegetables for customers locally to engaging and giving back nationally through service on the NOSB on behalf of small-scale farmers.

As we head into August, we will be contacting you about conference content. Great conferences begin with the question to the learners of “what do you need/want to know?”. In what we hope will be the ‘return to normal’ year, we are taking the opportunity to reflect on conferences past to bring the best elements forward. In 2022, we limited the social aspects of the conference, eliminated childcare, and created a schedule that put fewer folks in the hallways between workshop sessions. Hopefully this year will see favorite opportunities to connect with friends back on the schedule.

Our new tagline is “farmer-led, rooted in organic”. The role of farmers as teachers is a theme across several of our programs (Mentorship, Peer Support Mental Health, Organic Specialists, and In Her Boots, to name a few). Adults learn best from their peers, those who share their lived experience. We know that farm business education is crucial, but it is better implemented when the tools and practical tips come from a farmer who has experienced the challenges and lived to farm another season. This year, we plan to make space/time at the conference for peer learning and conversation on topics that bubble up “organically” from production-focused Grower Groups. Hop on the Ag Solidarity Network and check out some of these groups that are forming there.

To an amazing growing season with the right amount of down time to sip, relax, celebrate, and connect.

JOIN US AT MARBLESEED

ORGANIC FIELD DAYS!

CROp ROTATIONS ON A LARGE-SCALE ORGANIC FARM

July 21 | Johnson Farms Madison, S.D.

HUGHES FARMS FIELD DAY

July 27 | Hughes Farms Janesville, Wis.

COVER CROpS & VEGETABLE pRODUCTION ON AN INCUBATOR FARM

July 31 | Kilimo MN Lino Lakes, Minn.

GITIGAANING FARM & MANOOMIN TOUR

August 20 | Gitigaaning Farm Cloquet, Minn.

FIRST GENERATION FARM START-Up

August 27 | Naima’s Farm Alexandria, Minn.

URBAN GROWERS COLLECTIVE FARM TOURS

September 17 | South Chicago Farm | Chicago, Ill.

Learn more and register at marbleseed.org!

aNimal WelFare iN tHe Face OF climate cHaNge

BY DR. MEGANN HAIN

Whether you believe in climate change or not, it is hard to ignore a livestock emergency such as the recent loss of over 2,000 feeder cattle in conventional feedlots in southwest Kansas over the weekend of June 11-12. The event was brought on by a sudden increase in heat and humidity after an unusually cool spring along with a drop of the perennial Kansas winds which typically mitigate the summer heat. Because of the summer winds, shade is not typically provided. So when the wind stopped, the pen-riders, ranchers, and veterinarians were left scrambling to provide heat abatement to thousands of cattle who could not get away from the sun. As a livestock owner, these sorts of tragedies are sickening and we cannot help but feel for our fellow animal managers. But if we can learn from their losses and avoid such calamities in the future, then we can at least take something meaningful from the disaster.

As organic farmers, the weather is even more important because our animals spend more time outside. While I suspect that most of this audience will appreciate why it is important to allow organic livestock outside, we will detour for a moment to address why these rules are a part of organic production. In the USDA Organic Rule, animals must have access to the outdoors and ruminants must be able to graze during the grazing season. While the Organic Rule can be quite dry reading, the philosophy behind that rule is rather beautiful. Organic farming is built upon a holistic approach to nature, an understanding that the plants, the animals, and the farmer are a part of an interconnected natural system governed by natural laws. And for this system to be healthy, each part of the system must be healthy. For this reason, we believe that allowing the animals to be out on the land is essential for both the land and the animals. When we talk about animal welfare, this focus on the animal’s role in nature is also recognized. In one of the first frameworks built to define what good animal welfare is, known as the Five Freedoms, the authors recognized the role of allowing an animal to be part of its natural environment and to perform natural behaviors which are important to that species.

1. Freedom from hunger and thirst, by ready access to water and a diet to maintain health and vigor. 2. Freedom from discomfort, by providing an appropriate environment. 3. Freedom from pain, injury, and disease, by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment. 4. Freedom to express natural behavior, by providing sufficient space, proper facilities, and appropriate company of the animal’s own kind. 5. Freedom from fear and distress, by ensuring conditions and treatment, which avoid mental suffering.

While the conventional industry struggles to come to terms with the freedom to express natural behaviors, the organic industry has embraced it as we recognize the importance of animals as part of a larger natural system. In conventional farming, the focus is on providing animals optimum housing, nutrition, and health in order to maximize production. In organics, we recognize that animals are not machines to be maximized, rather they are living creatures with their own behaviors and mental needs. We recognize that letting animals outside may expose them to uncontrolled environments, but it will allow them the freedom to express their own natural behaviors. What behaviors make a chicken, a chicken, or a cow, a cow, or a pig, a pig? By recognizing the behavior that are more essential for each species we can provide them a more enriching and hopefully meaningful life while still raising them as farm animals.

But if we are going to let our animals outside to be part of a natural environment, how do we protect them from environmental catastrophes such as the one in Kansas? The answer is that we understand and provide our livestock the shelter and resources they need to enjoy their freedom and still be comfortable, even in extreme conditions. To use a Benjamin Franklin quote: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” So how do we prepare for an unpredictable environment and environmental emergencies?

Let’s start with the worst-case scenario: the emergency. While it is impossible to think of everything, it is possible to be prepared so when disaster strikes, you and your farm crew have a place to start. By thinking through what potential weather emergencies you could face on your farm, you can develop a plan for each to ensure you have resources available, that everyone knows their role, and that you have a plan. By going through these steps in the calm before the storm, you can make it easier for everyone when emergency strikes and ideally you can prevent suffering and death.

Some examples of this are setting up a plan for the loss of facilities in the event of a tornado, barn fire, flood, or roof-collapse due to heavy snow. If you have neighbors who can help or local facilities that are empty, then talk to them beforehand and set a plan to help one another. Another example is facing a late winter blizzard when you out-wintering animals. Know your prevailing weather where you can find shelter quickly using the farm buildings, hay-stacks, or natural wind-breaks. Can you get the animals close enough to feed and water to ensure you can provide these easily or do you have access to heavy equipment if you must move feed and water farther?

Coming back to the example in the beginning of the Kansas case – if this was your operation, how could you prepare for this emergency if it happened again? The best option is building shade so you are not so reliant on the wind. Additional options would be preparing to scale up water supplies and access quickly – even working with the local fire company or water tankers to bring in water fast. While there are more methods for heat mitigation in cattle, they would be more challenging to implement in a feedlot setting. Now let’s take a step back and talk more generally about alleviating heat stress in hot weather. There are three basic elements which are essential in heat mitigation: shade, water (to drink or soak), and air-movement (natural wind or fans). When we are talking organic animals outdoors, our sources of shade can be natural or manufactured. With progressively hotter summers, silvo-pastures with dispersed shade trees are becoming more attractive. Mobile shelters are another option, with the added benefit of not creating excessive soil damage and mud beneath the shade. And finally, strategic use of barns and housing during the hottest periods of the day and grazing or providing outdoor access during the night (this doesn’t work so well for poultry). Water access is very important and providing water on pasture that is no more than 800 yards from cattle ensures that they drink individually when they need it rather than traveling and drinking as a herd. For non-lactating cattle, providing water for wading, or for pigs, providing water or mud for wallowing can provide significant relief on the hottest days. In both cases, take care not to contaminate running water such as rivers or streams. Finally making use of wind or natural ventilation will work well for mild heat stress. However, in the face of more serious stress, using sprinklers and fans can provide additional cooling using evaporation. For farms in hotter climates, you can select animals which have better heat tolerance or select the more resilient animals in your herd or flock. Examples of this are moving away from black cattle or breeding in heat and parasite tolerant breeds.

Now let’s switch seasons and talk about protecting animals from the cold. The key elements for cold stress prevention are providing enough high-quality feed, dry shelter, and additional

protection for vulnerable groups. High quality feed is even more important in the winter when animals need additional energy to keep warm and healthy immune systems to stay resilient. For animals who are outwintered, wet is a bigger enemy than cold. Providing shelter and dry resting areas where animals can get out of wet conditions is essential. Additional tools are providing plenty of bedding so animals can nestle down and conserve body-heat, providing coats for new calves, and supplemental heat for more vulnerable species such as chicks or piglets. We can also use natural resilience by giving animals time to acclimate to cold so they can grow thick coats. On the flip side of this, we need to be particularly aware of weather ups and downs which may stress animals. On warm winter days, good ventilations, fresh air, and even cooling are important for animals with thick coats.

On a side note, winter can be a particularly challenging season for organic farmers. Because we only rely upon facilities part of the year, supporting the resources needed to keep animals healthy and comfortable in barns can be a stretch on both time and money. But by following a few basic rules, you can ensure good animal comfort through the winter. The first is facility design and stocking density; unfortunately, too many farms use poorly designed or old facilities which make the farmers’ and the animals’ lives harder. Taking time to think about facility design can save manual work, money, and discomfort in the future. In addition, over-stocking can stress even the best system. While there is financial incentive to maximize the use of building space, this will put more stress on animals and require additional bedding to keep animals clean and healthy. So focus on optimizing, not maximizing. As for resources, plenty of bedding and feed are essential. Deep cleaning bedding on a regular basis can keep animals clean and comfortable and keep air quality at the animal level healthy. Doing a good feed inventory at the beginning of the winter can help you make decisions about resources and animal numbers, and plan before resources get thin or expensive. Finally, be sure to provide good ventilation even though this may seem counter-intuitive in the winter, as poor air quality is more likely to cause pneumonia than cold.

While we cannot predict what weather challenges or emergencies our farms may face in the next months or in a few years, we can still be prepared by taking a thoughtful approach which encompasses our knowledge of our typical weather, farm, animals, and resources so that when the weather gets wild, we will be prepared. In organics, we believe strongly in allowing our animals outside, but that doesn’t mean we cannot let them have their freedom and comfort too.

Dr. Meggan Hain is an animal care specialist for Organic Valley / CROPP Cooperative. Born to a farming family in South Africa, Meggan received her Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Ohio State University. Meggan is passionate about working with farms to improve management practices, prevent disease, and improve farm productivity.