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The Monett Times • Cassville Democrat | Farm & Ranch
Wednesday, June 24, 2015 • Page 3
Dairy Grazing Conference to tour Monett century farm Meier Dairy features dual-grass grazing model, k-line irrigation By Kyle Troutman The Monett Times/Cassville Democrat
M
eier Dairy near Monett may be the smallest operation on a four-farm tour at the Missouri Dairy Grazing Conference in July, but it’s impact cannot be understated. Featuring a grazing model dividing the farm between warm season and cold season grasses, minimizing the cost of buying supplement feed, Meier Dairy is making its mark in southwest Missouri. A fourth-generation dairy farmer, Michael Meier, along with his wife, Janan, own and operate a 105-head herd on 240 acres about four miles south of Monett. A century farm, Meier bought into the family operation in 1980 with his father, Nolen. Meier’s brother, Marty Meier, who is two years younger, bought into the farm as well in 1983. Michael Meier bought out his brother in the early 1990s, operating the farm ever since, including through the passing of his father in 2010. In 1996, he started a Rhino truck-lining business alongside the farm, on which he started a beef herd. “Then, I started working with Tony Rickard, [former Missouri University Extension dairy specialist], because before I quit the dairy, I wanted to try a new grazing system,” Meier said. “And, as we put the system into operation,
it enabled one person to operate 100 head of dairy cows. It was successful enough I sold the Rhino business and went with grazing dairy.” To limit the amount of feed Meier must give in the barn, the farm is set up on a grazing platform, with 50 percent of the pasture growing the cool season, perennial ryegrass, and the other 50 percent double-cropped with the warm season red river crabgrass and wheat or winter rye. “What we try to do is get as many days as possible for the cows to graze and meet their nutritional levels, without having to bring in extra feed,” he said. “When I started doing this, my input costs really dropped off.” Meier’s herd grazes 12 hours per day, where he says they do all the work of harvesting the grass crop. “With this platform setup, they can start going to full pasture in mid- to late-March, then be all on grass to the end of December,” he said. In March, the cows start on a wheat and rye mix, switching to perennial rye from midApril to mid-June, then to the warm-season crabgrass until September, then back to perennial rye while the wheat and rye are planted behind the crabgrass. “We will also have extra growth they do not eat, so we get that excess forage and feed it back in the winter,” Meier said. Meier said he has used the grazing model since 2006, and in 2008, his cows were milking from February to November, leaving only 60 Continued on Page 13
Calves at Meier Dairy, some more eager than others, snack on feed on an afternoon on the farm. The calves will be featured during a tour stop for the Missouri Dairy Grazing Conference. Kyle Troutman The Monett Times/Cassville Democrat
Farm & Ranch | Cassville Democrat • The Monett Times
Page 4 • Wednesday, June 24, 2015
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The Monett Times • Cassville Democrat | Farm & Ranch
Wednesday, June 24, 2015 • Page 5
Annie’s Project reversing gender roles on farms
Classes for women teach economics, finances of farming By Kyle Troutman The Monett Times/Cassville Democrat
A first-time class in Barry County is hoping to reverse the gender role on farms in some cases, as it gives women the opportunity to learn more about the economics and the finances of running a farm or ranch. Annie’s Project, which takes the name of an Illinois woman who was educationally left out to dry after her farmer husband died, has been around for 11 years, but came to Barry County for the first time this spring. Reagan Bluel, regional dairy specialist with the University of Missouri Extension in Barry County, said the class is a step in the right direction when it comes to farming and who does what on the farm. “The classes are offered in the middle of the day, because a lot of the ladies have their chores to do in the evenings,” Bluel said. “It’s a six-week class for learning things like manage-
Annie’s Project
What: A class for women interested in learning the economics and finances of farming. Why: So the women would be able to run a farm if they wish or if they become widowed. When: A second class start date has yet to be determined.
ment, the business aspect and lease laws.” Bluel said 14 women enrolled in the first offering, which wrapped up on June 19. “These women were from all different aspects of agriculture, like dairy and beef producers, one health foods lady, and a couple of food store gals,” Bluel said. “The exciting part for the extension is this is the first time a lot of these gals have been in an extension program, and we always look to target different audiences with our programs.” Marcia Moreland, 56, who owns 195 acres and leases another 200 acres in Wheelerville, graduated from Annie’s Project when it was hosted in Lawrence County in 2011. “One of the biggest things I learned is that there’s a plethora of informa-
tion free to farmers and provided by the Extension,” she said. “If you want to find out anything from what grows best in your soil to how to read a hay sample, all that information is just sitting there.” Bluel said many women nowadays have increased roles on local farms, and the class is a safe place to learn things they may not want to ask about at home. “This class allows for framing of the conversation and allows the ladies to feel confident asking questions they may not have asked before,” she said. “We plan to do another one if the community shows interest.” Moreland, who first heard about the class by reading about it in an article published in a farming magazine, said there were 30 women in her class. Even though men may also attend, she liked the all-woman aspect. “Annie’s Project has a special place in my heart,” she said. “It’s designed for women so we can feel comfortable asking all the stupid questions. I knew the farmer side of farming, like how to cut and bail hay, but I didn’t have a degree in business, so I wanted the nuts and bolts of that side of the farm. “I look at my cattle and heifers like
employees, because farming is a business.” Moreland said hers is mainly a cow and calf operation, but she is now starting to use some of her land for crops. “I’m trying to find my niche with the crops,” she said. “I’m willing to try just about anything. This is my passion, and I love how every day I wake up, it’s a new day.” A native of Jenkins who has lived in Barry County her whole life, Moreland is recently married and has two sons who help her on the farm. Bluel said the class featured numerous guest lecturers, including people like Gordon Carriker, an agriculture business specialist who gave lectures for things like human resources. “It’s really invigorating to see,” Bluel said. “Having previously been a herder, I know this is a great opportunity to learn about more aspects of the farm.” For more information about Annie’s Project, people may call the Barry County Extension at 417-847-3161. The class is $75 for six-week session. Annie’s Project will also host a reunion for graduates on Sept. 11-12 at the Lake of the Ozarks. Full details for the event have yet to be released.
Saturday field day looks at managing bobwhite quail habitat By Curt Wohleber University of Missouri Extension
COLUMBIA – A Saturday field day at the University of Missouri’s Bradford Research Center will look at how farmers, landowners and wildlife enthusiasts can manage habitat for northern bobwhite quail. The northern bobwhite, a small upland game bird, was once abundant in Missouri, but intensive farming and other changes in land use eliminated much of its habitat. In the Midwest, bobwhite populations have fallen sharply since the 1970s. At Bradford, however, bobwhites are on the rise. Since
2003, the MU research farm has served as a laboratory for practices that integrate wildlife habitat into modern farming operations. “Farmers who want to help quail thrive don’t have to sacrifice productivity,” said Bob Pierce, MU Extension state fisheries and wildlife specialist. “These habitats can be cost-effectively integrated into modern farming methods.” The Bobwhite Quail Management in Modern Agriculture Field Day, a free event, runs 8 a.m.-noon and will feature wagon tours demonstrating habitat-management techniques put in place at Bradford:
The Farm and Habitat Management tour will discuss controlled field burning, strip disking and using sprayers to control invasive plants. Managing Field Edges for Wildlife will look at edge feathering, hinge cutting, forest thinning, brush management and determining field size to promote wildlife. Crop Field Management details native plantings and use of cover crop refuges for pollinators and wildlife, and highlights various farm agency programs that provide costshare incentives. Conservation Habitat Management Techniques will teach landowners how
to gauge quail populations through whistle counts and show how they can use a habitat plan to increase populations of bobwhites and other wildlife. An indoor session, Quail 101, will examine the basics of creating the right mix of early successional plant communities to provide quail with food and cover. Lunch will be provided after the tours and will feature a demonstration on preparing Asian carp, an invasive fish that is displacing native species in the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. MU researchers are looking at ways to create demand for Asian carp in
restaurants and supermarkets to encourage more anglers to harvest them. The field day is sponsored by MU Extension; the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; the Missouri Department of Conservation; the Missouri Soybean Association; and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information from MU Extension on bobwhite quail management, including downloadable guides and an award-winning DVD on habitat appraisal, go to http:// extension.missouri.edu/publications and type “quail” in the search box on the left.
Farm & Ranch | Cassville Democrat • The Monett Times
Page 6 • Wednesday, June 24, 2015
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Wednesday, June 24, 2015 • Page 7
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Farm & Ranch | Cassville Democrat • The Monett Times
Page 8 • Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Local crops hindered by rains in May
Hay the king crop in the bi-county area By Kyle Troutman The Monett Times/Cassville Democrat
While California farmers are seeing the worst drought on record, spanning three years, farmers in Barry and Lawrence counties are swimming in rain — a little too much of it. According to Tim Schnakenberg, regional agronomy specialist based in Stone County, May rains hampered multiple crops’ planting, harvesting or health. “It’s been a challenge this year to get everything planted on time because of the rain,” he said. “But, most of the corn here [was planted in early June], and we are better off here than they are in northern Missouri.” The main row crops in Barry and Lawrence counties are corn, soybeans and wheat. According to United States Department of Agriculture, Barry County in 2014 had 7,700 acres of corn planted, with 7,100 harvested for a yield of 143.5 bushels per acre and a total production of 1.019 million bushels. Lawrence county saw 15,000 acres planted and 11,400 harvested for a yield of 144.6 bushels per acre and a production of 1.648 million total bushels. For soybeans, Barry County had 7,200 acres planted, and 7,190 acres harvested for a yield of 32.3 bushels per acre and a total production of 232,000 bushels. Lawrence County saw 14,300 acres planted and 14,000 harvested with a yield of 30.8 bushels per acre and a total production of 431,000 bushels. Winter wheat saw a loss of nearly 35 percent in Barry County, as 5,600 acres were planted and only 3,600 acres were harvested. The yield was 46.4 bushels per acre, and total production was 167,000 bushels. Lawrence County’s loss numbers were not as high, as farmers planted 10,600 acres and harvested 8,200 with a yield of 44.8 bushels per acre and a total production of 367,000 bushels. Hay reigned supreme in Barry County in 2014, with 48,200 acres
Area farming
What: A look at local crops in Crops: Corn, soybeans, wheat and hay Outlook: Rains this year have caused issues, but the future looks steady
of hay harvested. The yield was 2.2 tons per acre for a total production of 105,000 tons, the highest among counties in the southwest section of the state. Hay also led in Lawrence County, but a lower yield per acre put its total production 2,000 tons behind Barry County. Lawrence County had 62,800 acres planted with a yield of 1.65 tons per acre and a total production of 103,000 tons, good for No. 2 in the region. As far as row crops go this year, Schnakenberg said corn is finally in the ground and soybeans are being planted now, but there is concern over some loss of the wheat crop, for which the harvest began last week. “With all the rain, we are concerned about diseases like stripe rust, which works its way up the stem,” he said. “That affects more crops that are not sprayed with a fungicide, and there’s a potential for yield loss because of stripe rust. “There’s also not a lot of wheat with scabs in the heads. When there’s a lot of rain at the heading stage, it leads to scabbing and may affect the yield and test weight, which is essentially the plumpness of the kernel.” Schnakenberg said hay will also be affected by the rain, as the excess water kept farmers from harvesting for about a month, which allows the hay to mature and lose some of its nutritional value. “This could influence beef and dairy herds,” Schnakenberg said. Jack Nickols, broker with Four Seasons Real Estate in Cassville who deals in farmland, said he believes about 30 percent of the county’s farmland is devoted to crops, and the other 70 percent to cattle or hay. “It depends on the land, like if it is suitable for corn or soybeans, the trend is to go for that,” he said. Nickols said the price of farmland had been on the rise from about 19952010, but has leveled out in the past
five years. “It had been going up over the past 20 years because of cattle and corn prices,” he said. “Cattle is still high, but corn has dropped off.” Nickols said he expects land prices and usage to remain steady in coming years. Schnakenberg said cropland had been climbing up until about three years ago, when prices of crops stabilized or dropped off. “Cattle prices are so good, people have been reserving more land for
pastures and hay,” he said. “The combination of that, with the prices leveling off, have slowed down the acreage planted.” Schnakenberg said he believes the level now will stay steady, as cattle prices are still high. “We anticipate the cattle market to remain strong because it is a slow climb to get inventory back where it should be,” he said. “Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri cattle were hurt by the drought, and cattle numbers are so low they are about 1950s level.”
The Monett Times • Cassville Democrat | Farm & Ranch
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Farm & Ranch | Cassville Democrat • The Monett Times
Page 10 • Wednesday, June 24, 2015
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The Monett Times • Cassville Democrat | Farm & Ranch
Wednesday, June 24, 2015 • Page 11
Make the most of late-planted soybean By Linda Geist University of Missouri Extension
COLUMBIA – Soybean farmers can make the most of a bad planting season, says University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Bill Wiebold. In its June 15 report, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service shows 58 percent of Missouri’s soybean acreage remains unplanted. Yields drop by 25 percent or more when planting is delayed from early May to the third week of June, according to a 12-year study by Wiebold.
To reduce yield losses during late-planting years like this one, use research-based management, Wiebold says. • Plant in narrow rows. This helps plants catch sunlight to fill pods during shorter growing seasons, Wiebold says. According to his two-year experiment in central Missouri, yields improved by 8 percent in May plantings when 15-inch rows were used instead of 30-inch. This jumped to 14 percent when planting was delayed to the third week of June. Full-season crops produced
no differently in 15-inch row spacing and 7.5-inch drilled rows. “However, as plating date gets pushed later into June, one might consider using a drill,” Wiebold says. • Increase seeding rates. Increase the seeding rate to get more plants, more pods and more yield. Raise stand density to 150,000 plants per acre, Wiebold suggests. Increase seeding rate by at least 30,000 seeds per acre for late planting. Late-planted soybean plants produce fewer main stem
nodes where pods form. Pods and yield go hand-in-hand. On the other hand, Wiebold’s study shows that soybean plantings in early May do not benefit from increased seeding rates above 120,000 plants per acre. • Limit soil compaction. Adjust planters to reduce soil compaction near the seed. This gives seed the best environment for early root growth. Monitor planting conditions and weigh them against potential yield loss that would occur with additional planting delays. “Patience is
difficult as calendar days slip away,” Wiebold says. • Treat seeds with a fungicide. Use seed treatments, especially fungicides that protect against Pythium. Treated seeds establish better stands and early vigor for rapid root growth and leaf production. • Don’t change maturity group. Wait until planting is delayed into July, Wiebold says. Early-maturing varieties may not be adapted to your location and are less likely to produce maximum yield potential.
USDA program promotes products such as plant-based bottles By DAVID PITT Associated Press
DES MOINES, Iowa — A program designed to promote ethanol and biodiesel fuels will be expanded to companies using plant-based plastic, rubber and fiber in manufacturing products such as bottles and packaging, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Wednesday. The USDA is proposing in a new agency rule to add manufacturers of these plant-based products to a loan guarantee program that has provided more than $844 million for 10 biofuel projects since 2008. Loan guarantees allow companies building new plants to borrow money at lower interest rates. Under the proposed new rules loans of up to $250 million will be offered to projects involving development of plantbased materials for manufacturing, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. The rule expanding the program, authorized in last year’s farm bill, will become final on June 23. It’s part of a government program initiated by President Barack Obama designed to promote replacement of petroleum in plastic, rubber and fiber with plant-based materials. A report released Wednesday by the USDA said the plant-based mate-
rials industry created four million jobs and contributed $369 billion to the nation’s economy in 2013. From sugarcane-based plastic Coke bottles to soybean oil-derived Ford Mustang seat cushions, bio-based manufacturing has accelerated over the last decade. The report, mandated in the 2014 farm bill and commissioned by the USDA was researched and written by professors at Duke University and North Carolina State University. It details how the agency’s BioPreferred program, created in the 2002 Farm Bill, has driven new development by requiring government agencies to use their purchasing power to buy when possible products made with plant-based materials. The program also has initiated a labeling program which identifies more than 2,200 products as USDA certified bio-based materials. The program was part of Obama’s initiative to revitalize and modernize the rural economy, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “This is, I think, the beginning of a very exciting opportunity for rural America, the beginning of an opportunity to attract manufacturing to rural communities, to add additional market opportunities for those who grow and raise crops and products in
the U.S.,” he said. The report said the industry making products from plant-based materials has displaced 300 million gallons of petroleum a year, which Vilsack said is the equivalent from an emissions standpoint of removing 200,000 cars off the road. Oil and natural gas industry trade group American Petroleum Institute declined to comment on the expansion of the program. Patrick Michaels, a former environmental sciences professor, now a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian public policy research said the government shouldn’t be subsidizing the bio-based industry through guaranteed loans. “I don’t understand if these products are so wonderful why they need to be subsidized,” he said. “I caution you that if the argument is that these result in fewer net emissions of greenhouse gases, that proposition is pretty shaky.” Some U.S. companies, embracing plant-based materials research, have been studying alternatives to petroleum based fibers, foams and rubbers for several years. The Coca Cola Company is one example of a company that has researched and developed bio-based products. The company makes all of
its bottles from a fully recyclable plastic, one-third of which is plant based. Earlier this year the company unveiled a bottle made entirely from bio-based materials and its ultimate goal is to have a 100 percent recyclable plantbased plastic bottle. The company currently uses Brazilian sugarcane and is researching other plant-based materials. Since 2009 the company said it has distributed more than 30 billion PlantBottle packages in nearly 40 countries, saving more than 30 million gallons of gas and eliminating 270,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent to the amount emitted from burning more than 630,000 barrels of oil. The Coke bottle material is used by Ford Motor Co. in the interior fabric of its Fusion Energi hybrid electric/gas engine car. Ford also uses soybean-based oil to replace about 12 percent of petroleum-based materials used in the foam inserted in seat cushions. More than three million Ford vehicles have some soy foam in them, the company said. Closer to the farm, tractor maker John Deere uses panels made of half soy oil and half corn ethanol in body components of combines and small agricultural tractors once made solely with petroleum-based polymers.
Farm & Ranch | Cassville Democrat • The Monett Times
Page 12 • Wednesday, June 24, 2015
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The Monett Times • Cassville Democrat | Farm & Ranch
Wednesday, June 24, 2015 • Page 13
Conference: About 250 attendees expected to tour farm during conference
Continued from Page 3
days each year with no production. Meier’s milk, production of which has peaked at 77 pounds, more than eight gallons, per cow per day, for 10 pounds of grain per cow fed in the barn when not on grass, is picked up with a line of other area dairy operations, taken to Dairy Farmers of America, then distributed to manufacturers in Little Rock, Ark., or sent to Hiland Dairy in Joplin. “I got help from Stacey Hamilton, [dairy specialist], with getting breeding done in a short window, so I have the calves in February,” Meier said. “It’s not the best weather, but it aligns peak milk production with peak grass growth. “The 7:1 ratio [for pounds of milk versus pounds of feed] is excellent. The cows get down to about 60 pounds of milk per day as summer approaches.” Meier’s operation will be in the spotlight on July 7, when about 250 attendees of the Missouri Dairy Grazing Conference will tour his farm to get an idea of the grazing system for themselves. “They will bring people from Springfield for a tour stop to look at my K-Line Irrigation, breeding program and summer forage,” he said. “I’ve always worked close with the University of Missouri Extension, with Stacey and Tony, to get anything going. I grew up through their programs.” The conference, sponsored by the Extension, will split up attendees between four farms on the Friday tour list. Also included in the list is Edgewood Dairy, a farm in Purdy owned by Charles Fletcher, which is gearing up to open a creamery and cheese operation this summer. The Fletcher family’s operation features 320 cows, milked twice daily, on 320-acre farm, nearly 70 percent of which is planted in summer and winter with endophyte fescue and
Michael Meier calls his cows while in the pasture at his 240-acre farm about four miles south of Monett. Kyle Troutman The Monett Times/ Cassville Democrat
perennial ryegrass. Edgewood Dairy was also the setting for Gov. Jay Nixon’s signing of two dairy bills in March. The Dairy Revitalization Act, a three-piece legislation, aims to help dairymen, college students and the dairy industry as a whole. Also signed into law was the omnibus agriculture bill, which will increase the weight limits for trucks transporting produce during the harvest season. “The bills will help when they are funded and put into place,” Meier said. “It the milk-to-feed ratio crashes, it would be great if it was there.” Also included on the tour Friday is VanDalfsen Farms in Reeds, and Grasslands White Oak No. 4/Fortuna Farms in Avilla. A social reception for conference-goers will be held the night of July 7, and the schedule July 8 features multiple classes and a trade show.
Calves at Meier Dairy, some more eager than others, snack on feed during an afternoon on the farm. The calves will be featured during a tour stop for the Missouri Dairy Grazing Conference. Kyle Troutman The Monett Times/Cassville Democrat
Farm & Ranch | Cassville Democrat • The Monett Times
Page 14 • Wednesday, June 24, 2015
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Ridding farm of toxic fescue begins on infected hay fields By Duane Dailey University of Missouri Extension
COLUMBIA – Renovate hay fields first when replacing toxic fescue with new novel endophyte varieties. “Toxin-free hay makes establishing toxin-free pastures easier,” says Justin Sexten, University of Missouri Extension beef nutritionist. “Seed from infected hay reinfects new pastures. “You must start somewhere, as you can’t replace all old pastures at once,” Sexten says. “Start with an area with a big impact on the grazing operation.” A hayfield can produce much more per acre with
a new novel endophyte variety. That allows taking other pastures out of production and maintaining the cow herd at the same time. Infected Kentucky-31 fescue cannot be fertilized to boost yield, as nitrogen increases toxin output. With a novel endophyte variety, adding fertilizer increases hay with no bad side effects. Kentucky-31 fescue, the dominant grass in Missouri pastures, has a fungus living between cell walls of the plant. Toxin from the fungus protects the plant but harms grazing animals. New novel endophytes protect the
grass without harming livestock. “In feedback I get, producers see the benefit of toxin-free pastures,” Sexten says. “But they often ask how to fit novel endophyte into their system.” Other starting points are pastures used for reproduction or gains in the beef herd. That can be breeding pastures or those for growing replacement heifers. Weaned calves gain more weight on renovated fields. “The first acre will be the toughest to convert,” Sexten says. “You just have to go at it like planting a crop. This isn’t easy
as broadcast frost-seeding legumes into grass pastures. But it’s not hard to do.” Fescue schools emphasize proper settings of planting drills. Planting depth of a quarter inch is critical to success in planting. Adjusting the drill takes time, Sexten says. “With the price of seed corn, no one goes out, fills the planter boxes and starts planting without adjusting the planter,” Sexten says. “The cost is too high not to do it right. “Once you begin renovation, additional acres are easier. It just rolls along.”
Sexten knows the first step is a big one. “It takes figuring out where renovation works best, first.” The Alliance for Grassland Renewal will hold four novel endophyte fescue schools across the state. Starting March 30, schools will be held at Mount Vernon, Cook Station, Columbia and Linneus. Each will be held at a University of Missouri research farm that has plots of all available novel endophytes. The varieties can be seen in side-byside grazing plots. The Alliance, a first in the nation, brings together seed companies, gov-
ernment agencies, testing lab and farmers working with MU Extension. The payoff for conversion is better gains, better reproduction and many more benefits, Sexten says. “Too many farmers do not realize the losses from grazing infected fescue.” Advance registration is required, as space is limited in the fescue schools. Details are at http:// grasslandrenewal.org/ education.htm. Pasture conversions will be most rewarding when beef prices are high, organizers say. In times of low prices, extra gains will make profits possible.
Dairy revitalization is topic for MU Breimyer Seminar, July 13 By Duane Dailey University of Missouri Extension
COLUMBIA – Efforts to stop the drop in dairy cow numbers will be the topic at a Breimyer Seminar, July 13, at the University of Missouri. “Revitalizing the Missouri Dairy Industry” is theme for the meeting on the MU campus. The event continues farm policy seminars started by former MU professor Harold Breimyer, says Ron Plain, MU Extension livestock economist. MU economists, dairy industry leaders and farmers will talk on the dollar impact of dairy cows in Missouri.
The theme builds on talks started during passage of the Missouri Dairy Revitalization Act of 2015. Opening the program will be Scott Brown and Joe Horner, MU economists with emphasis in dairy. Brown will give a national and international outlook. Horner will focus on Missouri economics. State Rep. Bill Reiboldt, Neosho, will summarize the dairy revitalization act. Also, he will tell of future funding potential. Scott Poock, an MU Extension veterinarian who had a dairy practice in
Wisconsin, will tell the production side of dairying. He will tell of the farm challenges and opportunities. Next will be “Ten Critical Issues for Revitalization.” That speaker will be announced. A panel of milk producers will follow with discussion of challenges they face. This will be moderated by Ron Grusenmeyer, director of producer relations for Midwest Dairy Association, Overland Park, Kan. Dairy marketing and processing will be discussed by Randy McGinnis, Dairy Farmers of America, Kansas City, Mo. He represents cen-
tral and southeastern regions of the cooperative. Wrapping up the day will be Corey Geiger, managing editor of Hoard’s Dairyman magazine, Fort Atkinson, Wis. The afternoon session is moderated by Jim Spain, MU vice provost and dairy scientist. Advance registration is required by July 6. For agenda and registration, go to agebb. missouri.edu, or contact Joyce White at 573-882-6533 or whitej@missouri.edu. The $40 fee covers meal, breaks (Tiger Stripe ice cream) and an on-campus parking permit.
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Dairy cows have a long history in Missouri agriculture, Plain says. But the number of dairies declined 40 percent since 2000. Dairy farmer numbers dropped faster as herd size grows on remaining farms. More farms with more cows would boost milk production. That could help retain dairy processing and services infrastructure. Revitalization could add to the state’s economic development. For now, Missouri dairy farm output just meets fluid milk demand. There is room for growth, seminar organizers say.
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Page 22 • Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Beef market holding steady for ranchers
Specialist believes market will hold for a couple years By Kyle Troutman The Monett Times/Cassville Democrat
E
ldon Cole, regional livestock specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, said he has not seen many frowns on the faces of ranchers in Barry and Lawrence counties. Keeping the cattlemen happy is the price of their commodity, which hit a peak last year and is holding relatively steady. “The market is stable,” Cole said. “It has gone down a little bit since last fall, but beef producers should be looking for a profit in 2015.” Cole said with all the rain in May, forage quantity is superb, but quality may be somewhat suspect. “There was so much rain, some farmers were not able to bale hay until mid-May, and the more mature the hay, the lower quality it will be in nutrients. I’d normally say that would result in extra costs to supplement the deficiencies, but we may get another
Local livestock
What: Beef cattle numbers and prices in Barry and Lawrence counties Numbers: Have risen slightly since last year Prices: Have remained steady, with an anticipated drop in about two years.
cut of good quality hay before we start having to feed it.” Cole said even with the worries about hay, livestock numbers have risen in the local area. “The census released on Jan. 1 shows an increase in numbers,” he said. “There’s been some heifer retention for breeding purposes, and herds are expanding.” According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, Lawrence County is No. 1 in the state with 109,709 cattle and calves, and Barry County ranks No. 5 in the state with 76,138 cattle and calves. Cole said the numbers fluctuate by a few thousand here and there, but Lawrence County averages about 40,000-45,000 beef cows at any given time, and Barry County averages about 35,000 to 40,000. Cole said now, Lawrence County is
at about 48,000 cattle this year, and Barry County’s number is more in the 38,000-43,000 range now. Strong prices have played a role in the market, as Cole said prices remain high because the feed lots and slaughter houses are short due to farmers keeping their heifers for breeding. “Some calves were $1,700 or $1,800 per animal, and that goes a long way for paying the bills and helping farm families buy things they might not could buy,” Cole said. “But, any increase in price is always followed by a downturn, and the next couple of years will likely not be any different. Most think we have peaked, but no one is sure when the downturn will arrive.” Bailey Moore, owner and auctioneer at the Joplin Regional Stockyards, said about 350,000-400,000 cattle are sold there each year, with about 100,000 cattlemen coming through to check out the livestock. “We get a lot of business from the Joplin area taking home cows or loads of steers to graze,” he said. “The market in the last two years has been the best in history.” Moore said 10 years ago, a calf may
have brought $500, and now, that same calf is selling for about $1,500. “It’s at least twice as good as five years ago,” he said. “What’s good for us is that the producers are making money, and it’s a good environment in the cattle industry right now.” Moore said record prices are nice, but he knows the market will begin to slide. “The market will probably go down in the next two years, but it will still be good to be in the cattle business 5-7 years from now,” he said. “But, right now is the best time to be in the cattle business.” Cole said ranchers should look toward 2017 or 2018 for a drop in prices, as he said people will start putting the brakes on what they are willing to pay for an animal. “The industry is cyclical, so the numbers will go up, and the numbers will go down,” he said. Cole said the highest price he has seen for a steer was about $2,800, sold to a slaughter and packing plant in May. He said feeder steers are going at a rate of about $2.81 per pound.
Livestock antibiotic label changes eliminate over-the-counter availability By Jason Vance
University of Missouri Extension
COLUMBIA – The Food and Drug Administration released the final rule of the Veterinary Feed Directive on June 2. According to the FDA, this rule is part of an overall strategy to ensure judicious use of feed-grade and water-soluble antibiotics in food-producing animals. “The issue surrounding the use of these antibiotics began several years ago,” said Craig Payne, director of Veterinary Extension and Continuing Education at the University of Missouri. Payne said the FDA
established two primary goals. One was to phase out the use of feed-grade and water-soluble antibiotics for production purposes such as improved feed efficiency. The other goal was to move away from over-the-counter availability of antibiotics to more veterinary oversight. The FDA provided guidance for animal health companies on how to make labeling changes. Payne said all companies agreed to make the necessary changes by December 2016. Payne says the biggest difference for producers will be the move from over the counter availabil-
ity to veterinary supervision. This means producers will need to have a prescription from their veterinarian before they can obtain these antibiotics in the future. Payne said the prescription for a feedgrade antibiotic is called a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) and for water-soluble antibiotics it’s called a prescription. In either case, he said a Veterinarian-ClientPatient Relationship (VCPR) must be in place before the veterinarian can legally issue a VFD or prescription. In other words, the producer and veterinarian need to have a working relationship,
and the veterinarian must be familiar with the animals on the operation. Although the changes won’t take full effect until December 2016, Payne encourages producers to
begin discussing these changes with their veterinarian. Payne mentioned that extension, the FDA and other groups will also help educate producers about these changes.
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“Just keep your eyes and ears open for any opportunity to get additional education on this issue,” Payne said.
The Monett Times • Cassville Democrat | Farm & Ranch
Wednesday, June 24, 2015 • Page 23
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