Idaho dairy and feedlot producers should be aware that your manure-spreading plans are open to the public after a ruling by the Idaho Supreme Court.

The court ruled that the Idaho Department of Agriculture cannot deny a public-records request simply because it returned the plans to the dairy or feedlot.

Source: The Oregonian, Aug. 29, 2006
Source URL: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/115681832535260.xml&coll=7

EPA has just gotten approval to take the next important step to gather air emissions data from agricultural animal feeding operations (AFOs) and to ensure compliance with environmental laws. This step consists of certain AFOs voluntarily taking part in a nationwide monitoring study to evaluate their air emissions.

EPA's Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) just approved the two final voluntary agreements, making a total of 2,568, representing 1,856 swine, 468 dairy, 204 egg-laying, and 40 broiler chicken (meat-bird) operations. These 2,568 agreements represent 6,267 farms (an AFO can include more than one farm). Now the industry-led monitoring survey can proceed; it is expected to begin this winter.

Source: Environmental Protection Agency/ News Release, Aug. 22, 2006
Source URL: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/4d84d5d9a719de8c85257018005467c2/a3b628e23af32f68852571d200618474!OpenDocument

Following are a few of the headlines from news articles highlighted this week:

• Report: One-Third of World Faces Water Scarcity
• USDA Hikes Inspection Fees
• New Transport Rules for Animal Feed Start in Dec.
• Study: Week-Long Dry Period Doesn’t Hinder Production
• Nestle, Fonterra Join for Milk Plant in Brazil

Click to read more of these and other news stories.

A world dairy model is employed to assess the economic effects of further trade liberalization on U.S. dairy markets. The model incorporates both vertical and spatial characteristics of dairy sectors. Among the vertical characteristics is accounting for farm milk components (fat, casein, whey protein, and lactose) in the production of many different dairy products. Important spatial aspects include the distribution of milk production and the demand for and trade of dairy products. This report examines multilateral domestic and trade policy changes to assess how U.S. farm milk prices and production, consumer and producer surpluses, and U.S. Government revenues and dairy program expenditures respond. Empirical results from the model indicate generally modest price and production effects on U.S. milk producers when multilateral liberalization is assumed.

Source: USDA/ ERS/ Tingjun Peng and Tom Cox, August 2006
Source URL: http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/CCR21/ccr21.pdf

Deciding how long to store grain on the farm depends upon a number of factors. Changes in crop prices, basis patterns, interest rates and commercial storage charges all play a role in marketing decisions.

Storing grain on the farm is rarely considered a marketing strategy. More often, it is a necessity. Storage is a roof for the crop while producers wait to sell. If the “right price” isn’t available, cash flow needs or a lack of bin space pressure producers to sell. This is marketing by default and a poor use of farm storage. This module outlines the advantages and disadvantages of using grain storage as a marketing strategy.

Source: Government of Alberta, Aug. 24, 2006
Source URL: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/sis10941

Following are some of the headlines from market news and analysis from the past week:

• Ag Export Market: Bring Your Sunglasses!
• Yonkers’ Dairy Market Update: Strong Fluid Sales
• UK: Wholesale Milk Prices Remain Firm
• New Gold Rush Looks Like Corn, Soybeans

Click to read more of these market articles and others.

The goal of this study was to measure the economic impacts of reduced milk production associated with papillomatous digital dermatitis (PDD) in dairy cows in the USA, and of specific risk factors for PDD, in 1996.

The epidemiologic model used also implicated hoof trimmers who trimmed cattle hooves on other operations as having an important economic impact associated with this disease, although this finding may have been erroneous.

Source: Economic impacts of reduced milk production associated with papillomatous digital dermatitis in dairy cows in the USA. Journal of Dairy Research 73 (2): 244-256, 2006. Losinger, W.C.

The objective of this study is to relationship between the somatic cell count (SCC), milk production and the morphologic traits of udder in the herds of Black-and-White cattle.

The findings of this study are consistent with the data concerning the negative relationship between SCC and milk yield during lactation and the relationship between somatic cell count and udder or teat morphology. Reducing milk SCC the selection of Black-and-White cows based on the udder and teat morphology can improve milk quality.

Source: Relationship between somatic cell count and milk production or morphological traits of udder in Black-and-White cows. Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences 30 (1): 47-51, 2006. Juozaitiene, V.; Juozaitis, A.; Micikeviciene, R.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of supplementing dairy cows with 1000 IU/day of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (SynAc), RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (NatAc), or RRR-alpha-tocopherol (NatAlc), from approximately 3 weeks before estimated calving until 2 weeks after calving, on the concentration of alpha-tocopherol and its stereoisomers (RRR-, RSS-, RRS-, RSR- and the four 2S-forms of alpha-tocopherol) in blood and milk.

In conclusion, the results indicate that daily oral supplementation of dairy cows with RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate gives the highest blood concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in the periparturient period. Analyses of the distribution of the individual stereoisomers of alpha-tocopherol further indicate that the bioavailability of RRR-alpha-tocopherol relative to synthetic stereoisomers in cattle is considerably higher than officially accepted until now.

Source: alpha-tocopherol concentration and stereoisomer composition in plasma and milk from dairy cows fed natural or synthetic vitamin E around calving. Journal of Dairy Research 73 (2): 227-234, 2006. Meglia, G.E.; Jensen, S.K.; Lauridsen, C.; Waller, K.P.

A total of 180 Holstein-Friesian male calves, mean age and live weight (LW) at start of the study 112 (s.d. 26.0) days and 134 (s.d. 37.6) kg, respectively, were used to evaluate the effect of slaughter weight on food efficiency and animal performance.

In the comparison of steers and bulls slaughtered at 450 kg, steers had lower (P < 0.001) rates of LW and carcass gains and had a higher (P < 0.001) fold conversion ratio than comparable bulls. Steers had lower (P < 0.001) estimated carcass lean, and higher (P < 0.01) estimated carcass fat concentrations than bulls slaughtered at the same LW.

Source: The effect of slaughter weight and sexual status on performance characteristics of male Holstein-Friesian cattle offered a cereal-based diet. Animal Science 82 : 397-404, 2006. Kirkland, R.M.; Keady, T.W.J.; Patterson, D.C.; Kilpatrick, D.J.; et al.