Opinion

New Mom on the Farm: Learning to Step Back and Watch

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 19:00:54 GMT

I’ve been a farmer my entire life, but becoming a mother has changed the way I see the farm.

For years, the hours outside my off-the-farm day job have been spent helping on my family’s dairy. Whether it was milking cows, feeding calves or hauling hay, I made sure to pitch in wherever I was needed. But all of that changed when my daughter, Nova, joined our family in August.

Prior to becoming a mother, I had always been a hands-on, dirty-boots kind of girl. I often teased my husband that he married me because I was a good farm hand. But when Nova arrived, everything shifted. Motherhood redefined what “helping” meant for the next few months.

(Taylor Hildebrandt)

For the first time in my life, I had to learn how to step back and watch from a distance. Instead of milking cows or pitching in with harvest, I found myself observing from the kitchen window, watching tractors roll through the driveway and listening to the hum of the milk vacuum from afar. And while I was head-over-heels in love with my newborn daughter, I felt torn between two worlds. The one I’d always known and the one I was just beginning to navigate. I wrestled with the urge to dive back in, to do it all, to be the same hands-on person I had always been.

At first, that new rhythm was hard to accept. I was running on little sleep, learning how to be a mom while still wanting to stay connected to the farm. But over time, I began to see that stepping back didn’t mean losing touch with the life I loved. It meant learning to be present in a new way and that my purpose was shifting, not fading.

(Taylor Hildebrandt)

This new role as a mom is the most important job I will ever have. The same care, patience and determination that farming has taught me now shape the way I raise my daughter. And while the farm will always be a part of who I am, being Nova’s mom has given me a deeper sense of purpose and a new way of seeing the world.

As I step into this new season, I’ve leaned on the wisdom and example of so many strong women in agriculture who have walked this path before me. My mom, my mother-in-law and countless other farm moms have shown me what it means to balance family, faith and farming with grace. Their quiet strength and steady hands remind me that there’s more than one way to show up and make a difference.

(Taylor Hildebrandt)

Now, as my daughter grows, I feel myself slowly returning to the farm in a new rhythm. I’m not back to doing everything I once did, and that’s okay. I’ve found joy in the small steps, like taking Nova out for a walk through the calf barn, showing her the cows up close and watching her take in all the sights and sounds of the farm. There’s something special about rediscovering our way of life through her. And I look forward to the day when she can walk beside me in her little boots, helping toss hay to the heifers and feed calves.

They say time flies when you bring a child into your world, and it’s true. Soon, Nova will be old enough to understand that she’s growing up in a special place, one that’s raised generations of hardworking farmers before her. And as I’ve navigated this new season of life, I’ve realized that becoming a mom has not pulled me away from the farm. It has changed how I belong to it. I’ve learned to find beauty in the pause, in standing back and in noticing the life around me.

The Story No One Talks About: The Cost to Produce Food

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 22:48:20 GMT

We have heard a great deal about the cost of food over the past three years. As the election draws near, news of food price inflation has escalated. Food price is real. You can ask any American about their budget for groceries. However, there is another part to this story that is rarely mentioned in these news stories – the cost to produce food. Few Americans would even know or think about this aspect of food in the grocery store, these costs have a great deal of impact on America’s farmers and ranchers.

All primary inputs to producing crops and livestock including land, capital, energy and labor have risen sharply over the last four years. And, associated with each of these inputs are regulations which are also major contributors to agricultural costs of production. If we use USDA’s Prices Paid Index to compare the costs of livestock production, overall costs have increased 28% from 2019 to 2023. The cost of energy posted a 35% increase over the same years while the cost of labor rose 24% from 2019 to 2023. This does not even consider further increases in the cost of labor in states that require farmers to pay overtime, i.e., Washington and Oregon. I did not even know the word overtime when I worked on ranches 50 years ago!

There are very few farmers or ranchers who do not borrow operating capital on an annual basis and as with all interest rates, the cost of this operating capital has jumped significantly over the last four years. Interest cost for farming and ranching rose 25% from 2019 to 2023. The major use of capital, of course, is to buy or expand a farm or ranch. I have written often about the importance of economies of scale in agricultural production. Expanding the land base of an existing operation and diversifying production can be key to managing market risk and/or generating additional revenue to maintain a family operation. Not only have interest rates risen, but land values have also risen significantly, thus making the decision to expand the farm or ranch a costly decision from every perspective.

The U.S. has the largest selection of quality, safe food of any country in the world. And yes, consumer prices have risen sharply over the past four years. However, the other part of the story is that the farmers and ranchers who produce our quality and safe food as well as purchasing many of the same food products as the average consumer, have also experienced sharply higher costs of production on the farm or ranch to produce that food.

I can certainly appreciate the average consumer’s concern about food inflation. And while most Americans appreciate the farmers and ranchers who produce our generous, safe food supply, now is a time in this environment of high food costs to also appreciate what it costs to produce our food.

Your Next Read: Nalivka: Inflation and a Repeat of History

Inaction on Traceability is Unacceptable

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 20:38:00 GMT

The future of the U.S. cattle industry hinges on our ability to swiftly respond to disease outbreaks. Yet, some groups and individuals continue to fight the tools that could protect our livelihoods. The most recent rule to come under fire is USDA’s animal disease traceability regulation.

In the face of a potential FMD outbreak, every minute counts. The choice between outdated methods and advanced technology could mean the difference between a controlled situation and a nationwide catastrophe. Imagine the chaos of an FMD outbreak, with markets shuttered, and producers frantically searching for nearly illegible metal bright tags in the pouring rain. This is not a future we can afford. Some argue that these changes are unnecessary or burdensome, the reality is that clinging to outdated ideas, practices and technology puts our entire industry at risk.

USDA’s new rules call for the use of an electronic identification (EID) tag in breeding cattle, 18 months of age and older, being transported across state lines. This class of cattle has required an ID tag for more than a decade. USDA is simply changing the technology from a metal bright tag to an updated EID tag.

Innovation has always been the backbone of American agriculture. The use of EID tag technology is not just a step forward; it’s a necessity for an industry that must be prepared for anything in a time of porous borders and uncertain global politics. USDA’s rule will allow cattle to be tracked more quickly in the event of foot and mouth disease (FMD) or similar emergency, when time is critical. We all know that the metal clips in the ears of cattle are nearly impossible to read after a year or two. We also know that reading them, writing down the information from the tag and transferring it to a database is slow, cumbersome and subject to human error. These issues can be alleviated by simply running a wand over an EID tag, making traceability faster and less error prone.

There are still issues and concerns with USDA’s effort to upgrade technology. One of the issues that must be addressed is how data is gathered and stored. Producer privacy is paramount to this effort. NCBA has long advocated for tag data to be held by private, third-party companies, like CattleTrace, rather than USDA. A third-party holder of information helps protect producer privacy while also allowing the rapid traceback required in the event of a disease outbreak. Cost is the other factor that NCBA has worked to alleviate. To help lower the costs of USDA’s rule, NCBA was able to secure $15 million in funding for the purchase of EID tags, to ensure that cattle producers aren’t saddled with added compliance costs.

None of us in the agricultural community desire more government intrusion in our businesses or our lives. NCBA has stood on the front lines fighting, and might I say winning, many of those issues for decades. We have always stood for industry solutions to industry problems and worked to be proactive in creating those solutions. Those whose only answer is “no,” and those individuals and groups who would allow perfect to be the enemy of good, have created a vacuum that the government is more than happy to fill. It is past time for us, as cattle producers, to create an industry-led and industry-controlled solution to disease traceability. Our current system and the ability to rapidly respond to a real disease outbreak is insufficient to protect each of us and our livelihoods. Now is the time for the cattle industry to lead, not lag.

Speer: Day-Old Calves Cost How Much…?

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 21:50:58 GMT

“Holy Buckets!”: There’s seemingly always an exclamation of surprise when discussing current prices for day-old beef-X-dairy (BXD) calves with producers. And that’s generally followed with skepticism: “Are you sure?”

But maybe it makes more sense than we think. Let’s approach it from a cow/calf perspective to discern the value of day-old calf at the farm or ranch (versus the dairy).

Cow Cost: The obvious place to begin is allocation of cow costs. Outlined below are some basic assumptions:

The cost meter starts clicking once the previous calf is weaned – call that day 205. Even if the cow was NOT pregnant at weaning, maintenance cost up to weaning would still be assigned to the weaned calf. That leaves us 160 days of pregnancy from weaning to calving assigned to the newborn calf.
Assume annual $1100/cow maintenance cost – or roughly $3/day.

Total assigned cost = $480/calf

Bull Cost: This gets somewhat trickier with more room for varied assumptions. Depending on an operation’s individual budgeting, the cost may be absorbed by the annual cow cost as outlined above. However, given we’re not detailing the full year for the cow, it’s appropriate to include this as a separate item.

Keeping it straightforward, assume a bull’s net service cost is $3,000 over his lifetime (purchase less salvage value). On average (key emphasis), his useful life will be three years. (Some bulls work much longer but others fail to ever service a cow.). Last, we’ll suppose he sires 25 calves per year. That works out to ~$40/calf.
Conservatively assume it costs roughly $1250 annually to maintain a bull – that equates to $50/calf.

Total assigned cost = $90/calf

Interest: The current median interest rate on operating notes is roughly 8.5% . We’ll assign that rate for 160 days on the cow side and a full year on the bull side. That works out to roughly $18 plus $8, respectively.

Total assigned cost = $26/calf

Death Loss: Based on historical USDA survey data , assume 3% of calves will be lost due to dystocia and/or other causes. Another 4% are born alive but die prior to weaning. Assigning one-fourth of those post-calving losses equals 1%. Therefore, we’re left with a 96% survival rate ready for sale. That adds an additional $25/head to the cost.

Total assigned cost = $25/calf

Total Direct Costs: Based on averages, IF someone wanted to purchase day-old calves from your farm or ranch, you’d require total direct cost just to breakeven. We can fuss with the numbers here-and-there but it provides a ball-park figure of the cost assigned to every calf.

Total direct cost: $621/calf

Intangibles: But we need to stretch beyond just those considerations. IF the following things were to occur, you’d require even more dollars to ensure you’re adequately compensated for your management:

Cows bred to known sires with propensity for superior feedlot and carcass performance;
Ensure each calf receives colostrum AND has its navel dipped;
Individually identify every calf with an eID;
Ranch provides ready access to comprehensive data management system enabling potential access to sire and dam (and other pertinent) information to buyer;
Provide easily-accessible facilities to pick calves up with minimal hassle;
Facilitate steady, reliable source of calves year-around.

All of those items provide added value to the buyer. As a producer, you’d accordingly want to be rewarded for such. Not to mention, there needs to be some consideration for profit in all of this.

Total Assigned Cost = +$10, +$25, +$50, +More???

Bottomline: Markets are amazingly efficient. The end result is uncanny; the numbers are remarkably similar to current prices for day-old calves (i.e. sizeable quantity of high-quality, well-managed calves). And from that perspective, the two sides of the business (beef versus dairy) really aren’t all that different. I noted in a previous column that, “What used to be considered a highly discounted after-thought (straight dairy steers/heifers) is rapidly transforming into a meaningful source of production (BXD steers).” With all that in mind, perhaps the day-old BXD market really isn’t as far off-base as we might have first thought.

Animal Activists Are Waging War in Your Backyard

Fri, 12 May 2023 21:53:59 GMT

I kept a bit of distance as I approached the site of my first animal activist rally. I watched two people huddled beside a small megaphone and a bag, checking their phones constantly. As the clock struck the advertised time for this group to make their announcements, I leaned in anticipating what would happen next.

Nothing.

About 15 minutes later, two more joined. They pulled out a banner and signs from the bag. Another 15 minutes passed and the group, now up to five, started walking. As I followed the group, I realized I was listening to students uneducated about modern livestock production and abiding by a playbook from a known animal activist organization.

The actual protest consisted of four people holding signs and one person reading a message from his phone.

“We are here to speak out for animals who cannot speak for themselves. We are here to tell you that there is something you can do. Rescue these animals and join the animal rights movement today,” the activist read.

His thoughts and ideas were scripted. I think that made me the most unsettled. Why are you fighting for a cause that you can’t speak on your own about?

I was not impassioned or moved by anything that was said. No one else was either. People just streamed by and only one couple stopped for about 8 seconds.

I share something in common with these students. We love animals. But I was disheartened to hear them support breaking the law to “rescue” animals right here in the Midwest where we are surrounded by animal agriculture and the benefits of an abundant food supply.

A Reality Check

I called my friend Hannah Thompson-Weeman, president of the Animal Agriculture Alliance , the next morning.

She said something that makes sense, but was still a punch in the gut. Organizations like this one are mobilizing activists all over the country – not just on the coasts.

“Groups like Direct Action Everywhere (DXE) have small pockets of supporters across the country that are willing to mobilize for the cause, and the ‘lead organizers’ have also shown they’re willing to travel anywhere to conduct ‘investigations’ and demonstrations,” she explained.

Other extreme groups, such as The Save Movement, have chapters in various cities, particularly where processing plants are located, she pointed out.

They find people willing to carry out their plan to get their message heard in unexpected places, even Farm Country USA. I want to believe that the reason people didn’t stop and engage, that no one listened or took them seriously, is because they know better. They know farmers care for their animals and do whatever it takes to make sure animals are raised in a healthy, safe and controlled environment.

But I’m not sure that’s why.

There are so many messages shared about animal ag, and consumers struggle to know which voices to trust. I am grateful for voices such as Tork and Sawyer of This’ll Do Farm , Heidi Flory of “The Princess and the Pig Farmer,” Cara Haden “Pig Vet” and Jesse Heimer of Heimer Hampshires for using their voice to share what it’s really like to raise livestock.

How Can You Help?

I walked away from the rally full of questions. How am I helping people who are outside of agriculture discern truth from fiction? How am I raising kids emboldened to speak up for agriculture? What am I doing to remind the younger generations their story is important and needs to be told?

The war for people’s hearts and minds is moving into your backyard. Are you ready?

Editor’s Note: Want to learn more? Check out the Animal Agriculture Alliance Summit conference that is taking place May 4-5. You can purchase the recording pass to access recordings from all the sessions after the event.

Read More:

When Talent and Passion Collide

Why We Need More Youth to Speak Up About Ag

Tell Your Story: If We All Do A Little, No One Will Have To Do A Lot

Extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is Good for American Farmers

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 22:01:26 GMT

The day-to-day work life of economists and farmers might look different, but both can agree on the following statements:

The truth speaks for itself;
Growth is desirable but requires a hospitable environment; and
The nurturing benefits of tax relief and low, globally competitive tax rates created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has had a pivotal, positive effect on our prosperity.

One of the most significant expenditures in a family farm’s budget is equipment. New John Deere combines cost more than $350,000, and a new John Deere cotton picker will set you back around $1 million. These must-have items feed the world while keeping our farms competitive in global markets.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act included an important provision called “bonus depreciation,” which allows businesses to immediately take a deduction up to 100% of the cost of assets placed into service by the end of 2022. This provision made it easier for farmers to afford important and expensive purchases, just as it did for other businesses considering making productivity-enhancing investments.

Unfortunately, the percentage immediately deductible was reduced to 80% on Jan. 1, 2023 , and will continue dropping by 20% each year until it reaches zero. The result will be that deductible amount is spread out over the life of the equipment, delaying when farmers (and other businesses) receive the tax offsets they might need to be able to buy the equipment.

For family farms, the ability to manage cash flow through this provision cannot be understated. The following hypothetical story outlines the benefits, not only to the farmer but also to the economy.

Farmer John is planting wheat. The price of his fertilizer has skyrocketed because of Russia’s war on Ukraine, but the price of the wheat he produces has also increased because Ukraine is a large global supplier of wheat. Farmer John will therefore make a profit from the wheat he produces, but doing so requires purchasing a new piece of equipment. In addition to making a profit, he can help offset the reduction in the global supply of wheat, which has contributed to increased prices for consumers at the grocery store . The purchase of his equipment will allow him to increase his yields, thereby increasing the supply of food on grocery store shelves across the country and around the world.

However, as Farmer John looks to the next growing season, he has doubts. Today, many are speculating that wheat prices might experience a significant drop next year. If prices go down, the profit Farmer John made this year could be eliminated next year because input costs are still high when he plants, but wheat prices might drop by harvest. It would be less beneficial for Farmer John to take an additional depreciation on his equipment, which was specifically used to support the higher output.

If you were Farmer John, would you invest in the new equipment?

The ability to fully depreciate the asset at the time of investment would align his cash flows, reducing uncertainty and making the investment more attractive. And we, the American people, want Farmer John to harvest more wheat when global supply is low. Yields directly affect grocery store prices, which supports the equipment manufacturers as well. This would be a net positive for our economy. By contrast, if he must spread out the deductions over time when he has considerable uncertainty about prices and optimal production, the investment becomes less attractive.

Although this story is fictional, it represents the challenges Miles Mendel, a South Dakota farmer, faces in today’s global economy.

“Volatility in the market is both a gift and a curse,” Mendel says. “We welcome the high prices we see, but we also know that our suppliers see those high prices and raise our inputs accordingly. However, when prices drop, the input cost decline is often much slower and creates huge problems for farms to remain profitable.”

Markets are dynamic. Our tax policy should reflect those dynamics and allow farm families to respond to volatility with flexible expensing policies such as bonus depreciation. Congress should extend this provision from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as it is long-term revenue neutral for the federal government and encourages timely investment in our economy. It is a win-win that both family farms and economists can be excited about.

Michael Faulkender is a former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury and Chief Economist at the America First Policy Institute.

Luke Lindberg is the President & CEO of South Dakota Trade and a Senior Fellow at the America First Policy Institute.

A Girl, a Goat and the Law: The Shasta County, CA, Boondoggle

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 22:03:40 GMT

It is entirely possible the Shasta County, Calif., sheriff’s office and the Shasta District Fair have tarnished your image as a food producer more than any radical animal rights group. Both are guilty of actions that are at least ignorant and grossly at odds with the values the fair claims to promote.

This is a story about a 9-year-old girl and her pet goat, Cedar, and the fact grown-ups couldn’t figure out how to bend the rules enough so it didn’t end up written as a tragedy in the New York Times. That’s how it was framed by Nicholas Kristof in his column: “ What a Girl’s Goat Teaches Us About Our Food .”

The story, of course, reveals little about “our food,” but offers a smorgasbord of opportunity for the anti-meat community to criticize meat production, as Kristof does so eloquently. Indeed, the only winner in this public relations debacle is Advancing Laws for Animals , a nonprofit law firm specializing in complex, novel issues of animal law.

In fact, the tale of the little girl and her goat received nationwide press coverage on CNN , USA Today, The Daily Mail, The Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, The Washington Post , Inside Edition, CBS News and many others.

First, Cedar’s story. Or more accurate, how Cedar became such a notorious outlaw the Shasta County sheriff dispatched two deputies – with a search warrant! – on a day-long trip to Sonoma County to retrieve him.

A year ago Jessica Long purchased a goat for her daughter’s 4H project. The girl began preparing to show Cedar at the county fair in June. As Kristof notes, “the girl and goat bonded. Soon Cedar was running to the gate to greet (the girl), and Long says that her daughter walked around with Cedar as if he were a pet dog.”

Cedar was shown and then sold in the 4H auction where state Sen. Brian Dahl (R) paid $902 for the $200 goat, a typical premium for bidders seeking to reward young 4H members. The girl was heartbroken, and a video taken that evening shows her embracing Cedar and sobbing. Unable to bear her daughter’s heartbreak, Long gathered up both the girl and the goat and removed them. As a fugitive from justice, Cedar was taken to a hideout in far-off Sonoma County. Before doing so, she told fair representatives she would reimburse Dahl and pay for any financial hit caused by the decision to keep him.

This would be the point where reasoned adults might bend the rules for a little girl and her pet goat. That didn’t happen. Fair executives were adamant that Cedar must be slaughtered. Long says she received a call from the fair’s livestock manager who allegedly demanded she return Cedar and threatened to have her charged with grand theft, a felony, if she didn’t.

“The fair industry is set up to teach our youth responsibility and for the future generations of ranchers and farmers to learn the process and effort it takes to raise quality meat,” Melanie Silva, the CEO of the fair, emailed Long.

The fair contacted the Shasta County sheriff, who promptly dispatched deputies to apprehend the fugitive goat. This whole hot mess is headed to court.

Long has sued the Shasta County sheriff claiming deputies wrongly seized the family’s goat and then apparently handed it over to the fair authorities. In their response, the county and the sheriff’s office acknowledge that the deputies “drove to Sonoma County to retrieve a goat” and claim that “no warrant was necessary to retrieve Cedar at the Sonoma Farm as they had consent from the property owner.”

Think about this for a moment. Shasta County sent two deputies on a 500-mile, 10-hour round trip to retrieve a $200 goat! Try explaining that to taxpayers come next election.

More important for livestock producers is how the Shasta County Fair and the Shasta County sheriff – both unencumbered by intelligence – created a bonanza for animal rights zealots. Pluck any of the stories about Cedar and visit the comments section. There you’ll find responses across the country nearly unanimous in their defense of the little girl, with many using the opportunity to attack livestock production as “cruel,” “inhumane,” “abhorrent,” etc.

Here are two examples from the NY Times that accurately capture the sentiment:

Craig writes: “There’s a gigantic & worrisome unanswered question here. What kind of officials would agree to trigger such an absolutely cruel & ghoulish act against a child? Who are these people?”

R writes: “I can safely say I am completely against 4-H as an organization having learned what their values are. Insisting on slaughter and death when someone doesn’t want to participate is completely abhorrent.”

Seizing on this opportunity, Advancing Laws for Animals is representing the mother and daughter in the pending lawsuits. Whether they prevail in court is likely secondary for the legal team who will relish the chance to argue for animal rights in open court – and the press coverage the case is sure to attract.

Critical Thinking Is Paramount (And No, Cows Are NOT Killing The Earth)

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 22:05:51 GMT

An Open Letter to Superintendent Rick Nielsen, Nebo School District (Utah):

This letter concerns a recent news story regarding the Nebo School District: “Utah school gives kids ‘disgusting’ insects to eat in class for climate assignment on cows killing the Earth.” Undoubtedly, the broader coverage means you’re fully familiar with the situation. While the news story drew attention to the turn-of-events, from my perspective it invokes some broader considerations.

First, climate change facts: Classroom teacher, Kim Cutler, claims, “…we’re killing the world by raising cows and animals. So we need to, get rid of cows…”. There’s simply no basis for that statement. To the contrary, EPA details agriculture as responsible for just 11% of all GHG emissions in the United States. More specifically, the beef industry represents only 3.3% of U.S GHG emissions.

Let’s take that one step further. The U.S. accounts for about 15% of the world’s total GHG emissions . Hence, the U.S. beef industry comprises less than one-half-of-one-percent of total global emissions.

Second, some broader context: Per capita beef consumption (carcass weight basis) in the United States is ~85 lb (rounded up). The total carbon footprint - considering ALL sources of GHG (both direct and indirect) associated with that production - equates to 22 kg CO₂ equivalent per kg of beef . Accordingly, the annual per capita carbon footprint for beef consumption is ~.85 mt CO₂-eq. Moreover, advances in beef industry efficiency and productivity have enabled a reduction of more than .7 mt CO₂-eq (nearly half) during the past 50 years.

Third, closer to home: EPA also outlines that 27% of GHG emissions are attributable to transportation. To that end, Utah’s Office of Tourism reports the state benefitted from having 17.8M out-of-state visitors in 2021. I’m one of those.

Now some quick math. A roundtrip flight for me from Nashville to Salt Lake City (~2800 miles) would produce the equivalent of .815 mt of CO₂ . In other words, just my portion of visiting Utah is roughly the equivalent of eating beef for an entire year. On average, my trip is likely representative of many visitors – and that occurred nearly 18M times in Utah in 2021.

None of that is intended to be critical of tourism. Rather, it’s an important industry and essential part of economic development in the state. I’m thankful for, and respectful of, the opportunity to visit Utah. As such, it’s offered as a tangible example for some broader context and draw attention to the absurdity of Ms. Cutler’s supposition.

Fourth, it demeans ranching families: Ms. Cutler’s argument completely disregards the importance of farming / ranching to the individual families whose livelihood depends on such - and their collective economic contribution to their local communities and the state. Not to mention, it neglects the respective role of ranchers – working in conjunction the Forest Service and BLM – who provide meaningful stewardship for, and preservation of, the state’s public lands (thereby also positions them as key partners in the role of Utah’s tourism).

Fifth, Nebo’s activisim: The news story reports Ms. Cutler’s assignment instructed her 6^th-grade students to write an argumentative essay “but did not permit students to disagree”. She explained, “There’s only one right answer to this essay.” That’s inherently counter-intuitive: a single viewpoint defeats the very purpose of requiring students to do their own research and subsequently provide an expositive argument.

Given that, one of the most concerning aspects in all this surrounds the very foundation of what occurred in Ms. Cutler’s classroom. It stems from training the teachers received at the District level. Seemingly, Nebo’s classrooms are increasingly prioritizing climate change activism and subsequently promoting a misplaced anti-beef agenda.

Last, critical thinking is paramount: All of the discussion above regarding climate change and beef and transportation demonstrates the importance of developing the ability to sort facts and think critically. However, the Nebo School District has seemingly relinquished its responsibility to provide such instruction.

The broader principles are what matter most. And therein lies the crux of all this. How are we supposed to get the next generation to reason clearly through any issue, if we’re unwilling to do the same?

The public school, and its effectiveness, is an essential cornerstone of our society. No one articulates that better than Henry Hardin Cherry . Therefore, I’ll conclude with one of his great exhortations regarding the paramount importance of critical thinking instruction from his book, Education and the Basis of Democracy (c. 1926):

The hope of our country is in a people who read, think, and serve; who preserve the right to take the initiative for themselves; and who challenge the right of any man or organization to do their thinking and voting for them.

Respectfully,

Nevil Speer, PhD, MBA

Nevil Speer is an independent consultant based in Bowling Green, KY. The views and opinions expressed herein do not reflect, nor are associated with in any manner, any client or business relationship. He can be reached at nevil.speer@turkeytrack.biz .

Hanes: The Beef Checkoff and Lab-Grown Protein

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 23:07:43 GMT

As the fortunes of “plant-based meat” companies appear to be in decline recently, another competitor to beef raised on farms and ranches is starting to garner more headlines. “Lab-grown” or “cell-cultured meat” seems to be popping up here and there. Seeing these articles, some producers have expressed concern to me that the Beef Checkoff may begin to promote this “lab-grown” protein.

Based on the law, my answer to them is always the same – no way!

Regardless of how these lab-grown products will be categorized, the Beef Checkoff will not be promoting them. Why? It all goes back to the federal law that created and controls the Beef Checkoff. In this law, called the Beef Promotion and Research Act (the Act), there are very clear definitions relative to the Checkoff program and what it can and can’t do.

The Act specifically defines three important terms: “beef”, “beef products”, and “cattle”:

· Definition #1: “beef” as “flesh from cattle”

· Definition #2: “Beef products” are “edible products produced in whole or in part from beef”

· Definition #3: “cattle” are defined as “live domesticated bovine animals”

The Act goes on to note that the Beef Checkoff can only be used for promotion, advertising, research and consumer and industry information programs, focused solely on “beef and beef products,” and to support the beef industry.

These definitions for both beef and beef products as coming directly from the flesh of cattle (and cattle are live animals) are key, as lab-grown protein does not meet these established descriptions. In addition, no Checkoff dollars will be collected from any of these cell-based products. Checkoff assessments are based on live cattle, or imported beef and beef products, originating from live cattle. There are no provisions in the federal Checkoff law to collect dollars from lab-grown meat to be used in our program.

Keep in mind there is one more check and balance to ensure no Beef Checkoff dollars are spent promoting a product that does not generate assessments on behalf of the Checkoff program. According to The Act, any programs funded by national Beef Checkoff dollars must be approved by the Beef Promotion Operating Committee (BPOC), comprised of “cattle producers and importers”. Non- assessment payers are not eligible to become CBB Board or BPOC members and would not make these important funding decisions.

We stand by those who pay into our longstanding program and will continue to take our legal and fiduciary responsibilities in upholding the law with the same continued commitment we use every day - now and in the future.

This Uncomfortable Conversation Could Save Your Farm

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 15:53:52 GMT

I can still recall hearing, “Hello, Americans. This is Paul Harvey. Stand by for news,” coming from my old childhood farmhouse during the lunch hour. My father would be drinking coffee and my mother was over the stove, both quietly listening to every word that came out of that AM radio. Years later, the iconic broadcaster’s compelling voice froze me in my tracks, as I heard his famous “So God Made a Farmer” speech during a Super Bowl Sunday commercial. Those words clung to every farmer’s heart. To have a son or daughter follow in your footsteps is the highest compliment.

But one thing stumped me. As much as farmers want their child to come back to the operation, few sit down and openly talk about the process to make that happen. Instead, that much-needed conversation is put off for another day.

What Ifs

I get it. It’s so much easier to talk about milk production, genetics, feed costs and labor issues than pause to talk about the really hard conversation about succession planning. But consider the “what if” scenarios. What if dad has a stroke? What if our son’s new marriage ends in a divorce eight years down the road? What if after farming with your brother for 30 years you decide you no longer want to farm? What happens to the farm then? Yes, those are hard conversations, but you know what’s even harder? Selling the family farm at auction.

It took my parents losing their only son in an automobile accident in 1995 to establish a living will. While they didn’t have anyone to take over the family farm, they still talked about the what ifs. What if dad had a stroke. What if mom dies first? What happens to the farm then? My sisters and I are extremely blessed our parents were brave enough to have those worrisome conversations with themselves, first and foremost, but also with their children. When those what ifs became our realities years later, we didn’t have to think while undergoing heartache.

Beat the Statistics

Sadly, statistics paint a different picture. According to AARP, two out of five Americans over the age of 45 don’t have a will. The Small Business Administration reports less than a third of family-owned businesses survive the transition from first to second generation, and it dwindles to even fewer going from second to third generation.

Beat that statistic. Gather around a table and bring in a team of experts to start the uncomfortable conversation about how the family farm will be passed on. Nobody really knows when God is going to call them home. Live like you’ll die tomorrow — and plan for it, too.

Making that Tough Decision

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 19:48:39 GMT

Just a few weeks ago, I had to make my first tough decision on what I will someday soon call my farm. The reason I say this is because it’s not my farm just yet. Technically, it’s my fiancé’s family farm, though I’ve considered it to be partly my own for the last several years.

During the three years that my fiancé and I have been dating I’ve helped make a few hard decisions that involved the farm, but I was never the sole decision maker. Sure, I’d offer up my opinion and even throw in a bit of advice when I could, but the final say was always for his family and him to decide. But just a few weeks ago it was my turn to make a tough call, and I got to experience what it was like to make a hard decision.

Three years ago, when my fiancé and I first started dating, I paid a visit to his family’s farm and brought my trusty camera along. My opinion might be biased, but I’ve always thought their dairy is one of the most beautiful farms in the area, so I wanted to capture a few photos of it one hot summer night.

As I stood in their dry cow pasture, I remember meeting a certain cow who knew how to pose for the camera. Her number was 1515, who I later found out was named Joyful, and I instantly fell in love with her ‘in charge’ personality.

Over the years, I quickly began to consider Joyful as my cow. I had recently moved 500 miles from my home farm, so it was comforting to walk into the barn and see a cow who I treated as my own. She recently was classified at Excellent 92 and milked like a tank, so I was proud to have picked this girl out as my own.

During the first year that I had moved to the farm, Joyful had given birth to a bull calf. I was frustrated, but knew that not every calf could be a heifer. That spring, Joyful was rebred and I was hopeful for a heifer calf this time around. As her due date approached, I found myself checking on Joyful more than I did the other dry cows, and eagerly anticipated her calf’s arrival.

One drizzly fall night, Joyful finally started to show signs of labor. My fiancé’s cousin checked her throughout the night and helped her deliver a live heifer calf. The birth didn’t come without its difficulties, though. The calf came into the world upside down and backwards, a position that can often prove fatal. Nonetheless, this calf had survived, and I was ecstatic!

That night, the calf was tubed its colostrum as it wasn’t quite willing to drink on its own. The next morning, I went out to the barn to feed it its second feeding, but it still wasn’t drinking very well by itself. During the third feeding, Joyful’s calf seemed eager to drink, but as it nursed on the bottle hardly any milk was being consumed.

I’ve fed calves for most of my life, but I’ve never experienced a calf quite like this. Perplexed, I stuck my finger insider her mouth to examine the problem and was crushed by what I discovered. This calf had a severe cleft palate, a deformity I had never dealt with before.

After about 30 minutes of trying, I was finally able to get the calf to drink its bottle. I was worn out from assisting it for so long, but I was happy to finally see it consuming its milk. That evening, I did my research and asked a few farmers if it was possible to raise a calf with a cleft palate. They assured me that it would be difficult, but that it could be done. I was hopeful, and I decided I’d name the calf just that. Hopeful.

As I headed out the next morning to feed Hopeful, I felt more confident in her outcome. I did my research and was sure I’d be able to pull this one off. But as I went to give Hopeful her morning feeding, I was heartbroken with what I discovered.

Hopeful had a large hernia on her abdomen and was breathing difficultly. She still seemed eager to eat, but the abscess on the underside of her belly was not a good sign. My stomach sank, as I knew the chances of this calf surviving were not good. I called my fiancé and had him look at the calf. After examining her, he looked at me with sad eyes and said, “This one’s your call.”

I knew the day would eventually come where I would have to make a hard decision on my own at the farm, but I wasn’t ready for it to be then. My stomach was in knots as I finished feeding the rest of the calves and my mind was racing trying to weigh out the pros and cons. I had waited so long for Joyful to finally have a heifer calf, and I was so excited when I heard the news. But I knew from the business side of things that it didn’t make financial sense to perform hernia surgery on a calf who was already struggling from a cleft palate and the early onset of pneumonia. Hopeful’s health was declining, and I had to make the call.

And so, I did. I held back tears of frustration, anger and grief as I told my fiancé to put the calf down. I felt like a failure that day even though I had done everything I possibly could to save that calf. But I’m thankful for Hopeful and the lessons she taught me.

She reminded me of what it was like to truly be involved on the farm. Some days are great and you wouldn’t trade it for the world. Others are crushingly hard as you must make the tough decisions nobody wants to make. While the decision to put Hopeful down was a hard one, I feel as if it prepared me to help make some of those hard decisions on what will someday be my family’s farm.

While I might not have been able to keep Hopeful, I’m thankful Joyful is healthy and doing well this lactation. Being an optimist, I’m “hopeful” another heifer calf is in Joyful’s future. And I’ll be there, ready to take care of it if it is.

Dear Starbucks, I Think You’re Confused

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 18:05:46 GMT

I’m exhausted. Not only am I tired of large chains and celebrities pointing fingers at agriculture to reduce Green House Gasses (GHGs). I’m tired because there’s a spunky, independent and wildly determined two-year-old at my house. What’s worse, I can’t run to town to get a Starbucks. That’s because the coffee giant recently announced they’ll be encouraging customers to turn away from dairy and toward plant-based beverages in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint.

Really, I wouldn’t run to Starbucks anyway because I prefer a local coffee shop in our town, but I do love a half sweet vanilla latte from Starbucks when I’m on the road. The consistency between locations is hard to beat.

According to Bloomberg , the milk used by Starbucks accounts for just 0.3% of U.S. milk production. However, the decision to formally denounce dairy and declare an emphasis on non-dairy options may encourage other food-service outlets to follow suit.

What is Starbucks missing here? Well, a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations estimates global GHG emissions from the dairy industry totaled 1,712 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent, or about 3% of total world emissions, in 2015. FAO estimates that total GHG emissions from the dairy sector increased 18% from 2005 to 2015.

But at the same time, global milk production increased an astounding 30%. While the dairy herd increased 11%, milk production per cow increased 15%. The result: GHG emissions per kilogram of milk produced decreased 11%, or about 1% per year.

“More than 80 percent of the world’s population, or about 6 billion people, regularly consume liquid milk or other dairy products,” says the FAO report.

At the same time, FAO notes that dairy products are nutrient dense foods, supplying significant amounts of energy, protein and micronutrients, including calcium, magnesium, selenium, riboflavin, and vitamins B5 and B12. “[Dairy products] are the fifth largest provider of energy and the third largest provider of protein and fat for human beings and an important source of affordable nutrition to meet recommended levels,” says the FAO report.

Plus, dairy farming is integral to the economies of many countries. There are about 133 million farmers with dairy cattle word wide, including 80 million women who are engaged in dairy farming, at least to some extent.

Bottom line: Eliminating dairy cows and dairy farming from the planet would be highly disruptive to the world’s food supply and economic and social structure.

Dear Starbucks, I think you’re confused. I’m not sure how a company that sources its coffee from Asia and always has a drive through line 10 cars deep is going to reduce its carbon footprint by cutting milk, which on average travels less than 100 miles from cow to refrigerator.

Blue Ribbon Memories

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 19:02:38 GMT

Going to the county fair is an experience that kids of all ages work hard for all summer long. As a fair mom, I know all too well how rewarding it is to watch your children work hard with their summer 4-H projects.

In the early days of my kids showing cows, my husband and I’s role was far greater than it is now. Kids would be on the end of a lead rope, while we spearheaded it all—teaching cows how to walk, washing and clipping them and so much more. Now, I have a bleacher view. My kids do more, while I do less.

I’ve watched my youngest son, Jacob, walk his two show heifers every day this summer. Twice a day every day, he cleans their pen, walks them, and feeds and waters them. Even when it’s raining or pushing 95 degrees.

His older sister, Cassie, has decided to only show cows, so her role is slightly different. And, our oldest son, Tyler, who is busy with football practice and working on the farm, has decided to not show any cattle at all. So, I get to watch my little guy, who isn’t that little anymore, do heifer show chores solo.

This is where I become teary-eyed. I still remember his older brother and sister helping Jacob out, as well as me and my husband. I even remember one year at State Fair, when Jacob sported show whites at 7 a.m., just so he would be ready to help in the group classes. His older siblings would tease Jacob that he wasn’t ‘actually’ showing, so they didn’t know why he was wearing white jeans. “Group classes require extra people,” he says. “I want to be ready to help out!”

And, ready he was. Even though group classes are the last classes of the day, Jacob was raring to go. While the rest of us were dirty and exhausted, Jacob held his cow’s head up high and took his role seriously.

I smile big, especially now as I see that same determination sported by my now 11-year-old son. This all reminds me the small little acts that kids are taught early on does pay off. Watching how to break a heifer to lead, water and feed cattle, and wash and clip is all hands-on learning. Nobody becomes a master overnight, but with deep-rooted passion and a can-do attitude, soon enough our kids take the lead and become the kids we always knew were inside of them.

Yes, we all know the lessons kids learn in the showring go far beyond the color of ribbon they receive. I hope my kids come home from fair completely worn out. I hope they meet a new friend. I hope they learn how to dig deep and persevere, even when they are tired and hot and finish further down the line than they hoped for. And, I hope they realize the true definition of a champion has really little to do with exhibiting the champion cow.

Adopt Sustainable Feed Management Practices to Help Drive Profitability

Wed, 26 May 2021 20:59:53 GMT

As a dairy farmer, you know the importance of optimizing milk production and herd health. Don’t forget to make sustainable practices part of your management regimen. Doing so can boost milk output and improve the profitability of your operation.

In agriculture, sustainability is primarily associated with environmentally friendly practices such as reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, enhancing soil health and preserving water quality. And while these are all aspects of sustainability, there are others that are particularly relevant to dairy producers — especially those around optimizing feed utilization.

Making feed work harder
Ultimately, dairy production is about converting feed resources into higher-value products. “The beauty of ruminant animals is that they take feedstuffs that humans cannot consume and then upcycle them into higher-quality food such as milk,” says Sara Place, PhD, chief sustainability officer, Elanco Animal Health. “It’s key to think about how that diet conversion happens.”

Having the ability to know and trace the source of the inputs you purchase can be important. And then when feed gets to the animal, the digestibility and availability of that feed, how the feed is processed, and how you can capture the most energy and nutrients from it will be very important in determining how sustainable your operation is.

“We can define sustainable dairy operations as those that are economically viable, practice environmental stewardship and work with others to advance the well-being of society,” says Dr. Place. These three factors need to be in balance in order for an operation to be successful, not only from a sustainability standpoint but also from a business perspective.

Being economically viable
Profitability is the number-one criteria for sustainability, says Dr. Place. “Any dairy producer wants to be profitable in the long-term,” she says, “and the ability of an operation to turn a profit serves as the foundation for any sustainability effort.”

One way to optimize profitability is to use animal-centric ways to improve the conversion of feed resources (likely your main input cost) using the same amount of feed. These animal-centric actions could include improving the health of your herd and decreasing losses due to mortality and morbidity. Positive outcomes like these can be achieved through genetic improvements in dairy cows and using better feeds and feed additives to enhance conversion. In addition to boosting profitability, taking actions that promote animal well-being can help improve sustainability.

Practicing environmental stewardship
Regarding the GHG methane, which is emitted through cow manure and belching, the dairy industry has a system in place to enhance digestibility: feeding cows a mix of forage and grain.

“When cows eat a diet containing more fermentable carbohydrates like corn, they tend to reduce their methane emissions,” says Dr. Place. “They’re more feed efficient. And part of that efficiency is a result of not losing as many feed calories to methane but instead capturing more of them in the animal.”

Largely as a result of genetic improvements, dairies can now produce more milk with fewer cows. “One cow in 2019 in the United States produced as much milk as 5.8 cows did in 1924,” says Dr. Place. “This means today’s dairy producers are able to generate more profit per hundredweight of milk and reduce their carbon footprint at the same time.”

Advancing the well-being of all
Increasingly, society at large is emphasizing sustainability — particularly through reducing GHG emissions. However, dairy producers are not necessarily tracking those improvements on a large scale today.

“As an industry, we haven’t talked much about our sustainability successes and what we’re doing to advance sustainability because most people in this industry are very humble,” says Dr. Place. “They’re not necessarily viewing what they do to care for their animals through a sustainability lens.”

Also, greenhouse gas emissions are currently very difficult to measure and not a “typical” metric that producers are gauging. “I believe that in the future, as we monitor more emissions and other new measures, we’ll get more innovations in those spaces, whether it’s new ways to lower methane emissions from cows, or methane and nitrous oxide from their manure,” says Dr. Place. “There will likely also be new practices in feed production that would lower emissions or increase carbon sequestration.”

Enhancing or adopting sustainability efforts on a dairy operation has the potential to accomplish two things: improve the business over time, thereby making it more attractive to pass on to the next generation; and improve relationships with a broader audience. This audience includes the end users of dairy products who are increasingly interested in what companies and individuals are doing to advance sustainability efforts, as well as institutions that lend dairy producers money, intermediary processors and others.

Dairy industry organizations have recognized the need to advance sustainable practices and have established various stewardship and sustainability goals. For example, U.S. Dairy has set environmental sustainability goals to achieve carbon neutrality or better, optimize water usage and improve water quality by 2050.

Elanco Animal Health has also made a commitment through its Healthy Purpose initiative to create more resilient food systems by enabling 57 million more people to access their annual nutritious protein needs. At the same time, the company will remove 21 million tons of GHG emissions from customer farms while reducing its own impact on the planet.

Improving cow diets
One easy way to improve digestion and efficiency in dairy cows is to include a feed additive in your nutrition management strategy. Rumensin® is a proven management tool that optimizes your investment by giving cows a boost of extra energy* that can increase their milk production efficiency1 † by delivering more milk per pound of feed while maintaining milk’s natural wholesomeness. Early lactation cows crave additional energy to support higher production while late lactation counterparts need less feed to maintain production and pregnancies. Regardless of the feedstuffs for lactating and dry cows, Rumensin helps cows get more energy from every pound of feed.

Rumensin has other benefits, which include helping prevent and control coccidiosis in calves and heifers, and promoting increased heifer weight gain during all stages of post-weaning development.

“This is a sustainability benefit because it means fewer animal mortalities and less feed energy being used to fight an infection,” says Dr. Place. “Animals that are sick are not going to be performing at their best. Rumensin helps enhance the efficiency of the rumen system to get more of the volatile fatty acids (VFAs) that we want from cows and increase the energy efficiency of rumen fermentation.”

Your nutritionist can be a great resource to help you determine practical ways to optimize feed costs, improve milk production efficiency and add to your bottom line. Talk with him or her about what’s most feasible for your situation to achieve optimal cow nutrition and milk output.

Contact your Elanco representative to learn more about how to make your operation more sustainable and how Rumensin can help improve feed efficiency and milk production in your herd.

The label contains complete use information, including cautions and warnings. Always read, understand and follow the label and use directions.

CAUTION: Consumption by unapproved species or feeding undiluted may be toxic or fatal. Do not feed to veal calves.

Feeding Directions
For Dairy Cows: For increased milk production efficiency (production of marketable solids-corrected milk per unit of feed intake)
Total Mixed Rations (“complete feed”): Feed continuously to dry and lactating dairy cows a total mixed ration (“complete feed”) containing 11 to 22 g/ton monensin on a 100% dry matter basis.

Component Feeding Systems (including top dress): Feed continuously to dry and lactating cows a Type C Medicated Feed containing 11 to 400 g/ton monensin. The Type C Medicated Feed must be fed in a minimum of 1 pound of feed per cow per day to provide 185 to 660 mg/head/day monensin to lactating cows or 115 to 410 mg/head/day monensin to dry cows. This provides cows with similar amounts of monensin they would receive by consuming total mixed rations containing 11 to 22 g/ton monensin on a 100% dry matter basis.

Replacement beef and dairy heifers:
For increased rate of weight gain: Feed at the rate of not less than 50 nor more than 200 mg head per day in not less than one pound of Type C Medicated Feed; or after the 5th day, feed at a rate of 400 mg per head per day every other day in not less than 2 pounds of Type C Medicated Feed. The monensin concentration in the Type C Medicated Feed must be between 15 and 400 g/ton. During the first 5 days, cattle should receive no more than 100 mg per day contained in not less than 1 lb of feed. Do not self feed.

For the prevention and control of coccidiosis due to Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii: Feed at a rate to provide 0.14 to 0.42 mg per pound body weight per day, depending upon severity of challenge, up to a maximum of 200 mg per head per day. The monensin concentration in the Type C medicated Feed must be between 15 and 400 grams per ton. During the first 5 days, cattle should receive no more than 100 mg per day contained in not less than 1 pound of feed.

For calves (excluding veal calves)
For the prevention and control of coccidiosis due to Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii: Feed at a rate of 0.14 to 1.00 mg per pound of body weight per day, depending upon severity of challenge, up to a maximum of 200 mg of monensin per head per day. The monensin concentration in Type C Medicated Feed must be between 10 and 200 g/ton.

^*Energy is a direct result of the Rumensin mode of action.
^†Production of marketable solids-corrected milk per unit of feed intake.
¹Elanco Animal Health. Data on file.

Healthy Purpose, Rumensin and Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates.
© 2021 Elanco.
PM-US-21-1427

Water Your Calves

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 17:38:50 GMT

Here’s a question for you…did you water ALL your calves this morning?

In just a few weeks, we will be in the midst of the summer heat and it’s important to assure that calves have plenty of water to drink. Calves that are less than two weeks old may choose to drink only a few sips of water, while older calves will drink double their normal intake when temperatures are in the upper 80s or higher and the water is available.

I see it too often, it’s hot and the calves less than two weeks old don’t have any water in front of them. The most common explanation is that they are small and get their water from the milk or milk replacer they are consuming. But, the calf’s suckling reflex is stimulating that milk to be sent through the esophageal groove to the abomasum, which leaves the rumen in need of water for its development.

When calves are drinking water, it goes to the rumen where it mixes with calf grain to stimulate the development of the rumen lining. According to Sam Leadley’s Calving Ease newsletter, “Water: The Magic Growth Promoter,” USDA surveys report on average U.S. dairies begin to feed water to newborn calves at 17 days of age.

Are we maximizing growth rates with that practice? The short answer is no. Research shows that when water is offered beginning at Day 1, there are measurable differences in body weight at 5 months of age and hip height and body length at 10 weeks, as compared to waiting until Day 17 (Wickramasinghe).

On the flip side of newborns, it is also important to deliver extra water to calves as the amount of milk is being decreased leading up to weaning. Their water consumption will double in this time period and I often see water delivered fresh to calves in individual hutches or pens at least twice daily to keep encouraging intakes.

Besides water, what can be done to help calves through these hot temperatures?

Keep the air moving by situating calf housing to capitalize on prevailing wind direction. Turning hutches to face east and opening all vents in the summer can help. You might also consider installing additional back vents on older hutches to help assure fresh air at the calf’s nose level when resting.
Indoor calf facilities may benefit from additional fans, especially between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Research has shown average daily gains improved by 23% for calves cooled by fans (Hill et al). Calf-Tel pens now come with a variety of side and back options to allow extra ventilation for calves housed indoor.
Keep water pails clean. This is even more important in hot weather and calf managers use a variety of schedules for this, ranging from daily, weekly or bi-weekly depending on the labor available. One way that I see commonly is that a set portion of the pails are cleaned on certain days each week. This is also an easier task if there is an easy way to transport both the pails and clean water to and from the calf housing area.
Keep the calf starter grain fresh to encourage consumption.
Some producers are finding that bedding with sand works well in the warmer months. As with all other bedding material, it should be clean and dry.
Try to organize the day so that any vaccinations, pen moves or transportation or other stressors to calves happen in the morning when temperatures are still moderate.
Don’t forget to keep yourself hydrated in the summer heat.

References:

Jones, C. and Heinrichs, J. (2013, June 14). Heat stress in dairy calves. Penn State Extension. Retrieved from https://extension.psu.edu/heat-stress-in-dairy-calves .

Leadley, S. (2019, July). Water: the magic growth promoter. Calving Ease. Retrieved from http://atticacows.com/library/newsletters/CEJuly2019.pdf.

Wickramasinghe, H.K.J.P., et al. (2019). Drinking water intake of newborn dairy calves and its effects on feed intake, growth performance, health status, and nutrient digestibility. Journal of Dairy Science, 102: 377-387.

Kelly Driver has been involved in the New York dairy industry all her life. In addition to raising dairy calves and replacement heifers, she is the Northeast Territory Manager for Calf-Tel. Feel free to contact her at kellydriver@hampelcorp.com with your calf questions or suggest a topic you would like covered in a future blog.

Is It Coccidiosis?

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 14:50:52 GMT

Most dairy producers are familiar with coccidiosis. It is a disease that has the potential for significant economic losses for a dairy operation. Fortunately, there’s a lot we know about preventing and controlling coccidiosis from the research that’s been done. One thing is clear—without proper diagnostic testing and investigation, it’s difficult to accurately diagnose the disease. A thorough investigation that includes examining feed management and the cocci control products being used is part of a comprehensive diagnostic plan.

Coccidiosis causes significant global losses in cattle and bison, estimated at $400 million to $700 million annually.¹ These losses include animal mortality, growth reduction, permanent stunting, feed conversion reduction, treatment expenses and prevention costs. In addition, coccidiosis may cause a reduction in daily weight gain, increased susceptibility to other diseases and poor response to therapy for other conditions.

“Combining investigative information from farms with cocci outbreaks with an extensive literature review on the subject, we have gained new insights about the importance of a thorough investigation of suspected cases on the dairy to ensure an accurate diagnosis is made,” says Dr. Jerry Mechor, DVM, MVSc and technical consultant at Elanco Animal Health.

An accurate coccidiosis diagnosis is critical to develop a cost-effective treatment plan, but having a solid prevention strategy in place can mitigate the risk of disease in the first place. Dr. Mechor offers some tips for coccidiosis diagnosis and prevention.

Getting an Accurate Diagnosis
A pathogenic species from the genus Eimeria causes coccidiosis. In cattle, 13 intestinal Eimeria species have been identified, although not all cause disease in animals. Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii are two species that have been shown to have the greatest potential for disease infection.² This is important to know, because although lab results may indicate a high number of coccidiosis oocysts present in an animal’s feces, species identification is critical to confirm the presence of species with pathogenic potential.

While diarrhea is one of the most common symptoms of coccidiosis, Dr. Mechor says that producers should look deeper for an accurate diagnosis. “Diarrhea in calves does not always equate to coccidia. There are a lot of causes of diarrhea in calves. Take a comprehensive approach to the diagnostics to gain insight into what’s going on,” he says. Bacteria, viruses, parasitic infections, dietary changes and nutrient deficiencies are other common causes of diarrhea in weaned calves.

Dr. Mechor says accurate diagnosis of coccidiosis requires several steps:

1. Look for clinical symptoms and conduct a thorough examination of sick calves.
2. Conduct necropsy examinations on dead animals.
3. Confirm the presence of pathogenic species of Eimeria oocysts through lab testing.

Lab testing is of vital importance for confirming coccidiosis in cattle. Dr. Mechor recommends obtaining five to eight samples of feces from calves that are both healthy and suffering from disease. Submit them for virology, bacteriology and parasitology testing, and be sure to look at cocci speciation on the lab report.

Once lab results are in, a positive diagnosis of coccidiosis can be made by:

Confirmation of a significant number of pathogenic coccidian species in feces
Assessment of appropriate clinical symptoms, including diarrhea and dysentery
Confirmation by pathology, if appropriate
Ruling out of other diseases

Based on the diagnosis, producers can institute a treatment and prevention plan, whether it is for cocci, challenges with bacterial overgrowth due to diet changes or other intestinal issues.

Take Action to Keep Calves Healthy
Eimeria oocysts can remain viable in the environment for up to a year, withstanding environmental challenges because they have a thick cell wall that helps protect them. They’re resistant to freezing, extreme pH changes and low oxygen availability, meaning they can thrive in extreme conditions. One key to prevention is a clean living environment for animals with plenty of exposure to direct sunlight, which can be detrimental to oocyst survival. Dr. Mechor says covered areas that are wet and contaminated with feces provide a favorable environment for disease transmission.

Another way to help prevent disease transmission is to reduce animal stress, because stressed cattle may be more prone to coccidiosis infection. Weaning, transporting, extreme weather, changing diets and overcrowding are all stimuli that could put animals at greater risk for developing coccidiosis.

“Environmental management to minimize exposure of animals to fecal-contaminated housing, feed, water and soil is critical to prevent coccidiosis,” says Dr. Mechor. He recommends these tips to keep cattle healthy:

Ensure that cows are clean before entering maternity areas
Minimize the time newborn calves spend in the maternity pen
Clean maternity pens regularly
Thoroughly clean calf housing to remove all organic matter; expose to direct sunlight if possible
Minimize contact between calves
Isolate animals with severe clinical symptoms
Avoid feeding on the ground
Maintain clean waterers and feeders
Avoid overcrowding and reduce stress
Rotate pastures
Encourage early dry matter intake in young calves
Feed adequate levels of Rumensin® for the control and prevention of coccidiosis prior to exposure

For the prevention and control of coccidiosis, Rumensin is the most potent feed ingredient available.³ It kills coccidiosis parasites at three different stages in the life cycle instead of merely slowing their development.⁴ Additionally, Rumensin is more efficacious at lower doses compared to other ionophores.³

Taking appropriate steps to prevent coccidiosis and accurately diagnosing positive cases can help dairy producers save time and money. Dr. Mechor says treating for the disease without confirming it’s the cause of symptoms in cattle is a costly mistake. “We’ve looked at this problem with tunnel vision. The thought is, ‘We have diarrhea, we have coccidiosis,’ right? And it’s not that simple,” says Dr. Mechor.

The label contains complete use information, including cautions and warnings. Always read, understand and follow the label and use directions. 

CAUTION: Consumption by unapproved species or feeding undiluted may be toxic or fatal. Do not feed to veal calves.

Calves (excluding veal calves)
For the prevention and control of coccidiosis due to Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii: Feed 10 to 200 g/ton to provide 0.14 to 1.0 mg/lb of body weight/d, depending upon severity of challenge, up to a maximum of 200 mg/hd/d. The Type C medicated feed must contain 10 to 200 g/ton of monensin (90% DM basis).

¹Jolley WR, Bardsley KD. Ruminant coccidiosis. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2006;22(3):613-621. doi: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2006.07.004.
²Bangoura B, Bardsley KD. Ruminant coccidiosis. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2020;36(1):187-203. doi: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2019.12.006.
³Long P, Jeffers T. Studies on the stage of action of ionophorous antibiotics against Eimeria. J Parasitol. 1982;68(3):363-371.
⁴McDougald L. Chemotherapy of coccidiosis. In: Long PL, editor. The Biology of the Coccidia. Baltimore MD: University Park Press;1980:373-427.

Rumensin, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates.
© 2021 Elanco.
PM-US-21-0729

"Keeper of the Flame"

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 19:53:47 GMT

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a sucker for a good playlist. Need a few tunes to jam out to while feeding calves? I’ve got a playlist for that. Want some new music to listen to during spring planting? I’ve got you covered. No matter the situation, I can come up with a list of songs to fit any mood.

But when the calendar transitioned from 2020 to 2021, my overall mood was in a state of confusion. I was hopeful for better times ahead, fearful of what the future held and intimidated by the changes yet to come. But like always, I turned to music to help sort through my thoughts and motivate me for the year ahead.

One winter evening after a chilly night in the barn, I came home to whip up something quick for dinner. My motivation to cook was at a -10, so I figured some music would help me scrounge up a little ambition.

I pulled out a few pots and pans before yelling ‘Hey Alexa, play some country music.’ As I stared blankly at my refrigerator trying to come up with something to cook for dinner, Alexa started to play a song I hadn’t heard in years. It was called “Keeper of the Flame” by Miranda Lambert, and it pretty much summed up the emotions I’ve felt so far in 2021. Here’s how it starts off:

“I’m walking in their footsteps. I’m singing their old songs. Somebody blazed this trail I’m treading on.

“I’m bent but I’m not broken. I’m stronger than I feel. I’m made of flesh and bone, not made of steel.

“I’m the keeper of the flame, the teller of the story. The keeper of the flame, for the one’s that came before me. For the little pilot lights waiting to ignite, like fireflies in the rain. Keeper of the flame.”

When those lyrics rang out over the speaker, I had a bit of an epiphany. As farmers, we are the keepers of the flame. No matter if we are a first-generation farmer or the sixth, we continue to care for our family, farm and animals during both the good times and bad. Even when we’re almost at our breaking point, we’re stronger than we feel and continue to keep pushing forward, carrying the tradition of farming with us.

I added that song to my 2021 playlist that night and I’ve played it multiple times since then. Whenever I’m needing a little motivation, a pick-me-up or just a simple reminder to be thankful, this song has become my go-to.

What’s your favorite motivational song that keeps you going? I’d love to hear it. Drop me a comment down below.

Deeper Dive into PPP

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 19:28:27 GMT

Yesterday’s post was more of a summary of some of the key changes from the new COVID stimulus bill. Today, we dive deep into the changes related to PPP loans.

Additional Eligible Expenses

The following types of expenses will now qualify:

Covered operation expenses - Payment for any software, cloud computing, and other human resources and accounting needs.
Covered property damage costs - Costs related to property damage due to public disturbances that occurred during 2020 that are not covered by insurance.
Covered supplier costs - Any costs that are essential to the recipient’s operations at the time the loan was made plus any perishable goods.
Covered worker protection expenditure - Personal protective equipment and adaptive investments to help the borrower comply with federal health and safety standards or any equivalent State or local guidance between March 1, 2020 and the end of the national emergency declaration.

Selection of Covered Period for Forgiveness

The borrower can elect to use any period that is at least 8 weeks long, but no more than 24 weeks. This allows the borrower to ask for forgiveness before the end of the 24-week period.

Simplified Application

For loans under $150,000, a new simplified one-page application is allowed. Borrower signs and submits to the lender a certification that includes number of employees retained; the estimated total amount of the loan spent on payroll costs; and the total loan amount. Borrower must attest to meeting the PPP loan requirements, etc.

Specific Group Insurance Payments as Payroll Costs

Other employer-provided group insurance benefits such as life, disability, vision or dental insurance will qualify as payroll costs.

PPP Second Draw Loans

A farmer, who qualifies, may obtain an additional second PPP loan of up to $2 million.

Employs not more than 300 employees;
Have used or will use the full amount of their first PPP loan; and
Demonstrates at least a 25% reduction in gross revenues in any quarter in 2020 compared to same quarter in 2019.

If the loan is less than $150,000, the entity may submit a certification that they meet the revenue loss requirements.

The 60/40 split between payroll and non-payroll costs is maintained.

Any borrower who returned all or part of their PPP loan may reapply for the maximum amount allowed so long as they have not received forgiveness (another reason it was prudent to not file for forgiveness too soon). Additionally, if loan calculations have increased due to changes in interim final rules, they may work with their lenders to modify the loan and get the increased amount even if Form 1502 has already been submitted.

Special Farmer Gross Revenue Rule

Farmers who operate as a sole proprietor, independent contractor or self-employed individual (therefore it is unlikely that partners will qualify since those loans are at the partnership level) will qualify for the maximum $20,833 loan based on 2019 gross revenues being at least $100,000. If you received a loan based on your earnings less than that amount, and your gross revenues were at least $100,000 you will be able to increase your loan to that amount. However, if your loan has already been forgiven, this change will not apply (we will need details from the SBA). Lenders are allowed to recalculate these loans if it would result in a larger loan.

This should also allow you the maximum amount for the Second PPP loan as long as you qualify based on a revenue reduction in 2020 versus 2019.

This provision is solely for receiving a loan based upon your self-employed income. Loan amounts for employees are still based on applicable payroll costs.

Definition of a Seasonal Employer

We finally got a definition of a seasonal employer. It is an employer which (1) operates for no more than seven months in a year, or (2) earned no more than 1/3 of its receipts in any six months in the prior calendar year.

Extension of Program

The program is extended to March 31, 2021.

Repeal of EIDL Advance Deduction

The new Act repeals Section 1110(e)(6) of the CARES Act that required PPP loan forgiveness to be reduced by any EIDL advances (up to $10,000). This is a retroactive provision and will allow any PPP borrowers who had forgiveness reduced by this amount to have it forgiven.

Tax Treatment of PPP and Other Loan Forgiveness

The Act clarifies that gross income does not include forgiveness of certain loans including PPP loans, emergency EIDL grants and other certain loan repayment assistance. It also clarifies that all expenses incurred in arriving at loan forgiveness will remain 100% deductible.

Conclusion

As we have indicated in several posts, it was wise to wait to ask for forgiveness. The final rules from this new Bill indicate that almost everything we could hope for in regard to PPP loan forgiveness and additional stimulus has occurred, but in some cases you are out of luck if you have already gotten forgiveness.

Liquid Nitrogen to Be Used for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 19:49:38 GMT

When my husband’s grandfather started using AI in the 1950s, things were a lot different. My grandmother-in-law laughs even today about the sideways glances their use of AI provoked from neighbors and friends. At the time, semen came from U.C. Davis on a Greyhound Bus to Reno where he’d pick it up. Today, semen salesmen are on farms every day of the week (well, before COVID times at least.) One thing that’s stayed the same during the past 70 years of reproductive advancement: liquid nitrogen. The same technology that will be used to help end the global pandemic.

Pfizer announced last week that early data that showed a vaccine it has been developing was more than 90% effective in preventing COVID-19. But, storing and distributing a vaccine — especially the potential Pfizer vaccine, which has to be frozen at -70°C until use — poses a significant challenge, according to a Washington Post story .

The Washington Post story explains how in the 1950s, cattle breeders played a “major role in developing and scaling up the technology to circulate biological materials globally at temperatures as low as -196°C.” That technology was liquid nitrogen.

“In what is known as the ‘cold chain,’ these supply networks made it possible to ship temperature-sensitive agricultural and medical products within and beyond the United States,” they wrote. “In other words, practices honed in the American heartland helped make cold-dependent therapeutics feasible — from organ transplantation to blood banking, artificial insemination to vaccine development and distribution.”

It’s not lost on me that the dedication of farmers seeking to improve their genetics, production and bottom lines more than 70 years ago is paying off today. And while liquid nitrogen is used in medical industries daily, let’s hope the COVID vaccine is a reminder of the importance in collaboration between animal agriculture and biomedicine. Together, we can go further faster.

Wild thing, you make my heart sing. You make everything groovy.

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 17:26:17 GMT

In case you missed it you can now share the -8-25-20 evening of absurdity with nationally-syndicated cartoonists Leigh Rubin, creator of the comic strip “Rubes,” and Wisconsin State Journal editorial cartoonist Phil Hands. This odd couple riffed off each other’s cartoons, demonstrated how the twisted minds of two different cartoonists work. If you’ve ever wanted to learn from a professional smart-aleck or full-time doodler, now’s your chance!

Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/DMKXBYXOkHQ

In their memory

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 17:26:17 GMT

https://youtu.be/DMKXBYXOkHQ

Play ball!

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 17:26:17 GMT

https://youtu.be/DMKXBYXOkHQ

The Happiest Doorstep on Earth!

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 17:26:17 GMT

https://youtu.be/DMKXBYXOkHQ

Sowing Seeds of Discontent

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 17:26:17 GMT

That's the brakes!

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 17:26:17 GMT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMKXBYXOkHQ

The Secret of Creating a Perfect Cartoon* (*certain conditions apply.)

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 17:26:17 GMT

...And now for you viewing pleasure...all my cartooning secrets will be revealed!

Hosted by the one and only Fresno Bee!

Watch: ‘The Secret of Creating a Perfect* Cartoon (*certain...

An Easter basketful of fun awaits!

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 17:26:07 GMT

I had the pleasure of doing an early morning/live FaceTime segment on CBS13 Sacramento about navigating the world of humor through the current crisis.

Thought it would be fun to share with you all!

Be sure to laugh a lot. I hear it’s good for boosting the immune system!

Leigh

Click here for video:

Opinion

New Mom on the Farm: Learning to Step Back and Watch

The Story No One Talks About: The Cost to Produce Food

Inaction on Traceability is Unacceptable

Speer: Day-Old Calves Cost How Much…?

Animal Activists Are Waging War in Your Backyard

A Reality Check

How Can You Help?

Extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is Good for American Farmers

A Girl, a Goat and the Law: The Shasta County, CA, Boondoggle

Critical Thinking Is Paramount (And No, Cows Are NOT Killing The Earth)

Hanes: The Beef Checkoff and Lab-Grown Protein

This Uncomfortable Conversation Could Save Your Farm

Making that Tough Decision

Dear Starbucks, I Think You’re Confused

Blue Ribbon Memories

Adopt Sustainable Feed Management Practices to Help Drive Profitability

*Energy is a direct result of the Rumensin mode of action.†Production of marketable solids-corrected milk per unit of feed intake.1Elanco Animal Health. Data on file.

Healthy Purpose, Rumensin and Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates.© 2021 Elanco. PM-US-21-1427

Water Your Calves

Is It Coccidiosis?

"Keeper of the Flame"

Deeper Dive into PPP

Liquid Nitrogen to Be Used for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

Wild thing, you make my heart sing. You make everything groovy.

In their memory

Play ball!

The Happiest Doorstep on Earth!

Sowing Seeds of Discontent

That's the brakes!

The Secret of Creating a Perfect Cartoon* (*certain conditions apply.)

...And now for you viewing pleasure...all my cartooning secrets will be revealed!

Hosted by the one and only Fresno Bee!

An Easter basketful of fun awaits!

^*Energy is a direct result of the Rumensin mode of action.
^†Production of marketable solids-corrected milk per unit of feed intake.
¹Elanco Animal Health. Data on file.

Healthy Purpose, Rumensin and Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates.
© 2021 Elanco.
PM-US-21-1427