04--2011 - Are You Ready for Spring?
Download information here

03--2011 - Know Your Farmer
Download information here

03--2011 - Know Your Farmer
Download information here

02--2011 - Improving Pastures
Download information here

01--2011 - Muddy Barnyards
Download information here

12--2010 - Pennsylvania Conservation Calendars
Pennsylvania Conservation Calendars are now available for 2011 and 2012. This two year calendar was developed for producers who work the land, manage livestock, and grow crops for food, fiber and fuel. The calendar has timely reminders each month to help upkeep conservation practices. The management of manure, cover crops, pastures, and cash crops is the focus of the calendar’s monthly tips. The purpose of the calendar is to promote the adoption of cost-effective agronomic practices and provide technical support.

Managing agricultural practices requires dedication for success. Anyone who farms knows there is a small window of time to clip pastures before thistle goes to seed, spread manure for optimum nutrient benefits, and plant cover crops before winter sets in. However, attention to detail can make the difference between a successful year and satisfied farmer or failure.

The well managed farms of Pennsylvania help strengthen agriculture’s productivity and profitability. By properly managing conservation practices, farms can increase crop yields, reduce fertilizer costs, and improve the soil quality of the cropland. Good management on farms lowers nutrient and sediment runoff from manure storage areas and crop fields. This helps protect streams and ground water that leads to better drinking water.

The calendar can be used to help keep track of farm operations. It is 11” x 17”in size with large date blocks to provide space for recordkeeping. Good recordkeeping helps strengthen the farm’s economics by keeping production goals on track. Evaluating progress each year helps with future operation decisions.

To get a calendar, contact Beth Futrick at 814-696-0877 x5or bfutrick@blairconservationdistrict.org - -- or --- Shelly Dehoff at 717-880-0848 or shelly.dehoff@gmail.com

This series is being sponsored by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Ombudsman Program, which serves state-wide as a liaison to communities for conflict management on issues affecting agriculture, land use, environment and planning.


Download information here

11--2010 - Winter Manure Application and Winter Stockpiling
Winter Manure Application and Winter Stockpiling

Shelly Dehoff

Can manure be land applied during winter in Pennsylvania? Yes, but…. There’s always a “but,” isn’t there? Winter spreading and stockpiling requirements are just some of the items discussed in the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP’s) “Land Application of Manure” publication. According to DEP, “Every farm in Pennsylvania that land applies manure is required to have a written manure management plan. This includes manure application by various types of equipment and/or direct application by animals on pastures and in animal concentration areas.” If your operation is not a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) or a Concentrated Animal Operation (CAO), your written manure management plan does not have to be certified, but it must be documented and retained on your operation.

So how is winter defined? According to DEP, “winter” includes December 15 through February 28; anytime the ground is frozen at least 4 inches deep; or anytime the ground is snow covered. Farmers that apply manure in the winter need to follow this criteria:
• The maximum application rate is 5000 gallons or 20 tons per acre. Or, a farmer can calculate and apply manure to the phosphorus removal rate for the coming year’s crop.
• An additional setback of 150 feet from an above ground inlet to an agricultural drainage system if surface water flow is toward the above ground inlet.
• All fields must have at least 40% crop residue at application time or an established and growing cover crop, hay or pasture crop.
• All winter application must be done consistent with an agricultural erosion and sediment pollution control plan (often a Conservation Plan). Manure may not be applied during winter on fields with slopes greater than 15%.

Manure that cannot be spread during winter may need to be stockpiled. No matter what the reason is for stockpiling or stocking manure (such as daily haul operations, unsuitable conditions, imported poultry manure), certain requirements need to be followed.
• Keep all stockpiles or stacks 150 ft from sensitive areas (streams, lakes, ponds, etc.); 100 ft from a drinking water well or open sinkhole, and out of concentrated flow areas (swales, waterways, etc.).
• Stockpile on improved pads whenever possible, and capture the runoff.
• When stockpiling/stacking in fields, it cannot be in the same location every year. Use the same area once in four years and re-vegetate the area with grasses or legumes.
• Place the stack near the top of a hill and divert clean water away.
• Place the stack on less than 8% slope, and orient the stack up and down the slope.
• Have sufficient bedding in the manure to allow the stack to be at least five ft high.
• Cover the stack within 15 days, if it is to be there 120 days or more

For more details about winter manure spreading and stockpiling of manure, consult your local Conservation District or USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office.

10--2010 - Celebrate Farm City Week: November 19-25, 2010
Celebrate Farm City Week: November 19-25, 2010

By: MeeCee Baker, PhD

The week before Thanksgiving has been consistently designated Farm City Week by White House proclamation since 1955 when President Eisenhower initiated the recognition. The intent of the celebration is to help Farm and City neighbors gain a greater understanding and appreciation for our interdependence. Since that time, the Farm City movement has been adopted in varying formats across the nation.

Traditionally, job exchanges and evening banquets featuring elected officials have been popular during Farm City Week. More recently, school based agricultural literacy programs hosted by farm and youth organizations have gained in popularity. Further, the Agritainment trend (hay rides, corn mazes, pick your own stands, et. al.) now help Pennsylvanian’s mark Farm City Week.

National Farm City Week organization is provided by Farm Bureau. Readers can glean ideas for event planning as well as purchase materials to assist their efforts at the web site www.farmcity.org or by calling 202.406.3706. In addition, the web site hosts fun facts, contact information, and applications for groups to nominate their Farm City Week affairs for recognition.

Several outstanding Farm City programs are held annually throughout the Commonwealth. Lawrence County holds a large scale event for all fourth grade students. The pupils participate in rotating workshops that focus on hands-on activities. The Berlin Brothers Valley area has historically hosted exceptional events as well. Perhaps there are others. Feel free to contact me, the PA Farm City Coordinator, at mbaker@versantstrategies.net or 717.635.2320 to share ideas or ask for assistance.

A National Farm City Symposium is set for November 18, 2010, at the Lancaster Host Resort in Lancaster, PA. The symposium will explore friendly methods that can help assist the urban media when preparing news or feature stories that could significantly and negatively impact farmers, ranchers and the many agribusiness industries. “Today, the chances of incorrect information on agricultural issues being mistakenly passed to the general public are not only a possibility – it is a reality that has caused serious financial damage and hardship to farmers, ranchers and others within the industry,” says Al Pell, noted national agricultural broadcaster and chairman of the National Farm-City Council.
Registrations are open to the public. Check the web site or call either number above for more information.

Perhaps Farm City Week is needed now more than ever. With fewer and fewer people understanding the basics of agriculture, fallacies regarding production abound in popular press. Even if not participating in a formal Farm City happening, consider taking the time to regularly talk to our more urban brothers and sisters about the agricultural bounty that feeds the world. At the same time, ask about their lifestyles and careers. Better understanding leads to greater appreciation and ultimately accomplishes the founding purpose of Farm City Week.

08--2010 - The Growth of the Equine Industry
The Growth of the Equine Industry

The equine industry is the fastest growing segment of livestock production in Pennsylvania. According to Penn State University Dept. of Dairy and Animal Science and PA Dept. of Agriculture, Pennsylvania’s Equine Industry Inventory, Basic Economic and Demographic Characteristic, Pennsylvania’s equine population has increased by 50% from 1993 to 2005.

In the past, horses used for recreation or transportation were not included in the nutrient management regulation. Horses, regardless of use, could now be included under the Nutrient Management Act or Act 38 of 2005. Act 38 regulates nutrients on animal operations that exceed 2 animal equivalent units per acre. These operations are known as Concentrated Animal Operations (CAOs). An animal equivalent unit is 1,000 pounds live animal weight. Those equine operations that exceed 8 animal equivalent units and exceed the CAO threshold of 2 animal equivalent units per acre are subject to the same nutrient planning requirements of any other CAO.

Most horse owners do not meet the operation size threshold of eight animal equivalent units and needn’t worry about developing a nutrient management plan. However, horse owners typically keep their horses on small acre lots making barnyard and manure management an important part of their operation. Having a plan on how to collect, store, and dispose of manure could help reduce potential nuisance complaints from neighbors or a citation from DEP.

Any contaminated runoff from a barnyard area is regulated under Pennsylvania’s Clean Streams Law. Private landowners who allow contaminated runoff to drain into ditches, streams or onto neighboring properties can be cited with a violation. Improper manure management where manure laden runoff escapes from pastures or stacking pads is a common source of violation. Soil erosion from a bare pasture area or animal concentration area can result in sedimentation of nearby streams and a violation.

A horse produces 45 pounds of manure per day. Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous are the potential pollutants found in manure if it is improperly stored. Horse owners with little acreage for manure application need an alternative plan for the manure produced on their property. Manure should be collected off the paddock and stockpiled in an area isolated from well heads, ditches, and the neighbor’s property line. Horse manure composts well and is easy to export to a neighboring farm, garden center, or a landscape contractor.

Maintained pastures help reduce sediment erosion and look neat and clean. A clean looking farm tends to have fewer nuisance complaints. Collecting manure from the paddock will help save the grasses in the pasture, but there will always be a worn muddy area in the paddock. A good management tool is to select an area as a sacrifice lot. This denuded area should be located away from water bodies and have a grass buffer around it to catch sediment and nutrient runoff. These areas can be disked and reseeded in the fall. The fall growth will reduce soil erosion from the area and provide pasture for the horse in following spring. Penn State Extension or the local Conservation District are good resources for assisting with pasture establishment and maintenance.
Controlling flies and odor are important for good neighbor relations. Stockpiled manure is a good breeding ground for flies. Flies deposit eggs in the top few inches of moist manure. Eggs can hatch in as little as seven days under optimal temperature and moisture conditions. Keeping manure below 50% moisture makes it less desirable for egg deposition. Eliminate moisture by stockpiling manure under roof, or tarp the pile until the manure is exported from the farm. To reduce potential fly hatches in the paddock, drag or harrow the manure clumps to reduce the moisture level in the manure left behind in the pasture.

Finally, because horses do require specialized care and they are growing in popularity and complaints generated, the Lancaster County Conservation District developed a month to month guide called “Environment of a Healthy Horse” and is now available through the Ombudsman Program. For questions about state and federal rules and regulations, contact your local county conservation district. The County Conservation can assist with manure management or other best management practices.


This series is being sponsored by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Ombudsman Program, which serves state-wide as a liaison to communities for conflict management on issues affecting agriculture, land use, environment and planning. Contact information: Shelly Dehoff, Lancaster County Conservation District 717-880-0848 or shelly.dehoff@gmail.com–or--Beth Futrick, Blair County Conservation District 814-696-0877 or bfutrick@blairconservationdistrict.org

07--2010 - Cover Your Soil for Profit and Clean Water
Cover Your Soil for Profit and Clean Water
Beth Futrick

Here we are in midsummer already and the spring rush is over. The corn is planted and the first cutting of hay is in the barn. This is a good time to start thinking about a fall cover crop planting. Finding the time to plan ahead for a cover crop is sometimes a challenge for producers. Taking the extra time to plan a cover crop could payoff later. To begin with, cover crops have a variety of agronomic benefits that can improve productivity by improving organic matter, reducing soil compaction, and suppressing weeds.

Using cover crops can also help improve water quality by reducing sediment erosion and limiting nutrient runoff or leaching from cropland. Sediment and high levels of nutrients are considered a pollutant and are detrimental to a stream’s ecosystem. Cover crops can also hold onto nutrients and prevent nitrogen from leaching into groundwater.

Producers don’t want to lose valuable soil or nitrogen. In the end, this loss can hurt production. But, finding the time and money to plant a cover crop is difficult for most farmers. This is why it is important to examine the economic benefits of using cover crops in a rotation. Is planting a cover crop worth the time and money? The money invested in seed purchase and planting costs can increase production expenses. The time associated with cover crop management is also a cost to the producer. However, selecting and managing specific cover crop species can offset other farm cost such as nitrogen fertilizer and herbicide purchases. The cover crop investment return may not be noticeable in the short term. The main monetary benefit of a cover crop is seen through the improvement of soil quality. Using cover crops over multiple growing seasons can certainly enhance a producer’s bottom line.

To improve water quality, any type of cover crop is better than nothing. Having vegetative material covering the soil’s surface reduces impact rain has on the soil. When soil takes a direct hit from rain drops, the soil particles are loosened, carried off the field, and deposited into waterways as sediment. Usually nutrients are carried off with the sediment and can have an additional negative impact on streams. Cover crops also provide a root system that holds the soil in a field after the cash crop has been removed. A well established root system will take up extra nutrients and reduce the potential for nitrogen leaching and contaminating groundwater. However, for producers to gain specific agronomic improvements, selecting the right cover crop species is important. To increase cropland productivity, select a cover crop to address the needs in the field. This is the first step in seeing the full potential of a cover crop in a rotation. For example, planting barley as a cover crop can suppress weeds by establishing quickly and shading out the competition. Planting radish can help relieve soil compaction by creating large taproot holes. A legume such as red clover or hairy vetch can increase the nitrogen available for the following crop. And, if too much nitrogen is a problem, annual ryegrass, cereal rye, or oats can recapture and use the excess nutrients. Selecting the right cover crop species can improve soil quality and productivity. A good resource and management tool to help with selection is a book published by Sustainable Agriculture Network from Beltsville MD titled “Managing Cover Crops Profitably”. This book outlines the benefits and management of a number of cover crop species ranging from Annual Ryegrass to Woollypod Vetch.

A profitable cover crop program requires good planning and understanding the different management and agronomical characteristics of cover crop varieties. Producers can find technical support from their local extension agent, conservation district, or NRCS technician. Producers can also find support and increase their knowledge about cover crops by attending workshops and conferences. To learn more about cover crop management and water quality this summer, attend the Cover Your Soil for Profit and Clean Water Conference. The conference will be held at The Park in Morrison’s Cove, Martinsburg, PA on August 6th from 8:00am – 3:30pm. The first 50 people registered will receive a free copy of the Sustainable Agriculture Network book “Managing Cover Crops Profitably”. Two of the speakers scheduled for this event are Jim Hoorman from Ohio State Extension and Dr. Jack Meisinger with United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. Both will discuss how managing cover crops will improve soil and water quality. For more information call Beth Futrick at 814-696-0877 or visit the PA Agricultural Ombudsman website: www.agombudsman.com

This series is being sponsored by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Ombudsman Program, which serves state-wide as a liaison to communities for conflict management on issues affecting agriculture, land use, environment and planning. Contact information: Shelly Dehoff, Lancaster County Conservation District 717-880-0848 or shelly.dehoff@gmail.com –or--Beth Futrick, Blair County Conservation District 814-696-0877 or bfutrick@blairconservationdistrict.org

*********************************************************

06--2010 - Food System Study
Article written by Alison Hastings, Sr. Environmental Planner, DVRPC


The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) recently completed the Greater Philadelphia Food System Study, a project that evaluates the food system that serves the nine counties of Greater Philadelphia. This study looked at a broad range of food supply issues, such as agricultural production trends, natural resource constraints, the origins and destinations of food imports and exports, and the significance of the food economy. For the purposes of this study, DVRPC defined the metropolitan area's "foodshed" as a 100-mile radius from a center point in downtown Philadelphia.
Findings of significance include:
• The nine-county region cannot subsist on local foods alone because Greater Philadelphia's food demand is greater than the 100-Mile Foodshed's food supply.
• Local agriculture benefits from Philadelphia's consumer markets; but the DVRPC nine-county region is losing viable farmland each year to inefficient land use.
• The Greater Philadelphia region has fewer aggregate food dollars than other nearby metro areas. This increases our food supply deficit, as some suppliers prefer selling food for higher prices in the New York and Washington D.C. metro areas and not in the DVRPC nine-county region.
• An American culture of cheap, processed, and convenient food has led to a culture of unhealthy eating.
• Recently, efforts to strengthen the regional food system have been gaining momentum. Interest in local foods, land trusts, and urban agriculture are all indicative of positive changes for the nine-county region.

DVRPC became interested in food system planning through its open space protection and farmland preservation initiatives – important growth management tools that protect natural resources, focus future growth in appropriate places, and make the metropolitan area more livable. Through this work, DVRPC interacted with many farmers who were interested in preserving their land or staying in farming while the region continues to suburbanize. Many farmers said, “You can preserve the farm, but you cannot preserve the farmer.”
DVRPC recognizes the need to ensure the vitality and viability of the agricultural industry as a more comprehensive growth management strategy; and the Commission quickly learned that food system planning is a comprehensive field that tries to better understand the complicated processes that produce, process, distribute, prepare, sell, and dispose of food, as well as the societal implications of economic development, environmental conservation, fairness, food access, health, and hunger.
DVRPC's Greater Philadelphia Food System Study will be followed by the Plan for a More Sustainable Food System, to be completed in the summer of 2010.The plan will use the results of the study to identify recommendations for improvement and create a vision for a more sustainable and resilient food system for Greater Philadelphia.
For more information, visit www.dvrpc.org/food.
DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION

DVRPC is dedicated to uniting the region’s elected officials, planning professionals and the public with the common vision of making a great region even greater. Shaping the way we live, work and play, DVRPC builds consensus on improving transportation, promoting smart growth, protecting the environment, and enhancing the economy. We serve a diverse region of nine counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer in New Jersey. DVRPC is the official metropolitan planning organization for the Greater Philadelphia Region - leading the way to a better future. DVRPC fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. For more information, visit www.dvrpc.org.

05--2010 - Fly Minimization (Part 2 of 2)
Fly Minimization (Part 2 of 2)
By
Shelly Dehoff

If you had the opportunity to read Part 1 of this article, you will remember that it stressed the need to keep animal confinement areas and pastures as clean, sanitary and dry as possible to reduce the breeding ground for flies. Part 1 also gave basic information on common flies, identified if they are biting or non-biting, and reminded everyone that knowing what types of flies are on a farm can help identify the source of the flies which may help determine how to minimize or alleviate the issues.

I suspect that most farmers have heard of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM seeks to maximize the effectiveness of pest control while conserving beneficial insects and minimizing pesticide use. The cornerstone of effective IPM is correct identification along with accurate and timely monitoring of all pests, not just flies. Other components are various combinations of cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical control practices designed to keep fly populations below economically injurious levels, according to D. Wes Watson, J. Keith Waldron, and Donald A Rutz of New York State’s IPM Program.

Part 1 of this article focused mainly on the cultural controls for IPM, such as fixing leaking watering systems, having proper drainage, keeping vegetation trimmed, and ensuring proper ventilation. Cultural control includes disrupting the fly life cycle through proper sanitation and cleaning. “Moist organic matter is paradise to a fly”, say Waldron and Rutz. They recommend cleaning manure, soiled bedding, moist hay, grain and spilled feed at least weekly and keeping your farm as dry as possible. Rutz and Waldron also recommend spreading manure as thinly as possible and incorporating it when practical. Mechanical controls include using sticky tapes or ribbons, bait traps, black light zappers, etc. as needed to attract flies to these controls within animal housing.

Flies have natural enemies that are commonly present in livestock and poultry barns. Known as biological controls, certain beetles and mites devour fly eggs and larvae. Fly pupae are attacked by small parasitoids. A special fungus can be introduced in poultry manure to control flies as well. Unnoticed and unaided by us, these natural biocontrol agents can take a heavy toll on the fly population. New York State’s IPM Program recognizes that parasitoids are among the most important of these natural biocontrol agents. Some species perform better in different climates, and some prefer different kinds of manure and other fly breeding materials. The biocontrol species that is best adapted to farms in the Northeast is Muscidifurax raptor, which attacks fly pupae inside barns as well as outside and is the main naturally occurring parasitoid on farms.

Parasitoids live only to find and kill fly pupae. However, Rutz and Waldron point out that “flies develop twice as fast from egg to adult, live longer, and lay more eggs than Muscidifurax raptor parasitoids. As fly populations begin to grow in late May and early June, the parasitoid populations lag behind. To compensate, producers should double their stocking rates with additional adult parasitoids. Parasitoids also lag behind flies in developing resistance to insecticides. Many insecticide treatments for flies therefore have the undesirable side effect of killing large numbers of parasitoids. Each subsequent insecticide treatment kills more beneficial insects and creates conditions that require repetitive treatments to keep flies in check. Spiking or adding additional parasitoids may be necessary after a spray event (after residual dissipates) in order to rebuild a population of predators. Parasitoid populations can be conserved by using insecticides that are compatible with these important biocontrol agents. Baits and pyrethrin space sprays are good examples of compatible insecticides. Residual premise sprays are highly toxic to parasitoids and should be used only as a last resort.”
The biological controls will not migrate into the neighborhood and cause new concerns for neighbors.

Chemical controls (insecticides, larvacides, etc.) are difficult to comment on, for this general publication. Chemical controls should be used as a last resort, and only when absolutely needed. They should be site specific sprays and site specific chemicals to control each individual outbreak. Contact your local Cooperative Extension office for more details on chemical controls.

For more information on cultural, mechanical, biological or chemical control methods, refer to the New York State IPM Program website, www.nysipm.cornell.edu or Dr. Gregory Martin’s (Penn State Extension, Capitol Region) website, www.personal.psu.edu/gpm10/.

04--2010 - Fly Minimization (Part 1 of 2)
Fly Minimization (Part 1 of 2)
By
Shelly Dehoff

They buzz in your ear. They land on your picnic feast. They leave their evidence on your house and windows. They are flies. And boy, are they annoying. They may annoy you, your family, your animals, and even the neighbors.

Flies should not be, and do not have to be, just a part of farm life. Minimizing flies reduces transmitted diseases to or between livestock and poultry. If flies annoy dairy cows enough, milk production decreases. Young stock are more at risk because repeated annoyance may affect productivity over the lifetime of the animal. When flies leave livestock and poultry or freshly applied fields of manure and congregate in surrounding neighborhoods, farmers face bad publicity and poor neighborhood relations.

Keeping a farm as clean and dry as possible is a good deterrent from encouraging fly breeding. Proper sanitation can break the life cycle of a fly. Fixing leaking watering systems and having adequate ventilation is a good start. Proper grading and drainage around buildings and functioning rain spouts helps avoid wet spots.

Common breeding grounds can be calf hutches, silo leakage, animal stalls, feed bunkers, near water/drinking areas, and manure handling areas. Be sure to keep curbs, corners, cracks and crevices as clean and dry as possible. Similarly, in and around poultry facilities having adequate drainage, dry manure, proper ventilation, weed and vegetation management and sanitation is important for fly reduction. Composting poultry manure inside or outside a poultry house can also be effective at reducing flies.

Flies are attracted to animals on pasture as well as in buildings. Tips to keep feed and water and manure collection areas as dry as possible apply on pasture, as well as in buildings. Using a chain harrow to help spread and dry out cow patties may reduce fly populations.

Not all flies are the same. Different flies come from different sources. Knowing the type of flies (biting vs non-biting) can help determine the source of the flies. And knowing the source helps correct the problem.

House flies are one of two principle fly pests of confined livestock. House flies are non-biting. They breed in animal droppings, manure piles, decaying silage, spilled feed, bedding and other organic matter, according to the Cornell Cooperative Extension “Dairy Management, Pest Management Fact Sheet”. Although house flies may be a minor direct annoyance to animals, they have considerable potential for transmitting disease and parasites.

Stable flies are the second principle pest of confined livestock. Stable flies bite. They breed in wet straw, manure, spilled feeds, silage, grass clippings, and decaying vegetation. Stable flies normally attack animals’ legs and bellies. Production performance declines in infested herds because of the painful bites the cows sustain and the animals’ fatigue from efforts to dislodge the flies, according to the above-mentioned fact sheet.

Blow flies are non-biting. They result from improperly disposed of carcasses. These flies tend to have a shiny metallic sheen. Be sure to dispose of deadstock or poultry within 48 hours (according to PA state law) and with adequate cover if you choose to compost or bury animals. Contact your local Extension office, Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service office or the PA Agricultural Ombudsman Program for additional assistance with disposal of dead animals.

Horn flies are biting insects, usually found on pastured animals. They deposit their eggs on fresh manure. Blood loss and painful bites may cause animals to lose weight or produce less milk.

Face flies are found on pastured animals. They are non-biting, but will feed on protein rich secretions from cattle eyes, nasal discharge, saliva or blood. In addition to being very annoying to cattle, face flies can transmit bovine pinkeye, a highly contagious inflammation of the cornea. These flies are sometimes annoying to humans as well.

Horse flies and deer flies are also biting insects that can be serious pests to cattle, horses and humans. These flies are usually active during the day, according to the University of Kentucky Department of Entomology. Blood loss to grazing cattle and horses can be significant. University of Kentucky also states these flies are apparently attracted to movement, shiny surfaces, carbon dioxide and warmth. Horse flies and deer flies are intermittent feeders, and because of the painful bite, they are usually forced to another animal, so they may be carriers of disease between animals.

Flies may not only cause an annoyance around the farm and conflict in the neighborhood, they can cause economic loss for your bottom line. Ideally, preventative actions to keep a farm as clean and dry as possible are best. If an outbreak of flies does occur, knowing the type of flies and the source of flies will assist with knowing how to treat the issue. Part 2 of this article will address Integrated Pest Management (IPM), such as cultural, biological, mechanical and chemical controls to reduce flies.


Download information here

03--2010 - Dealing with the Mud
Dealing with the Mud
By JB Harrold NRCS Somerset, PA
Well for most of us mud season is just around the corner. You know the greasy, sticky, aggravating mud that affects us, our livestock, our equipment, and our environment. I recall rescuing my six-year-old son last year after he lost a boot next to the round bale feeder. He said, “Dad you need some concrete!”
We all dream of a winter that would provide frozen ground with little snow. That never happens! We always warm up and get moisture at some point. No one has invented the perfect solution for mud management at this point and every situation is different. Basically I think you have three choices: 1)feed on the pastures and move the feed around trying not to destroy too much; 2)use a sacrifice lot and deal with the mud; or 3)install a stabilized feeding area. Each option has pros and cons.
Feeding on pasture can work to a degree in the right situation. Pastures with well drained soils are the only way to go. Avoid feeding in swales, waterways, and wet areas. Place the feed at a different location every time you feed. Some people have good success unrolling bales when they feed. Livestock are not congregated around a feeder which tends to reduce trampling. Good, stable access roads are needed to deliver feed to the field unless the hay is preplaced before winter and livestock access is controlled with temporary fencing.
A sacrifice lot can work if properly placed. This prevents the chance of destroying all the pastures on the farm. Again, use well drained soils and avoid swales, waterways, and wet areas. Keep back from streams, ponds, and ditches. Look at surface water around the site and try to divert it around the sacrifice area. If you’re near buildings use roof runoff management and diversions/water bars to prevent surface water from entering these areas. Roofs can add a lot of unwanted water to a sacrifice lot and create even more mud. Be sure to have a large grass buffer below the sacrifice area to filter any runoff. Keep the public in mind when selecting this sacrifice lot. As famers, we are selling a product to the public. If the public drives by our farms and they see clean livestock with neat farmsteads and no environmental issues, they do not say much. But if they drive by and see a disaster area with livestock standing in mud up to their bellies, we all get a bad name and government agencies often get calls about these sites, with the public demanding answers. So the old saying, “out of sight, out of mind” should be kept in mind when selecting a site. Consider planting a tree buffer to shield the view and help filter odor and runoff from these areas. At the end of winter, collect and spread the manure/mud/wasted feed according to your nutrient management plan or nutrient balance sheets. Soil test the grass buffer to determine nutrient levels and monitor for build-ups of nutrients. The sacrifice area should be rotated each year if at all possible.
A stabilized feeding area is the most expensive but convenient option. These pads are used for feeding the livestock and are usually constructed of gravel, concrete, or recently flyash. These pads usually have associated practices such as animal trails and walkways, access roads, pad runoff control measures, and surface water controls. Livestock are typically not locked on this pad all winter, but provisions are made to do that during wet muddy conditions. These pad sites must be selected carefully and should involve the Conservation District and NRCS offices. Management of these pads is also critical. Consider how you will handle the manure from this area. If there is a lot of waste hay or bedding, you may have dry stackable manure. If a lot of balage or silage is fed and no bedding is used, you will have a slurry manure to handle. Many times I have seen a beef farm install a feed pad that has always had dry stackable manure. They install the pad, do not use bedding and the resulting slurry manure can’t be handled by their box spreader. They either have to modify their spreader or invest in a new manure spreader to handle slurry. Many times a manure storage is installed with the pad. The type of storage will be dictated by the type of manure. Manure should be periodically scraped and either stored or applied according to your nutrient management plan. If a gravel pad is used, maintenance will be needed. The gravel pad will wear around the feeders, where equipment turns, and from scraping and collecting manure. Be sure to factor this maintenance cost into your decision when installing a gravel feed pad.
No matter what option you choose to deal with the mud, site selection is critical. Conservation District and NRCS personnel can help you with this task and many other conservation issues. Contact your local office for on-the-farm assistance.

02--2010 - A Look at Foodshed Systems
Article written by Alison Hastings, Sr. Environmental Planner, DVRPC


The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) recently completed the Greater Philadelphia Food System Study, a project that evaluates the food system that serves the nine counties of Greater Philadelphia. This study looked at a broad range of food supply issues, such as agricultural production trends, natural resource constraints, the origins and destinations of food imports and exports, and the significance of the food economy. For the purposes of this study, DVRPC defined the metropolitan area's "foodshed" as a 100-mile radius from a center point in downtown Philadelphia.
Findings of significance include:
• The nine-county region cannot subsist on local foods alone because Greater Philadelphia's food demand is greater than the 100-Mile Foodshed's food supply.
• Local agriculture benefits from Philadelphia's consumer markets; but the DVRPC nine-county region is losing viable farmland each year to inefficient land use.
• The Greater Philadelphia region has fewer aggregate food dollars than other nearby metro areas. This increases our food supply deficit, as some suppliers prefer selling food for higher prices in the New York and Washington D.C. metro areas and not in the DVRPC nine-county region.
• An American culture of cheap, processed, and convenient food has led to a culture of unhealthy eating.
• Recently, efforts to strengthen the regional food system have been gaining momentum. Interest in local foods, land trusts, and urban agriculture are all indicative of positive changes for the nine-county region.

DVRPC became interested in food system planning through its open space protection and farmland preservation initiatives – important growth management tools that protect natural resources, focus future growth in appropriate places, and make the metropolitan area more livable. Through this work, DVRPC interacted with many farmers who were interested in preserving their land or staying in farming while the region continues to suburbanize. Many farmers said, “You can preserve the farm, but you cannot preserve the farmer.”
DVRPC recognizes the need to ensure the vitality and viability of the agricultural industry as a more comprehensive growth management strategy; and the Commission quickly learned that food system planning is a comprehensive field that tries to better understand the complicated processes that produce, process, distribute, prepare, sell, and dispose of food, as well as the societal implications of economic development, environmental conservation, fairness, food access, health, and hunger.
DVRPC's Greater Philadelphia Food System Study will be followed by the Plan for a More Sustainable Food System, to be completed in the summer of 2010.The plan will use the results of the study to identify recommendations for improvement and create a vision for a more sustainable and resilient food system for Greater Philadelphia.
For more information, visit www.dvrpc.org/food.
DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION

DVRPC is dedicated to uniting the region’s elected officials, planning professionals and the public with the common vision of making a great region even greater. Shaping the way we live, work and play, DVRPC builds consensus on improving transportation, promoting smart growth, protecting the environment, and enhancing the economy. We serve a diverse region of nine counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer in New Jersey. DVRPC is the official metropolitan planning organization for the Greater Philadelphia Region - leading the way to a better future. DVRPC fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. For more information, visit www.dvrpc.org.

01--2010 - Horse Rescues: What You Should Ask Before Donating
Horse Rescues: What You Should Ask Before Donating
By Ann Swinker, Penn State University Extension Horse Specialist and Unwanted Horse Coalition Member

We have all heard the stories were animals needed to be rescues form the rescues. So if you want to become involved, how do you know if the organization you are interested in helping is on the “Up and Up.”

We all know that when the economy falls on hard times, animals are among the first to suffer. Numerous media reports suggest that the problem of unwanted horses is growing. We can all argue about why the numbers are increasing, but the current state of the economy has left many horse owners in serious financial hardship, forcing them to make the decision to part with their horses. The problem is that these horses need a place to go. Reports from the Unwanted Horse Coalition, founded by the American Horse Council, reports that there at not enough horse rescues for all of the unwanted horses in this country.
Horse Rescues are always in need of donations of funding and volunteer help. While a donation of money, feed, hay, and other supplies is an urgent need for rescues, nothing can replace adoption. If you are interested in taking in a horse, or in the market to buy one, why not check out the adoptable horses first?
If you want to make a tax deductable donation you must first determine if the facility is eligible for that status. Is the organization an entity exempt from federal tax under Section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code? Does it file IRS Form 990 and forms required by the state? If a facility has gone through the trouble of receiving tax exempt status, it is an indication that they are serious about their rescue/retirement/rehabilitation efforts.
If you are donating a horse, as a responsible and concerned horse owner, you want to make sure they will be well cared for and happy in their future endeavors. There are many options out there if you have to give your horse away, but before you settle on one you must know the right questions to ask any organization. First, make it a point to visit the facility and have a look around. What are the physical characteristics of the facility? Does the facility provide horses with ample room to move about and graze? Do the horses have easy access to suitable drinking water? What type of shelter is provided for the horses? Every facility will not be picture perfect, but having your horse’s basic needs provided for in a safe environment is what matters. As you’re looking around, write down any questions you might have about what you see.
You should know an organization’s mission statement. See if they have a website and check it out. If so, how does the website compare with your first hand visit to the facility? How long has the facility been in operation? Do they have a board of directors? If so, who are they? Have any welfare charges been brought against the facility? You must know an organization’s specific means and goals. Also, does the facility provide routine and emergency veterinary and dental care and farrier needs?
Some rescues may only take Thoroughbred horses off the track, some may not accept horses that are owner initiated surrenders and some may be a horse sanctuary only. Make sure you understand what type of organization the facility is. If you know of a facility near you and cannot give your horse to them due to these specific limitations, still ask them for helpful suggestions they may have connections with other facilities.
Follow up with the new owners to ensure the horse is being properly cared for? What becomes of the horse when the adopter or the foster care giver no longer wants the horse? You may want to visit your horse from time to time. Ask if this is allowed and if they will let you know when your horse is transferred to a new owner. Also, there may come a time when you are able to have a horse again. Find out what their policy is on an original owner taking his/her horse back. If the facility cannot place your horse in a new home, will they euthanize the horse? If so, will you be notified before hand?
If the organization is a rescue/retirement/rehabilitation facility, ask if they will try to place your horse into foster care. If the facility does use foster care, ask how the homes are screened. If the facility only adopts horses out, ask what the requirements are for adoption. Does the facility Does the facility train or retrain the acquired horses and then sell them for profit? While there is nothing wrong with this, it is something you should definitely know. Many organizations may sell a horse for profit after they put the time, money and energy into rehabilitating it. If they don’t resell the horses, most organizations must charge a low adoption fee which covers the horse’s basic care.
Before donating or giving your horse to any organization, it is your responsibility to know the facts.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners laid out general guidelines for operating facilities called “Care Guidelines for Rescue and Retirement Facilities.” There are several resources that can be accessed through the Unwanted Horse Coalitions (UHC) “Own responsibly” handbook by going to www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org Information presented in this article was taken from articles developed by the UHC web site. The UHC is a broad alliance of equine organizations that have joined together under the American Horse Council to reduce the numbers of unwanted horses and help horse owners understand the various options, services and assistance available to them when they are considering what to do with a horse they can no longer care for. The coalition’s website has information on the issue of the unwanted horse.
This series is being sponsored by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Ombudsman Program, which serves state-wide as a liaison to communities for conflict management on issues affecting agriculture, land use, environment and planning. Contact information: Shelly Dehoff, Lancaster County Conservation District 717-880-0848 or shelly.dehoff@gmail.com –or--Beth Futrick, Blair County Conservation District 814-696-0877 or bfutrick@blairconservationdistrict.org

########