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Environmentalists are making a new push for stricter regulations on large livestock operations in Indiana, even as the number of such farms with thousands of animals continues to decline.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management recorded a decrease of 57 permitted farms in the past year to 1,994 – part of a decline of nearly 10 percent over the past four years, The Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne reported (http://bit.ly/qx134Y).
Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) today announced that its Board of Directors intends to create two independent public companies: A high-growth global snacks business with estimated revenue of approximately $32 billion and a high-margin North American grocery business with estimated revenue of approximately $16 billion.
The company expects to create these companies through a tax-free spin-off of the North American grocery business to Kraft Foods shareholders.
North Dakota's Farm Bureau is promoting a state constitutional amendment that says no one may restrict "modern livestock production and ranching practices."
The Farm Bureau intends to circulate an initiative petition to put the amendment on the statewide ballot. The proposed initiative was delivered to Secretary of State Al Jaeger's office.
Note: This article was adapted from Dairy Practices Council (DPC) Guideline 54S “Construction Materials for Milking Parlors.” More about the Dairy Practices Council guidelines and other guidelines can be found at: http://www.dairypc.org/
In general, water use and humidity are high in milking parlors. This leads to an environment that can be very hard on construction materials. Therefore, all interior surfaces should be both water-resistant and easily cleaned. Rather than “save money” by using inferior construction materials, perhaps consider leaving out “bell and whistle” equipment that can be easily added in the future and upgrade to better construction materials.
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton says he hopes to boost the state's farm exports when he goes on a couple of trade missions this fall.
Dayton spoke at the annual Farmfest show in southwestern Minnesota. He says Minnesota's agricultural economy generates about $16 billion a year and that exports are a big part of that.
Whether it’s natural or mechanical, barn ventilation is imperative when it comes to the welfare of dairy cattle. However, ventilation alone does not always provide the necessary air movement for cooling and comfort needs, a sensitivity that animals can intrinsically demonstrate simply by their eating habits, conception rates and milk production.
Without a cooling breeze, the simple ventilation designed into a building isn’t enough. A properly designed and equipped barn will not only allow an adequate air exchange rate, but will also improve cow comfort.
The Southern Great Plains Dairy Consortium, where students are able to obtain hands-on experiences in large-herd dairy management, recently completed its fourth summer session. The six-week program, which combines classroom instruction with visits to dairies where students can put into practice what they learn in the classroom, surpassed its attendance from last year with 52 students from 13 universities.
Death rates of adult cows on U.S. dairies have risen steadily over the last couple of decades. When calculating death losses as a percent of rolling herd inventory on an annual basis, it is now typical for dairies to have 8 to 10 percent mortality.
If we look at literature from 30 to 40 years ago, it appears that 1 to 3 percent mortality losses were typical. Unfortunately, this feature of dairy animal performance has not been historically monitored as an important aspect of herd management, and there are no established benchmarks or targets.
Accelerated Genetics, Baraboo and Westby, Wisconsin, a global provider of bovine genetics and research, has been awarded the “Compass Award” for its long-term commitment to excellence in the stewardship of its employees’ retirement assets. The award was given by Francis Investment Counsel, a nationally recognized expert retirement plan investment consulting organization.
MINTREX chelated trace minerals from Novus International, Inc., belongs to a new feed ingredient category. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) accepted this new feed ingredient definition July 31, during its 2011 Ingredient Definitions Committee Meeting in Austin, Texas.
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