Livestock Briefs:Compensation for wolf losses granted
MANITOWOC
Dairy Cattle Feeding Day set on Dec. 14
Hochkammer Dairy Farm at 5908 Center Road will be the host site for the Manitowoc County Forage Council's annual dairy cattle feeding day on Wednesday, Dec. 14.
The program will open at 10 a.m. with Vita Plus dairy development manager Gary Sipiorski tracing how the global market affects farmers in their own backyard.
The feeding of forages grown in 2016 and how to address crop quality in 2017 will be the topic for David LaCount, a nutrition and technical services specialist with Purina Animal Nutrition, which is a subsidiary of Land O'Lakes.
Following the noon lunch, panelists will describe the team approach for feed management and dairy nutrition that's in place on the Hochkammer farm, which has a milking herd of 270 cows – a 50:50 mix of Holsteins and Jerseys.
Farm Service Agency loan manager Brad Englebert will provide an update on current programs before attendees will be able to tour the dairy facilities, which include a new bedded-pack pre-fresh cow and calving barn.
There is no cost to attend but reservations are requested by Wednesday, Dec. 7. To reserve, call (920) 683-4175 or send an e-mail to scottgunderson@co.manitowoc.wi.us.
LARAMIE, WY
Farm Bureau approves policy stands on hunting, tax districts
Members of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation have adopted policies on special tax districts, wanton destruction of livestock and trespassing to gather antlers shed by deer.
Farm Bureau members approved a policy opposing giving counties more authority to close districts that collect taxes for a specific purpose. Increasing incidences of livestock being shot and killed in Wyoming and other states also prompted the organization's members to approve a policy seeking tough penalties for the wanton destruction of livestock.
The policy positions on the issues and others were approved during the organization's annual meeting this month.
Concern with increased incidences of hunters seeking antler shed by deer trespassing on private lands led to support for expanding state Game and Fish statutes to regulate the activity under hunting and fishing laws.
PHOENIX, AZ
Ranchers can be compensated for cattle lost to wolves
The Arizona Livestock Loss Board has approved an interim policy allowing ranchers to receive compensation for cattle taken by Mexican wolves.
Conservation efforts are helping to re-establish the Mexican wolf population within its historical range in Arizona and New Mexico, but the program has resulted in the loss of some commercial cattle.
The board's vote allows ranchers to be compensated for a wolf depredation incident after it's investigated and confirmed by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services field representative. Under the interim policy, a commercial rancher can apply for reimbursement for damages up to $2,500.
LITTLE ROCK, AR
Judge to make decision on farm permit case
A judge is set to make a decision on an appeal of an environmental permit modification that would allow a farmer to spread hog manure on his property in the Buffalo River watershed.
EC Farms owner Ellis Campbell applied in 2015 for the permit to apply up to 6.7 million gallons of the manure, which comes from C&H Farms in Mount Judea. Three women appealed the permit, arguing the modifications were equal to adding another hog farm in the watershed.
There is a five-year suspension on medium or large hog farms in the watershed. C&H has been accused of posing a pollution risk to the river due to its federally classified "large" size. However, researchers have so far released no definite finding related to the accusation.
According to records from the Department of Environmental Quality, Campbell first received a permit in 1998 for a small hog farm and the application of their manure on his property in Newton County.