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On December 02, 2017

Professionals in the dairy industry who want to learn about problems on dairy farms that result from mastitis now have the opportunity to take an online course at their convenience offered by Penn State Extension.

“Best milking Practices” is a self-paced course primarily designed for dairy producers, employees and managers that teaches concepts to help them measure and reduce levels of mastitis, and it offers practical solutions to help apply that knowledge to milking practices.

Mastitis is a common and expensive problem on dairy farms. It is, on average, costlier than veterinary care, food, housing or equipment maintenance. To maximize a dairy’s profitability, it’s important for producers to learn as much about mastitis as possible to reduce or eliminate the spread of it on their farm.

The course includes eight sections: Mastitis Basics, Cleanliness, Handling Cows, Pre-milking Prep, Milking and Post-milking, Managing Infection, CMT and On-farm Culturing, and Standard Operating Procedures.

At the end of this course, participants will be able to understand the importance of early detection of clinical mastitis; increase knowledge about cleanliness and SCC; recognize the importance of consistency in preventing clinical mastitis; understand the relationship between milk let-down and oxytocin vs. adrenaline; and develop a standard milking procedure that has a lag time of 60-90 seconds.

Participants also will be able to implement best milking practices using the strip cup, pre-stripping, milking gloves, and the CMT test; gain a better understanding of on-farm culturing and its usefulness; and recognize the importance of developing standard operating procedures.

“This course will help to increase productivity and profitability on dairies that participate,” said Amber Yutzy, a dairy herd health educator in Huntingdon County, who specializes in dairy cattle milk quality and udder health. “We will cover the different causes of and types of mastitis, how you can better prevent mastitis, equipment types and use for avoiding mastitis, and the importance of early detection of clinical mastitis.”

Additionally, participants will learn about the importance of reduced antibiotic use to treat mastitis, how to properly implement an on-farm mastitis culturing program, how to accurately identify bacteria and how to make educated treatment decisions to aid in increasing profitability.

“Participants can put all of this information together and learn how to come up with a standard operating procedure list that is tailored to their farm,” Yutzy said. “By the end of this course, participants will understand the importance of proper milking procedure, become familiar with how to perform a CMT test, appreciate the importance of consistency in cow treatment, recognize different bacteria that cause mastitis, and be comfortable with on-farm culturing.”

Register for the course at https://extension-dev.psu.edu/best-milking-practices.

A variety of online non-credit courses for the public have recently been unveiled on Penn State Extension’s new website, which provides a wealth of educational experiences and resources for the professionals and community members served by extension. The new web experience allows consumers to access educational articles, videos, online courses and publications at their convenience, and register for regional in-person workshops and online webinars on a variety of subjects.

 

To Use The CHEMSWEEP Program To Dispose Of Unwanted Pesticides

Agricultural businesses and pesticide applicators in 19 counties across the state can dispose of unwanted pesticides safely and easily next year through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s CHEMSWEEP program.

“When pesticides outlive their usefulness, they can become a problem,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Rather than leaving them sitting in barns and back rooms as threats to human safety and our environment, we provide this service to each of Pennsylvania’s counties every four years.”

The program is offered in different counties each year. In 2018, it will be available in Adams, Allegheny, Beaver, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Franklin, Jefferson, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Potter and Washington counties.

More than 2.5 million pounds of unwanted or unusable pesticides have been properly destroyed through the program since it was established in 1993.

Every year, many pesticide products are discontinued, phased out or become unusable, leaving growers, commercial establishments and professional applicators with potentially dangerous and toxic materials that cannot be placed in landfills. The unwanted pesticides often become a safety hazard and an environmental concern through long-term storage in garages, barns or other areas.

Licensed pesticide applicators, pesticide dealers and commercial pesticide application businesses from the designated counties are eligible to participate by completing the CHEMSWEEP registration and inventory form that will be mailed directly to eligible applicators, dealers and businesses. The registration period ends Feb. 28, 2018.

An independent contractor hired by the state agriculture department collects and packages all waste pesticides at each participating location, primarily for incineration at facilities approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. CHEMSWEEP covers the disposal cost for the first 2,000 pounds per participant. Above that level, participants are billed at the agriculture department’s contracted price. The program is funded through annual registration fees paid by pesticide manufacturers

 

To Properly Care For Your Aging Horses

Because of advances in nutrition, management and health care, horses are living longer, more useful lives. Extension Horse Specialist Ann Swinker reports it’s not uncommon to find horses and ponies living well into their 20s and 30s. While genetics play a role in determining life span, you too, can have an impact. You may think that turning your old-timer out to pasture is the kindest form of retirement. But horses are individuals. Some enjoy being idle; others prefer to be a part of the action. Whatever you do, don’t ignore the horse. Proper nutrition, care and exercise will help the animal thrive

Follow these guidelines to develop a total management plan for your older horse. First observe your horse on a regular basis. Watch for changes in body condition, behavior and attitude. Address problems, even seemingly minor ones, right away. Feed a high-quality diet and avoid dusty and moldy feeds. Feed your older horse away from younger, more aggressive ones so it won’t have to compete for feed. Feed at more frequent intervals so as not to upset the digestive system, two-three times daily is best. Provide plenty of fresh, clean, tepid water. Excessively cold water reduces consumption which can lead to colic and other problems. Adjust and balance rations to maintain proper body conditions. A good rule of thumb is to be able to feel the ribs but not see them.

Additionally, one should provide adequate, appropriate exercise to maintain muscle tone, flexibility and mobility. Groom your horse frequently to promote circulation and skin health. Be aware that older horses are prone to tumors. Look for any unusual lumps or growths from head to tail as well as beneath the tail (especially on gray horses). Schedule routine checkups with your equine veterinarian. Call immediately if you suspect a problem.

A quick response to ailments, injuries or a decline in fitness can keep your older horse from having a serious or prolonged setback. That means less worry for you and a better quality of life for your old friend.

 

To Learn About Organic Bee Production Research

A nearly $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will support Penn State researchers in determining best management practices for organic beekeeping by comparing organic and chemical-free to conventional management systems. The funding comes from the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Led by project director Margarita López-Uribe<http://ento.psu.edu/directory/mml64>, assistant professor of entomology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences<http://agsci.psu.edu/>, the research team will test the effect of organic, chemical-free and conventional honey bee management practices on honey bee health. To this end, they will quantify colony performance, immune competence, and parasite and pathogen levels.

The overarching goals of the three-year project are to generate evidence-based knowledge for best management practices that will improve colony health in a sustainable, organic beekeeping system, and to increase economic returns of beekeepers. Researchers hope results from this study will help to improve organic agriculture while creating a profitable economic opportunity for beekeepers and organic growers.

The beekeeping industry is challenged in meeting the demands for crop pollination and honey production as the number of colonies continues to dwindle. A recent nationwide survey revealed that even with intensive disease treatment, beekeepers are averaging losses of almost 38 percent annually. Bees are essential, not only for honey production, but for pollinating crops that account for approximately a third of the food consumed by humans. This includes a large variety of vegetables, fruits, nuts and animal feed crops.

In this study, “Working Toward Best Management Practices for Organic Beekeeping: A Side-By-Side Comparison of Management Systems,” scientists will build upon existing research derived from smaller-scale projects. The goal is to address the critical need for an improved management system to better control parasitic mite pressure.

“Varroa mites, which weaken bees’ immune systems and transmit viral diseases, are one of the biggest challenges faced by beekeepers,” López-Uribe said. “But some of the chemicals beekeepers use to treat for mites also can compromise honey bee health. Our hope is to develop recommendations for mite management that could completely change, for the better, beekeeping in the United States.”

Quote Of The Week: “The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs… one step at a time.” Joe Girard