Emergency haying and grazing on conservation land

Michigan Farm Bureau recently reported the United States Department of Agriculture is allowing emergency haying and grazing on conservation land. Take a look a the release below. 

LANSING, AUG. 24, 2012 — While recent rains have some grain farmers hoping for a season just shy of abysmal, high feed prices still have livestock and dairy producers concerned about keeping their animals well fed and healthy. Accordingly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently cleared the way for farmers to make practical use of fields set aside as part of a widespread conservation program.

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Christine White last week authorized emergency haying and grazing on acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for all Michigan counties.

Farmers looking to harvest feed grasses from their CRP acres don't have much time to waste; the authorization for emergency haying ends Aug. 31, and all hay must be removed before Sept. 15. Emergency grazing extends through Sept. 30.

"It's not a big window of opportunity, but it's better than no opportunity at all," said Ernie Birchmeier, Michigan Farm Bureau's livestock and dairy specialist. "Farmers need to check in with their local FSA or Natural Resource Conservation Service office before cutting hay or turning out their animals on eligible acreage, and modify their conservation plan."

Only half of each hay field or contiguous field can be cut, and CRP acres cannot by hayed and grazed at the same time.

"Farmers need to know there are some small penalties for those who choose to take advantage of this," Birchmeier said. "But, because of the drought, the usual 25 percent penalty for haying or grazing on CRP land has been reduced to only 10 percent."

For more information or to request approval for emergency haying or grazing on CRP acres, farmers are encouraged to contact their local FSA office.

Cattle can "moo"ve into Wisconsin

Received this today from Michigan Department of Agriculture:

 
Wisconsin Opens Borders to Michigan Cattle Signaling Additional Market for State’s Producers

LANSING – Today, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Jamie Clover Adams announced that Wisconsin will recognize Michigan’s recent bovine Tuberculosis (TB) Split State Status achievement from the United States Department of Agriculture, which reopens market opportunities for Michigan’s 17,000 cattle farmers.

“Our mandatory electronic identification is, and was, critical to Wisconsin’s decision to amend their importation rules,” said MDARD Director Jamie Clover Adams.  “For the first time since we began our bovine TB eradication efforts, Wisconsin acknowledges the difference in zones. This translates into more market opportunities to sell Michigan beef and continues to grow the economic footprint for our food and agriculture system.”

On August 1, 2012, the State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection informed MDARD’s State Veterinarian Dr. Steven L. Halstead of new importation rules acknowledging Michigan's split state status.  Wisconsin now recognizes two bovine TB Zones in the State of Michigan.

“This is an important step forward,” said Dr. Halstead. “Michigan has worked very hard to preserve the value of its cattle herd and to protect trade partners from bovine TB.  This represents recognition of this hard work.”

Bovine from the Modified Accredited Zone (MAZ) and the Modified Accredited Advanced Zone (MAAZ) fall under the same zonal rules for Wisconsin and may enter Wisconsin for exhibition as long as they follow all of the rules established by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. 

Wisconsin will not allow bison or cattle from Michigan’s federal TB MAZ (Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Oscoda counties) or MAAZ (Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Montmorency, Otsego, and Presque Isle counties) to be sold at a consignment sale or auction, but they may go to approved feedlots if they meet the testing requirements.

Feeder cattle from Michigan’s TB-Free Zone will need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection with complete physical destination address required, must have official identification, and may enter the State of Wisconsin as long as they are not involved in any TB-positive or exposed herd investigations. 

Rules for the different zones are listed on Wisconsin’s website: http://datcp.wi.gov/Animals/Animal_Movement/Cattle_Bison/Michigan/index.aspx 

Additional information about Michigan’s bovine TB eradication efforts may be found at: www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases.