Mortality Disposal: Looking for Solutions Roundtable Event

September 28, 2018


Many of you are aware that some rendering companies that have been picking up dead stock from farms have halted pick‐ups. The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM) is discussing the situation with the companies to determine a course of action regarding the disposal of downed and dead animals.
Managing animal tissue is a significant challenge and responsibility in livestock production. Routine and emergency losses of livestock are significant environmental, bio-security, and waste management concerns. Livestock mortality due to barn fires, roof collapses, excess heat/drought, ventilation system failures, and floods impacts many livestock operations. Many animals also need to be chemically euthanized due to illness and injury and to avoid suffering. Rendering has been an option for much of this mortality. Due to recent changes, chemically euthanized animals will no longer be accepted in rendering and there are limited alternatives for dead-stock in general. NYS landfills reluctantly accept dead-stock even in emergencies. Dragging animals out back is not legal and poses a great threat to avian and terrestrial wildlife and pets that might consume the meat. This leaves few disposal options for horse owners, dairies and other livestock operations.

Round-table Invitation (PDF; 185KB)

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

January 17, 2019
8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. $25 includes lunch and a manual
WARSAW, NY

Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.  This 8-hour training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to appropriate care.  Register online here:  https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/MentalHealthFirstAidTraining_10508 or email lma96@cornell.edu.

NYBPA Winter Management Meeting- "Dairy cross bred calf - opportunity for the dairy & beef industry"

January 18, 2019
9:45 a.m. Welcome - 5:00 p.m. Adjournment
East Syracuse, NY

On January 18, 2018 in Syracuse, the New York Beef Producer's Association is presenting a day-long session on the cross bred dairy calf. Speakers will include farmers and extension professionals with experience in this field. The keynote speaker will be from Wulf Genetics working with Genex to supply beef bulls of various breeds to use on Jersey and Holstein cows. To date they have raised and finished over 50,000 cross bred calves. Plan to spend the day and learn about how this enterprise may fit in your dairy operation to provide another source of cash flow. For more information, please contact Brenda Bippert, NYBPA Executive Secretary, nybeefproducers@aol.com, (716) 902-4305, or http://www.nybpa.org/abwc.htm

Labor Road Show II - Canandaigua

January 31, 2019
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Canandaigua, NY

If you have employees, then you need to be at the New York Labor Road Show II. Experts from farms, private industry and the university will focus on critical topics that affect all farm employers including: employee housing, onboarding, sexual harassment prevention, employee engagement , safety, wage and hour laws, and worker care.

2019 Pesticide Training & Re-certification Series Wednesdays in Feb 2019

Anyone interested in obtaining a pesticide certification and meets the DEC requirements, OR, current applicators seeking pesticide re-certification credits should attend.  2.5 re-cert core credits will be available for each class.

Three Free Digester Workshops offered through CCE St. Lawrence Co.

CCE of St. Lawrence County is offering three FREE workshops showcasing the research results from our feasibility study of anaerobic digester technology on small farms. The research was conducted by our partners at Clarkson University using the anaerobic digester at the Extension Learning Farm, which is fed both manure from a dairy operation and vegetable waste from our commercial kitchen. The digester heats a small green house that starts our seedling plants. We have a small scale vegetable-only digester as well. The research and program targets small dairies under 200 head, livestock producers, horticulture producers and anyone interested in alternative energy.

Program will be held on December 5, January 7, and March 6. A catered meal is provided at each program. Participants within the North Country Region will be given a $25 stipend to help cover travel costs, those from outside the region will be given $50. To receive the stipend, participants will need to complete a pre/post-test survey.

More information and registration information can be found here: http://stlawrence.cce.cornell.edu/events/2018/12/05/exploring-digester-technology

New Guidance for Mortality Disposal Issued

NYS Department of Ag and Markets has posted guidelines on disposal of livestock carcasses, in response to reports that some rendering companies have halted pickups from farms.

https://nwnyteam.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=761&crumb=dairy|1