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)

Farm Business Evaluation & Branching into New Business Opportunities

November 9 - November 16, 2018
Two-Part Course, November 9th & 16th, 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Penn Yan, NY

This two-part course will cover how to evaluate the profitability of your operation, effective bookkeeping for farms, and how to evaluate risk and profit potential of new or expanded enterprises to your farm.

2018 Feed Dealer Seminar with guest speakers Dr. Tom Overton and Dr. Kristan Reed, Ph.D.

December 14, 2018
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. with lunch provided
Batavia, NY

The Feed Dealer Seminars are specifically targeted for nutritionists, veterinarians, crop and management consultants, extension educators, and dairy producers with specific interest in nutrition-oriented topics. They are designed to blend the latest concepts in feeding and other management aspects of dairies with field level application. They have been conducted annually as a road show with multiple sites in New York for many years with an additional Vermont location held during the past several years in collaboration with the Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance.

Corn Congress - Batavia Location

January 9, 2019
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Batavia, NY

Agenda and more coming soon!  Check back periodically for more updates.

NYFB and CCE Partner to Present a Webinar on Preventing Sexual Harassment

SAVE THE DATE of Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018 for a live webinar.  Click Here for more information.

NYFVI Employee Training Focus Group

New York Farm Viability Institute is exploring a new initiative focused on skills training for employees on dairy farms.  They are holding a focus group to learn more about how you currently train employees, what works and where there may be gaps or opportunities for new approaches.  If you're responsible for training employees, whether it's 2 or 20, we would appreciate your input. 

EMPIRE STATE BARLEY AND MALT SUMMIT WED., DEC 12TH

The event will kick off Wednesday, December 12th, with updates from government, economic educators, and hops, malting, and brewing sectors. The day will be capped with a tasting, featuring several breweries and distilleries pouring samples of craft beer and spirits which highlight the use of New York State grown hops, barley, and grains as well as a NYS-inspired buffet dinner. Day two will be a series of educational sessions featuring researchers, extension specialists and industry experts, as well as ample networking opportunities. The full program agenda is now available!

WNY SOIL HEALTH ALLIANCE WORKSHOP & ANNUAL MEETING 12/19

Dec 19, 2018, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Quality Inn & Suites, 8250 Park Rd. Batavia, NY. Kris Nichols will be presenting information on Regenerative Farming Practices and Hands-On Tools for Assessing Soil Health. John Wallace will be presenting Penn State research on Weed Management and Soil Health practices. For more information contact: Dennis Kirby at 585-589-5959. DEC & CCA credits pending. 

NYS Ag & Markets is interested in hearing from NY dairy farmers

NYS Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets is interested in hearing from NY dairy farmers regarding the status of the dairy industry and their ideas as to improvements that could be made to various programs and institutions that impact the financial environment of dairy markets.  The survey will remain open until December 3, 2018 The results of the survey will be collected and summarized by staff of the NYSDAM. The survey does not take long to complete.

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