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)

Mortality Disposal: Looking for Solutions Roundtable Event

September 28, 2018
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Warsaw, NY

Please join Cornell Waste Management Institute (CWMI), Cornell Cooperative Extension, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM) and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) for a round-table to discuss composting and burial rules and guidance, as well as problems and solutions that will encourage new and existing facilities to compost mortalities, explore incineration, digestion and any other disposal ideas that protect human, livestock and environmental health.

September 28, 2018 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Wyoming County Ag and Business Center, 36 Center Street, Suite B, Warsaw, NY 14569. The meeting will be held in Learning Center Room #1.

Calving and Neonatal Calf Care Training

October 26 - November 9, 2018
Two-day program, held two weeks apart: Oct 26th and Nov 9th, each meet at 9:30 a.m - 3:00 p.m.

Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY are holding a two-day Calving and Neonatal Calf Care Training at several locations in October and November.  

2018 Feed Dealer Seminar

December 14, 2018
10:00 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.

Harvest Strategies and Forage Quality Monitoring for Corn Silage

A great deal of time is spent on the basics of an optimum corn silage harvest. This time is justified as these steps are critical to a successful harvest, where the decisions made during a very short time period impact the farm's production performance and economics for the upcoming year. These important decisions include harvesting at the proper dry matter, adequate kernel processing, proper length of cut, and proper packing and covering of bunk silos.  The following will cover additional considerations for understanding and managing the forage quality of the crop.  For more information, please visit: https://prodairy.cals.cornell.edu/sites/prodairy.cals.cornell.edu/files/shared/documents/Corn%20Silage%20Harvest.pdf

Webinar: Composting - Animal Mortality - Wed., September 26, 2018 2:00 pm EST

This webinar will provide viewers with an understanding of the principles of successful composting of animal mortality in routine and emergency situations. Mortality composting is a known strategy of the agricultural waste management system. The principles of proper mortality composting will be discussed. Discussions will also include the composting process, trouble shooting techniques, what is considered compost, how properly composting animal mortality impacts bio-security.

Latest Dairy Market Watch

An educational newsletter to keep producers informed of changing market factors affecting the dairy industry. Dairy Market Watch - July 2018

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