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World Devon Congress and 400th Anniversary of Devon Cattle in North America

One tour stop is at Dale and Grace Freier’s Every Season Farm in Seneca County, NY.

On behalf of the Red Devon Board of Directors, thank you for your input on the
2024 World Devon Congress. Never doubt that your voice can make a difference!
We have refreshed our 400 Year World Devon Congress Celebration Tour to
make it easier, and more affordable, for you to participate during our trek from Florida
to Massachusetts. As requested, we modified the agenda to shorten the trip and
lower the cost. The primary package now has us starting at Lakota Ranch in Virginia
and ending in Plymouth, MA for the 400 Year Celebration of Devon cattle in this
country. The southern leg, or initial portion of the original trip, will still happen for
anyone interested in attending and visits to individual farms along the way can now be
booked separately for those that are only able to make a small portion of the tour.
Details, registration info and pricing are enclosed and available at
RedDevonUSA.com. As a courtesy to our host farms, all registrations must be
complete by March 25!

You may reach out to me directly at enghs@icloud.com.

The zoom link will be available at RedDevonUSA.com under World Devon Congress.
You may also reach out to me directly at enghs@icloud.com.
You can choose how to tailor your journey to see firsthand the adaptability of
Devon cattle from the deep south through the Mid-Atlantic to New England. The tour
will culminate with a celebration at the Plimoth Patuxet Museums in Plymouth, MA.
Here you will experience living history museums that replicate the original 17th century
settlement of the Plymouth Colony. Memorable events are being planned, including a
walk with cattle through the plantation to commemorate the 1624 arrival of Devons.

Along the way, each host farm is offering a program that will entertain all and we
envision this tour to be the perfect opportunity to showcase and celebrate Red
Devon cattle! We’ve put together a descriptive itinerary of each farm visit along with a
News Release. You know your communities best and we encourage you to use the
information we’ve provided to help us share this event with your neighbors, fellow
cattle breeders, 4-H Clubs, FFA Associations, local news outlets, County Extension
Offices, and others you know who would be interested in the tour or local farm visits.
Help us help you to raise the profile of Devon cattle!

Update Package for 2024 World Devon Congress Final

Weekly Auction Results, Empire Livestock, Bath, March 7, 2024

Compared to last week’s sale slaughter cows traded 5.00 to 6.00 lower. Holstein bull calves traded 5.00 to 20.00 higher. Beef bull calves
traded 40.00 to 60.00 lower. Supply included: 52% Slaughter Cattle (2% Steers, 4% Heifers, 13% Cows, 2% Bulls, 1% Dairy Heifers, 78% Dairy
Cows); 48% Feeder Dairy Calves (87% Bulls, 13% Heifers).

Full report: Bath wkly 3.7.24

Additional NYS cattle auction prices can be found at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/feeder-and-replacement-cattle-auctions#NewYork.

Beef Production and Management Specialist Position Re-Posted

This individual will be an extension livestock educator with the PRO-LIVESTOCK program with primary focus on beef cattle production and management in the Department of Animal Science. The primary responsibility of this position is to deliver an integrated educational program on beef cattle production along with business analysis for beef producers, beginning farmers, and other industry clientele. Provide diverse commercial producers, associated industry, and beginning farmers with the knowledge and educational resources in beef cattle production and management as well as business planning to help meet their business goals. Collaboration in the development and delivery of educational programs will be required with other Cornell faculty, statewide specialists, and Cornell Cooperative Extension Educators. Master’s degree required.

Please apply via Academic Jobs Online (https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/25383)

Qualified candidates should submit a short cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of extension goals, contact information for three references, and a statement of contribution to diversity, equity and inclusion via the website.

Applications will be reviewed as received, continuing until a suitable applicant is identified.  For full consideration please apply by February 29, 2024.

Beef Producer Zoom Meetings

Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Livestock Program Work Team (CCE LPWT) is pleased to offer virtual learning opportunities for local beef producers in February. There is no cost for the Zoom programming, but registration is required in order to receive a link for each Zoom meeting. Upcoming programming dates, topics and registration details are included below.

 

Tuesday February 13, 2024 6:30pm: Understanding Beef Diseases and Vaccinations That Can Prevent Them

 

Raising healthy and productive beef animals is key to the success of your beef operation, regardless of the size. Join us on Tuesday February 13, 2024 at 6:30pm to learn about common beef diseases and ailments and what vaccines maybe used to prevent them. In addition to covering common beef diseases, this webinar will also discuss diseases caused by ticks. Clarifying the differences between types of vaccines: modified live, versus killed, as well as explain how vaccines differ from bacterins. Guest presenter is Dr. Shannon Carpenter, D.V.M., Field Veterinarian with NY State Agriculture and Markets.

 

Registration link: http://tinyurl.com/3n37htz9

 

Tuesday February 20, 2024 6:30pm: Getting Feeder Calves Off to a Good Start/Weaning and Backgrounding

 

Livestock, Dairy and Equine Educator from Orange County CCE, Grace Ott, will join us to review the importance of adding value to your feeder cattle. Ensuring the success of your feeders’ future begins with getting them off on the right “hoof”. This webinar will share tips and strategies related to weaning and backgrounding cattle.

 

Registration Link: http://tinyurl.com/5ydsun4f

 

National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) Webinars Offer Valuable Insights for Beef & Dairy Producers


Dairy and beef farmers and ranchers are invited to attend two informative webinars that delve into the findings of the National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA). This comprehensive survey, funded by the Beef Checkoff program and conducted every five years since 1991, plays a pivotal role in evaluating and improving beef quality in the industry.

Webinar Details:

National Quality Audit – Dairy Focus – Register Here

  • Date: October 3, 2023
  • Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (Virtual, Zoom webinar)

 National Quality Audit – Beef FocusRegister Here

  • Date: October 4, 2023
  • Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (Virtual, Zoom webinar)

 Presenter:

Michaela Clowser, Director of Producer Education with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, will lead these webinars, offering a comprehensive overview of the current audit’s results.

Key Topics to be Covered:

  • Transportation: Insights into transportation practices and their impact on beef quality.
  • Bruising: A closer examination of the issue of bruising and its implications in the beef industry.
  • Carcass Weights: Understanding carcass weights and their significance in beef production.
  • Quality Grades: Discussion on quality grades and their relevance to consumer satisfaction.

For more information visit, https://www.nybeef.org/farmers-fencepost/beef-quality-assurance-certification/upcoming-bqa-events.

Cornell Beef and Small Ruminant Specialist Positions Announced

Cornell University is seeking applicants for two full time positions for a Beef Extension Specialist and a Small Ruminant Extension Specialist.  The job descriptions are below. Applications will be accepted through 9/30/23.  The link to apply is within the attached position descriptions. Feel free to contact Dr. Tom Overton, Department Chair for Cornell Dept. Animal Science at tro2@cornell.edu or Office 607.255.2862  with any questions on the positions.

Beef_Specialist_JD_8.23.2023

Small_Ruminant_Specialist_JD_8.23.2023

FDA finalizes food-producing animal antimicrobials guidance.

By Julie Larson Bricher on 6/16/2021, MeatingPlace.com

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has finalized guidance for industry that outlines the process for animal drug sponsors to voluntarily change the approved marketing status of certain medically important antimicrobials used in the feed or drinking water of food-producing animals from over-the-counter (OTC) to prescription (Rx).
The GFI #263 final guidance document advises that once the change is made, the drugs can only be used in animals under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, the agency explained in a news release.

GFI #263 is an extension of the earlier GFI #213 guidance, which sought to eliminate the use of antimicrobials for production purposes such as growth promotion. As a result of the successful implementation of GFI #213, approximately 96% of medically important antimicrobials used in animals are now under veterinary oversight, according to FDA.

The remaining 4% of medically important antimicrobials currently marketed as OTC products for food-producing and companion animals include other dosage forms, such as injectables and topicals. Once the recommendations in GFI #263 have been fully implemented, all dosage forms of medically important antimicrobials approved for use in animals can only be administered under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, and only when necessary for the treatment, control or prevention of specific diseases.

During the two-year time frame for implementation recommended in GFI #263, FDA plans to work with affected stakeholders and state partners to answer questions about the voluntary transition process and provide assistance where possible.

 

Potential forage issues with dry conditions

From Joe Lawrence, Dairy Forage Systems Specialist, Pro-Dairy

Latest strategies on dealing with dry conditions:
Drought and Forages 6.2021update

It is only the middle of June and conditions vary widely across the state but the combination of low forage inventories stemming from the 2020 season and areas that remain quite dry to date this year do have some people worried and the questions have been coming in.

The drought monitor shows much of the state above the Thru-way (as well as the western edge) remaining in a D0 (abnormally dry) rating, with an area of the North Country in D1.

https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NY

An issue I am hearing about once again is how hay fields with late harvest first cutting are really suffering.  This is the 3rd year in the last 5 (2018, 2020, 2021) where this has been evident. Fields where a timely first cutting occurred still had enough moisture for a productive second cutting. However, fields where first cutting was late were left with little moisture (and hotter temps) that severally diminish the productivity of second cutting.

So I realize it is early to sound the alarm and this is only relevant to some areas of the state but since this is the 2nd year in a row of these challenges for some areas, it does seem the concerns are being raised earlier in the season than they might be in other years and I figured I would remind you of the some of the resources that are out there and may be useful if these conditions persist.

I just reviewed the attached article and updated some of the links, etc.

I also can’t help but reinforce that some of the basics that are always important, like good silage management, can be even more important in preserving what forage you do have available.

There are surely other resources out there but we tried to summarize some of the common resources available, the list is also below.

Resources

 Northwest NY Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops Team

http://nwnyteam.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=589&crumb=forages|2

  • Forage Management and Addressing Forage Shortages

PRO-DAIRY

https://cals.cornell.edu/pro-dairy/our-expertise/forage-systems

  • Forage Management Resources

North Country Regional Agriculture Team

  • Managing Forages in Drought Videos

Nutrient Management Spear Program Agronomy Fact sheets

http://nmsp.cals.cornell.edu/guidelines/factsheets.html

  • #70: Drought and Risk of Nitrate Toxicity in Forages
  • #114: Emergency and Alternative Summer Annual Forages

Cornell Beef Cattle Management Drought Resources

https://blogs.cornell.edu/beefcattle/producer-resources/

Penn State University

  • Managing Drought Stressed Corn

https://extension.psu.edu/managing-drought-stressed-corn

  • Pricing Standing Corn Silage Spreadsheet

https://extension.psu.edu/spreadsheet-to-price-standing-corn-for-silage

University of Wisconsin

https://fyi.uwex.edu/forage/harvest/

  • Storage Capacity Calculators: Bunks, Bags, Upright Silos

Miner Institute Feeder Tools

https://www.whminer.org/dairy/

  • Inventory Calculator
  • Inventory Management

Thanks
Joe

 

Joe Lawrence, MS, CCA

Dairy Forage Systems Specialist

PRO-DAIRY

272 Morrison Hall

 

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Cornell University

Ph. 315-778-4814

jrl65@cornell.edu  |  cals.cornell.edu

http://prodairy.cals.cornell.edu/