With the extended heat and drought this summer, you are going to need to pay extra attention to your feed supply. Aflatoxins have the potential to become a major problem. We encourage you to test the feed you produce and know what the test analysis is of any you purchase. Processors cannot legally sell products over 20 ppb for dairy animals and you cannot feed over that level. FDA also has a limit of 0.5 ppb for selling milk. Know what is going into your cows! It is not mandatory for processors to test incoming milk at this point in Indiana, but many have already started testing. Talk to your milk buyer if you have questions of how they are handling it. 

Purdue University Extension has important information on aspergillus ear rot, which is aflatoxin. Click here to learn about identifying and testing for this disease and also minimizing the economic losses.   

In addition, you can watch a 9 minute video where Dr. Mike Hutjens discusses Aflatoxin management. 

Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) is a national milk marketing cooperative owned by and focused on nearly 16,000 dairy farmer members in 48 states. The Cooperative's core business is to market members' milk, pay them a competitive price, deliver value and be a leader in the industry.

In addition, DFA is a dairy foods processor with investments in plants and brands throughout the country that bring value to its members and consumers. Through its Global Dairy Products Group, DFA manufactures and markets a variety of dairy products including cheese, butter and dairy ingredients. You may even recognize some of our farmer-owned brands, such as Borden� Cheese, Borden� Butter, Keller's� Creamery, Plugra� European Style Butter and Sport Shake�. DFA also owns Kemps LLC, which manufactures 1,500 varieties of dairy products including fluid milk, ice cream, frozen yogurt, creams, sour cream, cottage cheese, yogurt and more.

To ensure added value in membership, DFA offers services that are aimed at helping members better manage their operations, optimize productivity and increase profit margins. Services offered range from price risk management programs to access to affordable health and worker's compensation insurance and bulk-buying programs. More information about DFA can be found at  www.dfamilk.com or by calling the Mideast Area office at 1-800-837-6776. 

On February 16, 2013 a new rule administered by the Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC) becomes effective. The rule regulates the application and staging of manure and commercial fertilizer. The purpose of the rule is to establish standards so that fertilizer materials can be handled and applied in a manner that will help ensure protection of our soil and water.

Key components of the new rule: 

It applies to all growers who use fertilizers (commercial fertilizer or manure) to produce an agricultural crop.

1. It helps to protect soil and water quality. And,
2. The new rule does not create new untested standards, but rather adopts established standards, rules and best management practices, many of which are in use by most growers.

More specifics: 

All growers will need to follow these rules. The only exception is for those that use very small amounts of fertilizer, less than 10 cubic yards or 4,000 gallons per year are exempt from the use rules.

• Setbacks are established for staging and application of manures and commercial fertilizers. Setbacks for staging and application are now the same for Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and OISC rules.
• All growers must develop a fertilizer application plan that is based on realistic agronomic rates, including consideration of soil fertility levels, crop need and availability of nutrients from fertilizer or other sources
• For those under an IDEM permit, manure application made to frozen and snow covered ground is prohibited unless it is an emergency situation or the farm has limited storage capacity and application is approved by the IDEM commissioner. For all other growers, OISC allows winter application with specific restrictions designed to reduce the likelihood of having nutrients added to water.

More details are available here or on the state chemist's website,  or call 800-893-6637, or contact your local extension office. 

With harvest in full swing, drivers are sharing the road with more large equipment.  Indiana State Police Public Information Sergeant John Bowling says this time of year drivers need to be especially patient.  "When you're on two lane roads - watch for farm equipment," he says.  "Sometimes the visibility in that equipment is not what it is in your passenger vehicle - and drivers need to be aware of that."

Sgt. Bowling reminds drivers it is illegal to pass in a No Passing Zone.  "You want to make sure it is safe to pass when you do pass the farm equipment," he reminds.  "Keep a safe following distance.  If you are going to have to follow that slow-moving vehicle for any amount of distance it is a good idea to turn on your flashers so that someone doesn't come up behind your too fast and strike your vehicle."

He tells Brownfield there are tips for farmers to help safely share the road, too.  "Make sure all the lights are working properly on your equipment," he says.  "Make sure your turn signals are working."  Since visibility is often a concern - Sgt. Bowling says it isn't a bad idea to use hand signals during daylight hours.  

Finally - Bowling reminds farmers it is state law in Indiana - if there are five or more vehicles following behind you - you are required to pull off to the side of the road and let them pass.  If not - you are impeding the flow of traffic.

Below, we are clarifying some issues at the Board of Animal Health that have surfaced during state/federal dairy farm surveys and routine dairy farm inspections:

• All dairy farm inspections will be full inspections. For example, even if the inspector is coming back to the farm to re-check an infraction point, or if a farm has been put on warning for some reason, the re-check will be a full farm inspection.
• Lactating and Non-Lactating definition: Lactating medications are for a cow currently in milk. Non-lactating medications are for a dry cow, bull or pre-fresh heifer. Calf medications are all non-lactating dairy animals on the farm 20 months of age or younger. Over-the-counter medications that are not labeled for dairy are in violation unless a veterinary prescription is present. This includes homeopathic medications.
• No quarter milkers are allowed to be used. If they are seen on the premises, the inspector will issue a mark.
• Dairy farms often buy supplies in large containers and then use a secondary container for easier handling. All such secondary containers (such as teat dip) must be visibly labeled. A hand-written marker is acceptable, but the original container with a manufacturer's label must be available. This includes pump-up fly sprayers.

Call Doug if you have any questions: 317-695-8228  

The Indiana AgrAbility Project at Purdue University will host a free webinar on Sept. 27 to provide support and health resources for farmers. "Mental/Behavioral Health Resources for the Drought Aftermath" will begin at 3 p.m. (EDT).

"As disappointing harvests become a reality for many, the financial and emotional impacts of the drought may lead some farm families into crisis," Jones said.

The goal of the session is to give Midwestern farm families and Extension personnel health resources to help them cope with possible effects of the drought. Read more.

Fall is setting in on Saturday morning, and with that has come a little fall in the commodity markets this week. Production report on Monday is indicating a little more corn and beans yields. With that, co-products from processors are still in limbo for Oct-Dec prices as not much new product coming into them yet to know the sure quality. Processors are testing all corn coming in to plants to prevent being out of spec on toxins, with Aflatoxin max at 20ppb for dairy animal consumption. Other livestock have different limits, depending on age of species. Check with your vet/nutritionist on those levels.

Canola has been a hot item for protein in diets, as basis levels have been wide vs. soybean meal CBOT., with offers available thru December. Harvest is just getting under way on canola.
Cottonseed is still a bargain in the forage category for the dairy, with good yields and quality predicted, with harvest slightly delayed with rains in the south as crop is ready to go in some areas. Offers are available thru August 2013.

Gluten feeds are tight in market place as some down times for maintenance are occurring and slow down on grinds coming to end of inventory on old crop corn. Testing at plants is slowing trucks on deliveries.

Hominy is thin in offers as the corn processor's position's tight. New corn is steady coming in this area. Testing at plants is slowing delivery times.

Soy hulls have swung lower and steady as much corn fodder fills in for short forage and 4th-5th cutting hay still is progressing. Seeing hulls trend lower over next week or so as harvest kicks in and cattle stay out on pasture. Get your needs calculated and purchases in as winter isn't far away.

Soybean meal is being cut back in usage in some areas of dairy and livestock with substitute proteins less costly. Poultry and swine are the largest consumers of sbm so if dairy can source other proteins, it would be helpful during this phase of inventory adjustments and higher feed costs.  

Feel free to call us! Zeeland Farm Service, ingredient division, 866-888-7082, and look at options outside of the box. We are here to help.