- Greatly Improved Nutrient Efficiency Demonstrates New York Dairy Farmers’ Environmental Stewardship
- Participate in a DFBS Follow-Up Study
- 2017 Summer Research Update
- Sign Up for the NYS Fair Dairy Cow Birthing Center
- State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit for Agriculture
- Save the Date!
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Greatly Improved Nutrient Efficiency Demonstrates New York Dairy Farmers’ Environmental Stewardship
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By: Karl Czymmek, PRO-DAIRY
A recent study published
in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation ("Upper Susquehanna
watershed and New York State improvements in nitrogen and phosphorus
mass balances of dairy farms.") suggests that, collectively, dairy farms
in New York and in the New York portion of the Upper Susquehanna
Watershed (USW) have significantly reduced N and P use over the past ten
years without sacrificing productivity.
In
the study, whole-farm nutrient mass balances (NMBs) completed by 189
New York dairy farms, including 91 located in the USW were analyzed. The
trend study shows that, in 2004, the USW farms averaged an N balance of
77 lbs/acre and a P balance of 9 lbs/acre. In 2013, that average was 46
lbs N/acre and 5 lbs P/acre. Balances for the entire state were
slightly higher but showed similar trends. If all dairy farms in the
state and the USW followed similar trends, this suggests reductions in
total N and P imports of 26 - 30% for N and about 20% for P, comparing 2004
versus 2013. Expressed in lbs of nutrients, this amounts to 9.5 million
lbs of N and 0.9 million lbs of P when comparing 2013 versus 2004 for
the Upper Susquehanna Watershed, and 66 million lbs of N and 6.6 million
lbs of P for the state.
A
pound not imported is a pound less that could be lost to the
environment so the reductions shown in the article reflect a reduced
risk of N and P losses to the environment, as well as greatly improved
nutrient efficiency.
To read more, see: What’s Cropping Up?: “Greatly Improved Nutrient Efficiency Demonstrates New York Dairy Farmers’ Environmental Stewardship.”
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Participate in a DFBS Follow-Up Study
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Participate in a 2016 DFBS follow-up study, “The impact of human resource management (HRM) practices on dairy farm financial performance in New York State.” The survey, which requires 20 minutes, is available on the FarmNet webpage. To participate in the study enter your confidential DFBS farm number. If you have misplaced this, please contact your Extension Educator or Jason Karszes at jk57@cornell.edu.
If you have any questions about the study or to obtain a hardcopy of the survey, please contact Sheila Marshman at 607-244-5539 or sam76@cornell.edu, or Ed Staehr at 607-255-4121 or aes6@cornell.edu. The last day to participate in this study is September 15, 2017.
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2017 Summer Research Updates
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Hear the latest research about heifer reproduction and hypocalcemia at six sites statewide from August 23 through Septmber 7. Registration is free but is required. Presenters will vary by site and include: Julio O. Giordano, DVM, MS, PhD; Magdalena Masello Souza, DVM; Mark Thomas, DVM, DABVP-Dairy; Robert A. Lynch, DVM; Matt Curler, DVM; and Bob Ceglowski, DVM. Sites include: Amsterdam, Ithaca, Copenhagen, Chazy, Batavia and Greenwich. Program flyers for each site are posted on the PRO-DAIRY website.
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Sign Up for the NYS Fair Dairy Cow Birthing Center
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It's only ONE week away from welcoming uddermiracles into the world at the
Dairy Cow Birthing Center at the NYS Fair and the NY Animal Agriculture Coalition is looking for volunteers. The Dairy Cow Birthing Center exhibit at the State Fair was the "go-to" attraction for more than 380,000 people last year, where they saw three calves born daily, and more importantly, conversed with farmers and industry professionals. This is our opportunity as an industry to stand up, tell our story, and share our passion with fairgoers for 13 straight days.
By signing up, you'll get free admission to the fair, a parking pass, a free t-shirt and the opportunity to make a difference. Morning and afternoon shifts are available, but you're welcome to stay all day, because fairgoers do too! Sign up online today so your passes can be mailed to you. Please do not re-post the sign-up link online. Thanks for everything that each of you do to help make this 5th year celebration a huge success! As always, if you need anything, please contact Jessica Ziehm or Eileen Jensen.
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State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit for Agriculture
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Does farm construction need a State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit? Many farmers incorrectly assume a SPDES Stormwater Permit is only needed for non-farm construction and incorrectly assume that farm construction is exempt! Do not fall into this perceived easy out from the permitting process, as you could potentially suffer fines and penalties. Doug Kierst, Executive Director, Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Judy Wright, Senior Ag Resource Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County have written a blog about permit guidelines.
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