We've all thought about our New Year's resolutions, but how many of you have written goals for your cattle and swine operations? These goals can be weekly, monthly or yearly. Maybe you're like me- very goal oriented and have everything written down, or perhaps you have never thought of goals for your operation. Either way, our team at CVA would like to help you create and achieve those goals. Let me share how our team can help reach your goals.
Today is one of those divisive times where I am speaking to a subset of you instead of the whole group. We have had some major rainfall events in portions of the Midwest over the last few weeks. This rainfall is going to prove to challenge us in many ways over the next few weeks, but also into the next growing season, and potentially even beyond 2019. Being mindful of those challenges now and preparing for them will let us have not just plans in place, but also secondary plans moving forward. And this may well prove to be significant in preserving profits.
Summer show season is wrapping up, and I have enjoyed watching many of you in the show ring and appreciated your business throughout the year. I understand the long hours spend in the barn preparing for the show season and admire your dedication to your projects. It's always a great feeling when you finally recieve recognition for the hard work you put in over the summer.
Every year at this time, I know that you take on an operational focus. I do the exact same thing. But, while we are worried about the business at hand, you know, how full is bin 3? What is the moisture on the corn on the NW quarter? How many bushels have to go to the elevator? And so on, there is a lot of research coming to a culmination. The starter trials, the variety, and hybrid comparisons. But I know many of you are also trying to use specialty products on your operation. Biologicals, inhibitors, and many other products are seeing the culmination of a growing season. And while we are operationally focused, there is a wealth of data streaming into out monitors to feed a winter worth of study and decision making.
As the summer is coming to an end and the fall weather moves in, we normally see producers stop in seeking treatment for their runny nosed calves. Aureomycin, an antibiotic used for treating a wide range of respiratory infections, is usually the preferred choice of producers. But before a cooperative can sell you Aureomycin, or any other antibiotic, a discussion with your feed representative and veterinarian is vital as feeds containing antibiotics require a VDF. A VFD, or Veterinary Feed Directive, can only be issued from a licensed veterinarian having a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship. The VDF must include all information pertaining to your herd before you, the producer, can purchase the feed containing an antibiotic. This includes complete feeds, medicated supplements, and crumbles.
Every year about this time, I implore you all to make preparations for harvest. In the past, I have talked about the yield monitor components, the combine components, and the calibration procedures for each one of your machines. And while still important, I'm going to shift my focus this year. Instead, I am going to get with the times and talk about this preparation period in a sense that is a bit more fitting to where we are in 2018, and this is from a data standpoint.
Last week in Part One of Weaning Calves and Feeding Success, we discussed starter feeds options for weaning calves. Self-Feeding options, like Accuration from Purina, is a great option for some producers. But for others that have on-farm ingredients they like to use, the hand-fed option can be very valuable. This week, we will be touching on the value of mineral tubs and herd health.
If your livelihood is Agriculture, then the ruling on Glyphosate last week affects you. Monsanto’s public relations nightmare is our public relations nightmare. In the eye of many American consumers, Monsanto is the spawn of Satan. Polluting the earth with their poison and genetically modified seeds, they won’t rest until we are all vanquished from the earth. Of course, we as farmers know that isn’t true. Traits that are embedded in our seeds have eliminated millions of pounds of chemicals from being applied to our environment in the last 20 years. But, regardless of fact or fiction, the Monsanto ruling last week effects each and every one of us in the court of public opinion.
There is a sense of pride, that is unexplainable when a feed mill manager walks you around his facility. The technology, safety and general organization of every mill is carefully planned. Each has their own way of doing things but is mindful of the importance of regulations and quality.
In Northeast Nebraska, producers are starting to wean calves and transition them into the feed yard. In this two-part series, I will be focusing what steps you can take as a producer to make this transition as easy as possible for the calves you have worked hard to raise.