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In this issue
Breaking From the
Traditional Corn-Soybean Rotation
Feedlot Meeting
Features Current Issues
Swine Issues
Standard Operating
Procedures, A Useful Strategy for All Dairies
Breaking from the Traditional Corn-Soybean Rotation
By Todd Vagts, ISU Extension Crop Field Specialist
Frustration over the
last few years with disappointing soybean yields, prices, and increased pest
problems has led many producers to begin thinking about breaking the
traditional corn-soybean rotation in favor of two or more years of
consecutive corn. Yet before such a transition takes place, producers
need to consider and understand the advantages and disadvantages of
corn-on-corn versus the traditional corn-soybean rotation.
First and foremost, the
“rotation effect” on corn grain yield enhancement will be lost for one or
more years, depending on the number of years with corn following corn. ISU
and other state’s studies have shown about an 8.5% reduction in corn grain
yield with corn following corn when compared to corn following soybean
(Table 1).
Producing the same crop
for two or more consecutive years may lead to increased problems with plant
pathogenic diseases and harmful insects. Hybrid selection for disease
tolerance and the use of soil and foliar applied insecticides or in-plant
insect protection may be required, which will lead to higher input costs and
a reduced number of appropriate hybrids to select from.
Adding more years of
corn in a rotation will increase the need for supplemental nutrient inputs,
particularly nitrogen. Again, adding additional costs to the rotation
(Table 3). Increased use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers may lead
to increased water quality problems and increased social costs.
On the other hand,
lengthening the time sequence between soybean crops should reduce
populations of soybean cyst nematode, a major yield limiting factor to
soybean production. The incidence of other soybean diseases may also be
reduced.
Soybean yields may be
enhanced when compared to the corn-soybean rotation as ISU studies have
shown a 7% soybean yield increase when soybeans follow two or more
consecutive years of corn (Table 2). This soybean yield increase may
negate the yield loss from the 2nd year of corn-on-corn.
Additionally, soil
during and following a soybean crop is highly prone to loss through
erosion. Adding more years of corn to the rotation will offer more
protection from soil erosion.
Feedlot Meeting
Features Current Issues
by Beth Ellen Doran, ISU Extension Beef Field Specialist
Feedlot producers and
agri-business staff in NW Iowa are invited to a Feedlot Meeting on January
14, 9:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., at the Corporate Center in Sioux Center. The meeting is a joint
effort of the Sioux County Cattlemen's Association, ISU Extension, the Iowa Beef Center and Elanco to
provide information about current issues within the beef industry.
The program will begin with a discussion of Country of Origin Labeling
(COOL) and the National Identification System by John Lawrence, ISU
Extension Livestock Marketing Economist and Iowa Beef Center Director. Just
recently, the U.S. Senate voted 58-36 to support funding for COOL. Now the
decision whether or not to fund COOL will be resolved by joint committee of
the House and Senate. Meanwhile, the National Identification System is full
steam ahead. The goal is to have all food animals individually identified
by 2006 so that 48-hour trace-back would be possible, if needed.
Jeff Lorimor, ISU Assistant Professor of Manure Management and Water
Quality, will visit about air quality and alternative technologies for
manure management in open feedlots. Currently, the Iowa Department of
Natural Resources has a trailer in Sioux County with instrumentation that
is monitoring air quality from a beef feedlot. Join in the discussion about
solids settling, total containment and alternative technologies to manage
manure run-off.
Mike Van Koevering, Cattle Technical Consultant from Elanco Animal Health,
will present information on Optaflexx, the newest feed additive that
will be marketed after the first of the year. This compound will enhance
average daily gain, improve feed efficiency and increase red meat yield
while maintaining eating quality. Learn how it is to be used and discover
how it might fit into your feeding program.
Lunch will feature value-added cuts from the shoulder or round. Nancy Degner,
Vice President of Consumer Marketing with the Iowa Beef Industry Council,
will explain how your Checkoff money is being used to add value to
the beef you produce.
Holstein steer trials with ethanol
co-products will be presented by
Allen Trenkle, ISU Distinguished Professor of Animal Science.
Northwest Iowa is now the leading
area of Iowa in dairy production,
generating a ready supply of dairy steers. Also, NW Iowa will be home to
five ethanol plants.
And last, but not least,
is a cattle market outlook and situation presentation by
Michael Murphy, Cattle Fax. Two questions keep surfacing - how high will
the cattle market be and how long can it remain? See what Cattle Fax is
forecasting.
Registrations ($20/person) are due January 7, 2004. To obtain a
registration form, contact Beth Doran at 712-472-2576.
Swine Issues
by Dave Stender, ISU Extension Swine Field Specialist
Diet affecting health
Recent research reports have
summarized the impact of changing the diet to influence swine health. For
example, a low level of feed intake after weaning has a detrimental effect
on the gut and can cause diarrhea. High protein may have the same effect.
Antimicrobials have been successfully used in animal agriculture for many
years. Benefits from their use is known to be greater in less than ideal
conditions were health, nutrition and/or management have been compromised.
Other feed additives that have been used include spray dried plasma.
Studies over the years of this product show an average of 26.8% improvement
in growth rate, again the most response in the least healthy herds.
Addition of organic acids to nursery diets may result in positive benefits,
but response can vary due to health of the pigs, the amount fed and the acid
used. Consistently formic and lactic acids show the most favorable
response.
Direct fed microbials may also be effective in some situations. Yeast
culture is an example of a direct fed microbial that can be supplemented in
a nursery diet. There have been a number of yeast culture studies showing a
decrease in diarrhea with an increase in growth rate, however, the majority
of studies have reported no improvements in performance.
Pre-biotics are another class of feed additives that may have impact on
gain, they are non-digestible oligosaccharides. Some trials show a
response, others did not. The average increase in gain for manna
oligosaccharide is around 4% improved growth.
Copper and zinc added to nursery feeds have long been know to improve
performance. Plant extracts and enzymes can also show improvement in pig
health and performance. Several dietary factors can influence the
susceptibility of pigs to enteric diseases. As bacterial resistance issues
continue to be discussed, swine producers should take a look at some of the
alternatives available and determine which might be effective in their
production system.
A regional swine health meeting
is planned for Dec 9 at WIT campus in Cherokee. Antibiotic use will be
one of the topics discussed. Dr. John Carr, ISU Veterinary, will be
discussing management factors to improve pig health.
Ventilation workshop
A repeat of last years’ highly informative workshop will be offered
December 8 in Sioux Center, December 9 in Carroll, and January 26 in LeMars.
Contact your county extension office for a brochure and more information.
Regional swine
reproductive workshop
New technologies and products
discussed, Dr. Don Levis, Dr. John Carr and Dr. Brad Thacker will lead
discussions of this advanced conference on swine reproduction to be held in
Sheldon, January 16.
Check with your county extension office or call Dave Stender, ISU Swine
Field Specialist (712)225-6196 or 261-0225 for more information.
Standard Operating Procedures – A Useful Strategy
for All Dairies
By Chris Mondak, ISU Extension Dairy Field Specialist
SOP’s tell everyone on
your dairy “when, why, and how tasks get done,” according to guest
instructor Rich Stup, at the recent Dairy Leadership and Employee Management
seminar in Orange City. The term and concept of standard operating
procedures is not new to the dairy industry, but is still often an
under-utilized tool.
Why is it smart to
use Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on your dairy?
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SOPs control people-caused variation.
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SOPs make training easier.
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SOPs serve as standard for feedback and
evaluation.
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SOPs are best if stated in simple terms.
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SOP formats are varied – choose the format
that fits your dairy or the particular task.
How can you get
started making your own SOPs? Some thoughts from ISU Extension on ways to
apply these concepts:
Let’s say you like the
idea of having important procedures spelled out in writing so
that you can control variation, but you don’t see how you can find time to
get this done. Every day is already so busy – how can you possibly
find time to sit down and write out these things?
Here’s a simple 3-part
suggestion from a person who’s experienced the time crunch phenomenon on the
dairy: Use the course of your regular work day/work week to get started on
forming your SOPs.
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Think of a key procedure, such as milking
procedure, for example. Jot down each step of the procedure as you would
like it to be done. Or, in the course of doing milking chores, ask a
family member or partner to follow you around and write down each key step
as you do them.
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Once you have this first draft, ask a
trusted consultant if it covers every important thing that should be
included. Use this as an opportunity to fine-tune your procedures – ask if
they reflect current best management practices.
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Once you’ve received feedback on the draft,
give it the “acid test.” Ask a person unfamiliar with the task, like a
person training to be a relief chore worker, to follow the draft SOP and
actually perform the steps. This will give you immediate feedback on what
steps are unclear to others, or what step should be added for clarity.
Once you’ve created the
written procedure for milking time cow prep procedures, you can then list
the next key procedures to target for a written SOP.
If you want to read more
details on using and creating SOPs on your dairy, check out Rich Stup’s
articles that appeared in Hoard’s Dairyman issues 2/10/03, 10/10/03,
and 10/25/03 or call Chris Mondak, ISU Dairy Field Specialist (712-737-4230)
for more information.
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