Estill County Farm Scoopsugar concentration in cool season grasses. If you are interested, call the...
Transcript of Estill County Farm Scoopsugar concentration in cool season grasses. If you are interested, call the...
sorghum-cross plants
less than 15 inches tall
(“knee high”) to
significantly reduce the
potential for poisoning;
3) Feed hungry cattle
hay or grain before
allowing them to graze
forages which may
contain prussic acid
therefore reducing the
amount consumed. Do
not graze at night when
frost is likely; 4)
Drought increases the
chance for prussic acid
because slowed growth
and the inability of the
plant to mature favors
the formation of
cyanogenic compounds
in the leaves; 5) Do not
graze until 2 weeks after
a non-killing frost; 6)
Plants grown in high
nitrogen soil (and low in
phosphorus and
potassium) tend to have
more prussic acid
potential. Splitting
nitrogen applications
will reduce the risk of
toxicity.
...continued next page
With cooler weather
around the corner,
livestock producers need
to beware of the
potential of prussic acid
poisoning after a frost.
Certain plants, such as
johnsongrass,
sudangrass, and
sorghum/sudangrass
hybrids contain cyanide-
producing compounds
that are released with
frost damage to the
plant. The amount of
the compound in a plant
depends on one or more
factors including the size
and variety of the plant,
whether drought
conditions are present,
and the extent of
physical damage caused
by frost. When an
animal eats plants
containing high levels of
the compounds, prussic
acid poisoning results.
Prussic acid interferes
with oxygen utilization.
University of Kentucky
Extension Forage
Specialists and
Ruminant Veterinarian
have developed several
tips to reduce prussic
acid poisoning in
livestock: 1) Frost/
freezing is especially
dangerous because the
plant cells actually
rupture allowing prussic
acid to be released. Do
not graze until well after
the entire plant and new
shoots are killed and
have turned brown (dry).
New forage growth
following drought or
frost is dangerously high
in prussic acid. Wait at
least 7 days after a
killing frost to allow the
cyanide to dissipate; 2)
Leaves produce much
more prussic acid than
stems, especially young
upper leaves. New
shoots often contain
high concentrations of
prussic acid. Never
graze sorghums or
PRUSSIC ACID POISONING CAUTION
Newsletter Title
SEPTEMBER 29, 2016
Inside this issue:
Prussic Acid 1
Fall Cattle Producer
Meeting
2
Grazing Conference 2
Field Day Change 2
Safety in Harvest 2
Safety in Harvest 3
Water Quality Videos 4
Ginseng Program 4
Landscape
Clean Up
4
Goat/Sheep
Seminar
5
Farmers Market 5
Industrial Hemp Interest
Meeting
5
Plate It Up 6
Estill County Farm Scoop Cooperative Extension Service Estill County 76 Golden Court Irvine, KY 40336 (606) 723-4557 Fax: (606) 723-5912 extension.ca.uky.edu
We can help with...
Soil testing
Insect ID
Disease ID
Pond water testing
Livestock Rations
Grain moisture testing
Farm visits
Newsletter Title
Herbicides such as 2,4 D
can also increase prussic
acid for several weeks
following application; 7)
Chopping or ensiling
plants high in prussic
acid will reduce
toxin levels if properly
cured. However
dangerous levels of
prussic acid may remain
if extremely high before
cutting. If in doubt,
analyze suspect forages
before feeding; 8)
Johnson grass and
sorghum-sudan grass
hybrids also have the
potential for nitrate
accumulation, especially
during drought
conditions. Nitrate
tends to accumulate in
the lower stem, so
cutting hay very short,
or overgrazing so that
cattle have to eat the
lower stem bases (the
“stubble”) can cause
more intake of nitrate
and signs similar to
prussic acid poisoning.
Nitrates can persist even
in hay; 9) If you cut
Johnson grass or
sorghum-sudangrass for
hay, it is safe because
the hay curing process
neutralizes any prussic
acid; and 10) Wild
cherry leaves contain the
cyanide compounds. Do not
allow access to wild cherry
leaves whether they are
wilted or not. After storms
always check pastures for
fallen limbs.
FALL CATTLE
PRODUCER MEETING
The Estill County Extension
Service and Estill County
Cattlemen’s Association will
have a Fall Cattle Producer
meeting on Thursday,
October 13th, 6:00 p.m. at the
Extension office.
Our guest speaker will be Dr.
Tim Phillips, UK Plant
Breeder/Geneticist, who will
give an overview of new
novel endophyte fescue
varieties.
A catered meal will be
provided. Please pre-register
by October 10th by calling
723-4557.
2016 KENTUCKY
GRAZING CONFERENCE
Mark your calendars for
October 19th to attend the
Sixteenth Kentucky Grazing
Conference. The conference
will be held at The Center for
Rural Development,
2292 US-27, #300, Somerset,
KY. Registration is at 8:00
a.m. with the program
beginning at 9:00 a.m. and
ending by 3:30 p.m. The cost
is $20 and only $10 for
students.
Topics for the conference are a
producer’s guide to pasture-
based beef finishing,
marketing grass-fed beef 101,
cutting edge grazing research,
farmer success with NRCS
cost share, adaptive grazing for
healthy soil, soil health equals
farmer wealth, and maximizing
sugar concentration in cool
season grasses.
If you are interested, call the
Estill County Extension
Service at 723-4557 or Krista
at 859-257-0597.
FARM FIELD DAY CHANGE
There is a change in plans
for Extension Farm Field
Day. The event has been
moved to this coming
spring. More information in
future newsletters.
SAFETY DURING FALL
HARVEST
Fall harvest season is a busy
time for Kentucky farmers and
their families. It also is a peak
season for agricultural injuries
and an especially important
time for farm families to pay
attention to safety.
...continued next page
Newsletter Title
According to UK
agriculture safety and
health specialist Mark
Purschwitz, you should
take time to talk to all
workers about safety.
You need to be sure all
workers are trained and
physically capable of
operating equipment and
that they understand the
safety procedures.
Long working hours can
lead to fatigue and stress,
making you less alert to
potential safety hazards.
Take breaks when
operating equipment for
an extended period of
time. If possible, trade off
with other workers for a
change of pace.
Dress appropriately for
the job. Avoid loose
clothing, jackets with
dangling strings and
sweatshirts that could get
entangled in moving
equipment.
Entanglement in moving
parts, especially power
take-offs or other chain
and belt drivers, is a major
fall harvest hazard. Inspect
machinery and equipment
to be sure shields and
guards on moving parts
are in place and in good
repair. Replace ineffective
or missing safety
equipment.
Before getting off equipment,
disengage the power and wait
for moving parts to completely
stop. When possible, shut off
the engine.
It is always a good idea to take
the ignition key with you so
another person does not
unexpectedly start equipment
while you are performing
maintenance or repair. If you
are working under any piece
of equipment, such as a
header unit, always use the
jack stand or hydraulic
cylinder locks to prevent it
from suddenly falling and
pinning you. Be sure all safety
locks are operational.
A pinhole-size hydraulic leak
can cause severe tissue
damage. If you are injected
with oil from a hydraulic leak,
immediately seek medical
assistance. The oil must be
surgically removed, and delays
can result in serious infections
and possible amputations.
Always use paper or
cardboard to check for
hydraulic leaks.
Tractor overturns are the
leading cause of farm deaths.
To prevent these tragedies,
equip older model tractors
with a roll-over protective
structure. Most tractors
manufactured after the late
1960s or early 1970s can be
equipped with a ROPS for a
reasonable price.
Make it a habit to use the seat
belt to ensure you remain
inside the zone of protection
provided by the ROPS or
safety cab. The seat belt also
will keep you from being
thrown off the tractor if you
hit an obstacle. Being thrown
off the tractor and run over is
the second leading cause of
tractor deaths in Kentucky.
Never allow any extra riders
on tractors or equipment.
Keep bystanders away from
operating equipment. Also, be
aware of people who may
have come into the area.
Always check around
equipment before starting or
moving it.
Carry a fire extinguisher on all
tractors and self-propelled
equipment, especially
combines. Periodically check
extinguishers to be sure they
are pressurized and in good
condition.
To prevent fires on combines,
be sure equipment is clean
and hoses and fuel systems
are in good shape and not
leaking. Remove trash and
debris around engine
components.
Check for clearances with
overhead power lines when
...continued next page
Newsletter Title
operating or moving tall
machines, because
contact may result in
electrocution. Moving
portable augers around
overhead power lines is
especially hazardous so
always lower them first.
When filling silos, watch
for the bleach-like odor
that indicates silo gas. This
yellowish brown gas is
heavier than air and will
settle on the silage surface
and may flow down the
chute into adjacent
livestock areas. Close any
doors leading to livestock
areas, keep the base of
the silo chute well
ventilated and do not
enter a silo during the first
two weeks.
Farm vehicles on public
roads are annually
involved in thousands of
injury accidents in the
United States, and more
than 200 collisions
involving farm machinery
on public roads occur in
Kentucky every year. Thus,
people driving farm
machinery and those
driving vehicles should be
especially careful and
watchful.
Keep slow-moving-vehicle
emblems and extremity
markings clean and bright
to help motorists notice
equipment. Replace faded
SMV emblems and check
headlights, taillights and
flashing lights for satisfactory
operation.
To alert on-coming drivers,
use reflectors or reflective
tape when the edges of towed
equipment extend beyond the
left side of a tractor. If a
tractor has mirrors, keep them
clean and adjusted for the
driver to watch for
approaching motorists. When
possible, pull completely off
the road to let a line of traffic
pass.
Since it may be difficult to
anticipate the operational
intentions of farm machinery
on the roadway, other drivers
need to watch for unmarked
field entrances or other places
the driver might be planning
to enter. A tractor may need
to move to the right to
complete a left turn so do not
assume the driver wants you
to pass when moving to the
right side. Pass only in a
designated passing zone or
when the other driver signals
and completely pulls off the
road.
VIDEOS SHOWCASE KY AG
WATER QUALITY PLAN
FARMER SUCCESSES
UK Extension Water Quality
Liaison Amanda Gumbert has
helped released three videos
featuring outstanding KY
farming families successfully
combining production
agriculture with conservation
practices from
their KY Ag Water
Quality Plans.
KY Agriculture
Water Quality Act
– Mark Turner's Story
https://youtu.be/mwih_Zurlko
KY Agriculture Water Quality Act
– Bob James' Story
https://youtu.be/AxUbTFmXiO0
KY Agriculture Water Quality Act
– Jim Morse's Story
https://youtu.be/sHZ_SEBPR5k
GINSENG PROGRAM
There will be a Ginseng seminar on Monday, November 14th, 7:00 p.m. at the Extension office.
Kentucky Department of Agriculture representative Anna Lucio will be here to give an overview of the KY ginseng program and regulations.
LANDSCAPE CLEAN UP
TIPS
Autumn has arrived in
Kentucky and, as leaves
change color and fall from
trees, it is time to focus on
landscape sanitation. Good
sanitation practices can help
reduce disease-causing
pathogens.
These organisms can survive
for months or years on dead
plant material or in soil.
Elimination of disease-causing
organisms reduces the need for
...continued next page
Eric Baker
County Extension Agent for Agriculture/Natural Resources
E-mail: [email protected] County web page: http://estill.ca.uky.edu
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Telephone: 606-723-4557
REMINDER FOR SENIORS
If you receive senior farmers
market nutrition program
vouchers through the Senior
Citizen’s Center, you must use the
vouchers before the farmers
market ends this growing season.
chemical controls and can improve the effectiveness of disease management practices. Following these sanitation practices
throughout the growing season can reduce disease pressure.
Sanitation Practices
Remove diseased plant tissues from infected plants >Prune cankers and galls from branches by making cuts well below visible symptoms. Clean tools between each cut with a
sanitizer, such as rubbing alcohol or household bleach. >Rake and remove fallen buds, flowers, twigs, leaves, and needles. >Discard all above- and below-ground portions of heavily infected perennial and annual plants. Severely infected trees and
shrubs should be cut down and stumps removed/destroyed.
>All discarded plant material should be burned, buried, or removed with yard waste. Do not compost diseased plant
material. Exercise caution when storing limbs and trunks as fire wood or using for mulch. >Soil from containers should be discarded and not reused. >Remove weeds, including roots, which may serve as alternate hosts for pathogens. >When treating infected plants with fungicides, remove infected tissues prior to application.
Join us for a goat and sheep seminar on Monday,
October 24, 7:00 p.m., at the Extension office. Our
guest speaker will be Dr. Ken Andries, small ruminant
specialist from Kentucky State University.
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