News Update
Dec. 20, 2010

Snow, Ice Cause Concerns About Farm Buildings

Last weekend’s snowstorm in the southern part of Minnesota has resulted in significant amounts of snow on the roofs of agricultural and rural buildings.

University of Minnesota Extension climatologist Mark Seeley said, “The medium range forecast for Minnesota from Dec. 24 to Dec. 31 looks like more frequent and accumulating snow is on the way, so we will certainly be adding to our December snowfall total without any melting.”

Larry Jacobson, an agricultural engineer with Extension said that, because of the cold temperatures and a layer of ice, snow that fell on metal roofs is not sliding off like it normally does in the winter. “If the ice/snow layer on the roof doesn’t melt, each additional snowfall this season will intensify the problem,” he said.

Farmers and building owners should monitor the snow load situation on agricultural structures and take appropriate action. Jacobson asks that farm and rural property owners and managers check high-risk areas, and be extremely careful with snow removal.

Snow loads for agricultural buildings in much of southern and western Minnesota are generally around 20 pounds (lb.) per square foot. More recently built buildings may have increased snow loads to 25 lb. or even 30 lb. per square foot. Jacobson said, “No matter what the level, snow loads are not intended to last all winter; there is a fatigue factor. A roof may be able to support the designed snow load for several days or a few weeks, but probably no more than 30 days.”

Jacobson estimates that the “safe” amount of snow to have on roofs for extended periods is about half of the designed load, or about 2 feet (ft.) of normal snow or 1 inch (in.) of ice and 1 ft. of snow.

Safely remove excess snow as soon as possible. Generally there is some time between a large snowfall event and possible structural failure. Unfortunately, one good way to remove snow from a roof is to physically get up on the roof and push the snow off with a shovel and/or broom.

Safety is an obvious concern when working on a snow-covered and icy roof. Use ladders, safety ropes and take necessary precautions. Snow rakes also can be used to remove snow. When using a snow rake, use extreme caution when working near overhead electrical power lines. Also, avoid excessive scraping on the roof or trying to chip off ice. These practices can damage the roof and lead to a leaky roof.

There are other methods of removing snow and ice from roofs. One involves warming the inside of the building sufficiently with large heaters to melt the ice layer, and then waiting for the snow and ice to slide off. Obviously, a lot of heat is necessary for even a moderately-sized building, and it must be an open-trussed structure (no flat ceiling), and have an uninsulated metal roof. Caution is necessary to prevent large chunks of ice and snow that slide off the roof from falling on people, animals or equipment.

For flat-ceiling buildings, putting heaters in the attic is generally not recommended because of the fire danger and the possibility of creating ice dams along the building’s eaves.

For more information, visit University of Minnesota Extension’s website at www.extension.umn.edu/extreme-weather/winter-damage.

— Release by University of Minnesota Extension.

Manure Application on Frozen Ground

It’s important for cattle producers to understand the rules that apply to winter manure application. The law limits liquid manure application from Dec. 21 to April 1 if the ground is snow-covered. While there were some changes in the rules this past year, make sure you understand all the details before field applying manure this winter.

State law prohibits producers from applying liquid manure on snow-covered ground after Dec. 21, unless it’s an emergency. Those are producers with confinement (totally roofed) facilities that have 500 or more animal units. Generally, 500 animal units would be 500 steers, immature dairy cows or other cattle; or 357 mature dairy cows. 1,250 finishing hogs; or 5,000 nursery pigs.

The law does not apply to manure from open feedlots or dry manure. “However, all livestock and poultry producers, regardless of size or type, need to protect water and prevent pollution as they land apply manure,” said Gene Tinker, coordinator of DNR’s animal feeding operations.

If manure can be injected or incorporated, it can be land applied during the Dec. 21-April 1 time period.

Questions about manure application can be directed to your local DNR field office. Here are field office locations and phone numbers.

Tinker said that if producers and commercial applicators are surface applying manure, they need to observe the separation distances. “The research shows that the later in the season and the closer to spring snowmelt that you apply, the greater the risk that manure-laden runoff will reach a stream,” he said.

The Iowa Manure Management Action Group at Iowa State University also has information about applying manure in the winter. 

— Release by Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.

Southwest Beef Symposium to Address Current Issues Facing the Industry

The Southwest Beef Symposium, jointly hosted by the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Cooperative Extension Service and Texas AgriLife Extension Service, is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 18-19, in the Grand Plaza Room of the Amarillo Civic Center, 401 S. Buchanan St., Amarillo.

The educational forum, tailored for beef producers, was established seven years ago to provide timely information annually about current industry issues and practical management. The event alternates between locations in New Mexico and Texas. NMSU hosted the event last year in Tucumcari.

“The symposium is an annual opportunity for beef producers to get a bona fide perspective of current issues facing the industry from nationally recognized speakers,” said Manny Encinias, NMSU Extension beef specialist.

Guest speaker Dennis Avery, director of the Center for Global Food Issues at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C., will open the symposium on the topic of feeding the world.

Avery served as agricultural analyst for the U.S. Department of State from 1980 to 1988, where he was responsible for assessing the foreign-policy implications of food and farm developments worldwide.

At the Hudson Institute, Avery continues to monitor developments in world food production, farm production demand, the safety and security of food supplies and the sustainability of world agriculture. As a staff member of the President’s National Advisory Commission on Food and Fiber, he wrote the commission’s landmark report, “Food and Fiber for the Future.”

The Jan. 18 program will begin at 1 p.m. with the Current Issues: Stand Up and Be Counted session, followed by an evening steak dinner. The Jan. 19 program will run from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and include a lunch sponsored by Hi-Pro Feeds.

In addition to Avery’s talk, the current issues section features discussions on “The Carbon Cycle and Beef Production” by Brent Auvermann, Texas AgriLife Extension; “Management Technologies and the Carbon Footprint of Beef Production” by Jim MacDonald, Texas AgriLife Extension; and “Management Technologies and Food Safety” by Dan Upson, Kansas State University.

“The second day of the symposium has always been focused on addressing timely management issues,” Encinias said.

The morning production session, Setting the Stage for the Next Five Years, will include talks on “Production Costs and Parameters for Cow-Calf Production in North Texas and New Mexico” by Stan Bevers, AgriLife Extension; “You and Your Heifers” by Rob Hogan, Texas AgriLife Extension; “Managing Fertility in Cows and Bulls” by Encinias and Bruce Carpenter, Texas AgriLife Extension; and “Cow Fertility in Arid Environments” by Milton Thomas, NMSU professor in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences’ Animal and Range Sciences Department.

The program concludes with the afternoon Stocker/Feeder Cattle production session addressing “Weight Considerations” by Ted McCollum, Texas AgriLife Extension; “Vaccine Technology: What is on the Horizon?” by Glenn Rogers, Pfizer Animal Health; and “Managing the Weight Gain in Stockers” by McCollum.

There is a $50 registration fee for the symposium. Checks should be made payable to SWBS Acct. #229100. For more information and to register for the program online, visit the Southwest Beef Symposium website at http://swbs.nmsu.edu/. Registration forms can also be mailed to: Bruce Carpenter, Texas AgriLife Extension Center, Box 1298, Ft. Stockton, Texas, 79735.

— Release by NMSU Cooperative Extension Service.

Small Ruminant Grazing Conference Jan. 15 in Elizabethtown

Small ruminant production is on the rise in Kentucky, as farmers realize the potential of raising sheep and goats in the commonwealth.

The University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture is teaming up with sheep and goat breed associations, Kentucky State University and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund to offer the 2011 Kentucky Small Ruminant Grazing Conference at the Hardin County Cooperative Extension Service office in Elizabethtown. Scheduled for Jan. 15, the conference will offer many sessions for all levels of experience.

“We’ve got something for anyone who is interested in raising small ruminants,” said David Ditsch, director of the UK Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability in Quicksand. “We’re going to present science-based research in ways that producers can understand and apply in their own operations.”

Registration begins at 9 a.m. with sessions starting at 9:15 a.m. The conference is divided into four main areas including nutrition, grazing management, producer presentations and an economic and marketing outlook. Topics include:

• Using annual forage species for grazing;
• Endophyte-infected tall fescue: do we have a problem?;
• Characterizing the parasite challenge of meat goats grazing summer pastures in Western Maryland;
• Predator control for sheep and goat production;
• From IBM to goat production;
• Lambing in the fall;
• Sheep and goat marketing for 2011; and
• A five-point evaluation system for deworming and decision making.

Kentucky State Univiversity’s Ken Andries will offer an optional FAMACHA training at 3:10 p.m.

Registration, due Jan. 7, is $20 for the conference and an additional $10 for the FAMACHA training.

Those planning to attend the conference should send name, address, phone number and e-mail along with payment to UK Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability, Attn. Jackie Allen, 130 Robinson Road, Jackson, KY 41339.

— Release by UK Cooperative Extension Service.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.