Broadcaster Press 9 March 17, 2015 www.broadcasteronline.com NATIONAL AG WEEK March 15 - 21, 2015 THANK A FARMER Where Would YOU be Without Agriculture? Naked and Hungry. National Ag Week is a time to recognize and celebrate the importance of agriculture. Preserving A Way Of Life by Gov. Dennis Daugaard In South Dakota, agriculture is more than just a sector of our economy. Its a way of life. Whether its a small family farm, a sizeable cattle ranch or a dairy operation, all forms of agricultural businesses are important to that way of life. In 2013, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) began offering counties a service called the County Site Analysis Program. This service helps counties use data to identify sites suitable for agriculturerelated development, and to avoid sites which are not suitable. Ag investments are vital, especially in rural South Dakota, but development must be done responsibly. Because not every new project is a good fit in every location, the program helps county commissioners and landowners determine where projects best fit. Through the County Site Analysis Program, SDDA looks at local zoning ordinances, locations of roads, utilities and other infrastructure, as well as other local permitting requirements. This information is used to rate property locations on their suitability for things such as manufacturing, commodity processing or livestockrelated enterprises. This program respects local control, because local officials must initiate the process by a formal resolution, requesting SDDA assistance. County commissions, planning and zoning boards, and landowners can use the produced data to make well-informed decisions. Local leaders use the data in their comprehensive planning efforts; landowners have concrete information outlining options for their land; and agribusinesses learn where their investments will be welcomed. Even though the County Site Analysis Program is fairly new, a majority of counties have already expressed interest in participating. Since the programs launch, 49 counties have requested a site analysis, and SDDA has completed analyses in 15 counties. In addition to this program, local governments may soon have another way to pave the road for economic development. Theres a proposal in the Legislature right now that would revise state law on conditional use permits. Conditional use permits are local zoning exceptions which allow property to be used for specific purposes. Cemeteries, churches, golf courses, gravel pits and livestock barns are some examples of projects that might require this kind of permit. Under current state law, local governments must have a two-thirds majority to approve conditional use permits. House Bill 1201 would allow local governments to change that requirement to a majority vote, if they so choose. Like the County Site Analysis Program, this proposal respects local control. It does not mandate that local governments change the current supermajority requirement. It gives the option. This bill could make it easier to start an agribusiness in South Dakota within our counties and municipalities who invite those opportunities. Agricultures preeminence in our state economy is not something that is inevitable. Local leaders understand this and they know they must be intentional about allowing for opportunities. The County Site Analysis Program and House Bill 1201 seek to broaden those opportunities. By furthering ag development in our state, well not only be maintaining our number one industry, but well be preserving a way of life. n SOUTH DAKOTA STATE NEWS 2015 Synchronization Protocols BROOKINGS - With calving underway, next year’s calf crop may be the last thing cattle producers are thinking about, but according to Robin Salverson, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist, it’s never too late. “With bull sales underway and 2015 AI beef sire directories available, it is time to think about breeding season - especially if you will be using synchronization,” Salverson said. “Depending on which protocol is selected, it could be more than 39 days from start of the program to artificial insemination. This means, if you begin breeding May 13 for a February 10 calving date, you will need to start synchronizing heifers April 3.” Based on research data and field use the Beef Reproduction Task Force composed of representatives of AI and pharmaceutical companies, veterinarians, and reproductive specialists, have developed a list of synchronization protocols recommended for heifers. “There are some great apps available to cattle producers that provide synchronization and breeding calendars for both heifers and cows,” Salverson said. “Take note that not all protocols are for both cows and heifers. There is a difference in physiological response between heifers and cows. It is important that you do not use a cow protocol on heifers.” Likewise, Salverson said producers need to follow the protocol, give the proper hormone injection or insert at the right time and don’t expect to jump start all heifers that are not cycling. She encourages producers to follow Beef Quality Assurance guidelines when giving injectable hormones. “Giving the injection in the rump because it is administered “closer to the ovary” of the heifer does not increase the efficacy or speed of the hormone, Salverson explained. “All drugs must enter the blood system and travel to the heart and lungs before reaching the target organ (i.e. ovaries).” She reminded cattle producers that the adage more is always better does not work with melengestrol acetate (MGA). “First, it is illegal to use MGA off label. Secondly MGA is absorbed in the fat and will take longer to clear from the heifer’s system when fed at a rate higher than 0.5 mg per head per day creating problems with estrus (heat) responses and subsequent timing of prostaglandin injection,” she said. When handling all hormones, including CIDR, Salverson said cattle producers need to wear latex or non-latex gloves regardless of gender. “It doesn’t matter if you are a male or female, you need to protect yourself from these hormones,” she said. “For example, prostaglandin is a smooth muscle contractor, our intestines are the largest smooth muscle in the human body. If prostaglandin is absorbed through the skin it can “tie up” the digestive system.” She added that hormones function in the human body like they do in a heifer therefore, extreme care should be taken when handling all synchronization hormones. Protocols Because there are several protocols for heifers, Salverson said each protocol has been put into one of three categories: 1) Heat Detection Protocol; 2) Heat Detection and Time AI Protocol and 3) Fixed Time AI Protocol. Heat Detection Protocols: Heifers in these protocols should be inseminated 6 to 12 hours after the first observation of standing heat., Heat detection should occur during peak heat activity (48 to 72 hours after prostaglandin injection), 3 times per day for at least 1 hour per check period. This results in a total n PROTOCOLS, Page ? Calf Takes A Dip In Farmer’s Hot Tub ROSSVILLE, Ind. (AP) A central Indiana farmer jumped into a hot tub with a shivering baby cow to save the calf's life. Carroll County farmer Dean Gangwer tells WRTV-TV (http://bit.ly/1wcrUMk ) that he thinks one of his cows gave birth in the snow. He said he found the barely breathing newborn in a snowbank this week. The third-generation farmer says he decided the quickest way to warm up the calf, named Leroy, would be to use his hot tub. Gangwer says he "jumped in fully dressed and held Leroy up so he didn't drown." Gangwer then took the calf inside and wrapped him in electric blankets. Leroy is recovering and has started to nurse. Gangwer said Leroy is "done hot-tubbing" but "sunbathing is definitely in his future out in the grass." South Dakota Farm Sizes Triple That Of The Rest Of The U.S. BROOKINGS - The USDA recently published the Farms and Land in Farms - 2014 Summary which classified average farm size in the U.S. by sales class. This 2014 summary showed the U.S. had 2.08 million farms. South Dakota had 31,700 farms in 43.3 million acres with an average farm size of 1,353 acres. This compared to a nationwide average of 438 acres per farm and a total of 913 million acres in farms. “Farm numbers and size follow similar trends when compared to livestock and other operations, with numbers dwindling while size increases,” said Alvaro Garcia, Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Director & Professor. Garcia explained that the USDA classified farm numbers and land in farms in six economic classes by adding up sales of agricultural products and government program payments. These classes are as follows: Group 1. $1,000-$9,999; Group 2. $10,000+; Group 3. $100,000+; Group 4. $250,000+; Group 5. $500,000+; and Group 6. $1,000,000 “Between 2013 and 2014 the only group that declined in numbers was group 1 with all others increasing,” Garcia said. He went on to explain that groups 3 and 5 had the largest increases at 1.4 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively. “The majority of farms in the U.S. are smaller operations,” he said, noting that 51 percent of all farms in the U.S. fall into group 1 with 80 percent included within groups 1 and 2. “There are slightly over 1 million farms in group 1. When group 2 is combined with 1 the number climbs to 1.66 million,” he said. “Groups 3 through 6 on the other hand constitute only 19.6 percent of the total.” -Licensed -Bonded -Insured Wakonda, SD • 605-267-2768 • Cell: 605-661-1063 LONG REACH EXCAVATOR WITH 65’ OF REACH Give us a call for a quote … Laser Guided Ditching Stock Dam Cleanout Lagoon Cleanout • Bank Stabilization Rip Rap Placement • Demolition Average acres farmed by each group are as follows: Group 1. 86 acres; Group 2. 312 acres; Group 3. 889 acres; Group 4. 1,290 acres; Group 5. 1,887 acres; and Group 6. 2,655 acres. of 526 acres. “Group 2 in South Dakota had 68.6 percent more land per operation for the same amount of sales compared to the rest of the country. In spite of this “apparent inefficiency” this group however increased farm numbers by 2.1 percent since 2013,” Garcia said. “One additional interesting figure is the change in acres in farms by the different groups. Groups 5 and 6 increased their acreage significantly. Groups 1 and 3 had the largest reductions with negative 4.5 percent and negative 1.5 percent, respectively,” Garcia said. “Interestingly enough, there were negligible changes for groups 2 and 4 of less than negative 0.01 percent.” What this says about South Dakota’s farms “South Dakota is clearly an agricultural state, farm size triples that of the rest of the U.S. with one farm every 25 people compared to one every 154 for the nation” Garcia said. Garcia summarizes South Dakota results of the survey below: Group 1 had 8,300 farms (26.1 percent of the total), had 1.2 million acres in farms, with a farm size on average of 145 acres. This group decreased by 6.7 percent since last year with acres per farm remaining almost unchanged. Group 2 had 9,700 farms (30.6 percent of the total) during 2014, with 5.1 million acres in farms, and an average farm size PHOTO COURTESY OF IGROW.ORG Group 3 with 4,400 farms (13.9 percent of the total) showed a retraction (-2.2 percent) in numbers from the year before. This group has 5.5 million acres in farms with an average size of 1,250 acres per farm. n FARM SIZE, Page ?