|
|
|
|
|
|
Search Tip
Control "F"
Type in Key Word(s)
Hit Enter
| Spotlight......Ray Wagester |
December 1999 |
MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSURANCE PROGRAM
Michigan Agriculture has a long history of protecting its natural resources. Michigan farmers recognize that the quality of the soil, water and air are directly affected by their production practices. In today's rapidly changing agricultural industry, integration and expansion seem to be the trend. Farmers and agricultural industry leaders recognize that, as operations expand, the potentials for pollution grow stronger.
In order to check the growing pollution potential, the agricultural industry along with government agencies formed a task force called the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). Created in April 1998, the MAEAP was developed as a result of livestock producers' desire to be pro-active concerning environmental regulation. A diverse group of industry leaders, producers and governmental agencies came together to form the MAEAP steering committee and set forth the MAEAP’s mission to develop and promote a recognized, voluntary, pro-active environmental assurance program. The mission targets the agricultural industry and ensures that producers are engaging in cost-effective pollution prevention practices that are in compliance with environmental regulations.
MAEAP is promoting the creation of nutrient management plans. Correct storage and utilization of animal waste, regardless of industry economics or policy debates, in conjunction with correct rates for the application of the nutrients to the soil is important. One of the issues that the MAEAP is working on is the USDA/EPA Joint Strategy on Animal Feeding Operations (AFO). This regulation will require livestock producers to create and implement a nutrient management plan.
The creation of a "farm stewardship plan" is another way that MAEAP plans to help farmers comply with regulations. This plan would assist agricultural producers in assessing the potential environmental risk on their farming operations. The MAEAP will give producers the tools and information needed to properly address current farm management practices and their environmental impact, as well as to stay in compliance with environmental regulations.
SURFING the WEB
Conservation Tillage
No - Till.com
Serves as a switchboard to web pages containing information about no-till
farming, with an orientation toward Minnesota and the Dakotas.
http://www.no–till.com
South Dakota No -Till Association
The Purpose is to promote, advance and improve agriculture through the
utilization of no-till farming methods.
http://www.sdnotill.com
Manitoba - North Dakota Zero Tillage Farmers Association
Facilitate the exchange of ideas, to encourage zero tillage research, and to
disseminate zero tillage information.
http://www.mandakzerotill.org
European Conservation Tillage
Presents an overview of conservation tillage along with related information
on techniques and people.
http://www.ecotill.com
Conservation Technology Information Center
(CTIC) is a nonprofit, information and data transfer center which promotes
environmentally and economically beneficial natural resource systems.
http://www.ctic.purdue.edu
Selected Extension Publications on the Web
Missouri No-Till Planting Systems
http://muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/manuals/m00164.htm
Conservation Tillage and Planting Systems (Nebraska)
http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/fieldcrops/g1046.htm
Conservation Farming in New Mexico
http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/circ555.html
Value of Crop Rotation Under Various Tillage Systems
(Indiana)
http://www.agcom.purdue.edu/AgCom/Pubs/AY/AY-230.html
Weeds and Conservation Tillage (Colorado)
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/PUBS/CROPS/03113.html
No-Tillage and Ridge Planting (Ohio Agronomy Guide)
http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ohioline/b472/notill.html
Effects of Reduced Tillage on Wheat Diseases (Kansas)
http://www.ksu.edu/plantpath/extension/facts/wheat15.html
Conservation Tillage (for vegetables – Virginia)
http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/commhort/commhort-5.html
Tillage and Rotation (Ontario, Canada)
http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/crops/facts/corntill.htm
Economic Comparison of Incremental Changes in Till Systems in
the Minnesota River Basin
http://www.mes.umn.edu/Documents/D/D/DD6675.html
Soybeans: No-Till And Minimum Till Guidelines (Mississippi)
http://ext.msstate.edu/pubs/is1129.htm
Roger Brook
These links are provided for informational
purposes only.
Neither I nor Michigan State University endorse
these sites, or their information content.
SURFING the WEB
Vegetable and Fruit Web Sites
On-Line Guide to Plant Disease Control
This site contains the alphabetical (A to Z) text sections of the 1999
Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Control Handbook, part of the OSU Extension
Plant Pathology slide collection, as well as photographs taken by our
colleagues. http://pnwhandbooks.orst.edu/guide1998/index.htm
Plant Pathology Internet Guide Book
A subject oriented internet resource guide for plant pathology, applied
entomology, and all related fields. On these pages you will find plant pathology
related internet sites and more useful resources.
http://www.ifgb.uni-hannover.de/extern/ppigb/ppigb.htm
National Agricultural Pest Information System
This site lists lots of insect, some disease and some weed pests in
alphabetical order. Color photographs, fact sheets and information are included
on each pest. http://www.ceris.purdue.edu/napis/pests/index.html
Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin
The Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin is prepared by the U.S. Department of
Commerce, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. It contains up-to-date weather information such as
total precipitation, soil moisture levels, crop moisture maps and indexes, and
Palmer drought maps.
http://www.usda.gov/agency/oce/waob/jawf/wwcb.html
Weed & Vegetable Exchange
Weed and Vegetable Exchange (WeaVE) represents a collaborative effort
between growers, processor representatives, and Oregon State University faculty
in the Departments of Horticulture. The purpose of WeaVE is to provide
electronic access to worldwide learning about vegetable weed management and
cover crops via World Wide Web (www) networks along with links between topics
contained within this guide.http://www.orst.edu/dept/hort/weeds/vegetable.htm
Smallfarms.com
A place for small ranchers, small farmers and part time family farmers who
need to get those special crops to the customers. In the past this was done by
large food distributors. Today, we need to get customers directly to the farm
products you've worked so hard to develop, produce and process.
http://www.smallfarms.com/
Roger Brook
Adapted from the Illinois Fruit and Vegetable News, 1999,
Volume 5, Number 24.
Neither I nor Michigan State University endorse these sites, or the information
content.
SURFING the WEB
Information on Genetically Modified Crops
The Steps in Cleaning a Combine
A 10-minute video showing how to clean a combine to avoid contamination
(view on-line or order). http://www.oilseeds.org/asa/video/clean-combine.htm
Segregating Genetically Modified Crops
http://www.bae.umn.edu/extens/postharvest/gmoip.html
Genetically Modified Crops: Guidelines for Producers
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/pages/grain/news/gmo/99gmohar.htm
Transgenic Crops: Concerns and Handling
http://www.msue.msu.edu/ipm/CAT99_field/FC10-08-99.htm#1
Farm Economics: Current Issues; Handling GMO Grain
Iowa State University Virtual GMO Meeting, September 15, 1999. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/feci/HGMO/
The GMO Problem: Short Term Hassle and Long Term Challenge
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/pages/grain/news/gmo/99crhgmo.htm
Farm Economics: Current Issues; GMO Concerns Clarification
Iowa State University Virtual GMO Meeting, April 28, 1999. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/feci/VGMO/
USDA Secretary Dan Glickman's National Press Club Speech on Policy Issues
Related to Biotechnology
http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/1999/07/0285
Update on the European Market and Genetically Engineered Field Crops
http://www.msue.msu.edu/ipm/CAT98_field/C04-30-98.htm#2
Scientific Paper Outlining the Potential Health Implications
of Genetically Modified Foods
From the United Kingdom's National Department of Health.
http://www.doh.gov.uk/gmfood.htm
Biotechnology: Food Security and Safety
Explores many of the multifaceted policy questions associated with
agricultural biotechnology. http://www.usia.gov/journals/ites/1099/ijee/ijee1099.htm
Biotechnology: Tomorrow's Agricultural Safety and Health
Issues?
http://gaia.bae.umn.edu/~fs/Digest2/ntlnews.htm
Of Corn and Butterflies
U.S. farmers are planting 20 million acres of bioengineered corn. Will it
poison the monarchs? http://www.pathfinder.com/time/magazine/articles/0,3266,25411,00.html
Time Magazine's summary of Cornell's research related to Bt
corn and the Monarch butterflies
Effect of pollen from Bt corn on Monarch butterflies MSUE generated
discussion of the Nature article, and a list of related questions and answers.
http://www.msue.msu.edu/ipm/Reports/BtMonarch.htm
Roger Brook
The list of web sites is
provided for information purposes only.
Neither I nor Michigan State University endorse these sites.
The information contained in these sites is the
responsibility of the site creator.
SILAGE BAG CAPACITY
How much material is in that silage bag? One way to estimate this value is to calculate the volume in the bag and multiply by its density. Although the bag is initially round, the shape after filling is more like half an ellipse. Therefore, the volume of the bag can be estimated as:
V = 0.79 H W L
where: V = Volume (ft3)
H = Height of bag above ground (ft)
W = Width of bag at widest (ft)
L = Length of silage (ft)
When full length bags are used, the length of silage is the bag length minus the unused portion needed to seal each end of the bag. Since the end of the bag often slopes, measure using a point that is about half-way (lengthwise) between where the bag touches the ground and where the slope starts at the top of the bag.
The dry matter density can vary from bag to bag and is based on machine type and adjustment as well as forage type. Typical densities range between 11-15 lb. DM per cubic foot.
Example: You have used a bag that had a 10 ft. diameter (specified by the manufacturer). After filling you estimate that the top of the bag is 3.5 ft. above ground (H=3.5) and the width of the bag at its widest point is 14 ft. (W=14). The length of the bag is measured at 80 ft. Therefore, the volume of the bag is 0.79(3.5)(14)(80) = 3,097 cubic feet.
If the density of the silage is assumed to be 13 lb DM per cubic foot, then the bag holds 3,097(13) = 40,261 lb. DM or about 20 tons DM.
If that same volume were packed to only 11 lb. DM per cubic foot, then the bag capacity would be 3,097(11) or about 17 tons DM.
Roger Brook
Agricultural
Engineering Extension Faculty
William G. Bickert. Livestock
Facilities and Environment.
Roger C. Brook. Handling, Storage and Drying of Agricultural Products;
Computer Applications in Agriculture.
Howard J. Doss. Safety Leader for Michigan Cooperative Extension Service;
Agricultural Safety Specialist.
Daniel E. Guyer. Post-Harvest Storage and Handling and Value-Added Processes
for Fruit and Vegetables; Machine Vision and Pattern Recognition.
Timothy M. Harrigan. Forage and Field Crop Power and Machinery. Ag Expo
Chairman.
Richard L. Ledebuhr. Fruit and Vegetable Mechanization. Chemical application
equipment.
Theodore L. Loudon. On-Site Wastewater Treatment; Agricultural Water Quality
Impacts; Irrigation; Drainage; Livestock Waste.
Howard L. Person. Livestock Facilities; Environmental Control; Management Of
Manure and Organic Residues.
Robert D. von Bernuth. Irrigation and Water Management; Coordinator, Animal
Waste Management Programs.
Nancy Aitcheson -
Plan Service Secretary, Co-Editor
William Bickert - Extension Agricultural Engineer, Co-Editor
