- Author: Steven M. Worker
- Editor: Karen Giovannini
Over 350 people attended the Youth Agriculture and Animal Science Field Day held on February 8, 2020 at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds. The purpose was to provide agricultural education to youth (and their adult leaders, teachers, and mentors) who raise, care, breed, show, and market animals; raise, grow, or farm plants or fibers; and/or care about agriculture.
The event was co-hosted by UC Cooperative Extension and the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds and Event Center. A keynote was provided by Dr. Temple Grandin, Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. Workshops covered a variety of topics including science of wildland fire (Hannah Bird); building and enhancing the client-veterinarian relationship (Randi Black); communicating the value of agriculture and animal science at public exhibitions (Dayna Ghirardelli and Amy Houseman); embracing working landscapes: impacts of agriculture on climate change (Stephanie Larson); basic husbandry and disease prevention in backyard poultry (Maurice Pitesky); enhancing awareness of agricultural career opportunities (Sonoma-Marin Farm Bureau's young farmers and ranchers); There's a horse in the melon patch! The joys and pains of integrating livestock into vegetable cropping systems (Stuart Schroeder, Alda Pires, & Vince Trotter); and supporting positive animal welfare practices (Martin Smith).
Post-event evaluation results were positive!
- 96% agreed they would attend the field day again.
- 96% will recommend the field day to a friend or colleague.
- 97% agreed the field day was an effective learning experience.
- 98% agreed they improved their knowledge of an agricultural-related topic.
- 95% agreed that their educational workshop was valuable in helping them learn about agriculture.
Highlight video:
- Author: Karen Giovannini
If you've visited our office, you may have seen our woolly mascot and teaching model - Lady Baa Baa.
She has been joined by a dairy cow who was nameless. The dairy cow is used by Randi Black, our Dairy Advisor, when she visits educational venues.
There was a naming contest held a the Youth Agriculture and Animal Science Field Day in early February. Kids submitted names and, in keeping with the farm animal theme, Randi's backyard hens picked a winner - see video!
Introducing Mackenzie the Moo Cow, name submitted by Marianna.
Video of chicken picking a name:
Chick-hens 🐔 featured in the video:
"Red" the small red hen, a Red Leghorn. She is the star and picks out the name.
“Biscuit” the Black feather-legged hen. She's a Cochin.
“Ronnie Swanshen” the white fluffy hen, a Silkie.
“Tammy” the black hen with golden neck. She's a Black Sex-link.
“White Meat” the white hen with black accents. She's a Colombian Wyandotte.
- Author: Randi Black
The University of California Cooperative Extension in Sonoma County received funding to assist farmers and ranchers in applying for these funds.
The AMMP program provides financial assistance for the implementation of non-digester manure management practices in California, which will result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions. These practices include solid separation, conversion from flush to scrape manure collection, increased pasture access, and construction of a compost bedded pack barn.
The program offers a maximum project award of $750,000 without the requirement of a cost share. Applications are currently being accepted and the deadline to apply is March 27th, 2020 at 5:00 pm PT. If you are interested in this program and would like more information, visit the CDFA AMMP page.
For assistance in project development and submitting an application, contact:
Randi Black, Dairy Advisor, UCCE Sonoma County, rablack@ucanr.edu, 707-565-2648
The HSP has two components:
- HSP Incentives Program
- HSP Demonstration Projects
The HSP Incentives Program provides financial assistance for implementation of conservation management that improve soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Incentives projects are eligible for a maximum award of $100,000 with no cost share required.
The HSP Demonstration Projects showcase California farmers and rancher's implementation of HSP practices. Demonstration projects can be either data collection focused with outreach and education components ($250,000 maximum award) or just focus on outreach ($100,000 maximum award).
Applications are not yet being accepted, but are expected to open in February with the deadline for submission in April. If you are interested in this program and would like more information, visit the CDFA Healthy Soils Program webpage.
For assistance in project development and submitting an application, contact:
Stephanie Larson, Livestock & Range Management Advisor, UCCE Sonoma County, slarson@ucanr.edu,707-565-2621
/h3>/h3>- Author: Karen Giovannini
We are pleased to share our 2019 Annual Report available in two formats! We have our print version and are excited to present our story map version!
Special thanks to Michelle Nozzari for putting together the story map version and Deborah Curle for the print version.
- Author: Randi Black
- Editor: Karen Giovannini
Is Compost Bedding Pack right for your dairy?
Compost bedded pack (CBP) barns are an increasingly popular open barn design for housing dairy cattle, particularly with funding opportunities available through the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Alternative Manure Management Program. These barns allow natural resting positions and offer shelter with a reduced infrastructure cost compared to traditional freestall barns. However, proper barn design and excellent daily management are essential for successful composting and to avoid negative animal health outcomes. A successful CBP begins with three key principles: bedding, stocking density, and air flow.
Bedding
In a CBP barn, bedding is more than an absorbent lying surface for your cows. Bedding acts as the carbon source, or essentially food, for the microorganisms within the composting bed. Before deciding to construct a CBP barn, consider where and at what cost you can acquire a continuous supply of bedding material. A mixture of kiln-dried sawdust and shavings remains the “gold standard” for CBP bedding. Other bedding alternatives exist, though may require more frequent additions and result in less efficient composting. Moisture content (and not time) determines when additional bedding needs to be added. The CBP should be between 45 and 55% moisture. To quickly test moisture, grab a handful of compost material and squeeze it. If water drips out of the ball, the CBP is too wet and you should add more bedding. If the material cannot form a ball, the CBP is too dry and you can wait before adding more bedding.
Stocking Density
Animal numbers can fluctuate on a dairy. A CBP is not always forgiving to those fluctuations. Stocking rates in a CBP are driven by the urine and fecal outputs of the cows. Producers should aim to provide 125 to 150 square feet per Holstein cow. Smaller framed cows, such as a Jersey, require less space. Overcrowding the barn results in too much moisture, dirty cows, and potential for udder health consequences. High stocking rates can also pack down the CBP, restricting air flow to the microbes and reducing composting efficiency. When planning the foot print of the barn, design for the peak number of animals and not the average to ensure adequate space year round.
Air Flow
The aerobic composting process requires oxygen. Adequate air flow is not only important for cow health and comfort but also to feed air into to CBP. Designing the barn with high side walls and fans provides natural and mechanical ventilation. Proper ventilation ensures microbes are supplied adequate oxygen essential for proper composting. Limiting the air available to microbes can reduce or stop composting. Twice daily stirring of the pack (without fail!) is also essential for composting success. A field cultivator accomplishes deep aeration (10-12”). A rototiller provides more shallow aeration (6-8”) with more breakdown of larger compost chunks and a more uniform surface.
Key Points
- Is there a source of year round bedding material which is affordable and consistent?
- Add additional bedding based on CBP moisture content
- Provide 125 to 150 sq. ft. per cow (Holstein; less for Jersey)
- Design the barn for peak animal numbers
- Stir the pack twice daily, without fail!
- Ventilate barn with natural and mechanical ventilation to ensure aerobic environment for composting
Questions about CBP barn design and management? Contact Randi Black at (707) 565-2648 or rablack@ucanr.edu