TRADITION, TECHNOLOGY, AND GRATITUDE

Many of us who farm or work in the industry come from a long lineage of agriculturists. The generations before us who raised animals and grew crops paved the path we follow today.

For others, agriculture entered their lives through an experience or a mentor. That was the case for the founder of our publishing company, W.D. Hoard. Hoard did not grow up on a farm, but he started working on a neighbor’s farm as a teenager. That dairyman encouraged him to read and learn all he could about dairy, and there’s no doubt his advice played a pivotal role in propelling Hoard toward a lifelong career of leadership and serving dairy farmers.

Agriculture as a whole would not be what it is today without the strong history and tradition of farming we have in this country. At the core of today’s practices to maintain fertile soil and care for animals are foundational lessons that were learned decades ago.

At the same time, we would not be where we are now without technology, either. As the country grew in population and cities sprawled into the countryside, farmers were tasked with producing more food on less land. To do this, farmers made adjustments to how they managed fields and raised animals, incorporating more technology into the everyday aspects of production agriculture to enhance efficiency and productivity.

For manure, advancements in technology have provided options for storage that maintain nutrient content and minimize odor. More advanced equipment allows us to transport manure farther, and it tells us precisely where it should be applied to better use manure as a nutrient source for crops. With technology, we are able to turn manure into bedding and energy, too. We are able to use these nutrients in a way that not only is more productive but also protects the environment.

The opportunity that technology brings is also what draws some bright, young minds to agriculture. That was the case for Mat Stutzman, the poultry farmer featured in the story on page 10. His original career plans did not involve farming, but the chance to add technology to grow and enhance their farm excited him, and that is what motivated him to return.

This year has been far from normal, and it has forced us to alter some of our traditions, at least for a while. Thankfully, access to technology has allowed family members and coworkers to easily communicate, and even see each other, through phone calls, texts, and video chats. Perhaps some things will never be the same again, as the pandemic forced us to discover new ways to do daily tasks. Still, there are important traditions at the core of our families, our farms, and our communities that can’t be replaced. I hope those traditions are able to return — and flourish — as soon as it is safe to do so.

This is the fourth and final issue in our first year of publication. Thank you for joining us on this ride as a reader, and we look forward to sharing the latest news and research in nutrient management with you in the year ahead.

We appreciate your steadfast commitment to agriculture. May the upcoming holiday season be filled with health and happiness for you and those around you.

Until next time, Abby

Maryland

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is accepting grant proposals for the department’s Animal Waste Technology Fund. The fund has $3.35 million available to invest in innovative technologies during fiscal year 2021, which ends June 30, 2021. For the first time, innovative technology proposals that treat animal waste streams, in addition to animal manure, will be accepted. This would include dairy waste water, poultry processing waste, and livestock mortalities. Animal waste technology projects that are cost-effective, proven, innovative, and adaptable to Maryland will be considered. Proposals must be submitted by December 31, 2020.

Louisiana

The owners of a horse track in New Orleans, La., have agreed to pay a $2.8 million penalty for allowing horse manure and urine to enter the city’s drainage system for at least the past six years. The fine is reportedly the largest ever paid by a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) under the Clean Water Act, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Churchill Downs, based in Louisville, Ky., owns the track and is working with federal, state, and local environmental agencies to deal with the wastewater and stormwater, which will include $5.6 million in capital investments over the next three years. More than 1,800 horses can be housed on the property at one time.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) named 379 priority watersheds to help agricultural producers across the country improve water quality. Producers in these targeted areas will receive focused financial and technical resources through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to implement practices that avoid, control, and trap nutrients and sediments, including filter strips, cover crops, and manure management. “We see a positive impact when we partner with producers to deliver conservation practices to critical watersheds,” said Farm Production and Conservation Under Secretary Bill Nothey.

Kansas

Dairy Farmers of America, the nation’s largest dairy farmer-owned cooperative with headquarters in Kansas City, Kan., announced its commitment to reduce direct and value chain greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2031. The cooperative’s goal has been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which supports the Paris Agreement’s broader goal to keep global warming below 2°C. DFA’s target also aligns with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy’s goal for the U.S. dairy industry to become carbon neutral before 2050. DFA says it will work to reduce emissions on farms, in processing plants, and on the road. Strategies to reach this goal include mitigating methane emissions from cows by supporting advances in feed efficiency, herd nutrition, and feed additives; using renewable energy on farms and in processing plants; capturing emissions through healthy soils and crops; and creating transportation and hauling efficiencies to reduce emissions.

United States

The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy unveiled a Net Zero Initiative, an industrywide effort to help dairy farms of all sizes implement new technologies and adopt economically viable practices. The initiative’s research, farm testing, and market development will focus on improving sustainability and economic opportunity through refinements in feed production, manure and nutrient handling, on-farm energy efficiency, and cow care.

The initiative is a critical component of the U.S. dairy industry’s environmental stewardship goal to achieve carbon neutrality, optimize water usage, and improve water quality by 2050. The first company to join forces with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy as part of the Net Zero Initiative is Nestle USA, committing $10 million over a multiyear partnership. This collaboration will help provide access to environmental practices and resources for farms across the country.