Thumb Farmer - June 2021 by Hearst Midwest

A S P E C I A L S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E H U R O N D A I LY T R I B U N E

June 19, 2021

SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2021

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Consider drought-motivated irrigation purchases carefully Lyndon Kelley and Michael Staton MSU Extension

The irrigation water supply is often a challenge overlooked in the heat of the moment during a drought. Watching your crops Without adequate water for suffer in drought conditions your irrigation system, your can be a powerful motivator investment becomes less to buy irrigation equipment. valuable and often becoming If you’re looking into making discounted used equipment. an irrigation equipment In Michigan, constructing a investment, answer these three large volume water withdrawal questions before spending a without a registration could dollar: result in large fines. The Is it feasible that you have Michigan large volume water the water supply and the land registration process may take base/configuration to allow minutes to months depending irrigation? on the current status of the Will the irrigation increase watershed you will be pulling the average yield of the from. In Indiana, the required crops in the rotation enough registration process is a phone to generate the additional call to the Indiana Department income to pay for the irrigation of Natural Resources and is system and additional annual not likely to become a limiting operating costs? factor for a quick irrigation Will the irrigation system investment. be operable in time to make a Water supplies need to be substantial impact on yield? adequate for the production

area. Michigan and Indiana water use by most field crops and vegetable crops will be near 0.25 inch per day for at least a few weeks each year. To adequately apply the 0.25inch daily crop removal, your irrigation water supply needs the capacity to pump 5 gallons per minute per acre. At times of peak need, a 500 GPM pump will run 24 hours a day seven days a week to replace the water used by 100 acres of crops. Irrigation investments often have a long life but also require a long investment time period to work financially. Irrigation can often increase commercial corn yields by 65-70 bushels per acre on a five-year average on sandy and sandy loam soils. Loam soils with higher water holding capacities will often not increase average yield

The site of a crop suffering in a drought can motivate producers into irrigation investments that would be better made with time and planning. (Lyndon Kelley/MSU Extension)

enough to justify irrigation investments. New irrigation investments that start in June rarely come online in time to

greatly increase yield. Much of yield potential is set by July, making the concept of rescuing the year a fallacy.

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In drought seasons, irrigation applications are needed in corn prior to tasseling and in soybeans before R3 to result in substantial yield benefits. June water shortages will delay crop development pushing the crucial water need periods later. July and early August are our driest months, and a corn crop forced to pollinate and fill ears in late July will further decrease yield potential. Delayed soybean has the advantage of being able to survive some summer drought and make use of late August rains or irrigation to make yield. Hot, dry summers are good times to sell used equipment. Producers with little experience can be lured into an investment that can be better done with more planning. Be leery of used equipment that commonly shows up for sale in a dry summer. Parts from a wrecked pivot span can look very good if you’re not accustomed to working on them. Patching and straightening pipe and bracing can leave structural challenges and leaks. The high cost of labor and repair parts often results in a cost near the price of new equipment. A traveler can be a low-cost, used purchase, but a replacement hose can easily be two to three times the cost of the salvaged gun and cart. Start planning field irrigation investment a year ahead of when the system is needed. Typically, the prices of new center pivot irrigation equipment are at their highest in June and July. Through fall, September rebates and

incentives help to reduce cost. Field/fence row clearing and underground piping are other reasons fall and winter are typical irrigation expansion seasons. Power companies suggest a six-month lead time on new three-phase power connection. Center pivot systems ordered late winter often arrive May-June in years of high demand-all good reason to start your irrigation project early. Drip irrigation for hand harvest production or fruit production is one type of irrigation that is readily available in a few days. If you have an adequate water supply, a trip to a drip irrigation supply company can set you up with drip tape, filters, manifold tubing, and connections that can be assembled and have you running in hours on areas of a few acres. Irrigation investments need to be profitable. Longterm yield increases or new irrigated crop option profit

levels need to be greater than the annual ownership and operating cost of the irrigation system. The lowest annual ownership and operating cost for irrigation systems are $130 or more per irrigated acre and can easily double or triple with smaller field sizes, irregular-shaped fields, limited availability of water and the lack of three-phase electric. For more information on irrigation investments economics, including annual ownership and operating cost, visit the Irrigation Costs section on the Michigan State University Extension website. Whether you are new to irrigation or just looking for some insight before going further, look at “Checklist for Irrigation Planning,” MSU’s irrigation fact sheet number #11. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https:// extension.msu.edu. WƌŽƵĚ ƚŽ ďĞ Ă YͲϵϬϬϬ ĐĐƌĞĚŝƚĞĚ WƌŽĚƵĐĞƌ

ƐŬ ǇŽƵƌ ůŽĐĂů ĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƚŽƌ ĨŽƌ HELP YOUR DIESEL ENGINES LAST LONGER dŚƵŵď WƌĞŵŝƵŵ • ^ƵƉĞƌŝŽƌ ůƵďƌŝĐĂƚŝŽŶ ĨŽƌ ǇŽƵƌ ĞŶŐŝŶĞ • ,ŝŐŚĞƌ ĐĞƚĂŶĞ ĨŽƌ ďĞƚƚĞƌ ƐƚĂƌƚƐ ŝŽĚŝĞƐĞů ďůĞŶĚƐ • DĞĞƚƐ ^dD ϲϳϱϭ 'ƌĂĚĞ ϭͲ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ • ĐŽůĚ ǁĞĂƚŚĞƌ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ • • ZĞĚƵĐĞƐ ŚĂƌŵĨƵů ĞŵŝƐƐŝŽŶƐ • • ŝŽĚŝĞƐĞů ŝƐ ƌĞŶĞǁĂďůĞ • • ƉƉƌŽǀĞĚ ďǇ Ăůů ŵĂũŽƌ ĞŶŐŝŶĞ • ŵĂŶƵĨĂĐƚƵƌĞƌƐ • • ŝŽĚŝĞƐĞů ŝƐ ůŽĐĂůůǇ ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ DŝĐŚŝŐĂŶ • ĨĞĞĚƐƚŽĐŬƐ •

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Summer is finally here, with dry, hot weather kicking off the season. For people who show pigs in the Midwest, this is also the start of the exhibition season with shows and events nearly every weekend and county fair countdowns beginning. While this type of weather is normally expected at the end of summer, it always comes with its challenges. Among those challenges are keeping pigs cool and ensuring proper average daily gain. Another challenge in the Midwest this spring has been an uptick in occurrence of mange mite infections in show pigs. What is mange? Mange is an ectoparasite infection caused by a mite (related to spiders) that lives just under the skin of pigs and is spread from pig to pig by direct contact of the animals or contact with contaminated tools or equipment. Although mange mites typically perish within a few days under hot, dry conditions when no host animals are around to infect,

they can also persist in the environment for up to three weeks under damp conditions. These microscopic ectoparasites cause pigs to itch and rub infected areas on any and all surfaces they find; eventually causing rough, scaly skin and often leading to the appearance of small red bumps covering the body of the pig. Mange infections usually start behind the ears, then spread across the body, Pigs with mange infections can been seen scratching on stationary objects, if this behavior is excessive and continues, you may want to consider treating with a product for external parasites. congregating in the folds around the neck, ears, and legs. An additional sign of mange infection is head shaking which occurs when ears become infected and can persist and lead to further physical damage. Initial signs of mange infections include excessive rubbing on stationary objects, particularly the head and rump areas, as

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michigansthumb.com the infection gets worse, you will see signs that the pigs are uncomfortable and both growth rate and feed efficiency can decline. Products labeled to control mange infections There are a number of products (called acaricides) available for purchase to prevent and treat mange mite infections: Avermectin products - The most effective products for treatment and control of mites are the avermectins. These products (common names Ivomec, Noromectin, Agrimectin or Dectomax) are labeled for the treatment and control of mites as well as gastrointestinal roundworms, lungworms, grubs, and sucking lice in swine, cattle, and other livestock. For the most effective use of these products when given by injection, dosage should be delivered subcutaneously and follow label directions. A single dose (if injected) is usually effective. An oral formulation given in feed for seven consecutive days is also available. Under some conditions, including heavy infection of the ears (showing thick dark wax containing mites), or co-infection by hog lice, a second dose can be given two weeks after the first dose. The withdrawal period for these products varies between seven days (when given in-feed) to up to 24 days (some injectables), so it is important to review the product label carefully. Phosmet products – Another frequently used treatment option for mites, the phosmetcontaining products (Prolate/ Lintox-HD, Porect) which are poured or sprayed directly onto the animal. This acaricide, pour-on/spray product is used to control mange as well as horn flies, lice, and ticks on swine and cattle. Note that this product is not effective against parasitic worms. The withdrawal time for this product is one day after a single treatment; additional treatment, if needed, should occur 14 days following the first treatment. Phosmet can cause serious eye irritation, so it should be applied carefully following label directions and using proper safety equipment.

It is a low-cost option that can be purchased in bulk and used as a spray to help decontaminate equipment and indoor pens. Pyrethrins - Pyrethrincontaining products (Atroban, SwineGuard) are available as pour-on or spray formulations. Permethrins kill adult-stage mites (and lice) quickly, but they do not bring the added benefit of efficacy against the internal parasites (worms) that typically infect pigs. Pyrethrins, when used to control mites in pigs, will typically require a second application 10-14 days after the initial treatment. These products have a 5-day withdrawal period, which should be adhered to prior to harvest. Pyrethrin sprays can also be used to help control residual mites that may be present on equipment and pen surfaces but should be used sparingly for this purpose because they are also highly toxic to bees and other beneficial insects. Amitraz - Amitraz-containing products (Taktic, Topline and PointGuard) are available as pour-on or spray formulations. These products are also effective against lice and ticks. For mite control in pigs, a second treatment 10-14 days following the initial application is typically required. These products typically have a 3-day withdrawal period. They are inexpensive and can be used as a spray to help control residual mites on equipment and pen surfaces. Most evidence suggests amitraz is less toxic to bees and other beneficial infects than pyrethrins. Preventing mange infections While proactively preventing mange infections in your herd is a worthy goal, through purchasing your animal from a reputable farmer and practicing sound biosecurity, there are instances where the introduction of mites and other parasites happens through purchased bedding products, contaminated equipment or contact with carrier animals (including people). A routine deworming program that also includes products labeled to Continued on Page 6

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more useful when other types of parasites pose a threat on your farm. For example, if tapeworms or whipworms are also a problem in your area, you could substitute SafeGuard for Ivomec, and add one of the acaricides, pour-on/ spray products listed above. Safe-Guard is not active against mites, but is extremely effective in controlling most internal parasites, including roundworms, whipworms, and tapeworms, and could be given on arrival and again 2-4 Pigs with mange infections can been seen scratching on stationary objects, weeks prior to exhibition to ensure elimination of parasitic if this behavior is excessive and continues, you may want to consider treating with a product for external parasites. (MSUE/Courtesy Photo) worm infections before the fair. Any one of the acaracides mites on your pig, while also Continued From Page 5 pour-on/spray products providing several weeks of listed above could be given control mange mites will help protection against most parasitic alongside Safe-Guard when it is decrease the possibility that your worms. In most situations, administered 2-4 weeks before show pig will become infected. your pig will require only one fair. Remember that a second Under most circumstances, additional treatment with an application of the acaricide the surest and simplest way to avermectin one month before pour-on/spray product should achieve prevention would be to fair. be given 10-14 days following treat your pig upon arrival on Alternative approaches to the first application to eliminate your farm with an avermectin product. This will eliminate prevent infection might be mites that hatch after the first

michigansthumb.com application. There is no withdrawal time associated with Safe-Guard and for that reason it is sometimes used in pigs right up to and even including fair week. However, if an active infection is present, use of Safe-Guard (or Ivomec) will lead to active shedding of worms in the feces of the animal. Typically, 95% of the shedding occurs within a week of treatment, but a few shed worms (especially Ascaris and tapes) can be seen in feces for up to two weeks following treatment. Giving Safe-Guard one month out, along with an acaricide at one month and again two weeks before fair, should eliminate mites, lice and all important varieties of worms in time for fair week while minimizing the risk of having embarrassingly large white worms sharing the floor of your pig’s pen at the fair. Treating active mange infections Although protecting your animals from mange infections

before they occur is what all exhibitors should strive for, it is also understood that infections sometimes happen anyway. Infection could occur any time during your experience with the pig during its grow-out/finishing period. Early identification and proper treatment of parasite infections is key to maintaining the health of your animals. If you identify and confirm mange in your show pigs, aggressive action should be taken to eliminate these external parasites. In order to properly address an active mange infection in your animal, unless you use an avermectin, you will need multiple (at least two) treatments to eliminate mange from your animal. This is because treatments administered to pigs kill adult worms and larvae, but not eggs shed by the adult mites before treatment. Waiting two weeks to re-treat your pig gives any eggs remaining on the animal a chance to hatch and thereby

michigansthumb.com become susceptible to the second round of drug treatment. If mange develops in your pig any time prior to fair, it could be treated using an avermectin, including an injectable given 1X or an in-feed product given for seven days. Alternatively, one of the acaricides pour-on/spray products listed above could be used with the two doses given anytime, including as late four weeks and two weeks before fair if infection occurs late in the fair season. Managing exposure from the environment your animal lives in. While directly treating animals that have active mange infections is key to eliminating the external parasite from your herd, steps should also be taken to properly treat the facilities that the animals are housed in. Mange mites can live in areas without host animals (pigs) for up to five days, and longer if damp conditions

exist. If you are treating an active infection, removing the animal from its pen, disposing of all used bedding products, and completely cleaning and disinfecting the area should be done. Disinfecting the area, gating and equipment with a bleach and water solution and allowing time to completely dry will help eliminate mange mites that may be in the environment. For severe or persistent infections, the housing area and equipment that comes in contact with pigs can be treated (usually sprayed) with one of the lowcost insecticides (e.g., phosmet, permethrin or amitraz), which are labeled for farm use. These products can be applied by spraying the housing area, gating and equipment; label directions should be followed closely. For animals housed outdoors, a routine and complete parasite control program should be followed to avoid serious

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infestations. As noted above, mites can survive off the pig for only a week or two. For animals penned outdoors, it is helpful to rotate penning areas when possible to help reduce exposure to mite and worm eggs and larvae that are shed into the environment. Also, as noted above, waiting two weeks following initial treatment using an acaricide to re-treat your pig gives any eggs left on the animal a chance to hatch and thereby become susceptible to the second round of drug treatment. This is especially important if a compound other than an avermectin is used. All deworming products can be sourced over the counter from animal supply stores or online warehouses. When utilizing these products care should be taken to read and follow the label directions, adhering to both user and food safety recommendations. Questions regarding product

SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2021 selection and proper use can best be answered by a veterinarian familiar with your operation. Your vet will know what practices are working best on other farms in your area. Summary Practicing standard farm biosecurity measures, especially purchasing your pig from a reputable farmer, isolating your new pig for at least two weeks from animals already on-farm, and thoroughly cleaning/ disinfecting pens and equipment before placing pigs will help prevent mite infections. This includes keeping your animal separate when returning from a show from the animals that remained at home. Avermectin-containing products and several acaricides/ insecticides that can be administered topically provide excellent control of mites. Avermectin products persist in pig tissues long enough to control most mite

infections following a single dose. However, mite eggs are not killed by other acaricides approved for use in pigs because drug levels in the pig’s skin decline rapidly; eggs remaining on pigs following initial treatment can hatch and reinfect the pig. The effectiveness of those treatments is improved when a second dose of the product is administered 10-14 days following the first dose. Read and follow product labels carefully, especially for proper dose, method of administration, and withdrawal time recommendations. Consult with your veterinarian regarding mite (and other parasite) control strategies. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https:// extension.msu.edu.

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college has earned him the trust of its faculty and staff. “Quentin has been a calming voice throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hendrick said. “He has the skill set to move MSU Extension into a postpandemic organization. More importantly, he has gained the respect and trust of MSU Extension faculty and staff, who will help him move MSU Extension forward.” Tyler began his career in Extension at age 18 when he interned as an agricultural agent in Christian County, Kentucky. He went on to serve Kentucky in both 4-H Youth Development and Family and Consumer Sciences. After gaining some experience in farm financial management and consulting with the Bluegrass Farm Analysis Group, he headed back to Kentucky Cooperative Extension where he was charged with recruitment, retention and human resources problem solving. As assistant dean at the

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University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Tyler led civil rights’ reviews of in all of Kentucky’s 120 counties. In addition, he headed up a structure review of Kentucky Cooperative Extension that led to a new organizational structure that addresses contemporary issues impacting local communities. Tyler joined the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources team as associate dean and director of diversity, equity and inclusion in 2018 after a holding in a similar role at Kentucky. A year later, he added an interim role as associate dean for faculty affairs and administration. He said that becoming director of MSU Extension is a homecoming of sorts. “I have always had great affinity for the Cooperative Extension System and its community-based education,” he said. “MSU Extension has a storied history of serving farmers, families, businesses and communities with comprehensive information and compassion. I am honored to become a part of that history while working toward a prosperous future with stakeholders and communities.” Tyler was recognized in Workforce Magazine for his role in increasing the diversity of Kentucky’s Cooperative

Extension Service, and served on Kentucky’s Urban Extension Task Force. Shortly after joining MSU, he was awarded the Excellence in Diversity ‘Individual-Emerging’ award. He is also the advisory board chair for the national collegiate organization Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences. Tyler earned bachelor and master’s degrees in agricultural economics and a doctorate in sociology from the University of Kentucky. He holds a diversity and inclusion professional certificates from Cornell and the University of South Florida. MSU Extension is the university’s largest outreach organization with more than 600 employees working in and for communities in all of Michigan’s 83 counties. They hope to help Michigan thrive by equipping Michigan residents with the information that they need to do their jobs better, raise healthy and safe families, build their communities and empower children to dream of a successful future. Visit extension.msu.edu for more information. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https:// extension.msu.edu.

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Above is a rendering of the new Michigan Agriculture Crops Garden in the Pete and Sally Smith Schoolyard Demonstration Garden of the Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens at Michigan State University. The garden is sponsored by Michigan Agricultural Commodities, Inc. (MSUE/Courtesy Image)

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Michigan Agricultural Commodities, Inc. (MAC) has sponsored the Michigan Agriculture Crops (MAC) Garden in the Pete and Sally Smith Schoolyard Demonstration Garden of the Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens at Michigan State University. “MAC finds contributing to the gardens a great way to give back to 4-H and the educational efforts of the garden. Many of our employees were 4-H members growing up and their children now participate as well,” said Bruce Sutherland, MAC president. The new garden will feature plants highlighting Michigan agricultural crops, such as corn, soybeans, wheat and sugar beets. It will also have a mini grain elevator, connection to a garden weather station to record temperatures, rainfall and other weather data, and a smart sign linking to supplemental information. “This garden will increase student’s awareness, knowledge of, and connection to, Michigan agricultural crops and how important they are to Michigan’s economy,” said Norm Lownds, Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens curator. “We look forward to engaging kids in new and exciting explorations.” The idea is to also replicate the MAC Garden at other locations, including Bloomfield School’s Bowers School Farm in Bloomfield. In addition, MAC’s gift, made through the Michigan 4-H Foundation, will fund the development of MAC Garden STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) explorations linked to Next Generation

michigansthumb.com

An overview of the garden shows the overall layout. (MSUE/Courtesy Image)

Science Standards (NGSS) and NGSS Science and Engineering practices. “The explorations will focus on all aspects of agricultural crops, from planning to post-harvest storage, impacts of weather, costs, profitability, career exploration and more,” Lownds said. “The plan is to make the MAC STEAM explorations available online and market them to classrooms throughout Michigan.” The MAC garden will be installed in summer 2021. The initial STEAM explorations curriculum will be piloted in fall 2021 with the final curriculum launch in summer 2022. “Educating Michigan youth on nature, agriculture and general life skills is so important, not only to their development, but in the future when they become adults. Hopefully these 4-H educational efforts will teach youth to be smarter consumers, appreciate where their food comes from, engage in production agriculture and maintain its healthy future,” Sutherland said. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2021