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October 10, 2020
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Cheesecake’s not just any Gypsy Vanner STEVE PARADISO Michigan Farm News Aficionados and even the
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Emerald City, and the Cabbie stating, “That’s a horse of a different color!” The same can be said for Cheesecake, a seven-year-old Gypsy Vanner stallion of the color silver cremello tobiano — the only Gypsy Vanner of this coloring in the world — and the only silver cremello tobiano stallion to be rated a five star by the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society (GVHS). He’s the pride and joy of Eaton County Farm Bureau members Mandy and Kim Kramar of WillowWind Stable in Charlotte. Mandy’s love for Gypsy Vanner’s started in 1999, soon after she graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in horse management. She initially planned to import Friesian horses after working with them during an internship. But when handed a brochure about a brand-new breed in the U.S. called Gypsy Vanner by her tack-shop boss, her mind was made up. “My husband, Kim, and I did some research and were
surprised to learn I could go to Ireland and purchase three Gypsy Vanner fillies for the same price as buying one embryo here in the states,” Mandy said. “In four days’ time, I flew into Heathrow, traveled to Dublin, saw a lot of horses, some terrific, some not so terrific. “Much of it was pure education. I didn’t go thinking I would purchase horses, but I did. And it was good thing, for soon after, the prices changed. We were able to get three horses for what one cost not long after.” Mandy’s plan, after bringing the fillies home, was to sell them. They were the 23rd, 24th and 25th of the breed in all of North America and the first in Michigan. But with American’s knowing little about Gypsy Vanners, things didn’t go as planned. They began taking them to expos to get people acquainted with them. They then imported their first stallion from Ireland in 2002 to begin breeding. “We started taking the
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stallion to shows in 2003, but people would walk by and think he was just another paint, and they wouldn’t even stop and ask,” Mandy said. “It was the biggest roadblock we faced with the business, with little to no interest in what we had and were trying to do.” Things began to change in 2010 as people became more aware of the breed. The Kramars eventually had 20 mares with six foals on the ground every year. Then, in 2013, in search of a new stallion, Mandy and Kim came upon Cheesecake as a young colt in Oregon. In an article written by Mandy for the GVHS, she stated it wasn’t his unique color that caught their eye, but the fact the colt was heavy and wide — characteristics that define the breed and lend well to the athletic prowess needed for dressage. Within days, Cheesecake was at WillowWind Stable, and after a week of rest and a mere 18 weeks old, he was evaluated in the arena, receiving high marks. At the age of 3, dressage training began in earnest. At 4, he joined the prestigious United States Dressage Federation, winning blue and champion ribbons in his first year. Then, in 2018, at 5 years old and just over 14 hands high, Team Cheezy took training level reserve champion for the GVHS in the 2018 USDF All-Breeds Awards. Mandy and Kim speculate it was that recognition that caught the attention of Breyer Models. “It was last July when Kim informed me someone from See CHEESECAKE page 3
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CHEESECAKE Continued from page 2
Cheesecake, whose Gaelic name Faugh-A-Ballagh, meaning “clear the way,” is a Gypsy Vanner stallion from WillowWind Stable in Charlotte. He was honored earlier this year by Breyer Models, selected for their 70th anniversary at BreyerFest 2020. (Farm News Media/Courtesy Photo)
Breyer had called, asking if we’d consider having Cheesecake as a limited-edition model for BreyerFest,” Mandy said. “I was like, what? I thought it was a scam. So, I called them back, and they were super excited to have Cheesy as a model. Once we signed the contract, it was hard to not be able to tell anyone until February of this year.” Mandy said she’s played with Breyer models since she was kid. She stated parents will buy them for their children for Christmas as toys, and adults will buy them as collectables. And depending on the model, and
how many of it are produced, their value can be quite extensive. Gypsys originated 500 years ago in Ireland with the sole purpose of pulling family traveling wagons — or vardos. Today, they’re family horses. According to Mandy, children show them for 4-H, work them under saddle with dressage, and enjoy them for pure pleasure. But the connection — or dare say a love affair — of a Gypsy pulling a vardo is something Kim Kramar is fully invested in. His was built by 86-year-old David Bryan and wife Christine over a year’s time in Ontario, See GYPSY page 4
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GYPSY
Continued from page 3 Canada. “He built this the way we wanted it, even to the point of his wife and granddaughter hand-painted the pictures of our animals inside of it,” Kim said. “It’s an authentic Gypsy wagon, for he’s a traveler, and he was born in one of these in 1934.” The Kramar’s stable and farm are insured by Farm Bureau Insurance agent Lynn Denton of Hastings. He protects them on many levels, including vehicles, but insuring the vardo is a one-ofa-kind experience. “Kim and Mandy and their horses have been protected by Farm Bureau and our office
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since May of 2007,” Denton said. “Since then, we’ve gotten to know them as great people who do a lot with the passion they have for horses and Gypsy wagons. I couldn’t be prouder to be their agent and are so happy they are getting the recognition they deserve.” Nowadays, the Kramars have changed direction a bit, with 11 mares on the farm. And Cheesecake’s genes are available to carry on his lineage, which has proven to be strong. This story was provided Michigan State University Extension experts offer tips to protect farms from disease. (MSUE/Courtesy by Michigan Farm News, Photo) a publication of Michigan Farm Bureau. For more on Michigan Farm News visit www.michiganfarmnews. com.
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Protect your farm from a serious disease outbreak
ELIZABETH FERRY AND DALE ROZEBOOM Michigan State University Extension Secure food supply planning is the effort of animal industries to protect
as much of an industry as possible from losses if a highly contagious animal disease with severe consequences were to occur. The pork, beef, milk, egg and poultry industries have developed and promoted
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secure food supply planning programs nationally to encourage producers to participate. Producers are encouraged to share the locations of all farms (or premises) with their state governments by requesting a premise identification number associated with each specific site, employ effective biosecurity plans, and be prepared to respond with even greater protections if disease were to “break” nearby, statewide or nationally. In the past few years, African swine fever led to the loss of millions of pigs in Asia and Europe, and the devastation and economic losses have the attention of pork industries around the world. In the U.S., pork See PROTECT page 5
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PROTECT
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producer organizations, state and federal governments, Extension, and pork industry allies encourage pig farmers to become fully aware and committed to secure supply planning practices where primary attention is given to farm identification and biosecurity. Biosecurity protects your farm from disease, and secure supply planning is the extra effort to keep your farming business productive during a highly consequential disease outbreak. In some cases, depending on the location of an outbreak, a permit to move will be required from state officials to continue business. By investing in secure supply planning, farms will be able to quickly fulfill the requirements needed for permitted movement and work with state government to secure the continuation of business as quickly as possible. In 2014 and into 2015, the Michigan State University Extension pork team compiled an exhaustive set of criteria and questions to achieve compliance in secure supply planning. Next, the team conducted secure supply plan audits of 12 Michigan swine farms. From these audits, the farmers learned what they needed to do to improve their preparedness for a consequential disease. The MSU Extension pork team, along with the Michigan Pork Producers Association, learned where Michigan’s swine industry stood regarding secure supply planning and identified areas
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to address. They also learned that the nearly 700 criteria points were not all critical. Some were good practices but not necessary for a farm to remain in business during a consequential disease outbreak. Based on what was learned from the audits, in 2018-19, state officials, MPPA staff and members of the MSU Extension pork team worked together to identify essential items or biosecurity practices that must be followed by a farm or premise to be granted permission to continue business in a disease outbreak and state response situation. These essential practices align with the national secure pork supply guidelines, as well as the “lessons learned” from states that have addressed highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks. To assist producers and veterinarians in completing secure supply planning, a questionnaire was developed consisting of about 40 key items. The questionnaire, available from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, MPPA, and MSU Extension, assists pork producers and their advisers with prioritizing the changes they need to make on their farms to be better prepared and validates the effectiveness of biosecurity plans. During the past five years, the MSU Extension pork team has developed expertise in secure supply planning by identifying all possible biosecurity practices, learning what practices are See DISEASE page 6
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will determine the effectiveness of your biosecurity and most difficult for farmers to is responsible for validating employ, and working with your practices for the state state officials and leaders to government if there is an identify practices critical to a outbreak. farm’s operation in the event It will be your veterinariof a serious disease outbreak. an’s responsibility to validate The team has been invited with state officials that your to work with farmers and farm is biosecure and unincomplete walk-throughs fected to continue business to discuss biosecurity and and complete animal secure supply planning movements, including across achievement. This service is state lines. Veterinarians one that the MSU Extension must be acquainted with pork team provides and is the most critical aspects of willing to be “another set of WE KNOW WHAT IT biosecurity and the critical eyes” for the farmer, helping concepts of secure food TAKESreadiness TO GET to determine for YOUR supply planning. diseaseEQUIPMENT outbreak and further BACK Farmers will need to assist preparation. Having ONTHEROAD someone who is not your veterinarian in knowing part of day-to-day operations your farm, your biosecurity view your farm is an effective plan, and your secure pork supply plan. Veterinarians, way to make improvements you will need to know the in secure supply planning farm, and whether the biosand potentially protect your farm, animals, investment ecurity and secure supply and livelihood. It helps you plans have been effectively see or realize potentially developed and implemented. critical shortcomings in To contact an MSU current biosecurity practices Extension pork team member or plans, leaving the or to learn more about pork operation at risk. producer education and Because of African swine research at MSU, visit online fever, secure supply planning at canr.msu.edu/pork. efforts in the U.S. have accelRozeboom is an MSU erated exponentially this past Extension pork specialyear. State officials, industry ist. He can be contacted leaders, universities, at rozeboom@msu.edu. Extension and farmers have Ferry is an MSU Extension been preparing for this costly swine educator. She can be contagious disease. Hoping contacted at franzeli@msu. to keep it out of the U.S., each edu. entity is working to become This article was published better prepared for the possiby Michigan State Univerbility of a disease outbreak. sity Extension. For more Recent discussions have information, visit https:// concluded that a farm’s extension.msu.edu. To veterinarian is “another set contact an expert in your of eyes,” vital to a farm’s area, visit https://extension. continuity of business, and msu.edu/experts, or call requires an effective veter888-MSUE4MI (888-678inarian-client-patient relationship. The veterinarian 3464).
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Vote for your future – vote Friends of Ag CARL BEDNARSKI Michigan Farm Bureau Campaigning for the 2020 election is clearly in overdrive, as candidate spar for air time with relentless campaign ads. As annoying as they may be, it is part of the process to earn your vote — a hard-earned privilege — that many U.S. citizens take for granted. According to the Pew Research Center, less than 56% of the U.S. voting-age population cast a vote in the 2016 general election. As political pundits and strategists agonize over dismal voter turnout, they would be well-advised to consider re-focusing campaigns on the issues that matter, rather than launching pitiful personality attacks on individual candidates. The campaign strategies and messaging leading up to the 2020 general election have taken a profoundly negative turn. Candidates seem challenged in their ability to communicate what they stand for, and, more importantly, what they won’t stand for. They choose, instead, to focus their air time and messaging on the party-line political messaging of the day-in tearing down the credibility of their opponent. The campaign mentality is focused on individuals instead of a substantive discussion of the candidate’s position on the issues. As farmers, our future and our family’s future hinges on the issues — issues that either threaten or strengthen production agriculture’s “generational sustainability” and
ultimately setting a course for the next generation of family members hoping to follow in our footsteps. In 1977, visionary Michigan Farm Bureau leaders had the wisdom to recognize the need for agriculture to engage in the elections process, voting to create a political action committee known as AgriPac. Since then, MFB’s AgriPac evaluates and endorses candidates seeking office whose positions are compatible with MFB policies, regardless of party affiliation, on legitimate agricultural issues. As a result of AgriPAC’s time-tested grassroots process and proven track record in selecting “Friends of Agriculture,” the endorsement is highly sought by candidates for public office. By default, candidates know the endorsement hinges on their position and voting-record on the issues that affect production agriculture and rural Michigan. For the 2020 endorsement, congressional office seekers had to state their position or defend their voting record on several priority ag issues, including USMCA implementation, rural broadband, disaster relief, agricultural border inspections and ag labor. At the state level, candidates were asked to defend their position on the state’s environmental oversight of production agriculture, agricultural disaster loan origination funding, career and technical education and updates to the state’s Animal Industry Act, to See VOTE page 8
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Smart gardening with deer: Deer-resistant bulbs to plant in fall October is the ideal time to plant over-wintering, deer-resistant bulbs in Michigan SARAH RAUTIO Michigan State University Extension October is the ideal time to plant over-wintering bulbs in Michigan because soils remain warm while air temperatures cool down. These conditions help bulbs establish early roots without top growth, which is an important first step in preparing them for their next
life stage—a required winter cool down. In fact, most types of bulbs need a cool down to bloom, which is why spring blooming bulbs are more commonly grown in northern climates. If you live in an area where deer are common, you may have had disappointing results with spring bulbs in the past.
Masses of uniquely different and fragrant N. poeticus daffodils tolerate wet soils, competition with grasses, and deer. (MSUE/ See DEER page 9 Courtesy Photo)
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Continued from page 7 name just a few of the state-level priority ag concerns. When’s the last time you saw or heard a campaign ad that addressed any of those topics — at the state or federal level? While the failure of most campaigns to address the issues is disheartening, it also demonstrates the true core value of MFB’s AgriPac endorsement process. The 2016 general election showed the strength and the value of rural votes — particularly here in Michigan. It’s no secret that President Trump won Michigan, winning in all but five southeastern counties out of 83 total. Even so, the margin of victory was decided by just more than 10,000 votes. That’s less than 1/3 of 1%, meaning rural Michigan needs to show up again this November. You can review the AgriPac committee’s updated “Friends of Agriculture” endorsed candidates and their respective voting records on priority ag issues. As you prepare to cast your vote, whether in person or through the absentee voter process, be sure to vote the whole ballot, including the non-partisan part of the ballot in support of Prop. 1 — Use of State and Local Park Funds Amendment. Take the time to learn where your candidates stand on the issues that affect your future and your family’s future. Most importantly exercise your privilege to vote. Until then, have a safe and bountiful fall harvest. This story was provided by Michigan Farm News, a publication of Michigan Farm Bureau. For more on Michigan Farm News visit www.michiganfarmnews.com.
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DEER
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As much as we want to blame the deer, those losses can be mitigated with proper bulb selection. In other words, resist the tulip! Deer love to eat tulips, but the good news is that there is a tremendous variety of bulbs they avoid. That resistance is not by chance, but more because deer-resistant bulbs produce blooms that can have strong scents or poisonous biochemicals, making them unpalatable to deer and other animals. Check out some of the interesting deer-resistant options below. Prior to planting, determine the bulbs that best suit your environment. Bulbs that spread will need room to grow, and most bulbs need a loose, rich, well-draining soil, albeit a couple varieties that thrive in wet soils. Rather than planting one bulb type, consider variable types across a wide range of bloom time for lasting beauty and pollinator support. Finally, intermingle deer-resistant bulbs with deer-resistant plants to create designs that buffer deer rather than create a buffet. Ground cover bulbs In order of early to late spring bloom time: Snow Drops (Galanthus spp.), Crocus (Crocus spp.), Glory-ofthe-Snow (Chionodoxa spp.), Squill (Scilla spp.), Grape Hyacinth (Muscari spp.), Windflower (Anemone spp.) and Star Flower (Ipheion spp.) These bulbs are grouped together because they all grow low to the ground and can naturalize to create seasonal ground cover. They can be planted in a variety of settings: Flower beds, where competition with other plants is not
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an issue. Partially shaded woodlands, where there is either dappled shade all season or spring sun prior to emergence of tree leaves. Lawns, since most ground cover bulbs can compete with grass because they bloom before grass takes over. Furthermore, if you plant a mixed variety of these species, they will produce a longer display of blooms over time for you and pollinators. For example, planting Snow Drops, Glory-of-the-Snow and Grape Hyacinth in the same place can change it from white to pink to blue between late March and early May, expanding the aesthetic and pollinator benefits across many months. Daffodils Many gardeners already know daffodils are deer resistant and may find this group to be rather ordinary. But did you know there are 12 different daffodil divisions with 32,000 different kinds of daffodils? Add to that the fact that daffodils have enough varieties to produce continuous bloom over the entire spring, and that some varieties have unexpected traits like “gardenia-like” scents, pink tones, miniature cups, and ruffles—imagine the possibilities! Hyacinths and Hyacinthoides These are the bulbs that produce calcium oxalate, a substance also found in deer-resistant plants such as sorrel, rhubarb, skunk cabbage and even some leafy green vegetables (e.g., spinach). See PLANT page 10
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PLANT
Continued from page 9
A small dog “eyes” a most unusual bulb that has popped up out of the spring brown landscape with a name fit for an empress: Fritillaria imperialis ‘Maxima Lutea’. (Sarah Rautio/MSU Extension)
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Calcium oxalate is toxic at high concentrations, which is the case for hyacinths. Fortunately, hyacinths also emit an intensely fragrant biochemical that makes them enjoyable to us while warning the deer to stay away. Related to Hyacinths, Hyacinthoides have looser blooms and include bulbs such as Spanish and English Bluebells. These are not to be confused with Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica), which do not grow from bulbs. Virginia Bluebells are also deer resistant and can be a better choice for those seeking a native species. Fritillaria This bulb is a bit of a mystery until one comes across it in early spring and wonders what it could be. That is because the taller varieties of Fritillaria often have many leaves and take on the appearance of a perennial rather than a bulb. Although some varieties are short, the taller varieties (e.g., F. persica) can reach 3 feet, so only a few are
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needed in a flower bed to get the attention of neighbors and pollinators. Interestingly, Fritillaria spp. evolved to be pollinated by birds in their native range, yet may also attract solitary bees. Fritillaria spp. can be sensitive to colder growing zones in Michigan and may need a layer of mulch to survive multiple winters. Ornithogalum Also called Star of Bethlehem, this group has a short ground cover version (O. umbellatum) and several taller varieties (e.g., O. ponticum, O. nutans). O. umbellatum can be aggressively competitive in some settings (i.e., an invasive noxious weed in some states), but taller varieties are manageable and quite unique. The taller Ornithogalum spp. are similar in appearance, bloom time (May-June) and deer resistance as another deer-resistant bulb called Camas. Leucojum This is another underutilized bulb with small, white and green flowers on tall stems. It prefers a moist soil,
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partial shade and blooms in May-June when other bulbs like Ornithogalum and Allium are also blooming. More tolerant of wet soil than most bulbs, Leucojum spp. can naturalize in soils that stay consistently wet. Along with other late blooming bulbs with deer resistance, bulbs like this provide options to gardeners who may be tempted to purchase early summer plants that deer love to eat (e.g., hostas, roses). Colchicum Planted in the fall, these bulbs have two active growth periods separated by a summer dormancy. Green leaves emerge in spring without flowers, then the plants completely die back and disappear in the summer. Come early fall, colchicum sends up its blooms (no leaves). The flowering stage is likely the most deer-resistant stage of this plant since an alkaloid toxin called colchicine is most concentrated in the flower. Allium and Eremus These are two other groups of deer-resistant bulbs that can be planted in either the summer or the fall. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension. msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu. edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu. edu/experts, or call 888MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).
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Chocolate milk: Sports drink of champions Explore why chocolate milk can be a great way to refuel after a good workout or practice. MICHELLE NEFF Michigan State University Extension It is the time of year when students are gearing up for the fall sports season. Whether playing football, volleyball or soccer, youth are practicing hard, sweating and burning many calories. Chocolate milk can be a great way for youth to refuel after a good workout or practice. When we think about chocolate milk, we often think about how we drank it in grade school with a snack or at the lunch table. Recently however, chocolate
milk came back into the spotlight as a great after workout drink. According to a research study by the University of Texas at Austin by John Ivy, chocolate milk consumed after a workout is the best post-workout recovery drink. Study participants had better body composition in the form of more muscle and less fat, improved times while working out, and overall better physical shape than peers who consumed sports beverages that contained just carbohydrates. In addition to this study, chocolate milk is an excellent
source of nine essential nutrients that athletes need for good health: calcium, potassium, protein, phosphorus, vitamins A, D and B12, riboflavin and niacin. For these reasons and more, the United Dairy Industry of Michigan calls chocolate milk nature’s sports drink. United Dairy Industry of Michigan promotes the use of dairy products across the state. If schools are interested in getting more milk into their athletic programs, the United Dairy Industry of Michigan has a grant program for high schools to receive funding to provide
chocolate milk to athletes at afterschool sports events. Schools may also be interested in bringing sports nutrition to their athletes. Michigan State University Extension had a program call Peak Health and Performance that is designed to teach proper nutrition to student athletes. Contact your local MSU Extension office to get a program scheduled for your school. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https:// extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information
Chocolate milk is an excellent source of nine essential nutrients that athletes need for good health. (ANR Communications/ Courtesy Photo) delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https:// extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https:// extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888678-3464).
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