"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"
Online Edition
Thursday, May 23rd, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
 
< | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | > | >>

New Board of Animal Health rules address needs of today


Fri, May 3rd, 2013
Posted in All Agriculture

ST. PAUL, MN - The Minnesota Board of Animal Health today announced that its new rules are now in effect. The Board has been working with livestock groups to adopt rules that allow the Board to control diseases and are sensible for Minnesota farmers.

“After four years of talking with stakeholders, we are pleased to have rules that address the topics facing livestock agriculture today,” said Dr. Bill Hartmann, state veterinarian and executive director of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. “Thanks to the input of producers, the new rules will better equip us to do our job while making sure they can still do theirs.”

The new rules were drafted with animal traceability in mind. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) had been working to adopt a federal traceability rule for several years. The Board took a proactive approach to federal requirements and included language that enhances Minnesota’s ability to effectively trace livestock during disease events. An overhaul of the rules was also needed to eliminate outdated language, clarify the Board’s authorities, address current topics and consolidate rules into a new, easy-to-understand chapter.

Here are the most notable changes:

Cattle and bison: Breeding cattle, rodeo cattle and all cattle for exhibition must be officially identified upon movement from the herd to another location, with certain exceptions. Records of cattle movements into and out of herds must be kept on the farm for five years.

Swine: Swine moving within the state must be officially identified with certain exceptions.

Poultry: The Salmonella typhimurium import requirement for turkeys, poults and turkey hatching eggs has been removed. There will be mandatory permitting, inspections and testing at live bird markets. Rules relating to poultry community sales and exhibitions have been shortened and clarified.

Farmed deer and elk: All farmed deer and elk must be identified with an official eartag. Deer and elk that are 12 months of age and over that die or are slaughtered must be tested for chronic wasting disease.

The Board is offering free official eartags to veterinarians and cattle, bison and farmed cervidae producers as funding allows. Call 651-296-2942 or visit www.mn.gov/bah for more information or to place an order.

To view the complete B .....
[Read the Rest]
JEM Movie Theatre

Youth Tractor Safety Classes Offered

Wed, May 1st, 2013
Posted in All Agriculture

The twenty-fourth joint annual youth tractor safety training is being planned for Tuesday, June 4 through Friday, June 7. The training sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. and will end at 2:30 p.m. each day. Brad Harguth, Caledonia High School Ag Instructor ..... 
[Read the Rest]

Another sinkhole

Fri, Apr 26th, 2013
Posted in Fountain Agriculture

As most passers-by on Highway 52, just North of Fountain, Minn., have noticed in recent days a fairly large sinkhole has opened up about a quarter mile outside of town on the West side of the road. Being conspicuously placed along the roadside it h ..... 
[Read the Rest]

MnWARN coordinators visit Fillmore County for presentation

By Mitchell Walbridge

Fri, Apr 26th, 2013
Posted in Rushford Agriculture

Nearly six years later, the vivid images of the devastating floods of 2007 are still fresh in the minds of many across southeastern Minnesota, especially those who lived in the community of Rushford at the time. Even though seventeen inches of rain ..... 
[Read the Rest]

Rushford offers option for MPCA issue

By Kirsten Zoellner

Fri, Apr 26th, 2013
Posted in Rushford Agriculture

By Kirsten Zoellner The 814 North Mill Street property of Jon Dammen has been on Rushford’s radar for a number of years. A remaining private septic system within the city limits, it has been racking up fines from Minnesota Pollution Control Agenc ..... 
[Read the Rest]

When Spring comes, it will be nuts!

By Jerrold Tesmer

Fri, Apr 26th, 2013
Posted in All Agriculture

We all know that spring will come! When it does, every farmer will be putting in long hours to get the crop planted. A few years ago, University of Illinois Extension Safety Specialist Bob Aherin said taking a break can actually be one of the best t ..... 
[Read the Rest]

SWCD staff seeks to detect flush of pollutants into Root River

Fri, Apr 26th, 2013
Posted in All Agriculture

When snow melts or rain falls, the water picks up pollutants as it drains across land to a stream. Measuring that flush of pollutants can be tricky because some stream water levels rise and fall so quickly - in a matter of hours. It’s also importa ..... 
[Read the Rest]

Collapsed manure pit creates water safety concerns

By Mitchell Walbridge

Fri, Apr 19th, 2013
Posted in Canton Agriculture

Late on the evening of Sunday, April 14 a manure spill was reported in Fillmore County near the rural community of Canton. Between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. the caller had reported that a fractured wall of an above-ground manure pit had collapsed, releasi ..... 
[Read the Rest]

Composting

By LaVerne C. Paulson

Fri, Apr 19th, 2013
Posted in All Agriculture

LaVerne C. Paulson Recycling Education Coordinator New Year’s Day is long gone, but most likely many of you have found a couple ways to improve one or two of your recycling habits. When we discuss recycling in Fillmore County, we are usually co ..... 
[Read the Rest]
< | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | > | >>