Public Policy

Animal Ag

Livestock

Haw River Ordinance - Proposed ordinances in the towns of Haw River (Alamance County) and Benson (Johnston County) would limit the number of animals per acre within the city limits. The ordinances would affect agricultural operations with farm animals. NC Farm Bureau is reviewing these proposals and evaluating possible remedies.

New Comment Period for Animal Operations Monitoring Rule - On Thursday the NC Environmental Management Commission (EMC) voted to send the draft rule requiring animal operations to take water samples back out for a 60 day comment period to receive additional written comments on some proposed changes to the rule for a 60 day period. There will be no public hearings. The new comment period is based on the minor changes that were made in the draft rule as a result of input during the hearings and comment period last year. The main change removes 2 parameters off the list of required sampling parameters (BOD and Fecal Coliform). We do not know when the rule will be published in the NC Register. Publication will open the written comment period and set the closing date for comments. The expense of this proposed mandatory sampling to individual farmers, with no scientifically beneficial data generated, continues to be a serious concern. Farmers will need to comment on the proposed rule, supporting a scientifically based study – not the sampling and analysis required of state and NPDES permitted animal operations. We will let you know when the comment period opens and how to file comments. If you have questions, contact Anne Coan.

Cattle Numbers Down - Beef producers and dairy farmers had 93.181 million head of cattle as of Jan. 1, down 1.4 percent from a year earlier. That would be the smallest herd in 52 years, according to the Livestock Marketing Information Center. U.S. Cattle Herd Falls to 1958 Low as Losses Climb, Survey Says

Cow Tail-Docking Ban Proposed - New York Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal has proposed a tail-docking ban similar to the one enacted in California. The move comes after Mercy for Animals released an undercover video showing the practice on a New York farm. Video Inspires Call for NY Cow Tail-Docking Ban.

Enhanced Biosecurity Urged -- The National Pork Board is urging pork producers to enhance the biosecurity plans on their farms as the result of the influenza virus H1N1 being reported in humans. The virus is unique and has not been seen in the US swine herd. As of May 1, no US pigs have been found to be infected or sick with the virus. Because the virus is considered novel, the National Pork Board is urging producers to take extra precautions to protect the industrys workers and animals. Because people have been reported sick with this virus, the Pork Council recommends that farmers biosecurity practices place special emphasis on protecting animals and workers by monitoring all persons having access to their operations.

Diary

Milk Chugging Contest - The annual Milk Chugging Contest led by NC House and Senate leaders is scheduled for June 30 in the NC Legislative Building.

Farm Bill - In preparation for the 2012 Farm Bill, the dairy industry is developing various proposals aimed at stabilizing prices. Some dairy sectors are proposing radical changes in dairy policy that would create more of an insurance type program. Other dairy groups are promoting a more conservative approach that attempts to limit production.

Milk Chugging Contest - The annual Milk Chugging Contest led by NC House and Senate leaders is scheduled for June 30 in the NC Legislative Building.

Ohio Undercover HSUS Video (source, myDairy) - Earlier this week, the animal welfare group Mercy for Animals released undercover footage taken at an Ohio dairy farm showing dairy cow and calf abuse. The footage, captured earlier this year, was posted on the group’s YouTube channel, Facebook page, blog and website. The group unveiled the footage at a press conference later this week in Dayton, OH. The footage is gaining a lot of attention in the online world, with consumers expressing outrage and calling for the authorities to take action. No one is more outraged than dairy farmers about the abuse of animals and none of us would consider the images in this video gray area – the malicious striking of animals is completely unacceptable. Anyone, especially those who are employed at a dairy farm, should take action to stop the abuse (rather video-taping it) and notify the farm owner/manager immediately. Above all, your personal stories need to be heard to help inform the public about the great care you provide your cows so they will produce safe and healthy dairy products. Remember to focus on the positive things you do every day to care for your animals. Consider using photographs and/or video to tell your animal care story, or refer to www.dairyfarmingtoday.org.

Below are animal care talking points to include in your online conversations. As a reminder, customize and personalize these messages to illustrate your dedication to your animals. Additional talking points can be found on the myDairy toolkit.

General Animal Care

Equine

Unwanted Equine Symposium - Public interest in owning horse has increased in recent years, but so too has the amount of unwanted horses across the state. Often these unwanted horses are released on other’s property, at horse sales, and other locations when the owners become desperate to rid themselves of the obligation to provide proper care. On September 24, the NC Cooperative Extension Service is hosting a symposium at the Iredell Agriculture Center to address this growing problem. NC Farm Bureau is helping sponsor this event.

Seafood

Community supported seafood - Many local fruit and vegetable farmers have begin CSAs (community supported agriculture programs) for customers. In a CSA a customer pays the farmer in advance for regular “boxes” or shares of produce each week during a season. Typically fruit and vegetable farmers would run one, two or three CSA shares a year for summer, fall, spring crops. Now the state is getting its first Community Supported Seafood through Core Sound Seafood. By the end of June, Core Sound Seafood will be dropping off the first community seafood shares to Chapel Hill/Carrboro. Fish to be included through the 12-week period include Flounder, Triggerfish, Soft Shell Crabs, Clams and over twenty other species. Learn more at http://www.coresoundseafood.org/

Mixed results for seafood harvests in 2009 - North Carolina’s 2009 commercial finfish harvest was up by 17 % over the previous year, but decreased harvest in shrimp and crabs dropped commercial dockside seafood sales by 4 % in 2009, according to an annual landings report produced by the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries. Total commercial landings were at 68.6 million pounds in 2009, which was 2.5 million pounds lower than in 2008. The total value of commercial landings also dropped from $86.8 million to $77 million. Total recreational landings were at 13.6 million pounds in 2009, a 15 % decrease from 2008. The most notable decrease in commercial landings came in shrimp harvests, which dropped by 43 % from 2008 to 5.4 million pounds in 2009. This decline contributed to a 7.3 million-pound drop in overall shellfish harvests. Commercial finfish harvests, however, increased 17 % from 2008 to 32.3 million pounds in 2009. The most notable increase in commercial finfish landings was with spiny dogfish, which jumped 792 % to 1.3 million pounds in 2009 due to a quota increase. Bluefish landings increased 22 % to 2.3 million pounds. Blue crab continued to top the list of species harvested commercially in the state, with 28.8 million pounds landed in 2009, followed by croaker at 6.1 million pounds, shrimp, summer flounder, at 2.9 million pounds and southern flounder, at 2.4 million pounds.