[Ag-eq] Salutations/Introduction

Sat Jan 18 14:05:49 UTC 2014

Hello all

Concerning animal nutrition interests, I'd be happy to answer, or at least
look for answers to specific questions you might have. My background is
dairy cattle, but many of the principles can be used in other ruminant
species. I also took a general animal nutrition course and later helped
teach it in college. To keep people updated, I thought I'd also drop a line
or five about things at home. 

On Christmas my only and now last Brown Swiss cow gave birth to a beautiful
and big heifer calf. I'm selling both the cow and calf. So far I have a $300
down payment on the calf by a neighbor up the road. 

After being overstocked for almost a month, we finally shipped a group of
seven steers for slaughter. That caused a chain reaction, resulting in the
graduation of 19 heifers to the lower barn, A.K.A. (McMan barn or heifer
barn), and 12 calves from the calf barn to the pre-pubertal heifer barn,
A.K.A. (the Weany hut). 

Just recently the ram has started to turn. We first got wind of this when he
came at my brother, but the past two times I've fed the flock he's tried to
turn on me. Fortunately I'm 5 10, at a several pound advantage, and a lot
louder than this little Texel yearling ram. 

The herd is testing at roughly 51 Lb, 5.1% fat, and 3.4% protein. Not great,
but not too bad-just not enough to make headway on our debt load. I'm
working on my parents to try to convince them we need to implement seasonal
calving, or at least not calve anything out between December through March.
I'm not making much headway there. 

Really nothing exciting is happening here except that the temperature has
finally warmed up. We had a stretch the first week in January where we saw
our first, and so far only -40 degrees this year. Since that week it's been
reasonable temperatures, but the rain turns all the roads and driveways to
ice. So it's been fun (smirking face) skating around to do chores. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michelle Clark
Sent: Friday, January 17, 2014 3:57 PM
To: 'Agricultural and Equestrean Division List'
Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Salutations/Introduction

Susan,

I am speaking of the services that all local offices at the state level
should be providing and want to know if list participants are aware. What I
am offering is the same. Since I am Section 508, I now am in the loop for
assuring that accessibility is involved in the websites and  documents we
put on line.

I was  just curious and glad to know there are some blind farmers out there.
If I can help, please let me know. In addition, from time to time, I see
this is a list where I can post some USDA things that may apply.

 Also, I saw a post from Zack. Can you write me off line please?

Michelle

-----Original Message-----
From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Susan Roe
Sent: Friday, January 17, 2014 3:01 PM
To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Salutations/Introduction

Hi Michelle,

I am Susan from Central Virginia.  I would be interested in what the USDA 
has to offer.  We have spoken to our closest USDA office and they have been 
helpful in the past.

Susan
dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michelle Clark" <mcikeyc at aol.com>
To: "'Agricultural and Equestrean Division List'" <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, January 17, 2014 9:55 AM
Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Salutations/Introduction

> Hello,
>
> My name is Michelle Clark and work as the Section 508 Coordinator for one 
> of
> the agencies at USDA. I have wondered in my short time there how blind and
> low vision persons in agriculture can take advantage of the programs and
> most recently the on-line and new applications being put out by USDA. One
> part of my job is to make sure applications do not get put out that are 
> not
> accessible.
>
> Is there anyone out there who uses any of the programs we have? Would you
> like an overview of what USDA has to offer? I can help. Please let me 
> know.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Michelle
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> nfoster at extremezone.com
> Sent: Friday, January 17, 2014 10:02 AM
> To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Salutations/Introduction
>
> Hi Zach and welcome to the list.  Sorry I didn't welcome you sooner.
>
> I live in Phoenix, Arizona and am a hobby, urban farmer.  I keep some 
> goats,
> chickens a horse and an ancient mule.  I'm always interested in animal
> nutrition and would love to see any information you can share on the
> subject.
> Perhaps you have some good suggestions for my dairy goats since your
> background
> was on a dairy.
>
> I would also appreciate any suggestions you have about caring for senior
> equines.
>
> I hope you will tell us more about yourself and your farm experiences.
>
> Nella
>
>
>
> Quoting Zach Mason <zmason.northwindsfarm at gmail.com>:
>
>> I have been blind since age four, grew up on a 110 cow family dairy farm,
>> have a bachelors in animal science from Cornell University, and am
> pursuing
>> a career in animal biology research. In my childhood I showed dairy and
> beef
>> cattle at county, state and regional competitions in New Hampshire and 
>> New
>> England. After graduating from Cornell, I assumed the title Assistant
>> Shepherd and Young Stock Manager at my family's farm for a year. This 
>> year
> I
>> completed a fellowship this summer at Purdue University working in a 
>> swine
>> nutrition lab.
>>
>>
>>
>> I look forward to meeting NFB's AG-EQ division at the 2014 convention.
>> Please also, I invite any members to this division with experience or
>> interest in livestock agriculture to contact me directly, point me 
>> towards
>> livestock-related posts, or reply to this posting.
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
>
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