Planting Fall Vegetables

Oct. 27, 2016

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Two Methods to dispose of poultry mortalities

Family & Consumer Sciences

Diabetes and multivitamins

4-H Youth Development

4-H is thankful for volunteers

Two methods to dispose of poultry mortalities

Source: Macy Fawns, UK nutrient management planner

Following the tobacco buyout, the poultry industry has dramatically grown and is now Kentucky’s number one commodity. A common issue with any type of animal operation is disposal of mortalities. While dead animal pickup services exist in some Kentucky counties for larger animals, this is not the case for poultry. Farmers need to dispose of poultry mortalities within 48 hours of the animal’s death, so you need to have a plan in place before bringing poultry onto your farm.

There are two ways to depose of poultry mortalities: composting or incineration. Burial is not a good method, because it can cause environmental problems, it takes a lot of time, and it costs more money than other methods. Before deciding to compost or incinerate poultry mortalities, you should consider a number of factors including mortality rate, labor cost and needed equipment.

The cost of incinerators varies based upon size and brand. The price of propane has fluctuated over the years but, on average, it has not been under $1 per gallon since the late 1990s. If you are looking into this method, consider the price of propane and the possibility of price increases. An advantage of this method is that you’ll need less space in comparison to composting. Mortalities are reduced to ash, so it’s safer for the environment, and you don’t need large equipment other than the incinerator. For catastrophic events resulting in mortalities, such as avian flu, you should follow the state veterinarian’s guidelines for disposal.

Composting poultry mortalities in litter became popular in the late 1980s. You can compost using two methods—bin or windrow systems. Composting no longer requires a permit from the state veterinarian’s office. To properly compost poultry mortalities, begin by correctly sizing the compost bins or facility and having it roofed. The bin system takes time. You must load bins in layers, so birds don’t overlap or touch the sides. Windrows are starting to become more popular among poultry producers, because there are typically no sidewalls as in the bin system, making it easier to turn the pile if needed. The windrow system still requires time and maintenance. If you don’t correctly compost, the birds won’t decompose as fast, and you could have problems with varmints.

After the composting stages take place, regulations require that you spread the material on your own farm or rented property. You cannot sell or give away compost that contains mortalities. With the composted material, you get to keep the nutrients on your farm and potentially spend less on commercial fertilizer.

Composting is a viable option if you already have large equipment such as a front load tractor, space for a compost facility and land to apply the material. If your operation has little or no cropland available for spreading compost material, incineration may be your best option. The economics should play a big role in deciding which method is best for your farm. For more information contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension office and ask for publication ID-167 On-Farm Disposal of Animal Mortalities.

Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

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Diabetes and multivitamins

Source: Ingrid Adams, associate professor, nutrition and weight management

Diabetes is a condition that affects the way the body uses energy. More than 29 million Americans are affected by diabetes and close to one-quarter of these individuals do not know they have the disease. An additional 86.1 million Americans have prediabetes. Many people believe they can prevent or control these disease by taking various dietary supplements, but that may not be the case.

A wide variety of supplements may claim to reduce your risk of developing diabetes, help you better manage the disease or prevent it all together. Some of these supplements include chromium, herbal supplements, Chinese herbal medicines, bitter melon, milk thistle, aloe vera, magnesium and vitamin D. Thus far, numerous studies in this area have been inconclusive on the effects of these supplements on diabetes, and further research is needed.

Taking these medications to try to control or prevent diabetes may actually do more harm than good. Some herbal supplements can interact with medications you are taking and produce undesirable results. Some dietary supplements could present serious side effects. If you have diabetes, it is important for you to check with your health care provider before taking dietary supplements.

It is helpful to know there is a way to manage diabetes or reduce your risk of developing the disease. There is strong evidence that eating a healthy diet, engaging in physical activity, monitoring blood glucose, and taking medicines as prescribed by a doctor is the solution for managing and reducing your risk of diabetes. Many of the dietary supplements that people take to reduce the risk of or manage their diabetes can be found in eating a well-balanced diet with the right amount of whole grain foods, vegetables, fruits, low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products, lean cuts of meat, fish or poultry and beans each day; and by paying attention to portion sizes.

More information on healthy living is available at the (COUNTY NAME) Extension Office.

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4-H is thankful for volunteers

Source: Ken Culp, III, principal extension specialist for volunteerism, 4-H youth development

Now is the time of the year when many of us reflect on all of the things for which we are grateful. In Kentucky 4-H, one of the things we are most grateful for is the volunteer support we have throughout the commonwealth.

Our volunteers are leaders, cheerleaders, mentors and advocates for our youth. It is with their help and service that many young people find their voice or passion and become healthy, capable, caring and productive adults.

Volunteers assist our agents by leading club meetings, serving as camp counselors, judging speech and demonstration contests and utilizing their unique interests, skills and abilities to serve the 4-H program and extend it to audiences which would otherwise be unserved. In the process, these volunteers shape future leaders by demonstrating leadership skills, instilling a sense of community and offering a positive connection with someone from a different age group or generation.

Whether they serve episodically or for many years, volunteers are a valuable and essential component of 4-H. Without their help, most 4-H programs would be impossible to deliver.

While they do not serve for praise or recognition, many volunteers get a great deal of fulfillment, self-satisfaction and enjoyment out of volunteer service, as they watch youth develop self-confidence, self-worth and leadership skills.

If you are a volunteer, thank you for all that you do. If you are interested in more information about Kentucky 4-H volunteers or in learning how to volunteer with your local 4-H program, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Extension office.

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