NH3 Safety Meetings...Because We Care!

With the continuous frigid temperatures that we have been experiencing it may seem like there’s no end in sight for winter.  Despite that feeling, spring will be here sooner or later and Landmark is working with growers now so they are fully prepared and have safety front of mind when that time comes.   

Members of Landmark’s Agronomy and Safety divisions have teamed up to present several “NH3 Safety Meetings…Because We Care” meetings for growers.  Serious health and safety concerns can happen in just moments when dealing with anhydrous ammonia, and Landmark aims to team up with growers to significantly reduce those concerns.  The goal of these meetings are to take a proactive approach and educate growers on safety when handling and applying anhydrous ammonia. Safety Manager of Landmark Services Cooperative, Matt Solymossy, will be presenting on a variety of anhydrous safety topics to keep our members safe this spring.  Topics include:

·         Practices to prevent NH3 releases

·         Proper maintenance and equipment use

·         General properties and characteristics of anhydrous ammonia

·         Preventing accidental releases

·         Preventing accidental exposure

·         Anhydrous ammonia regulatory requirements

·         Take a proactive educational approach to learn from past happenings

 

Join the Landmark team in preparations to stay safe this spring at one of the following meetings:

·         Wednesday, February 5^th

Vandy’s

N2811 Park Road

Markesan, WI

RSVP:  Leah 608.819.3393

·         Monday, February 10^th

Fibs in Rockton

105 W. Main Street

Rockton, IL

RSVP:  Dawn 815.988.8249

·         Monday, February 17^th

The Rafter’s

9426 W. Wagner Rd.

Lena, IL

RSVP:  Dennis 815.509.9176

·         Friday, February 21^st

Nora’s

1843 US 12

Deerfield, WI

RSVP:  Adam 608.843.2195

·         Wednesday, February 26^th

Pontiac Convention Center

2809 N. Pontiac Drive

Janesville, WI

RSVP:  Lindsey 262.716.6058

·         Thursday, February 27^th

Cotton Exchange

345 Hickory Hollow Rd.

Waterford, WI

RSVP: Lindsey 262.716.6058

All meetings run from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM with lunch included and a special safety give.  Please RSVP to reserve your spot.

Matt Solymossy is Landmark's Safety Manager and brings with him over 10 years of agriculture safety experience and hands-on training.

 

 

 

Baby it's cold outside!

Old Man Winter seems to be overstaying his welcome this winter, and while nearly everyone around would be ecstatic for his exit, perhaps those most anxious would be dairy farmers.  They are working around the clock to provide their calves with extra TLC during this "Polar Vortex" to keep their calves strong and warm during this time.  Their dedication and hard work now and throughout the year is truly remarkable.

Landmark Dairy Nutrition Expert, John Binversie, shares some helpful hints to keep front of mind when working with calves during these record low temperatures:

Feeding and Management

• Use feeding strategies such as:
• Increase the volume of the milk or milk replacer per feeding
• Add a third feeding
• Add a supplement to increase nutrition
• Team up with your Landmark nutritionist to determine the best strategies for the health of the calves
• Provide plenty of fresh water
• Use properly cleaned utensils
• Ensure the milk/milk replacer is the proper temperature at the time of delivery
• Have calf housing areas properly ventilated
• Alleviate any other unnecessary stresses for the calves
• Proactively look for signs of stress and address them immediately (i.e. shivering, scouring, abnormal behavior, etc.)

Warming and Housing:

• Dry newborn calves off as soon as possible
• Use appropriate supplies to warm calves, including:  towels, a heated area, heat lamp and calf warmer box
• Use calf jackets on all calves during extreme cold, only after calves are completely dry
• Keep calves out of the wind
• Provide plenty of clean, dry, warm bedding that is deep enough for the calves to be able to nest

It is important to remember that calves are born with very little body fat reserves, so they need adequate nutrition for both maintenance and growth. The cold stress that calves are currently experiencing increases the nutrition requirement tremendously--as newborn calves face cold stress at 60° F, and older calves at 40° F. 




John Binversie is dairy and forage specialist on Landmark's Animal Nutrition team. He has over 20 years of experience in the dairy industry and works with producers to provide on-farm solutions.

Real Life Farm Summit

 

Join us for our first-ever Real Life Farm Summit--where we will bring everyday, real life farm encounters FRONT and CENTER!

More information is available here.

 

81st Annual Meeting

Our 81st Annual Meeting is Thursday, January 16th.  We welcome you to join us live online by following the link on our Homepage! http://www.landmark.coop/

Landmark Gives Back Scholarship Recipients

Congratulations to the 18 outstanding students who were recipients of the Landmark Gives Back Scholarships!

Leadership and Lou-Lou

Our leadership team took a moment to pose with Landmark Lou-Lou!

Thank you farmers for your dedication--stay safe!

Thank you farmers for your dedication--stay safe!