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VOLUME XVII, NO. 5 |
TEXAS DAIRY REVIEW |
MAY 2008 |
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DOPA credits offered at seminar Waco fined $54,000 — Attorney questions other Waco raw sewage spills Mother of 15 personifies true meaning of motherly love Move over corn---make room for soy and wheat Safeguards against BSE are strengthened by FDA
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DOPA credits offered at seminar |
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Three DOPA credits are offered at a dairy seminar on Tues., May 6, 2008, at Texas A&M Extension Center, Hwy. 281 and Hwy. 8, Stephenville, TX. The seminar will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Topics to be discussed are RCS/Lagoon maintenance; Calculating Waste Application; Composting; and Herd Management. A barbecue lunch will be provided for attendees. For information, call 254-968-8741. |
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Waco fined $54,000 — Attorney questions other Waco raw sewage spills |
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Environmental attorney Jim Bradbury listened intently while TCEQ commissioners chastised and penalized the City of Waco for $54,000 concerning two sewage spills in 2007. Bradbury, representing the Texas Association of Dairymen ('TAD), was not allowed to speak at the meeting but had hoped to address commissioners on several other Waco raw sewage incidents.
“Maybe they didn’t want me to speak because Commissioner Soward wanted to make his point to Waco about their spills in comparison to their constant complaining about dairies---when they have the same problem,” Bradbury said. Soward seemed compelled to question City of Waco water and utilities director Ricky Garrett after a previous meeting was postponed because no one from the city showed up. He grilled Garrett on the sewer incidents, asking, “if the discharge had occurred upstream from the City of Waco, do you think this fine would be reasonable?” Garrett responded saying he didn’t have the knowledge to have an opinion. "I was hoping there would be someone from the city who would opine on that. I’ll just leave the question hanging,” Soward said. “I just want the city to know that we very intently listen to them when they are raising water quality issues of concern to them. We want them to be keenly aware of others downstream of them who have the same interests. The Golden Rule applies.” Garett later said he saw no comparison to the Bosque River dairies and the City of Waco during a heavy rainfall event. Garrett said dairies are allowed to let their lagoons overflow while the city does not get that allowance. Bradbury said he had intended to ask commissioners how they calculate the penalty when prior spill events are not taken into account. “Also, I wanted to point out on the five million gallon spill---Waco failed to call in for more than 24 hours.” Bradbury said he wanted to bring to the attention of the commissioners the “enormous" problem Waco has with their raw sewage maintenance. “For instance, on May 27, 2007, the city had a 433,000 gallon spill in one day and no enforcement was issue. This is very ironic when the city requires the TCEQ to provide them with a detailed list of any dairy spills including what day the dairymen called in, what time, how much the lagoon overflowed, etc.” Bradbury said Waco’s spills go directly into their own lake on the east side where a part of the city is located or directly into the Brazos River. Historically, Waco's two lift stations that pump sewage uphill have had significant discharge problems, Bradbury said. “On June 28 and July 4, their two lift stations were underwater from heavy rain events,” he said. “But, they were unable to list the volume---but, it was an approximate 400,000 gallon spill discharged into the creek on the banks of Lake Waco. "Meanwhile, they were flying over North Bosque River dairies taking pictures and then blasted them all over the front page of the Waco paper.” Bradbury said records reveal in 2003, 2.8 million gallons of raw sewage produced by Wacoians was dumped into their own lake. |
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TAHC says: Tag Animals! |
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Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) cattle
tuberculosis (TB) regulations went into effect April 1, 2008, requiring
an approved identification device on dairy cattle being moved within the
state. “Dairy producers, calf raisers, feeders, or beef cattle owners who have a few dairy animals must comply with this cattle tuberculosis regulation that will aid in tracing cattle TB if it is introduced into Texas,” Hillman said. In October 2007, the TAHC enhanced cattle TB and ID regulations for dairy animals entering from other states. “USDA ear tags, which have been used in the Brucellosis and cattle TB programs for years, are available from the TAHC area offices at no charge for dairy cattle,” Hillman said. Cattle owners who use these tags are to maintain a simple log of the animals tagged. Information is to include the date a tag is applied to the animal, the tag number, and the animal’s breed, sex and age. The recordkeeping can be as simple as listing the tag number, date and the animal’s description, he said. Tag pliers are not provided, but they are available for purchase at most agricultural supply stores. Once applied, the identification is to remain on the animal. Producers not familiar with their TAHC area office can call the agency headquarters in Austin at 800-550-8242 for information. Alternatively, cattle owners may purchase and use any of the following approved identification devices for dairy cattle: * Electronic official AIN tags, differentiated by the first three digits of the fifteen-digit number: Manufacturer code ‘‘900’’ series RFID (radio frequency identification devices) tags, available from many feed or supply stores. * USA prefix RFID tags * Country code ‘‘840’’ series RFID tags. (To use these, producers need to register their premises in the National Animal Identification System. This can be accomplished easily and at no charge by calling the TAHC at (800-550-8242.) *A commercially produced cattle-style clip, flap or button tag that identifies owner and includes a unique animal number in the herd. Although dairy animals are no more susceptible to cattle TB than beef cattle, their close confinement and movement between herds presents a greater risk of exposure to the bacterial disease should an infected animal be introduced into the herd. Hillman explained that cattle TB has not yet been eradicated in the U.S. At least 12 infected beef herds have been detected in Minnesota since 2006, a state where infection had not been found since 1971. On April 9, Minnesota was downgraded to modified accredited status, the third lowest rung on the five-tiered cattle TB ranking system. In February, TB infection was detected in a large California dairy, and in 2007, infection was detected in New Mexico, Colorado and Oklahoma. For years, Michigan has battled the disease both in cattle and free-ranging deer. Texas lost cattle TB-free status in 2002, but regained it in fall 2006 after employing a strategic plan that included TB testing of dairies and purebred beef herds and enhancing slaughter surveillance. “Preventing the introduction of cattle TB is crucial,” Hillman said. “But, we must be prepared to deal with infection if it does slip through. Identifying dairy and dairy-cross animals will enable us to complete epidemiological investigations more quickly so infection can be eliminated before it spreads to more herds.’’ ” |
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Mother of 15 personifies true meaning of motherly love |
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Every mother is special in her own way. But, sometimes there’s one who particularly brings to light the true meaning of motherly love. In today’s America where the average family has less than three children, the thought of having 15 children is way ‘‘out of the box,’’ or completely ‘‘over the top.’’ But, for Agatha Reitveld Schouten, 95, of Escondido, California, bearing 15 children was part of God’s plan for her. Living in her ninth decade, Agatha has seen the world transform from one era to another. Although her hearing and eyesight have waned and her walk is not as brisk as it once was, she still manages her own home where she cooks, writes cards and letters, knits and crochets, and thanks God every day for her large and loving family. Agatha has seen the best of times and the worst of times. She was orphaned at an early age and raised by an aunt and her grandmother. When she was 20 years old, she married Cornelius Schouten in a Catholic ceremony on Sept. 8, 1933. They were both natives of Bergen, Holland. Cornelius had already been to the US where he had worked for his brother Nick at his California dairy. After he and Agatha married, they happily returned to Bellflower, California, to begin a long and rewarding life together. The Great Depression Agatha began bearing children in an era where women held a different place in society and the nation was in the throes of the Great Depression. Few women worked outside the home and Agatha spent her days tending to her growing family. Fortunately, Agatha had Cornelius who was a good husband and father, and a hard worker. While Cornelius milked cows for $45 a month, Agatha took care of their children with the majority born 12-18 months apart. The Schouten brood started with Cornelius Jr. (Cor), 1934, followed by Trudie, 1935; John, 1936; Marie,1937; Nick, 1939; Agnes, 1940; George, 1942 (deceased); Bill, 1943; Pete, 1944; Geri, 1945; Tom, 1947; Dorothy, 1949; Roni, 1951; Bob, 1956; Mike, 1957. Agatha was just three days short of 45 years old when Mike was born. The longest period between children was a five-year span between Roni and Bob. ‘‘They didn’t want Bob to grow up without someone closer to his age, so they had Mike. This was not a mistake,’’ Trudie said. ‘‘It was planned and turned out to be their last and 15th child.’’ George, born between Agnes and Bill, is the only child Agatha and Cornelius lost. He died before he was two years old from health complications. For 23 years, Agatha had babies. Cor and Trudie, the oldest children, remember the tougher times but look back at them fondly. Cornelius and Agatha struggled during the early years of raising their family, but they dreamed of someday owning a dairy. Their bond was strong and together they managed to provide all their family needed while setting standards for their children to follow. But, they never forgot their dream and their strong faith in God helped to pave the way. Strict Catholics Praying to God was part of a daily routine for the Schoutens. Agatha was especially strong in her beliefs and influenced her children to pray together each night around the dinner table. ‘‘We all went to Mass on Sundays and went to Catholic School,” Cor said. “I don’t know how it was paid for, but there was no talk about quitting school, even though that was done a lot back then. They insisted we finish our education. We all got our diplomas.” Trudie said Agatha was a good manager and very well-organized. ‘‘We girls worked with her in the house and the boys worked with our father. We all had duties and she taught us responsibility. On Saturdays, we lined up all the shoes to be polished for Sunday and the rest of the week for school." Although the workload never ended, Agatha did not think of herself as a ‘‘poor thing,’’ Trudie said. ‘‘She was joyous and said God had given her that many children for a reason.” ‘‘The neighbors always knew when she was pregnant,’’ Cor said, “because she’d be singing when hanging out the clothes to dry.’’ Growing Up Agatha was the stronghold of the family but warm and loving and her children were able to talk to her about serious things as they grew older. ‘‘I don’t remember us getting into much trouble--- well, maybe the boys, but we just knew we had to be good,” Trudie said. Both parents had a good sense of humor and a positive attitude toward life. ‘‘Mom taught us to laugh at ourselves, and we did a lot. We’d laugh so hard our sides hurt,’’ Trudie said. Their father was the more lighthearted of the two. ‘‘He liked to joke,” Cor said. “But if we did something wrong, Mom would make us wait outside ‘til he got home. Whatever else, our father always told us to respect our mother.” ‘‘Mom and dad agreed on everything and worked together," Trudie said. The family did not eat out but there were many picnics. With so many children, the boys often rode in the trunk of the car, Trudy said. What Cor said he knows best about his mother is ‘‘she is a stout believer in church and onfession. 'Just go to church and be thankful for what you’ve got,’ is what she always said." The boys usually worked alongside their father. ‘‘But, we always gave half of what we made to Mom, no matter where we worked. That’s just the way it was and we didn’t even think to question it.’’ With such a large household, everyone had a duty. ‘‘We still laugh about how bad we hated to peel those potatoes,’’ Cor said. ‘‘We’d peel a 10# bag every night. It was our main staple.’’ Laughing, Cor said they never had a bed to themselves. ‘‘One place we lived had a room with five beds lined up in a row. That slept 10.’’ For entertainment, Agatha played card games such as Pinochle and Dutch card games. ‘‘She would have Dutch ladies and their husbands come over and with the money from the card games she would give to the missions for the orphans,’’ Cor said. WWII On the heels of the Depression came WWII. Most available men signed up for the war but farmers were needed at home. To make more money, Cornelius took a job as a riveter working the late shift at a shipyard. ‘‘But, when he got home in the early morning, Mom would make him coffee and a sandwich so he could go to his next job as a replacement milker for local dairies,’’ Trudie said. ‘‘She’d make our lunches for school and then sometimes stay up and sew our school clothes. She made shirts for the boys and dresses for the girls.’’ Some foods and gas were rationed during that time. ‘‘We either rode a bike or walked. We planted a Victory Garden to grow food for the table and sold what was left to other people," Cor said. The war ended in 1945 and things in the US began to look up. By 1949, Agatha and Cornelius had 12 children and remarkably had managed to save $10,000 toward buying a dairy. A man at church, somewhat amazed by their efforts, said, ‘‘If you can raise 12 children and save $10,000. I’ll put in the rest to help you buy a dairy.’’ That year they bought their first dairy located in Paramount. It had 90 cows and they were very proud of their accomplishment. In 1951, they bought a second dairy in Gardena. It was a 250-cow cash and carry operation. Cornelius sold that dairy and stayed out of the business for awhile. However, in 1969 he bought a 250 cow dairy at Escondido near San Diego. That dairy made the family a living until Cornelius retired and sold the cows to his three oldest sons who moved to San Jacinto. Sadly, Cornelius died in 1989 but his legacy continues. The eight Schouten sons and one daughter, Agnes, who married a dairyman, were all in the dairy business at one time or another and some are still in it today. Cor’s sons, Joe and Dennis, and his brothers, Pete and Mike, all dairy in Texas. Agatha has always passed forward what she could to those less fortunate. She made good use of material given to her by others and developed a project where she sewed 200-300 hundred little drawstring bags. In these bags were paper, pencil, coloring book, crayons, soap, a washcloth, and other small items. She donated these bags to the orphans through her church or church guild.
‘‘If someone didn’t want to fill a bag, they
could give her $5 and she’d go to the Dollar Store and fill it herself.
She also made lap robes for hospital patients and bags to hang on
wheelchairs,’’ Trudie said. “She still has a sharp mind and a good memory. She keeps up with everybody and knows what’s going on,” Cor said. At last count, Agatha has 63 grandchildren, 130, great grandchildren, and 10 great-great grandchildren. Today the entire family totals about 250. |
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Move over corn---make room for soy and wheat |
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On the heels of last year’s record-high corn production, U.S. farmers intend to plant 8 percent fewer corn acres in 2008, according to the Prospective Plantings report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Producers plan to plant 86 million acres of corn this year that amounts to 7.6 million acres less than 2007, but still the second-largest area since 1949. The outlook for corn prices remains strong, thanks to increasing ethanol production and other factors. Still, favorable prices for other crops, along with crop rotation considerations and high corn input costs, are motivating some farmers to switch from corn. Iowa is expected to see the largest decrease in corn acreage, down 1 million acres from last year’s record, to 13.2 million acres. Both Indiana and Minnesota are expected to drop 800,000 acres from their record highs of last year. Nationwide, soybean acreage is expected to jump 18 percent, to 74.8 million acres. This is an increase of 11.2 million acres from 2007 and is just 1 percent below 2006’s record high. Acreage increases are expected in nearly every state, with the largest growth in Iowa, up 1.25 million acres, and Nebraska, up 1.2 million. Increases of at least 800,000 acres are anticipated in Indiana, Minnesota and South Dakota, while Kansas, New York and Pennsylvania are expected to plant their largest soybean crops in history. Wheat acreage is also expected to rise in 2008, up 6 percent to 63.8 million acres. Winter wheat planted area, at 46.8 million acres, is up 4 percent from last year. Expected acreage of durum wheat is up 22 percent, to 2.63 million acres. NASS estimates 2008 cotton plantings at 9.39 million acres, 13 percent below last year. Upland cotton acreage is expected to total 9.19 million, the lowest level since 1983 and down 13 percent from last year. The largest acreage declines are expected in Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. The Prospective Plantings report provides the first official estimate of U.S. farmers’ planting intentions for 2008. NASS’s acreage estimates are based on surveys conducted during the first two weeks of March from a sample of approximately 86,000 farm operators across the United States. Prospective Plantings and all NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov. |
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Safeguards against BSE are strengthened by FDA |
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a final regulation barring certain cattle materials from all animal feed, including pet food. The final rule further protects animals and consumers against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, also known as "mad cow disease"). "This FDA action serves to further protect the U.S. cattle population from the already low risk of BSE," said Dr. Bernadette Dunham, Director of FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine. "The new rule strengthens existing safeguards." The new measure builds on FDA's 1997 feed regulation, which prohibited the use of certain mammalian proteins in ruminant feed.
The materials that can no longer be used in
animal feed are the tissues that have the highest risk for carrying the
agent thought to cause BSE. These high risk cattle materials are the
brains and spinal cords from cattle 30 months of age and older. The
entire carcass of cattle not inspected and passed for human The removal of high-risk materials from all animal feed will further protect against inadvertent transmission of the agent thought to cause BSE, which could occur through cross-contamination of ruminant feed (intended for animals with four-chambered stomachs, such as cattle) with non-ruminant feed or feed ingredients during manufacture and transport, or through misfeeding of non-ruminant feed to ruminants on the farm. The added measure of excluding high-risk materials from all animal feeds prevents any accidental feeding of such ingredients to cattle.
Today's regulation finalizes a proposed rule
that the FDA issued for public comment in October 2005. The final rule
is effective 12 months from today to allow the livestock, meat,
rendering, and feed industries time to adapt their practices to comply
with the new regulation. Under the new requirements of the Scientific studies have linked BSE to cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) in humans, an invariably fatal disease that most likely results from human consumption of infectious material from cattle with BSE. Rules issued in 2004 prohibited specified risk materials from use in the human food supply. There have been no vCJD cases linked to consumption of U.S. beef and the risk of BSE among U.S. cattle is low. FDA regulates animal feed and drugs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and FDA promulgate and enforce the regulations that ensure the exclusion of specific risk materials from the human food supply. For more information about the FDA's work on BSE, go to www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bse.html. |
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