Odds and ends: CAIP, infrastructure and flies

CAIP PROGRAM IN FULL SWING

The County Agriculture Investment Program (CAIP) sponsored and administered by the Clinton County Farm Bureau board, has reached the midpoint for producers to complete their practices.

The final deadline for all bills to be turned in and other prerequisites to be completed is October 31, 2014.

An important change for this year’s program requires all applicants to complete an educational component. Cost share payments will not be issued to producers before the educational requirement has been met.

Examples of types of sessions include workshops, seminars, Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)sessions, local cattle association meetings and field days among others. Questions about eligible types of educational components can be addressed to the Clinton County Extension office.

FARM INFRASTRUCTURE

One of the eligible investment areas a producer may complete is for farm infrastructure. Although not limited only to livestock producers, cattle producers can use this area for the renovation of existing barns into appropriate facilities for working cattle.

This component can be combined with other eligible items such as head gates, chutes, scales, and working pens. Site preparation, documented hired labor, and equipment rental are other eligible items.

If cattle working equipment is part of the total project, then the applicant must be BQA certified or complete an offered course in the future to become eligible for cost share.

As a prerequisite also, the recipients of Agriculture Development funds are required to retain ownership of facilities for at least five years.

In addition, producers shall retain adequate insurance coverage to replace any and all capital improvement/equipment projects.

FLY SEASON

There are only three things that are guaranteed in life. They are: death, taxes, and fly season if you are a cow calf producer. Control of face flies and horn flies this time of the year can be a constant battle.

Adequate control is possible thanks to several different control methods on the market today.

Producers should have started their fly control battle plan in April or early May.

Two of the most effective methods of fly control are the feeding of fly control mineral and insecticidal fly tags.

Both of these methods would be achieving good control by this time of the summer but only if started early.

To start them now is pretty much a waste of money.

The mid-summer strategy, where we are now, usually requires a combination of practices to achieve adequate control. Some of these practices used in combination include fly control bullets on mineral feeders, well-oiled back rubbers in strategic locations, fly sprays, and fly control blocks.

Deworming of cattle is at a premium this time of the year and will provide good horn fly control for up to 30 days. It should noted however, deworming cattle strictly for the purpose of fly control is not a recommended practice because cattle will build up a resistance to certain deworming products if used in excess.

’Til next time, keep putting on the pounds!

Steve