Animal manure has been used for centuries as a fertilizer and a soil builder because it contains nutrients and organic matter. However, as animal production shifts toward fewer but larger operations, the number of confined animals has increased in some geographical locations, resulting in more manure produced than can be assimilated by the available farmland where the animals are raised.

Manure storage is a critical part of a nutrient management plan in a livestock or poultry operation. It's essential to recognize manure as a valuable resource, rich in organic matter and nutrients that can be used as fertilizer or for energy production. While manure can accumulate rapidly, effective management is key to reducing the potential for odors, surface water, and groundwater contamination. This responsible environmental practice not only mitigates these risks but also allows for a strategic approach to managing and using manure. It provides livestock and poultry operations with the flexibility to schedule its use, maximizing the benefits of the resources it contains. Our publication offers guidelines and information for choosing the type of storage and setting them up for farming operations, emphasizing the importance of this responsibility.

Storing manure is a common practice on farms and for those who keep animals. However, a well-designed manure storage facility must also be well-managed to prevent environmental concerns from developing. In most cases, manure storages are used when cold weather, wet conditions, and/or a lack of time do not allow field application. To get the most benefit out of the manure, good management practices and observation of safety practices that minimize manure hazards on the farm are crucial. This publication provides guidelines that stress the importance of good management and safety practices for manure storage to inform the safety and security of a farming operation.

If not managed properly, manure can negatively impact the environment. Therefore, regardless of size, all livestock and poultry operations must handle manure effectively for economic benefits and environmental protection. Media reports often highlight community conflicts arising from livestock and poultry odors, fish kills, and the pollution of surface or groundwater due to poor manure management. These issues have strained relationships between the public and animal agriculture and can be minimized responsibly by managing manure and other agricultural wastes. Effective manure management begins with recognizing its value as a nutrient source for crops and understanding its potential negative effects on air, water, and soil. This publication provides general guidelines for managing livestock and poultry manure. It includes a list of resources with detailed information on best practices for manure management and uses that contribute to good environmental stewardship.

Low stress cattle handling techniques are methods of working cattle using the cattle’s natural instincts to move them. Cattle have evolved with the natural instinct or tendency to move away from pressure. A skilled handler can use an animal’s flight zone, point of balance, and cattle’s natural way of learning; pressure and release, to move cattle without increasing the animal’s level of distress during the working process.

Purpose: To teach youth how to read a medication label so they are better able to understand how to store and administer medications for different livestock species.

This project will be used to disseminate current thoughts and understand the invasive species of Asian Longhorned Tick (ALT) and the spread of Theileria. The Asian Longhorned Tick is a new invasive species that was first found in the US in 2017 and has since spread to 19 states from the Atlantic Coast to the Southeastern region of the US. The ALT is credited with the widespread of Theileria. Theileria is a blood protozoa parasite that has had a negative impact on cattle producers across the state. This article is what we currently understand about the ALT and the spread of Theileria.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (HPAI) virus is an emerging disease in dairy cattle. HPAI has previously only been found in poultry and other fowl. The virus in birds is known to affect multiple internal organs with a mortality rate of up to 90% to 100% (Center for Disease Control [CDC], nd). The large geographic spread of this virus is made possible through the infection of migrating bird species.

Following Hurricane Helene’s impact on Virginia, livestock producers must remain vigilant about the short- and long-term effects of flooding on herd health. In the immediate aftermath, waterborne diseases, increased parasite loads, and contamination of feed sources pose significant risks. Over time, prolonged exposure to damp conditions can lead to respiratory illnesses, hoof problems, and nutritional deficiencies due to compromised forage quality. This presentation outlines key strategies to mitigate disease outbreaks, monitor parasite control, and ensure proper nutrition, helping producers safeguard their herds against the lasting effects of severe weather events.

Dairy farmers are usually subject to net income fluctuations due to volatility in both milk and feed prices. Risk management tools, such as hedging milk prices in the futures market, may be used to protect dairy farmers against milk price volatility. Alternatively, dairy farmers selling milk in Virginia can buy Virginia milk commission base (MCB) to obtain higher milk prices and, therefore, sustain or increase net cash flows.

This video intends to help stakeholders improve their silo face management practices, prevent spoilage and waste! Learn to properly face bunker silos.

Typically, feed costs are directly related to milk production, so the more you feed, the more you produce. However, milk production is not necessarily related to profitability. Production-oriented management, which focuses on maximizing outputs (i.e., milk yield) through increased utilization of inputs (i.e., feed), does not necessarily ensure the dairy business will be profitable.

In this issue: Beyond Boundaries and Inclusion and Diversity at Its Best; Beating the Heat with a Slick Hair Coat; Upcoming Activities

In this issue: Too Busy to Plan: Estate Planning and My Spice Cabinet; Transcriptome analysis of the bovine mammary gland under heat stress conditions; Upcoming Activities

In this issue: Technological advances in bacterial identification; Ruminal fiber passage rate: A double-edged sword for cattle methane emissions? SDBII note; Upcoming Events

In this issue: The most important nutrient!; The role of adipose tissue in metabolic adaptation during the transition period of dairy cows; Upcoming Events

In this issue: Transition Cow Health Affects Pregnancy Loss; Refining Nutrient Efficiency in Dairy Farming through Precision Feeding Practices; Upcoming Events

In this issue: Beef-on-Dairy Calf Production in Virginia; Cash-basis Schedule F Income Statement—Friend or Foe?; Upcoming Events.

In this issue: Impact of Dairy Farms on the Environment: Feeding Strategies to Reduce Nitrogen Excretion; News from the Forage Quality and Management Program; Upcoming Events

In this issue: Time for a Biosecurity Check on Your Farm; Enhancing Dairy Cow Welfare: Supporting Isolation Behaviors around Calving; Upcoming Events

In this issue: Every Second Counts; Does Milk Replacer Composition Impact Calf Gastrointestinal Health?; Upcoming Events

In this issue: Heat stress affects everyone!; Scours in dairy calves: a common but dangerous condition; Upcoming Events; Additional Notes

In this issue: Colostrum Management and Storage for Healthy Calves; DHI and Herd Management Goals – HOLSTEINS – August 2024; Upcoming Events; Additional Notes

In this issue: New Educational Programs on Risk Management for Dairy Famers; The Dry Period: What to Consider; Upcoming Events

In this issue: Genomic Testing - 15 years in; Weaning calves successfully; Upcoming Events; Additional Notes

In this issue: The Dirty Dozen – Tips to Prepare for a Successful 2025; Is DHIA still relevant?; Upcoming; Notes

In this issue: Farm Safety: Protecting Ourselves and Our Communities; Keep it clean!; Upcoming Events; Additional Notes

In this issue: Differential Somatic Cell Count: A Potential Tool to Improve Mastitis Detection; Enhancing Herd Management with Protocols; Upcoming Events; Notes

In this issue: Chasing the Elusive Hydraulic Leak; Copper Supplementation Sources: Which One to Choose for Dairy Cattle?; Upcoming Events; Additional Notes

In this issue: Replacement management: Are you doing it effectively?; Avian Influenza A (H5N1): The outbreak of Bird Flu in U.S. Dairy Cattle; Upcoming Events; Additional Notes

In this issue: Optimizing Double-Ovsynch: Timing Is Everything; In Utero Heat Stress Limits Milk Yield for Generations; Upcoming Events; Notes

Fescue is the predominant forage in Virginia because of it is productive, high-quality forage across most of the state. However, the plant's positive agronomic traits are offset by toxins in the plant that cause significant reduction in animal performance and welfare. This article discusses fescue, the sources of toxins and their impacts, and provides some management strategies for addressing toxicosis.

Tall fescue toxicosis is a major constraint on livestock production in Virginia. This publication provides information on how better management can help mitigate toxicosis.

This educational project aims to deepen community understanding of the importance of agriculture and soils to a sense of place, community, and culture. In this short video, Phil Witmer of Grazeland Dairy, Inc. talks about the farm's grazing system and the adaptive challenges of pasture-based dairy farming.

HPAI Transmission in Cattle is an emergent disease that is making its way through the Bovine population. This webinar can be used to answer frequently asked questions, to identify what we currently know about the disease, and the steps to take to limit the spread of the disease.