sorghum-cross plants

less than 15 inches tall

(“knee high”) to

significantly reduce the

potential for poisoning;

3) Feed hungry cattle

hay or grain before

allowing them to graze

forages which may

contain prussic acid

therefore reducing the

amount consumed. Do

not graze at night when

frost is likely; 4)

Drought increases the

chance for prussic acid

because slowed growth

and the inability of the

plant to mature favors

the formation of

cyanogenic compounds

in the leaves; 5) Do not

graze until 2 weeks after

a non-killing frost; 6)

Plants grown in high

nitrogen soil (and low in

phosphorus and

potassium) tend to have

more prussic acid

potential. Splitting

nitrogen applications

will reduce the risk of

toxicity.

...continued next page

With cooler weather

around the corner,

livestock producers need

to beware of the

potential of prussic acid

poisoning after a frost.

Certain plants, such as

johnsongrass,

sudangrass, and

sorghum/sudangrass

hybrids contain cyanide-

producing compounds

that are released with

frost damage to the

plant. The amount of

the compound in a plant

depends on one or more

factors including the size

and variety of the plant,

whether drought

conditions are present,

and the extent of

physical damage caused

by frost. When an

animal eats plants

containing high levels of

the compounds, prussic

acid poisoning results.

Prussic acid interferes

with oxygen utilization.

University of Kentucky

Extension Forage

Specialists and

Ruminant Veterinarian

have developed several

tips to reduce prussic

acid poisoning in

livestock: 1) Frost/

freezing is especially

dangerous because the

plant cells actually

rupture allowing prussic

acid to be released. Do

not graze until well after

the entire plant and new

shoots are killed and

have turned brown (dry).

New forage growth

following drought or

frost is dangerously high

in prussic acid. Wait at

least 7 days after a

killing frost to allow the

cyanide to dissipate; 2)

Leaves produce much

more prussic acid than

stems, especially young

upper leaves. New

shoots often contain

high concentrations of

prussic acid. Never

graze sorghums or

PRUSSIC ACID POISONING CAUTION

Newsletter Title

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Inside this issue:

Prussic Acid 1

Fall Cattle Producer

Meeting

2

Grazing Conference 2

Field Day Change 2

Safety in Harvest 2

Safety in Harvest 3

Water Quality Videos 4

Ginseng Program 4

Landscape

Clean Up

4

Goat/Sheep

Seminar

5

Farmers Market 5

Industrial Hemp Interest

Meeting

5

Plate It Up 6

Estill County Farm Scoop Cooperative Extension Service Estill County 76 Golden Court Irvine, KY 40336 (606) 723-4557 Fax: (606) 723-5912 extension.ca.uky.edu

We can help with...

Soil testing

Insect ID

Disease ID

Pond water testing

Livestock Rations

Grain moisture testing

Farm visits

Newsletter Title

Herbicides such as 2,4 D

can also increase prussic

acid for several weeks

following application; 7)

Chopping or ensiling

plants high in prussic

acid will reduce

toxin levels if properly

cured. However

dangerous levels of

prussic acid may remain

if extremely high before

cutting. If in doubt,

analyze suspect forages

before feeding; 8)

Johnson grass and

sorghum-sudan grass

hybrids also have the

potential for nitrate

accumulation, especially

during drought

conditions. Nitrate

tends to accumulate in

the lower stem, so

cutting hay very short,

or overgrazing so that

cattle have to eat the

lower stem bases (the

“stubble”) can cause

more intake of nitrate

and signs similar to

prussic acid poisoning.

Nitrates can persist even

in hay; 9) If you cut

Johnson grass or

sorghum-sudangrass for

hay, it is safe because

the hay curing process

neutralizes any prussic

acid; and 10) Wild

cherry leaves contain the

cyanide compounds. Do not

allow access to wild cherry

leaves whether they are

wilted or not. After storms

always check pastures for

fallen limbs.

FALL CATTLE

PRODUCER MEETING

The Estill County Extension

Service and Estill County

Cattlemen’s Association will

have a Fall Cattle Producer

meeting on Thursday,

October 13th, 6:00 p.m. at the

Extension office.

Our guest speaker will be Dr.

Tim Phillips, UK Plant

Breeder/Geneticist, who will

give an overview of new

novel endophyte fescue

varieties.

A catered meal will be

provided. Please pre-register

by October 10th by calling

723-4557.

2016 KENTUCKY

GRAZING CONFERENCE

Mark your calendars for

October 19th to attend the

Sixteenth Kentucky Grazing

Conference. The conference

will be held at The Center for

Rural Development,

2292 US-27, #300, Somerset,

KY. Registration is at 8:00

a.m. with the program

beginning at 9:00 a.m. and

ending by 3:30 p.m. The cost

is $20 and only $10 for

students.

Topics for the conference are a

producer’s guide to pasture-

based beef finishing,

marketing grass-fed beef 101,

cutting edge grazing research,

farmer success with NRCS

cost share, adaptive grazing for

healthy soil, soil health equals

farmer wealth, and maximizing

sugar concentration in cool

season grasses.

If you are interested, call the

Estill County Extension

Service at 723-4557 or Krista

at 859-257-0597.

FARM FIELD DAY CHANGE

There is a change in plans

for Extension Farm Field

Day. The event has been

moved to this coming

spring. More information in

future newsletters.

SAFETY DURING FALL

HARVEST

Fall harvest season is a busy

time for Kentucky farmers and

their families. It also is a peak

season for agricultural injuries

and an especially important

time for farm families to pay

attention to safety.

...continued next page

Newsletter Title

According to UK

agriculture safety and

health specialist Mark

Purschwitz, you should

take time to talk to all

workers about safety.

You need to be sure all

workers are trained and

physically capable of

operating equipment and

that they understand the

safety procedures.

Long working hours can

lead to fatigue and stress,

making you less alert to

potential safety hazards.

Take breaks when

operating equipment for

an extended period of

time. If possible, trade off

with other workers for a

change of pace.

Dress appropriately for

the job. Avoid loose

clothing, jackets with

dangling strings and

sweatshirts that could get

entangled in moving

equipment.

Entanglement in moving

parts, especially power

take-offs or other chain

and belt drivers, is a major

fall harvest hazard. Inspect

machinery and equipment

to be sure shields and

guards on moving parts

are in place and in good

repair. Replace ineffective

or missing safety

equipment.

Before getting off equipment,

disengage the power and wait

for moving parts to completely

stop. When possible, shut off

the engine.

It is always a good idea to take

the ignition key with you so

another person does not

unexpectedly start equipment

while you are performing

maintenance or repair. If you

are working under any piece

of equipment, such as a

header unit, always use the

jack stand or hydraulic

cylinder locks to prevent it

from suddenly falling and

pinning you. Be sure all safety

locks are operational.

A pinhole-size hydraulic leak

can cause severe tissue

damage. If you are injected

with oil from a hydraulic leak,

immediately seek medical

assistance. The oil must be

surgically removed, and delays

can result in serious infections

and possible amputations.

Always use paper or

cardboard to check for

hydraulic leaks.

Tractor overturns are the

leading cause of farm deaths.

To prevent these tragedies,

equip older model tractors

with a roll-over protective

structure. Most tractors

manufactured after the late

1960s or early 1970s can be

equipped with a ROPS for a

reasonable price.

Make it a habit to use the seat

belt to ensure you remain

inside the zone of protection

provided by the ROPS or

safety cab. The seat belt also

will keep you from being

thrown off the tractor if you

hit an obstacle. Being thrown

off the tractor and run over is

the second leading cause of

tractor deaths in Kentucky.

Never allow any extra riders

on tractors or equipment.

Keep bystanders away from

operating equipment. Also, be

aware of people who may

have come into the area.

Always check around

equipment before starting or

moving it.

Carry a fire extinguisher on all

tractors and self-propelled

equipment, especially

combines. Periodically check

extinguishers to be sure they

are pressurized and in good

condition.

To prevent fires on combines,

be sure equipment is clean

and hoses and fuel systems

are in good shape and not

leaking. Remove trash and

debris around engine

components.

Check for clearances with

overhead power lines when

...continued next page

Newsletter Title

operating or moving tall

machines, because

contact may result in

electrocution. Moving

portable augers around

overhead power lines is

especially hazardous so

always lower them first.

When filling silos, watch

for the bleach-like odor

that indicates silo gas. This

yellowish brown gas is

heavier than air and will

settle on the silage surface

and may flow down the

chute into adjacent

livestock areas. Close any

doors leading to livestock

areas, keep the base of

the silo chute well

ventilated and do not

enter a silo during the first

two weeks.

Farm vehicles on public

roads are annually

involved in thousands of

injury accidents in the

United States, and more

than 200 collisions

involving farm machinery

on public roads occur in

Kentucky every year. Thus,

people driving farm

machinery and those

driving vehicles should be

especially careful and

watchful.

Keep slow-moving-vehicle

emblems and extremity

markings clean and bright

to help motorists notice

equipment. Replace faded

SMV emblems and check

headlights, taillights and

flashing lights for satisfactory

operation.

To alert on-coming drivers,

use reflectors or reflective

tape when the edges of towed

equipment extend beyond the

left side of a tractor. If a

tractor has mirrors, keep them

clean and adjusted for the

driver to watch for

approaching motorists. When

possible, pull completely off

the road to let a line of traffic

pass.

Since it may be difficult to

anticipate the operational

intentions of farm machinery

on the roadway, other drivers

need to watch for unmarked

field entrances or other places

the driver might be planning

to enter. A tractor may need

to move to the right to

complete a left turn so do not

assume the driver wants you

to pass when moving to the

right side. Pass only in a

designated passing zone or

when the other driver signals

and completely pulls off the

road.

VIDEOS SHOWCASE KY AG

WATER QUALITY PLAN

FARMER SUCCESSES

UK Extension Water Quality

Liaison Amanda Gumbert has

helped released three videos

featuring outstanding KY

farming families successfully

combining production

agriculture with conservation

practices from

their KY Ag Water

Quality Plans.

KY Agriculture

Water Quality Act

– Mark Turner's Story

https://youtu.be/mwih_Zurlko

KY Agriculture Water Quality Act

– Bob James' Story

https://youtu.be/AxUbTFmXiO0

KY Agriculture Water Quality Act

– Jim Morse's Story

https://youtu.be/sHZ_SEBPR5k

GINSENG PROGRAM

There will be a Ginseng seminar on Monday, November 14th, 7:00 p.m. at the Extension office.

Kentucky Department of Agriculture representative Anna Lucio will be here to give an overview of the KY ginseng program and regulations.

LANDSCAPE CLEAN UP

TIPS

Autumn has arrived in

Kentucky and, as leaves

change color and fall from

trees, it is time to focus on

landscape sanitation. Good

sanitation practices can help

reduce disease-causing

pathogens.

These organisms can survive

for months or years on dead

plant material or in soil.

Elimination of disease-causing

organisms reduces the need for

...continued next page

Eric Baker

County Extension Agent for Agriculture/Natural Resources

E-mail: ebaker@uky.edu County web page: http://estill.ca.uky.edu

Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Telephone: 606-723-4557

REMINDER FOR SENIORS

If you receive senior farmers

market nutrition program

vouchers through the Senior

Citizen’s Center, you must use the

vouchers before the farmers

market ends this growing season.

chemical controls and can improve the effectiveness of disease management practices. Following these sanitation practices

throughout the growing season can reduce disease pressure.

Sanitation Practices

Remove diseased plant tissues from infected plants >Prune cankers and galls from branches by making cuts well below visible symptoms. Clean tools between each cut with a

sanitizer, such as rubbing alcohol or household bleach. >Rake and remove fallen buds, flowers, twigs, leaves, and needles. >Discard all above- and below-ground portions of heavily infected perennial and annual plants. Severely infected trees and

shrubs should be cut down and stumps removed/destroyed.

>All discarded plant material should be burned, buried, or removed with yard waste. Do not compost diseased plant

material. Exercise caution when storing limbs and trunks as fire wood or using for mulch. >Soil from containers should be discarded and not reused. >Remove weeds, including roots, which may serve as alternate hosts for pathogens. >When treating infected plants with fungicides, remove infected tissues prior to application.

Join us for a goat and sheep seminar on Monday,

October 24, 7:00 p.m., at the Extension office. Our

guest speaker will be Dr. Ken Andries, small ruminant

specialist from Kentucky State University.

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