Picking Up the Pieces

Farm Recovery

Clear debris in fields:

Putting magnets into the stomachs of cattle is the best way to protect them from “hardware disease.”

Dress in protective clothing to clear debris from fields before planting.

Clear away glass and metal shards as they can damage machinery and tires.

If grazing cattle swallow storm debris such as nails, wire, fence staples, or other metal, the animal can die. Putting magnets into the stomachs of cattle is the best way to protect them from "hardware disease."

Stomach magnets can be administered with a balling gun, often used to administer pills. You can get magnets from your veterinarian or animal health products supplier.

If you have a feed mill, grinder-mixer, TMR mixer, or forage harvester equipped with a magnet, make sure the magnet is in place and working properly.

Dispose of animal carcasses:

Carcasses must be disposed of as soon as reasonably possible.

Bury a carcass 5 feet above the high water level and cover with 3 feet of dirt. Avoid sandy or gravelly areas, or areas within 10 feet of bedrock.

Incinerating a carcass must be done in an incinerator that has been approved by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Haul carcasses or animal parts only in vehicles or containers that are leakproof and covered.

Take time to consider streamlining a pig flow problem, consolidating your manure handling, expanding a dairy operation, or relocating a facility to a more desirable spot.

Plan when rebuilding your farm:

Although storms are tragic, they may present an opportunity to improve or expand your farming facilities. When facing major repairs or rebuilding, consider streamlining a pig flow problem, consolidating your manure handling, expanding a dairy operation, or relocating a facility to a more desirable spot. The decision to build a new facility or fix an existing one should be made after getting solid bids. It is probably better to rebuild if the cost of repairs is more than two-thirds of the cost of a new building.

Before fixing up a damaged facility or building a new unit, ask yourself the following questions:

Do I (and others in the operation) want to continue farming on this property?

How much will it cost to repair the damage?

If I rebuild, should the new unit be located where the old structure stood?

Is there space to build a larger facility or is the farmstead too small for more building?

Answering these questions may be difficult, but now is the time to consider your options. A good source for help in answering these and other questions is the Mid- West Plan Service (MWPS). A catalog of MWPS publications can be obtained from the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108 or by calling (612) 625-9733.