Swine Farm | Climate Ready Assessments

Most or all of my herd is maintained in (Select one):

Barn(s)/indoor facilities

Combination: barn with outdoor pens

Outdoor/pasture that include barrels/sheds

Outdoor/pasture only

HVAC services available in my barn include:

Vents and windows for passive air flow

Fans control local air movement

Cooling cells + heat exchanger

Cooling cells only

Earth-air heat exchange system

During sustained periods high temperatures and humidity, I typically:

Take no additional actions

Provide intermittent water sprinkling

Reduce stocking density in my pens

Shift feeding times to cooler times of day

Increase ventilation rate in my barn

Use cooling cells + heat exchanger

Drinking water amount, temperature and quality in my barn is (Select one):

Water from well given ad-lib and not monitored

Water from well that is monitored periodically

Water from well that is monitored daily

Water from municipal system that is not monitored on the farm

The floor of my swine barn consists mainly of (Select one):

Slatted pens

Non-slatted, cement

Wooden plank

Dirt (may be covered with straw or wood shavings)

Cooling options available to my pigs during sustained high heat and humidity include:

Fans to control local air movement

Wallow

Shade from barrels/sheds placed in outdoor pens/pasture

Trees placed in pasture so that shade is available at all times

Intermittent water sprinkling

For my outdoor pens/pastures, I typically (Select one):

Rotate animals into different pens/pastures from year-to-year

Rotate animals into different pens/pastures at least 2-3X per summer

Do not rotate animals to different pens/pastures

I prioritize "Animal Housing" (Select one):

Very much

Somewhat

A little

Not at all

I have become aware of flooding risks at my farmstead by doing the following:

My site was deemed suitable through MDARD Site Selection GAAMP process.

I have looked at FEMA flooding maps.

I know where the risks are by experience.

I do not know the risk of flooding on my farmstead and all my fields.

When my manure storage is at freeboard, I have a plan to:

Take the manure to a sandy or otherwise appropriate field

Take the manure to cooperate farmer's manure storage

Allow the manure to continue to accumulate

Allow the manure to overtop the storage

I keep clean water out of my manure storage by:

Installing gutters on my buildings and shunting the water away from my storage

Placing my barn out of 100-year flood plains

Covering areas that slope toward my storage

None of these

I reduce manure runoff from my sacrifice lot by:

Scraping or collecting manure daily

Installing and maintaining a buffer strip of vegetation around the lots

None of these

I reduce manure runoff from my pastures by:

Using rotational grazing system that employs small, subdivided paddocks sometimes called intense grazing

I move the water tanks and shade around to avoid concentrated manure areas

None of these

I prioritize "Farmstead Site Preparation" (Select one):

Very much

Somewhat

A little

Not at all

I have become aware of flooding risks in fields where I spread manure by doing the following:

I have mapped sensitive and flood-prone areas with a program like SAIS or with the assistance of a technical service provider

I have looked at FEMA flooding maps

I know where the risks are by experience

I do not know the risk of flooding in all my fields

I check the weather before I spread manure (Select one):

Yes

If the weather forecast calls for rain within 48 hours after a manure application I:

I hurry to spread before the rain

I check the EnviroImpact tool for the risk of runoff in my field

I do not spread manure

I spread manure on fields with drainage tile (Select one):

Yes

Yes, and my drainage tile has nutrient reduction technology like a saturated buffer or nutrient filter installed

I am aware of the location of tile lines (Select one):

I do not know where the tile lines are in the field

I know where they are, but I don't have a map

I have a map of tile lines, but it stays in the office

I use a tile line map as part of my manure application plan

When I spread manure on fields with tile drainage tile I:

Check to see if the tile line is running before I spread

Check to see if the tile line is running clear after I spread

I avoid spreading over tile lines or I disrupt the preferential flow pathways before I spread (up to 7 days before application)

I lower my application rate on those fields

I do not spread on saturated fields

I spread manure on wet fields

I spread manure without checking tile lines

I don't know the effect of manure application to the tile water

I prioritize "Nutrient Management" (Select one):

Very much

Somewhat

A little

Not at all

Do you control for pests on your farm? (Select one):

Yes, always

Sometimes

No, never

How are you controlling rodent pests on your farm?:

I do not control for rodents

I have rodent control (baits/traps) at the foundation of all my livestock buildings

I have rodent control at the foundation of all my feed buildings

I keep the barn clean and in good repair

I keep trees and brush away from the buildings

I have a 3-4' wide barrier of sharp stone along the barn perimeter

How are you controlling flies on your farm?:

I do not manage for flies

I keep manure scraped and covered

I bait and trap flies

I use spray-on insecticide on my livestock

I use insecticides on my facilities

How do you control for other insects (lice, mites, ticks) on your farm?:

I don't manage for lice, mites or ticks

I treat as needed using ectoparasitides (e.g., Ivomec, amitraz)

I feed larvicidal agents during certain times of the year

I clean and decontaminate my facilities using agents that kill all stages

I prioritize "Biosecurity" (Select one):

Very much

Somewhat

A little

Not at all

Animal health checks (Select one):

My farm does not conduct daily health checks on all animals

My farm conducts daily health checks, but not all animals are observed

My farm conducts daily health checks that include all animals

During persistently hot weather, my farm observes animals specifically for heat stress (Select one):

Yes

Clinical signs of heat stress we look for on my farm include (check all that apply, 1 point for each):

Animals off-feed

Animals drinking more than usual water

Panting/rapid breathing

Blotchy skin

Steps taken to minimize risk of heat stress in my herd include:

Adjust barn ventilation

Make sure extra fresh water is available

Periodically sprinkle large drops of water

Adjust diet (i.e, to reduce fiber)

Include supplements in diet (e.g. anti-oxidants)

Test animals for diseases and other conditions that may be a secondary consequence to weather-related changes:

Conduct surveillance measures (e.g., oral fluids, fecal sample, other diagnostic)

Schedule a visit by farm veterinarian

Observe animals for signs of fatigue; isolate and calm fatigued pigs

Be prepared to treat sick animals with an antimicrobial or parasiticide if warranted

Other barn management processes:

Limit/restrict access to barn and farm animals

Keep records of all non-farm personnel entering barns or coming in contact with animals

Practice strict quarantine measures (e.g., 3-4 weeks isolation before mixing) for new animals

Remove dead animals quickly and dispose of carcasses according MDARD/EGL-approved procedure

I prioritize "Animal Husbandry" (Select one):

Very much

Somewhat

A little

Not at all

In terms of transporting animals to and from my farm (Select one):

I never transport animals to or from my farm

I transport a few animals on occasion using a small trailer

I sometimes transport pigs, or pay to have transported, a large number (50+) of animals using a large truck

When transporting animals in hot weather, I typically (check each that applies):

Schedule transportation during early morning or evenings to avoid the hottest part of the day

Open nose vents and unplug most or all ventilation slots

Take care not to add to the pig stress at loading by loading proper group size (e.g., 3-5 at a time for finishers), use sorting boards only (if possible), avoid loud noises

Don't load pigs showing clear signs of fatigue (open mouth breathing, blotchy skin, muscle tremors, reluctance to move, stiffness)

Make sure pig density is within the recommended range; 300 pound pigs should have at least 5-6 square feet of floor space

Reduce bedding to 1-4 50 lb bags/load in hot weather; use woodchips instead of straw on hot days as straw retains more heat

Keep loading and unloading times to a minimum to help reduce heat build-up that can occur rapidly on a stationary truck

If temperatures exceed 80 oF, spray pigs using large drops of water (not a fine mist) for 5-10 min during or after loading to improve evaporative cooling

Do not stop for periods longer than required to fill a gas tank

Make sure the destination is expecting my pigs and is prepared to off-load them

Have a back-up plan in place in case a breakdown occurs or re-routing required

I prioritize "Transporting Animals" (Select one):

Very much

Somewhat

A little

Not at all

Does weather cause farm safety concerns? (Select one):

Yes

To prepare for and prevent accidents on my farm:

My farm is in accordance with OSHA standards

My farm is in accordance with Worker Protection Standards (ex. central posting location)

My employees and I receive farm safety training (ex. Worker Protection Standards, storage facility safety procedures)

I have an emergency prevention and/or preparedness plan for possible weather disasters (flooding, fires)

On file with local fire department:

I have a pollution prevention plan (ex. Sensitive areas, chemical spills)

Pesticide storage facilities are constructed with emergencies in mind

I am aware that the following resources can help me address stress:

MSU Extension Teletherapy Program

Connecting with family, friends, neighbors, or other farmers

Nation Suicide Prevention call or text line (Call:1-800-273-8255; https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/)

Personal physician

Farm business management for financial advice

Self-care (i.e. Exercise, hobbies)

Other

I prioritize "Farm Safety and Stress" (Select one):

Very much

Somewhat

A little

Not at all