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Cooperative
Extension Service Bullitt County
384 Halls Lane
Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6263
(502)543-2257
Fax: (502)543-6940
http://ces.ca.uky.edu/bullitt/
http://www.ca.uky.edu/ces
February 2016
County Extension Agent for
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Table of Contents
Page 2—Cattle
Page 3— Drones in Agriculture
Page 4— David Harrison’s Retirement
Page 5— Bullitt County Cattlmen
Page 6— Tax Extenders
Page 7— Big Deals
Page 8-9—Farm to School
Page 10—Grants
Page -11— El Nino
Page 12— Fun Ag Facts
Page 13— Farm Bureau Scholarships
Page 14— Frozen Pipes
Page 15— BEHS FFA
Page 16 –17 —Losing Electricity
Page 18-19 Mid-America Grazing
Page 20-21— Heel Publication
2
SPRING-CALVING HERD
Calving season begins
Supplement with high magnesium
mineral at least 30 days prior to calving.
Increase feed to cows that have calves.
Grain may be needed if you are
feeding lower quality hay (3 to 4 pounds
for mature cows and about 8 pounds for
first-calf heifers).
Have calving equipment, facilities and
labor arranged prior to calving.
Observe first-calf heifers closely, since
they should begin head-start calving by
February 10. Expect calving difficulty and
intervene if:
- No progress after 90 minutes of labor.
- Calf is backwards (only the calf’s
tail is visible or the dew claws are
pointed“up”).
- Calf’s head and two feet are not
visible.
Identify calf with an ear tag, tattoo or both
while it is young and easy to handle.
Record dam ID and birth date.
Commercial male calves should also be
castrated and implanted according to
product recommendations. Castration and
dehorning are less stressful when
performed on young animals. Registered
calves should be weighed during the first
24 hours.
Inform tax preparer of sales of unbred
heifers in the breeding pool because IRS
considers them breeding livestock.
Call AI technicians for spring breeding
appointments if applicable.
Determine how much you can spend for
bulls and/or semen.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR ALL CATTLE
Begin looking for herd sire replacements
that meet herd and farm goals. Yearling
bull availability is best in spring.
FALL-CALVING HERD
Breeding season ends
Breeding season should end this month.
Remove bulls and feed to regain “normal”
weight.
Provide creep for calves if economical.
Provide windbreaks or clean shelter for
calves.
Consult your veterinarian for proper
deworming of the fall calving herd.
FORAGES
Begin frost seeding red and white clover
on closely grazed pastures.
Apply nitrogen fertilizer by mid to late
February to promote early grass growth.
Plan pasture utilization strategy (fencing,
water, shade).
Consider herbicide options such as
dormant applications for alfalfa.
Chain harrow pastures as needed for more
uniform manure distribution.
Environment
Monitor feeding area closely. Move
feeding area often.
Monitor cattle and calves closely for
stress/health symptoms caused by mud.
Limit access to streams/ponds during
winter feeding.
Move cattle to sacrifice lot during wet
periods to minimize sod damage.
3
Farmers still Grounded with FAA
‘Drone’ Registration Rule
Farmers interested in using unmanned
aircraft systems, or UAS, will have to wait a
little longer despite the Federal Aviation
Administration recent announcement of web-
based aircraft registration for drone
technology.
The Alabama Farmers Federation’s Carla
Hornady said the rule only applies to
hobbyists and for recreational drone use.
“We think this is a step in the right
direction, but the largest beneficiary from
UAS technology—the business sector— is
stalled on the ground,” said Hornady, who
directors the cotton, soybean and wheat &
feed drains divisions. “Farmers have an
excellent track record when caring for their
livestock, their land and their communities,
and the same applies to U.S. airways.”
The new registration rule applies to UAS
weighing over 0.55 pounds and less than 55
pounds including payloads such as on-board
cameras.
The registration process may clear the way
for UAS to be used for agriculture in the
future, Hornady said, noting the technology
remains banned for most commercial uses.
Few Alabama farmers have touched the
control sticks due to the FAA’s usage limits.
Lee County farmer Mitch Lazenby said he’s
glad UAS rules are becoming clearer, but
hopes regulations don’t become invasive.
“I think the registration isn’t that bad,” he
said. “If all we have to do is register so they
know who’s using the technology, that’s fine.
UAS are very beneficial tools. I think people
need to know where they are, because they
could also be misused. On the front end, it’s
very benign and basic, but I’m also cautious
about how the information could be used in
the future.”
Under the rule, any owner of a small UAS
who operated a model aircraft prior to Dec.
21, 2015, must register no later than Feb. 19,
2016. Owners of any UAS purchased after
Dec. 21, 2015 must register before the first
flight outdoors. Owners may use either the
paper-based process or the new web-based
system. Owners using the online system must
be at least 13 years old to register. The FAA is
developing enhancements that should allow
for business registrations by spring of 2016.
“Make no mistake: unmanned aircraft
enthusiasts are aviators, and with that title
comes a great deal of responsibility,” said U.S.
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
“Registration gives us an opportunity to work
with these users to operate their unmanned
aircraft safely. I’m excited to welcome these
new aviators into the culture of safety and
responsibility that defines American
innovation.”
Registrants will need to provide their
name, home address and email address. Upon
registration completion, the web application
will generate proof of ownership that will
include a unique identification number for the
UAS owner, which must be marked on the
aircraft.
Owners using the model aircraft for hobby
or recreation will only have to register once
and may use the same identification number
for all of their model UAS. The registration is
valid for three years.
The normal registration fee is $5, but the
FAA is waiving the fee for the first 30 days
(from Dec. 21, 2015 to Jan 20, 2016).
techswarm
4
January 8
Dave Harrison’s
Retirement
Party
5
January 12
Bullitt County Cattlemen
6
Tax Extenders become Permanent
Dec 21, 2015
While sliding crop prices may be a big reason
farm equipment sales have slumped in 2015,
another factor is uncertainty over a popular tax
rule that allowed significant first-year write-
offs for equipment purchases. Called Section
179, the measure played a big role in
equipment buying decisions through 2013, but
starting in 2014 when the generous tax
provision expired, uncertainty appeared.
The 2014 Section 179 tax extender was passed
in late December 2014 giving farmers little
time to act on the provision (you have to take
possession of the machine to claim the
deduction). The same happened in 2015, but
with a twist. Section 179 has been past
retroactive for 2015 with the $500,000
deduction limit (without the measure the limit
was $25,000), but this time the rule has been
made permanent.
Congress passed the measure early last week,
and it was signed into law by President
Obama - along with a comprehensive
Omnibus spending measure - just before he
flew west to Hawaii for vacation.
Farm groups praised the tax extender move
noting that this is significant for farmers. The
same tax bill also extended the biodiesel tax
incentive, but also did not stop import of
biodiesel from international sources. The tax
bill is a major compromise that offered a range
of benefits for different groups. It’s been
attacked by some as welfare for businesses,
but each side of the Congressional aisle got
many provisions they wanted.
The key is getting some certainty back into the
tax code, which is important if you’re running
a business for the long haul and what farmer
isn’t doing that. While the slumping farm
market will hinder purchases for different
reasons, farmers looking to continue keeping
up with technology improvements by updating
their equipment have new help in that
approach.
For livestock producers who delayed
equipment
purchases when
times were lean,
the 2015
retroactive nature
of this tax move
is good news for
those that finally
did buy equipment this year when livestock
prices rebounded.
And if you’re in a holding pattern, at least
now you know when financial times do
improve this enhanced Section 179 provision
will be there waiting for you to take advantage
of it for your operation.
The bill also includes a five-year extension of
bonus depreciation for property acquired and
put in service during 2015 through 2019, with
an added year of certain property with a
longer production period. The bonus is 50%
for property put in service in 2015, 2016 and
2017. It slides to 40% in 2018 and 30% in
2019.
Talk with your tax adviser before year end to
make sure you maximize the tax benefit of
any purchases you made in 2015; and review
your equipment buying plan for 2016 with an
eye toward this now-
permanent Section 179
provision.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
farmauction.net
7
What 2015's Big Deals
Might Mean for Agriculture
The past year has brought a whirlwind of
big ag deals as companies in the seed,
machinery and insurance sectors and more
consolidate in search of more market share
and greater efficiencies.
He, like others, expects the deal-making in
ag to continue into the new year.
Here are Stoerger’s thoughts on some of
the biggest ag deals of 2015 and what they
might mean for farmers going forward:
Dow and DuPont. When/if this $131
billion merger closes, executives intend to
split the new entity into three independent
companies, including an ag division with an
estimated $19 billion in combined revenue in
2014. That’s $3 billion more than Monsanto,
the closest competitor.
“The largest branded market share
DowDuPont will have is in seed corn at
somewhere between 39% and 41% in the
U.S.,” Stoerger says. “For those worried that’s
too big, it actually falls short of where
Pioneer’s seed corn market share was in the
1990s alone.”
Federal regulators will review the
transaction for antitrust concerns. Will it be
approved? It seems possible, given the
relatively limited product overlap between
Dow and DuPont’s offerings.
“As far as farmers are affected, I think
there will still be ample choices when you
consider all the cross-licensing of
technologies in the marketplace,” Stoerger
says. “In the short term, I don’t foresee
significant price increases likely because of
the depressed commodity prices.”
John Deere and Precision Planting. This
deal, announced in November and expected to
be finalized in the first quarter of 2016, shows
the growing importance of precision ag.
“This demonstrates Deere’s desire to be on
the cutting edge – this time by buying
someone else’s technology,” Stoerger says. “A
big question is will John Deere continue to
offer Precision Planting products to other
machinery manufacturers or will it be
exclusive through John Deere?”
He thinks the deal could end up affecting
more than just Deere customers.
“Farmers are very brand-loyal, especially
in equipment,” Stoerger says. “Even if John
Deere is the only place to access Precision
Planting technology, I don’t see that changing
a Case New Holland loyalist. Instead, I likely
see it pushing Case New Holland to deliver
new, competitive technology.”
RCIS and Zurich Insurance Group. After shopping its crop insurance business
since this summer, Wells Fargo finally inked a
deal in December to sell RCIS to Zurich
Insurance Group for as much as $1.05 billion.
“The crop insurance market is a very
lucrative place to do business,” Stoerger says.
“These companies coming together indicate
Zurich’s desire to move into this space and
diversify.”
Land O’ Lakes and United Suppliers. Wholesale suppliers United Suppliers, Inc.
joined Land O’Lakes, Inc.’s crop inputs
business as of October 2015. The first step of
the merger was to combine the two seed and
crop protection businesses under Winfield.
Next the group will merge the crop nutrient
business.
This merger was about wholesale
suppliers, which don’t work directly with the
farmer, and therefore it may not be as
impactful to the farmer as some of the other
mergers, Stoerger says. “This could provide
additional downstream value to
owners.”
8
Growing Farm to School efforts
help to reduce plate waste,
Increase student participation in
Healthier School Meals Program
USDA Strong farm to school programs can
increase the number of students purchasing
school breakfast and lunch, improve
consumption of healthier foods at school, and
reduce plate waste. Census data also indicate
that schools purchased nearly $600 million
worth of food locally in school year 2013-
2014, a 55 percent increase over school year
2011-2012 when the first Farm to School
Census was conducted, creating new
marketing opportunities for farmers and
ranchers in their communities.
The results are an outcome of efforts by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture to target
resources to help schools serve healthier meals
to students following the passage of the
bipartisan Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of
2010. Through its Farm to School Grant
Program, established and funded through the
Act, USDA offers grants to help schools and
other eligible entities establish or expand farm
to school programs. In September 2015,
USDA released a report that shows that the
grants alone have helped 12,300 schools
improve nutritious meal options made with
local ingredients for 6.9 million students,
while expanding market opportunities for
family farmers and ranchers in their
communities.
"Farm to school is one of many tactics and
resources that USDA makes available to help
schools successfully serve healthier meals to
kids. Farm to school partnerships have a
proven track record of encouraging kids to try,
like, and eat more healthy foods and creating
new market opportunities for the farmers that
grow them," Agriculture Secretary Tom
Vilsack said.
The Farm to School Census is a nationally
representative survey of school districts.
Nationwide, more than 42,000 schools have
farm to school programs, which operate in
conjunction with the National School Lunch
Program and other school meal programs.
Seventy-five percent of respondents with farm
to school programs reported at least one of the
following positive benefits as a result of
participating in farm to school:
Reduced plate waste (17 percent);
Improved acceptance of the healthier
school meals (28 percent);
Increased participation in school meals
programs (17 percent);
Lower school meal program costs (21
percent); and
Increased support from parents and
community members for the healthier school
meals (39 percent).
In addition to serving local food, farm to
school programs often include food,
agriculture, and nutrition education that
emphasizes hands-on experiential activities,
such as school gardens, field trips to local
farms, and cooking classes. For example,
students might dissect vegetables in science
class, run farm stands using school garden
produce to learn business skills, or practice
data visualization techniques using plant
growth measurements. All these activities
contribute to an integrated approach to
learning centered on food, agriculture, and
nutrition, which independent research and
testimony from teacher and school officials
indicate can improve student's formation of
healthy habits and increase the likelihood that
they will make healthy choices.
schoolmealsthatrock.org
9
10
Value Added Producer Grant (USDA-Rural Development) Deadline: Expected to Open Early 2016
Funding Amounts: Planning-$75,000; Working Capital-$250,000
Eligible Entities: Agricultural producers and producer groups
Links: http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/value-added-producer-grants
Overview: The Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program is for farmers who add value to
their farm product. Included in this is change in physical state (think milk to cheese, cow to
hamburger, berries to jelly), marketing locally (selling locally for more profit), or produced in a
manner that enhances value (grassfed, organic, or sustainable). It requires a dollar-for-dollar
match and is paid on a reimbursement basis, but some of the match can be in-kind. VAPG re-
quires the applicant to have a business plan to apply. If you are interested, contact us for more in-
formation immediately!
Farmers Market Promotional Program (USDA)
Deadline: Expected to Open Early 2016
Funding Amounts: Up to $100,000, no match required!
Eligible Entities: Farmer markets, agricultural businesses, community supported agriculture
CSAs, economic development corporations, local and tribal governments, non-profits, producer
networks, producer associations and public benefit corporations
Link: http://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/fmpp Previously funded projects
Overview: The Farmers Market Promotion Program is seeking applicants to promote innovative
ways to support the development of new opportunities for farmers to sell directly to consumers.
The purpose of the program is to increase farm profits AND how much local food people con-
sume. The grant can pay for a broad range of activities including advertising, marketing cam-
paigns, personnel, education and training outreach, and some equipment. The earlier you start the
process, the better application you can prepare!
Local Food Promotion Program Grant (USDA)
Deadline: Expected to Open Early 2016
Funding Amount: Up to $100,000 - 25% match required
Eligible Entities: Pr ivate businesses; non-profits; community supported agriculture networks
and associations; economic development corporations; Regional farmers' market authorities; and
Local and tribal governments
Links: http://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/lfpp
Overview: Local Food Promotion Grants can be used for planning or working capital to
support businesses that strengthens the link between farmers and consumers by aggregating, stor-
ing, processing ,and/or distributing local food products.
LFPP Planning Grants are designed to help agriculture businesses and local communities con-
duct feasibility studies, do market research, and develop business plans to determine the viability
of local and regional business enterprises. Planning grants must be completed within a one year
time frame.
LFPP Implementation Grants are designed to help create new local and regional food enter-
prises; or to improve and grow the abilities of existing local or regional food enterprises. LFPP
grants must be completed in a two year time frame. Some examples of activities that LFPP Im-
plementation Grants will fund include training and technical assistance; marketing and outreach;
working capital to pay wages and purchase needed equipment; and new information technology
systems.
11
Super El Niño
Causing Weather Anomalies Worldwide
El Nino is a weather phenomenon caused
when warm water from the western Pacific
Ocean flows eastward. In this lesson, we'll see
how the effects of El Nino can be noticed in
many parts of the world, with different regions
experiencing varying weather anomalies.
A temperature increase of least
0.9 F (0.5 C) needs to occur in the waters of
the eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator for
it to be considered an El Niño year. Although
El Niño does not occur in a perfectly regular
pattern, it seems to happen every 2 to 7 years.
Following an El Niño, an opposite
phenomenon occurs, called La Niña. During
La Niña, the eastern Pacific Ocean
experiences cooler than normal temperatures
around the equator.
Weather scientists now say this year’s
“extreme” El Niño weather phenomenon is the
strongest ever recorded, which could mean
more abnormal winter weather for all of North
America.
The West, which has suffered major
drought in recent years, could see significant
flooding, much of the Southwest could be
colder than normal with bigger snowfalls,
while large areas of the Mid-South and
northeast have been experiencing warmer than
normal weather. Skiers in the eastern states are
already complaining of the “snow drought,”
thanks to warm temperatures now forecast
into January, while moisture-laden storms are
dumping snow on ski areas in the western
states.
An El Niño occurs when water
temperatures in the eastern Pacific region
become warmer than normal; even a slight
variation can have a significant impact on
weather around the world. The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) says temperatures at mid-November
were the highest ever for the region.
The last strong El Niño, in 1997, brought a
record number of Category 5 storms to the
northwest Pacific, with two “super typhoons”
that had sustained winds of 180 mph and 185
mph. That El Niño was responsible for an
estimated 23,000 deaths globally and $35
billion in damages; central Pacific
temperatures peaked at 2.8 degrees Celsius
above average. The current El Niño peaked at
3.1 degrees C above average at mid-
November, and in early December still was at
2.9 degrees C above average. The strongest
storm ever measured on Earth, Hurricane
Patricia, occurred in October 2015.
Peru and Ecuador were hit by the deadliest
floods ever, there were devastating floods in
India, and at the other extreme, severe drought
in Australia, the Caribbean, Brazil, Africa, and
elsewhere.
Later in the winter, some forecasters say,
things could do something of an about-face,
with areas from Texas up to Winnipeg and
across the East/Southeast being cold, while the
West will be mild.
It’s expected that this El Niño will be
weakening by late spring, with a return to
more normal weather patterns. NASA says the
current El Niño will be more thoroughly
observed from space than any of its
predecessors, thanks to Earth-observing
missions that weren’t in place during the last
big event.
Dec 21, 2015 by Hembree Brandon in Farm Press Blog
12
Fun Facts About U.S. Agriculture
Did you know mature turkeys have more than 3,500 feathers? How about that cows have four
stomachs and can detect smells up to six miles away? Agriculture is one of the United States’
most important industries, employing more than 24 million workers or 17 percent of the coun-
try’s total work force.
Here are some fun facts straight from America’s farms for you to absorb and share:
Like snowflakes, no two cows have exactly the same pattern of spots.
There are 47 different breeds of sheep in the U.S.
Pork is the most widely eaten meat in the world. >> Farm Facts: Pork
Elevators in the Statue of Liberty use a soybean-based hydraulic fluid.
The longest recorded flight of a chicken is 13 seconds. >> Farm Facts: Eggs
The average dairy cow produces seven gallons of milk a day, 2,100 pounds of milk a
month, and 46,000 glasses of milk a year.
Raising beef cattle is the single largest segment of American agriculture. >> Farm Facts:
Beef One pound of wool can make 10 miles of yarn. There are 150 yards (450 feet) of wool yarn
in a baseball.
Soybeans are an important ingredient for the production of crayons. In fact, one acre of soy-
beans can produce 82,368 crayons. >> Farm Facts: Soybeans
The heaviest turkey ever raised weighed 86 pounds, about the size of an average third-grader.
Cows are herbivores, so they only have teeth on the bottom.
Cows must give birth to a calf in order to produce milk. >> Farm Facts: Dairy Cows
Sources: The United States Department of Agriculture, The Agriculture Council of America
Want to learn more interesting facts about agriculture across America? Head over to My
American Farm and play the Ag Across America game. You’ll learn more facts and test out
your geography skills. The game was developed by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for
Agriculture.
13
Applications for Kentucky Farm
Bureau’s College Scholarships
of up to $4,000 Available Now
The holiday season may have just come
to a close, but Kentucky Farm Bureau
(KFB) has one more gift to give to a select
number of high school seniors across the
state – college scholarships.
Later this spring, the KFB Education
Foundation will award college scholarships
ranging from $400 to $4,000 to 87 high
school seniors pursuing a four-year degree.
To be considered, students must
complete the application available for
download at kyfb.com/scholarships and
return the requested material to KFB
postmarked by February 29, 2016.
Qualifying students will have at least a 3.5
grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) or a
minimum 23 ACT score, be the child of a
KFB member, and finish high school within
the year in which they apply.
KFB also offers four additional
scholarships, ranging from $1,000 to
$3,000. To be considered for these college
scholarships, students must meet the varied
criteria outlined for each, complete the
appropriate downloadable application
available at kyfb.com/scholarships and
return the requested material to KFB
postmarked by April 29, 2016.
“The Foundation’s goal is to assist as
many individuals as possible in attaining
their educational pursuits,” said Susie
Tanner, Coordinator of KFB’s Education
Foundation. “Post-secondary education
costs continue to rise and Farm Bureau
scholarships help defray some of the
expenses associated with obtaining a degree.
There is no better investment for the
organization than to invest in our members
and their children.”
KFB’s Education Foundation, created to
help Farm Bureau members and their
families reach their goal of obtaining post-
secondary education, was formed in 1953.
During the last 62 years, the Education
Foundation has awarded approximately
1,500 college scholarships – worth more
than $2.3 million dollars – to both
traditional and non-traditional students.
To learn more about these and several
other college scholarships offered by
Kentucky Farm Bureau,
visit kyfb.com/scholarships.
14
With Frigid Weather Here,
Kentucky American Water Offers Tips
to Avoid Frozen Water Pipes
Now that colder, winter weather has
arrived, Kentucky American Water is
reminding customers of ways to prevent water
pipes from freezing.
Frozen water lines typically occur in areas
such as crawl spaces or along the outside walls
where unprotected plumbing tends to be more
vulnerable to the elements. Implementing the
following winterization tips now can help
avoid headaches later:
— Search your house for un-insulated
pipes, especially in unheated areas. Check
attics, crawl spaces, and outside walls.
Consider wrapping pipes with insulation
sleeves. Another option is electric heating
tape, but follow manufacturers’ instructions
carefully to avoid a fire hazard.
— Seal cracks and holes in outside walls
and foundations with caulking to keep cold air
away from pipes, especially where cable TV
or phone lines enter the house.
— When below-freezing temperatures
occur, keep a slow trickle of water flowing
through faucets that are supplied by pipes
running through an unheated or unprotected
space, to keep the water from freezing.
— Keep kitchen and bathroom cabinet
doors open to allow warm air to circulate
around pipes.
— Make certain that the water to outside
faucets is shut off inside your house (via a
turnoff valve), and that the lines are drained.
Don’t forget to disconnect and drain garden
hoses if you have not done so already.
— Drain and shut off entirely the water to
any unoccupied residence such as a summer or
vacation home. A loss of power during a
winter storm could cause pipes to freeze.
— Set the thermostat no lower than 55
degrees if you’re going out of town. Although
you may be able to get away with a lower
temperature, this setting is considered to be
safe for pipes.
— Make sure you know where your main
water shut-off valve is located inside your
home so that you can shut off your water
quickly in the event of a water pipe leak. This
valve is often located in a utility room or
closet or in the basement.
From Kentucky American Water
Communications
Know where your Main Water Shut Off Valve is !
15
January 26
Bullitt East FFA
16
State Public Service Commission
Advises Using Caution if
Electrical Power Lost During Storm
The Kentucky Public Service Commission
(PSC) urges residents who lose power to
exercise caution when using portable
generators or clearing storm debris.
Stay away from all downed lines. Downed
lines should be reported to the local utility
company. If the lines are sparking, on fire or
otherwise creating an emergency, call 911.
Customers who lose power should follow
proper safety precautions if they use portable
generators, PSC Chairman Jim Gardner said.
Improper use of portable generators can be
extremely dangerous, especially during cold
weather,” Gardner said. “Many Kentuckians
have lost their lives, and many others have
been hospitalized, as the result of being
poisoned by carbon monoxide emitted by
portable generators that were not used
correctly.”
To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning:
• Generators should only be operated
outside in well-ventilated areas and never in a
garage, basement or breezeway.
• Do not operate generators near windows,
doors or in other areas where exhaust fumes
could be drawn into a home or other occupied
structure.
• Do not use charcoal grills, gas grills or other
open-flame devices indoors for heating or
cooking.
To prevent fires, generators should never
be refueled while they are running. Refuel
only after the generator has been turned off
and allowed to cool.
The PSC also is reminding electric
customers who use a portable generator of
electric safety guidelines that will protect
them and those working to restore power.
Keys to safe operation of generators include:
• Make sure a generator is properly sized
for the load you will place on it. Remember
that starting an electric motor, such as a
refrigerator or air conditioner compressor,
requires more electricity than the amount
needed to keep it running. DO NOT
OVERLOAD YOUR GENERATOR.
• Use only three-prong, grounded extension
cords, properly rated for the load, to connect
appliances to generators.
• DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FEED POWER
INTO YOUR HOME BY ADAPTING AN
EXTENSION CORD TO CONNECT A
GENERATOR TO A WALL OUTLET. THIS
CAN CAUSE A FIRE.
• DO NOT CONNECT A GENERATOR TO
INSIDE WIRING IN ANY WAY UNLESS
YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS IS
EQUIPPED WITH A TRANSFER SWITCH
THAT PREVENTS POWER FROM
FLOWING BACK INTO (BACKFEEDING)
THE WIRES THAT SUPPLY YOUR
ELECTRICITY.
Backfeeding poses a severe danger to
workers attempting to restore electrical
service. They can be severely injured or killed
by power flowing back into lines which they
assume are not carrying electricity. Also, if the
line to your home or business becomes
grounded, backfeeding can permanently
damage your generator.
Continued on next page …..
17
….. Continued from previous page
Customers who lose power should contact
their utility company immediately. Most
utilities in Kentucky have systems that use
customer reports to help identify the location
of the problem and determine what repairs are
needed.
“It is important that every customer report
an outage,” Gardner said. “But repeated calls
simply tie up the utility’s phone system. Call
at once, but call only once.”
Customers who lose power also should
check electric connections and meters for
damage. Damaged connections or meters must
be repaired before power can be restored to a
home or business.
Falling or sagging power lines may have
damaged the connections between the utility
company’s overhead line and a customer’s
electric system. The connections are usually in
the form of a masthead – a conduit connected
to the service line – or, in older homes, an
eyebolt which holds the line in place and an
insulated line leading to the meter. In some
cases, the meter or meter base may also be
damaged.
Once power is restored, damaged
connections or meters could pose an electrical
or fire hazard if not repaired or if repaired
improperly.
“It is critical that damaged connections be
repaired by a qualified professional and
inspected before power is restored,” Gardner
said. “In past outages, fires and severe damage
have been caused by damaged or improperly
repaired service connections.”
Repairing a service connection or meter
base is the responsibility of the individual
customer. The meter base is the square or
rectangular box on which the meter itself is
mounted. It belongs to the property owner.
The meter itself – the circular, glass-enclosed
portion that attaches to the meter base – is the
property of the utility company.
Customers with damaged connections or
meters should take the following steps:
• Notify the utility company that the
service connection, meter base and/or meter is
damaged. The utility can then make sure that
the line is not energized until repairs are
completed.
• In the event that only the meter itself is
damaged, contact the utility to have it repaired
or replaced and your service restored.
• Contact an electrician to repair the meter
base or service connection. The repair work
can be done prior to power being restored in
an area, thus eliminating any additional
delays.
• The electrician will obtain the proper meter
base from the utility. Some utilities impose no
charge for the meter base, but the customer
will bear the installation cost.
• Have the repairs inspected by a state-
certified inspector working for your local
government. The electrician should be able to
help arrange the inspection.
• Notify the utility when the repairs are
complete and have been approved. A utility
technician will install a new meter and restore
the power.
• Keep all repair records and contact your
property insurer.
Residents SHOULD NOT attempt to
remove any branches, limbs or trees that have
fallen across service connections or other
utility lines. Notify the utility to arrange for
the debris to be removed. We urge people to
be patient and to take proper precautions to
protect their health and safety while they wait
for power to be restored.
From PSC Communications
18
January 25-26
Mid-America Grazing
Conference
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IF YOU DO NOT
WISH TO RECEIVE
THIS
NEWSLETTER,
PLEASE CALL
VICKIE
(502-543-2257)
To HAVE YOUR
NAME
REMOVED.
Previous copies of this newsletter can be viewed at:
http://ces.ca.uky.edu/bullitt/newslettersag
and join us on facebook at :
http://www.facebook.com/daroldjay.akridge
Cooperative
Extension Service Bullitt County
384 Halls Lane
Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6263
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