Northeast Iowa dairy producers will have the opportunity to hear Iowa State University (ISU) Extension specialists share information on several “hot button” issues in the dairy industry at the 2008 Northeast Iowa Dairy Days.

The programs will be held in

• Howard County, Tuesday, Jan. 29, Knights of Columbus Hall, Elma
• Bremer County, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 4-H Building on the Bremer County Fairgrounds, Waverly
• Winneshiek County, Thursday, Jan. 31, Dairy Foundation Center, Calmar
• Delaware County, Tuesday, Feb. 5, American Legion Hall, Ryan
• Dubuque County, Wednesday, Feb. 6, Dubuque County Fairgrounds, Dubuque.

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the program will begin promptly at 10 a.m. Lunch and time to visit the commercial exhibits will be at Noon with all programs completed by 3:30 p.m.

ISU Extension specialists will address several topics at this year’s program.

• Robert Tigner will talk about feeding co-products and new forages to managing new expenses relationships given the opportunities and challenges of the bioeconomy in Iowa.
• Dale Thoreson will share the latest research and information from the Iowa Dairy Farms Disease Risk survey.
• Leo Timms will give producers a virtual tour of the new milking facility just south of the ISU Campus.
• Larry Tranel will share the latest research and information regarding managing risk, personal relationships and employee/employer relationships.
• Lee Kilmer will discuss the facts fiction and fertility of feeding fat in the dairy ration.
• Pat Gordon, DVM, will discuss problem indicators in maintaining a healthy dairy herd.

A $10 registration fee will cover meal and proceedings costs. Vouchers may be available from local agricultural service providers or veterinarians. The deadline to register is the Friday before each event.

Producers may also take advantage of free feed testing by bringing a quart-sized, self-sealing plastic bag of total mixed ration (TMR), silage or grain samples for particle size analysis.

For more information contact the ISU Extension County offices listed above or Leo Timms at (515) 294-4522.

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