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Midwest Dairy/Beef Day

Friday, December 13, 2019 - 10:00am to 3:00pm
Event Type: 
Seminar

In-depth information for dairy and beef producers on enhancing value of dairy steers from breeding to feeding.

Register today for “Midwest Dairy & Beef Day: Enhancing Value from Breeding to Feeding” held on Friday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Iowa’s Dairy Center located at 1527 Highway 150 S, in Calmar, Iowa.

This event is a collaborative effort between Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach, the Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation and Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC). This year’s event will discuss opportunities and challenges to adding value to dairy calves and dairy beef cross calves. Producers will also share their experiences from feeding to breeding during a panel discussion. Beef producers, dairy producers, industry persons and students are encouraged to attend.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Dan Schaefer will provide information on determining the predictability of Holstein progeny sired by beef breed bulls. This will be followed by Denise Schwab, ISU Extension Beef Specialist, who will discuss beef bull selection and finding appropriate bulls for crossing on dairy cows. Director of Iowa Beef Center and ISU Extension Beef Specialist Dr. Dan Loy will break down the elements of developing an implant strategy. Following lunch, Dave Lawstuen, Chair of Iowa’s Dairy Center and NICC agriculture faculty, will introduce genomics and share the strategy Iowa’s Dairy Center uses to determine the mothers of the next generation of dairy steers. The day will conclude with a producer panel sharing experiences and answering questions about their successful dairy steer programs.

This program is offered free of charge, thanks to the support of local businesses. Please call NICC at (800) 728-2256, ext. 399, to register by Thursday, Dec. 5. More information is available at www.iowadairycenter.com.

Category: 
Herd Management
Tags: 
dairy beef, crossbreeding, genomics

Farm Couple Getaways - A Time to Refocus Farm and Family

Saturday, December 14, 2019 - 12:30pm to Friday, March 20, 2020 - 1:40pm
Event Type: 
Workshops

In response to high levels of both personal and financial farm stress, ISU Extension and Outreach is making available four “Farm Couple Getaways” aimed at farmers wanting to take advantage of activities to improve farm family communication, work on farm or family goal-setting, farm transition or just would like a weekend away to discuss farm and farm family issues. The first “getaway” will be held Saturday and Sunday, December 14-15, 2019 at EWALU Stone Center in Strawberry Point. The dates and locations for the other “getaways” are as follows:

Friday and Saturday, January 31-February 1, 2020 at Hotel Winneshiek in Decorah.                                                    

Friday and Saturday, February 21-February 22, 2020 at Lake Shore Center at Okoboji in Milford.

Thursday and Friday, March 19-20, 2020 at the Best Western Plus Hotel in Dubuque. 

The “getaways” run from 12:30 pm on the first day to 3:15 pm on the second day of the “getaway”. There is no cost to attend the program as food, lodging and other expenses are being paid for by sponsorships. However, there is a $50 per couple deposit to hold each reservation, refundable on the second day of the getaway.

Past “Farm Couple Getaways” have proven to be beneficial to farm couples. They are a very productive and delightful time to discuss items of importance to help farms and families be successful”, says Larry Tranel, ISU Extension Dairy Field Specialist.” Each “getaway” will consist of ten farm couples and our Extension facilitators.  Registration will be on a first come, first serve basis with registrations due two weeks prior to each session. Registration brochures for the various sites can be obtained from Jenn Bentley jbentley@iastate.edu or at the Winneshiek County ISU Extension Office at 563-382-2949; Fred Hall fredhall@iastate.edu or at the Sioux County ISU Extension Office at 712-737-4230; and Larry Tranel tranel@iastate.edu at the Dubuque County ISU Extension Office at 563-583-6496.

The “Farm Couple Getaways” statewide Gold sponsor is the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation with other local sponsors recognized at the local events.

Brochure with registration form:

farm_couple_getaway_brochure_2019-2020.pdf

Category: 
Farm Management
Tags: 
farm, family, getaway, decision making, action planning

I-29 Moo University Winter Workshop Series

Monday, January 6, 2020 - 9:30am to Friday, January 10, 2020 - 3:00pm
Event Type: 
Workshops

I-29 Moo University Winter Workshop Series Will Focus on Dairy Calves

Learn about the latest research in dairy calf management and care

AMES, Iowa – ISU Extension and Outreach encourages dairy producers to register for the I-29 Moo University Winter Workshop series, “Prosperity of Dairy Calves,” to be held in five locations across the region beginning Jan. 6, 2020.

“This workshop series will highlight a number of experts who will focus on topics that will help dairy producers achieve success calf management in 2020,” explained Tracey Erickson, South Dakota State University Extension Dairy Field Specialist, who is the program co-chair, along with Jennifer Bentley Clark, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

The workshops will be held in partnership with the Minnesota Milk’s Dairy Management Workshops, Minnesota Midwest Dairy District 3, 4, and 18 meetings, as well as South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa’s Midwest Dairy Checkoff Update Meetings.

The five meeting locations are as follows:

  • Perham, Minn.: Jan. 6, 2020, located at The Cactus (43521 Fort Thunder Road); in partnership with Minnesota Milk’s Dairy Management Workshops and Midwest Dairy’s District 3 and 4 meetings.
  • Brookings, S.D.: Jan. 7, 2020, located at the Swiftel Center (824 32nd Ave.); in partnership with the South Dakota’s Midwest Dairy – Checkoff Update Meetings.
  • Pipestone, Minn.: Jan. 8, 2020, located at Pipestone Systems (1801 Forman Drive); in partnership with Minnesota Milk’s Dairy Management Workshops and Midwest Dairy’s District 18 meeting.
  • Orange City, Iowa: Jan. 9, 2020, held at Sioux County Extension Office (400 Central Ave. NW); in partnership with Iowa’s Midwest Dairy Checkoff Update Meetings.
  • Wayne, Neb.: Jan. 10, 2020, held at Wayne State College, Student Center Niobrara Room (E 14th Street); in partnership with Nebraska’s Midwest Dairy Checkoff Update Meetings.

Registration details

Registration fees are waived due to generous sponsorships; however, pre-registration is requested by Jan. 2 to allow for meal counts and materials. To register, visit https://2020winterworkshopseries.eventbrite.com or go to the I-29 Moo University website at

https://dairy.unl.edu/i-29-moo-university. A registration form can also be requested from Erickson at Tracey.Erickson@sdstate.edu, or Bentley at jbentley@iastate.edu.

Workshop speakers

  • Dr. Jennifer Van Os, assistant professor and extension specialist – Animal Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Dr. Pat Gorden, associate professor, vet diagnostic and production animal medicine at Iowa State University. 
  • Jennifer Bentley, dairy specialist for ISU Extension and Outreach in northeast Iowa. 

Agenda

The workshop agenda will be the same at all locations. The day begins at 9:30 a.m., with registration and refreshments.

At 10 a.m., Jennifer Van Os, University of Wisconsin-Madison, will present “Why Animal Welfare is Essential for the Animal, Producer, and the Consumer.”

At 11 a.m., Pat Gordon, Iowa State University, will present “Incorporation of Pain Mitigation Protocols as part of your Best Management Practices, as you Disbud Calves.”

At 1:15 p.m., Jennifer Van Os, University of Wisconsin-Madison, will present “Two Heads are Better than One: Benefits of Pair or Group Rearing of Calves.”

At 2:15 p.m., Jennifer Bentley, ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Field Specialist will provide a “Resource Update of the Incorporation of Calf Care and Handling SOP’s.”

In between each presentation, attendees will participate in Roundtable Discussion on the topic presented.

Midwest Dairy staff in each state will conduct Midwest Dairy Checkoff updates over the lunch hour.

For the full agenda, visit the I-29 Moo University events webpage.

Sponsors include:

Gold Level: STgenetics, Sealpro; Silver Level: FormAFeed, Central Plains Dairy Foundation, Elanco, Automated Waste Systems; Bronze Level: Nebraska State Dairy Association, Alforex Seeds, Iowa State Dairy Association, South Dakota Dairy Producers, Western Iowa Dairy Alliance, AminoPlus Ag Processing, Inc., Minnesota Milk, DCC Waterbeds, AgroPur, American Agco Trading Company, Phileo Lesafre Animal Care, Associated Milk Producers Inc., DiamondV, ProAg Engineering, Inc.,Cottonseed, LLC, Trans-Ova Genetics, Quality Liquid Feeds, Pipestone Veterinary Services.

 

 

Category: 
Herd Management
Tags: 
calf management, animal welfare, disbudding, calf resources

2020 Iowa Dairy Days

Monday, January 20, 2020 - 9:30am to Thursday, February 6, 2020 - 3:00pm
Event Type: 
Dairy Day

Ames, Iowa – Iowa dairy producers will have the opportunity to learn about emerging dairy industry issues during the 2020 Dairy Days events hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach specialists. The program is scheduled at five eastern Iowa locations between Jan. 20 and Feb. 6.

“Producers have seen low milk prices in the last few years, causing added farm stress. Our goal is to help producers make sound herd management decisions that are backed by current and relevant information,” said Jennifer Bentley, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “We host these workshops for farmers to network, share ideas, and take back management tips to help improve profit margins.” 

Topics will include ventilation options for freestall barns, dealing with farm stress, dairy market outlook, stress and metabolic responses on dairy cows, and group calf housing and its effects on calf behavior.

“This daylong program offers producers an opportunity to hear up-to-date information. They can also talk with our speakers for answers to their specific situations,” Bentley said.

Dairy Days dates and locations

  • Jan. 20 – Windy Tree Café, 101 East Main St., Riceville
  • Jan. 21 – Iowa’s Dairy Center, 1527 Hwy. 150 South, Calmar
  • Jan. 23 – Civic Center, 200 1st St. NE, Waverly
  • Feb. 4 – Chamber of Commerce, 514 B. Avenue, Kalona
  • Feb. 6 – Neumann’s Bar & Grill, 927 Main St., Holy Cross

Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. and the program will conclude by 2:30 p.m. A $15 registration fee covers the noon meal and costs. Pre-registration is requested by the Friday before each event, to reserve a meal. Online registration is available. Vouchers for the event may be available at your local agri-service providers or veterinarian’s office.

For more information, contact your ISU Extension and Outreach county office or Bentley at 563-382-2949. Larry Tranel, also a dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, can be reached at 563-583-6496.

 

Category: 
Farm Management
Tags: 
ventilation, farm stress, calf housing, milk markets, metabolic stress