I-29 Moo University
A newsletter for dairy producers & industry~January 2020
Calendar of Events
2020
February
5th: Eye on Employees Webinar - Brett Stanley, ICE, I-9 Forms and Documentation, Register Here
6th: Joint Meeting of MDA District 1&2 in South Dakota & South Dakota Dairy Producers Annual Meeting, Swiftel Brookings, SD, for a complete agenda go here.
12th:Eye on Employees Webinar - Melissa O'Rourke - Interviewing Conversations, Register Here
19th: Eye on Employees Webinar - Larry Tranel - Labor and Robotic Milkers, Register Here
24: Financial Budgeting Workshop for New and Beginning Farmers - Columbus, NE, Click here for the agenda and to register.
25th: Nebraska State Dairy Convention - For more information visit webpage
26th: Eye on Employees Webinar - Fred Hall - Employee Handbook Importance, Register Here
March
4th: Eye on Employees Webinar - Melissa O'Rourke - Job Misclassification of Employees, Register Here
24th: I-29 Moo University Dairy Beef Short Course; Sioux Falls, SD. Access Agenda & Registration Here
24-26: Central Plains Dairy Expo: Click here for more information
Dairy Beef Short Course to Focus on Animal Health and Carcass Traits
Topics | Speakers | Agenda
9:30 a.m. - Registration
Program 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
“Finishing Dairy Cattle for Beef: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” Dr. Ty Lawrence, Professor of Animal Science, West Texas A&M University
Panel Discussion – “Being Conscious of Packer Programs That Fit Dairy and Dairy Beef Carcasses”
* Bill Munns – Marketing & Product Management, JBS Beef, “The Commercial Science Behind Purebred Holstein Beef"
* Kevin Hueser – Senior Vice President Beef Margin Management, Tyson Fresh Meats, “Dairy Cross Opportunities in the Plant”
“Health Considerations for Dairy Beef Cattle During the Feeding Period,” Russ Daly, DVM, SDSU Extension Veterinarian
“Feedlot Cattle Lameness and Economic Impact,” Jan Shearer, DVM, MS, Professor Veterinary Diagnostic & Production Animal Medicine, ISU
Roundtable Discussion with all Speakers
Wrap-up & Adjourn
Registration details
A registration fee of $25 per person will include the short course, lunch and proceedings. Registration closes March 20 and the event is limited to 130 attendees on a first come, first serve basis. To register, or go to the I-29 Moo University website. You can also register by mailing the registration fee to Tracey Erickson at 1910 West Kemp Ave., Watertown, SD 57201. Please include the contact (s) information and any dietary restrictions when mailing in your registration information.Email: tracey.erickson@sdstate.edu
Website: dairy.unl.edu/i-29-moo-university
Phone: 605-882-5140
What Are Your 2020 Goals For Your Farm?
ST. CLOUD, Minn. (1/8/2020) - Happy New Year! It’s the start of a new year, and I think we are all looking forward to putting 2019 behind us and looking forward to 2020! The beginning of a new year is always a great time to set some goals for the coming 12 months. Setting goals is important to personal and business success. When I talk with farmers, I always ask them about their goals. It may be what their goal is for a specific project they are working on. Sometimes, we discuss “big picture”-type goals for the farm as a whole. No matter what type of farm you have or what stage you or your farm are at, goal setting is important. There are several things to think about when setting goals: Read more...
Email: krek0033@umn.edu
Website: extension.umn.edu/dairy
Location: St. Cloud, MN, USA
Phone: (605) 882.5140
Managing Un-Weaned Dairy Calves During Cold Weather
By Tracey Erickson, SDSU Extension Dairy Field Specialist
Updated January 9, 2020
Cold stress starts when temperatures drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit in dairy calves who are less than 21 days of age and when below 42 degrees (Litherland, 2013) in calves greater than 42 days of age.
Winter can present extra challenges for dairy producers and heifer growers as they try to keep calves alive and growing adequately in frigid temperatures.
Some tips to care for un-weaned calves in cold weather are as follows:
- Get them off to a good start in the first 48 hours of life - following proper protocols for newborn calves, especially drying them off as quickly as possible after birth and making sure they are consuming 4 quarts of high quality colostrum within the first 6-12 hours of life, as well as giving proper vaccinations, and dipping their navels. Jersey calves will consume less than large breed dairy calves of colostrum. Check the quality of colostrum making sure it has adequate antibody. Read more...
Email: Tracey.Erickson@sdstate.edu
Website: https://extension.sdstate.edu/
Location: Watertown, SD, USA
Phone: 605-882-5140
Feeding 2019 Corn Silage
A recent mycotoxin survey in corn harvested in 2019 shows 96 percent tested positive for at least one mycotoxin, while 61 percent of samples had more than one mycotoxin. Combine that with the potential for quality issues that may mean fewer pounds of milk per ton and producers need to get a handle on what they have in their piles.
To help producers evaluate their options, I-29 Moo University asked Dairy Specialist and Assistant Professor at Iowa State University Dr. Hugo Ramirez-Ramirez, to share what he is seeing from labs in the upper Midwest and what mitigation options producers have.
Ramirez will also share several other thoughts plus pile maintenance during feed-out.
Access the archived webinar here.
Eye on Employees webinars to address farm labor concerns
The Iowa State University Extension Dairy Team will be hosting a five-week farm labor webinar series from Noon to 1:00 p.m. each Wednesday beginning February 5 through March 4, 2020.
- February 5: Staying Legal - Brett Stanley, Special Investigator, Department of Homeland Security
- February 12: Starting the Interview Conversation - Melissa O’Rourke, ISU Extension and Outreach Farm Management Specialist
- February 19: Labor versus Robots - Larry Tranel, ISU Extension and Outreach Northeast Iowa Dairy Specialist
- February 26: Employee Handbooks: Getting Started - Fred Hall, ISU Extension and Outreach Northwest Iowa Dairy Specialist
- March 4: Employee Misclassification & Other Employment Pitfalls - Melissa O’Rourke, ISU Extension and Outreach Farm Management Specialist
There is no registration fee; however, registration is required to receive the link for the program. Register Here for the Webinars.
Email: fredhall@iastate.edu
Website: https://form.jotform.com/4Hregion1/eye-on-employees
Location: IAA INC., West Orangewood Avenue, Orange, CA, USA
Phone: 712--737-4230
Producer Requested Help with Manure Cropping Systems Survey
The survey will require 15 minutes or less to complete. Your decision whether or not to participate in this survey is voluntary and your responses will remain anonymous. Access the Survey Here. You may ask any questions concerning this survey and have those questions answered before agreeing to participate in or during the survey. Please contact the investigators: Rick Koelsch (rkoelsch1@unl.edu), University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Sally Flis (sflis@tfi.org), The Fertilizer Institute with your questions.
Coping with Farm & Rural Stress
Farming is one of the most stressful occupations in the United States. This is particularly true for dairy farmers as they are experiencing an extended period of low milk prices.
Below are some resources available when dealing with stress.
Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline: 833-600-2670
Ted Matthews, Rural Mental Health Counselor, no cost, no paperwork; 320-266-2390
Nebraska Rural Response Hotline: 800-464-0258
South Dakota Ag Mediation Program: 605-773-5436 or 605-280-4745
South Dakota Rural Help Line:800-664-1349South Dakota Suicide Prevention Hotline: 605-339-8599
Iowa Concern Hotline & Resources: 800-447-1985
Illinois Agriculture Mediation Program: 618-549-1200, ext. 1001
Rural Services of Indiana, Inc.: 574-299-9460
Kansas Ag Mediation Services: 800-321-3276
Missouri Agricultural Mediation Program: 573-751-5520
New York State Ag Mediation Program: 518-687-2240 or 866-669-7267
New York Farm Net: 800-547-3276
North Dakota Mediation Service: 844-642-4752 or 701-328-4158
North Dakota 211 Help Line Mental Health Association in North Dakota: 800-472-2911
North Dakota Agricultural Mediation Services: 800-642-4757 or 701-328-2061
Wisconsin Farm Center Hotline: 800-942-2474
Disaster Resources Available with Recent Weather Events
Available resources include
South Dakota Department of Agriculture website (sdda.sd.gov)
Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)
Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP)
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Emergency Loans
Farm Stress Help
University of Nebraska Lincoln website (flood.unl.edu)
- Cattle producers post flood checklist
- University of Nebraska feeding assistance program
- Dealing with flooded hay and grain
- Disposal of flood soaked grains and forages
- Emergency disposal of livestock carcasses
- Flood-related diseases in poultry and livestock
- Hay donations
Many more resources available at the websites listed above.
About Us
Location: I29 Corridor
Facebook: Facebook.com/I29DairyOutreachConsortium
University of Minnesota Dairy Extension
Contacts:
Jim Salfer: salfe001@umn.edu; phone: (320) 203-6093
Karen Johnson: ande9495@umn.edu; phone: (320) 484-4303
Brenda Miller: nels4220@umn.edu; phone: (320) 732-4435
Emily Wilmes: krek0033@umn.edu; phone: (320) 255-6169, ext. 3
South Dakota State University Extension
Contacts:
Tracey Erickson: Tracey.Erickson@sdstate.edu phone: (605) 882-5140
Heidi Carroll: Heidi.Carroll@sdstate.edu; phone: (605) 688-6623
Maristela Rovai: Maristela.Rovai@sdstate.edu; phone: (605)688-5488
Nebraska Dairy Extension
Contacts:
Kim Clark: KimClark@unl.edu; phone: (402) 472-6065
Robert Tigner: Robert.Tigner@unl.edu; phone: (308) 696-6734
North Dakota State University Dairy Extension
Vacant Position
Iowa State University Dairy Extension
Contacts:
Fred Hall: FredHall@iastate.edu; phone (712) 737-4230
Leo Timms: ltimms@iastate.edu; phone: (515) 294-4522
Jennifer Bentley: jbentley@iastate.edu; phone: (563) 382-2949
Allied Partners
Mitch Schulte: mitchschulte@iowadairy.org; phone: (319) 7745-3451
Western Iowa Dairy Alliance: Scott Schroeder: westerniowadairy@gmail.com; phone: (712) 441-5308
Minnesota Milk Producers Association: MNMilk.org
Lucas Sjostrom: lucas@mnmilk.org; phone: (320) 249-8701
North Dakota Livestock Alliance:
Amber Boeshans: amberboeshans@ndlivestock.org; phone: (701) 712- 1488
Nebraska State Dairy Association: NebraskaMilk.org
Kris Bousquet: KrisBousquet@NebraskaMilk.org
phone: (531) 207-4291
South Dakota Dairy Producers: SDDairyProducers.org
Tom Peterson tom.peterson@sddairyproducers.org; phone: (605) 251-2439
Minnesota Dairy Initiative-SW Region
Becca Schulze becca.schulze@co.pipestone.mn.us; phone: (507) 531-0443