I-29 Moo University
A newsletter for dairy producers & industry- January 2019
From One “ Dairy Girl ” to the Next...
By: Jennifer Bentley, ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Field Specialist
Dairy farm women have evolved in their farm roles, from traditional "bookkeeper" to now playing multiple roles both on and off the farm. Coupled with traditional roles that women tend to keep including household, children and community activities, it can enhance levels of stress as these roles become intertwined. This often results in symptoms of anxiety, worry and stress - trying to balance farm, family, and non-farm activities. Yet, families choose this lifestyle to raise their families on the farm, being their own boss and knowing the values that can be instilled in raising children there. Click here to continue reading.
Email: jbentley@iastate.edu
Website: www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam
Location: Decorah, IA, USA
Phone: 563-382-2949
Is Your Parlor a Bottleneck?
By Emily Wilmes, University of Minnesota Extension
Email: krek0033@umn.edu
Location: St. Cloud, MN, USA
Phone: 320-255-6169
Cattle Transportation Updates
By: Heidi Carroll, SDSU Extension Livestock Stewardship Specialist & Beef Quality Assurance Coordinator
During the November 7th Animal Care Wednesday Webinar, updates regarding several livestock transportation topics were shared by two presenters. Chase DeCoite, NCBA Director of Beef Quality Assurance (BQA), discussed the Beef Quality Assurance Transportation (BQAT) certification program. Allison Rivera, NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs, provided brief updates on the discussions happening in Washington D.C. around electronic logging devices (ELD), truck weights, and hours of service for truckers.
Beef Quality Assurance Transportation (BQAT)
The BQAT certification program is a national program for farmers, ranchers and professional drivers that haul beef or dairy cattle. Online certification has two courses for individuals to choose from, Professional Driver or Farmer/Rancher. The Professional Driver course is designed for hauling longer distances using tractor/trailer or cattle pots or individuals hauling direct to beef processing facilities. The Farmer/Rancher course is designed for shorter distance hauling using primarily stock trailers. Register online to take part in the online course. Click here to continue reading.
Email: heidi.carroll@sdstate.edu
Website: extension.sdstate.edu
Phone: 605-688-6623
Ideas to Reduce Stress In 2019
By Fred M. Hall, Northwest Iowa Extension Dairy Specialist
Uncontrollable factors, such as unpredictable weather, untimely equipment breakdowns, and the dairy market, cause stress for dairy farm families. This stress is a physical response to perceived threats to the family’s well-being. Since our brains do not recognize the difference between psychological or physical threats, our bodies compound the results of fatigue, injuries, feed wagon breakdowns and a milk check that doesn’t cover all the bills.
While we all react differently to stress, some common symptoms of chronic stress include changes in a person’s sleep patterns, fluctuation in a person’s weight, fatigue, restlessness, and physical health conditions such as headaches, ulcers, or high blood pressure. Click here to continue reading....
Email: fredhall@iastate.edu
Website: extension.iastate.edu
Location: Orange City, IA, USA
Phone: 712-737-4230
WIDA annual meeting set for January 28
WIDA is having their Annual Meeting on January 28th beginning at 6 pm at the Triple Box Event Center, south of Orange City, Iowa.
Sarina Sharp, a dairy risk manager, and market analyst is our guest speaker. She helps several large dairies throughout the corn belt hedge their milk and feed. Two of these dairies are in Northwest Iowa and one nearby in South Dakota. She also writes regularly for the Daily Dairy Report and the California Milk Producers Council.
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.
800-273-8255
Texting: Text HOME to 741741
833-600-2670
Ted Matthews, Rural Mental Health Counselor, no cost, no paperwork320-266-2390
Nebraska Rural Response Hotline
800-464-0258
South Dakota Ag Mediation Program:
605-773-5436 or 605-280-4745
South Dakota Rural Help Line:800-664-1349
South Dakota Suicide Prevention Hotline
605-339-8599
Iowa Concern Hotline
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
Calendar of Events
2019
February
13: Minnesota Milk Dairy Management Workshop - Hutchinson, MN. Includes a separate track entirely in Spanish. Details at mnmilk.org/events.
26: Nebraska State Dairy Association Annual Convention; contact Rod Johnson for details. Phone: 402-853-2028; email: Rod@NebraskaMilk.org
28: Farm Stress workshop with speaker Ted Matthews; EMS Building, Pipestone, MN. Contact Becca Schulze for details: email: becca.schulze@co.pipestone.mn.us or phone: 507-531-0443
March
6: Minnesota Milk Dairy Management Workshop - Rochester, MN. Details at mnmmilk.org/events.
26: Dairy Beef Short Course hosted by I-29 Moo University. Details coming soon!
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: aboeshans@midwestdairy.com; phone: (701) 712- 1488
Nebraska State Dairy Association: NebraskaMilk.org
Rod Johnson: Rod@NebraskaMilk.org;
phone: (402) 853-2028
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