The May 10th World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report presents USDA’s initial assessment of U.S. and world crop supply and demand prospects and U.S. prices for 2017/18. The report included the first calendar-year 2018 projections of U.S. livestock, poultry, and dairy products.
Month: May 2017
Water Concerns For Baby Calves
With the arrival of summer temperatures, producers are reminded that water plays an essential role in a healthy calf including rumen development. Healthy calves under heat stress will drink between 6 and 12 quarts of water daily just to maintain normal hydration. Severely sick calves under heat stress sometimes require up to 20 quarts replacing what has been lost. According to the National Dairy FARM program Animal Care Manual Version 3.0 (2016), best practice is to provide calves access to clean, fresh water from the first day of life. However, according to the National Dairy Health Monitoring System (USDA, 2014), the average age of heifers when first offered water in the United States is 17.3 days.
Dairy Exports Up By 14 Percent In First Quarter 2017
U.S. dairy exports in the first quarter of 2017 were up 14 percent by volume and 17 percent by value compared with a year ago – the best Q1 result since 2014. Exporters realized gains to nearly all markets and across nearly all product categories, with only butterfat and whole milk powder lagging.
Complete report Information from US Dairy Export Council:
Weekly Hay Auction Report
Rock Valley Hay Auction for Thursday, May 11, 2017
Receipts: 92 loads Last Week: 76 loads Last Year: 75 loads
Compared to last week: Alfalfa and grass hay sold higher, bedding in good condition sold higher, poor quality bedding sold lower.
Alfalfa: Premium: Large Square,s 1 load 120.00; Large Rounds, 7 loads 100.00-122.50. Good: Large Squares, 3 loads 85.00-95.00; Large Rounds, 8 loads 87.50-95.00. Fair: Large Rounds, 10 loads 72.50-80.00. Utility: Large Squares, 2 loads 62.50-70.00; Large Rounds, 7 loads 57.50-67.50.
Grass: Premium: Large Squares, 1 load 105.00; Large Rounds, 2 loads 110.00-120.00. Good: Large Squares, 1 load 80.00; Large Rounds, 13 loads 80.00-95.00. Fair: Large Squares, 1 load 72.50; Large Rounds, 17 loads 60.00-77.50. Utility: Large Rounds, 3 loads 37.50-55.00.
Alfalfa/Grass Mix: Good: Large Squares, 1 load 105.00; Large Rounds, 4 loads 82.50-92.50.
Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference Set For June 14-15
The 2017 Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference will be June 14-15 at the Grand River Center in Dubuque. This premier conference will focus on nutrition and management to improve cow performance, foot health and overall cow health, in addition to other topics.
The conference is a collaborative effort of ISU Extension, University of Illinois Extension, University of Minnesota Extension and University of Wisconsin-Extension. “Producers from across the Midwest will benefit from the information at this conference,” says Northwest Iowa ISUEO Dairy Specialist Fred M. Hall.
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Dairy Iowa Meeting Set for June 8
Dairy Iowa members and friends will meet on June 8 at the Heartland Agribition Center located at 2600 Swan lake Blvd. in Independence, Iowa. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. and The new Dairy Iowa Chairman Kurt Wierda will made welcoming comments and introductions at 10 a.m.
Now Is The Time To Review Your Calf Care Protocols
When we think of temperature stress on calves, the common concern is cold, but as temperatures are moving to the 900F mark this week, producers need to remember soaring summer temperatures, hot sun, and high humidity can cause heat stress in calves and heifers just as in the milking herd. Reduced feed intake and increased maintenance energy needs coupled with lowered immunity can lead to poor growth, higher susceptibility to disease, and in extreme cases death.
Continue reading “Now Is The Time To Review Your Calf Care Protocols”
Weekly Hay Auction Report
Rock Valley Hay Auction for Thursday, May 4, 2017
Receipts: 76 loads Last Week: 82 loads Last Year: 82 loads
Compared to last week: Alfalfa and grass hay sold higher, bedding in good condition sold higher, poor quality bedding sold lower.
Alfalfa: Good: Large Rounds and Squares, 8 loads 100.00-110.00. Fair: Large Rounds and Squares, 11 loads 87.50-97.50. Utility: Large Rounds and Squares, 14 loads 67.50-80.00.
Grass: Premium: Large Rounds, 2 loads 105.00-107.50. Good: Large Rounds, 10 loads 80.00-95.00. Fair: Large Rounds, 6 loads 70.00-77.50. Utility: Large Rounds, 2 loads 40.00-45.00.
Alfalfa/Grass Mix: Fair: Large Squares, 4 loads 70.00-82.50; Large Rounds, 4 loads 67.50-80.00.
Straw: Large Squares, 2 loads 80.00-90.00. Large Rounds, 1 load 100.00, 4 loads 10.00-40.00.
Cornstalks: Large Rounds, 5 loads 30.00-40.00, 1 load at 22.50.