Siouxland Dairy Lenders Seminar Set For Nov. 2

All agricultural lenders will receive useful information during the Siouxland Dairy Lender’s Seminar on Thursday, November 2 at the Forrester Community Center in Rock Rapids, Iowa. Lenders who serve agricultural clients and especially lenders who work with dairymen in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota are encouraged to attend. This year’s focus is on market outlooks for livestock, grains and dairy, long-term weather influences for agriculture plus dairy finances and ag policy. The program begins with registration at 9 am, with programs running from 9:30 am to 4 pm.

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Weekly Hay Auction Report

Rock Valley Hay Auction for Thursday, Aug 18, 2017

Receipts:  82 loads    Last Week:  73 loads    Last Year:  100 loads

Compared to last week:   Prices were generally steady, with firmer undertones noted for the higher quality alfalfa and grass.  Alfalfa and grass quality varied today.  Straw sold steady.

Alfalfa:  Premium:  Large Squares, 2 loads 135.00-140.00; Large Rounds, 20 loads 115.00-127.50.  Good:  Large Squares, 1 load 90.00; Large Rounds, 11 loads 85.00-110.00. Fair:  Large Squares, 1 load 75.00; Large ROunds, 2 loads 75.00; Small Squares, 76 bales at 3.00 per bale.

Grass:  Premium:  Large Rounds, 6 loads 105.00-112.50; Small Squares, 1 load 127.50. Good:  Large Squares, 2 loads 95.00-97.50; Large Rounds, 11 loads 82.50-97.50.  Fair: Large Rounds, 7 loads 62.50-75.00.  Utility:  Large Rounds, 1 load 50.00.

Alfalfa/Grass Mix:  Fair:  Large Rounds, 2 loads 60.00-72.50.

Straw:  Large Rounds, 11 loads 70.00-87.50.  Small Squares, 120 bales at 3.00 per bale.

Cornstalks:  Large Rounds, 2 loads 50.00-70.00; Very Poor 1 load 35.00.

Sen. Ernst Spends Morning Listening To NW Iowa Dairyman

Maurice Dairyman Lee Maassen is deep in conversation with Senator Joni Ernst as they share ideas on dairy processing in the milk room during the farm tour last Tuesday morning.

Last week Senator Joni Ernst met with Northwest Iowa Dairyman Lee Maassen at the family dairy near Maurice. The Senator and her entourage toured the dairy and then sat down with the family to share ideas on what Washington can do to help area dairymen.

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Livestock Disaster Plans Are Needed In Every County

Dr. Jan Shearer DVM, Iowa State University, demonstrates loading a captive bolt gun as part of the euthanasia training during the BERP program

In mid-August I participated in the Bovine Emergency Response Plan (BERP) training in Sioux Center hosted by Trans Ova. The day focused on livestock disasters while cattle are in transit, with over fifty million head of cattle on the road each year in the United States; it’s not a question of if, it is when a disaster will strike.

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Dairy Programs Scheduled For Sac And Pocahontas Counties In December

Dairy Directions Seminars in December will help dairymen make informed decisions on forage and feed additives.

 

The Dairy Directions Seminars are scheduled for Tuesday, December 5 in Sac County and Wednesday, December 6 in Pocahontas County. Both programs will be held at the local county Extension office. “Dairymen in these areas with have the opportunity to have the most current researched-based dairy information presented at their local Extension office” says Northwest Iowa Extension Dairy Field Specialist Fred M. Hall. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the program begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. A free lunch is included and the program will adjourn at 1 p.m.

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Weekly Hay Auction Report

Rock Valley Hay Auction for Thursday, Aug 10, 2017

Receipts:  86 loads    Last Week:  120 loads    Last Year:  81 loads

Compared to last week:   Alfalfa sold steady to weak, grass hay mostly steady. Overall quality was average this week.  Straw sold with weaker undertones.

Alfalfa:  Premium:  Large Squares, 3 loads 117.50-130.00; Large Rounds, 22 loads 110.00-130.00.  Good:  Large Squares, 2 loads 90.00-95.00; Large Rounds, 2 loads 107.50. Fair:  Large Rounds, 6 loads 80.00-92.50; Small Squares, 90 bales at 3.00 per bale. Utility:  Large Rounds, 2 loads 62.50-65.00.

Grass:  Premium:  Large Squares, 1 load 100.00; Large Rounds, 4 loads 97.50-107.50. Good:  Large Squares, 1 load 92.50; Large Rounds, 23 loads 80.00-92.50.  Fair:  Large Rounds, 1 load 75.00.

Alfalfa/Grass Mix:  Premium:  Large Squares, 2 loads 100.00-112.50; Large Rounds, 1 load 100.00.

Straw:  Large Squares, 3 loads 60.00-75.00.  Large Rounds, 11 loads 42.50-85.00, mostly 70.00-80.00.

Cornstalks:  Large Rounds, 1 load 42.50.

Chicago Federal Reserve Sees Some Slow-down In Farm Economy Free Fall

Chicago Federal Reserve Sees Some Slow-down In Farm Economy Free Fall

In their August Agletter the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago says surveyed ag bankers believe the ag sector may be close “bottom” and ready to bounce back.

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WASDE Report For August 2017

The milk production forecasts for 2017 and 2018 are reduced from the previous month as slow growth in milk per cow more than offsets increases in dairy cow numbers. For 2017, fat basis exports are raised from the previous month on higher butter and anhydrous milk fat shipments. Fat basis imports are unchanged.

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Iowa & Minnesota Youth Dairy Show

I attended the 13th Annual IA-MN Youth Dairy Show last Saturday in Sibley. Judge Darrel Rennich from South Dakota evaluated 88 head from 48 exhibitors.

Iowa winners included:

Reserve Junior Champion Brown Swiss, Adam Hansmann, Boyden

Junior Champion Holstein, Jonathan Krogman, Ashton

Junior Champion Jersey, Logan Knapp, Larchwood

Reserve Junior Champion Jersey, Angie Knapp, Larchwood

Grand and Reserve Champion Brown Swiss, Adam Hansmann, Boyden

Reserve Grand Champion Holstein, Avery Zylstra, Ashton

Grand Champion Jersey, Hailey Godbersen, George

Reserve Champion Jersey, Nathan Knapp, Larchwood

Intermediate Showmanship, Jonathan Krogman, Ashton

Senior Showmanship, Adam Hansmann, Boyden

I enjoyed visiting with new breeders and some familiar folks including long-time Brown Swiss breeder Galen Fick. Also attending was Carl and Jan Aschoff from West Point, NE. They are long-time managers the Nebraska Cream of the Crop Dairy Show in June each year.