Weekly Hay Auction Report

Rock Valley Hay Auction for Thursday, Sep 28, 2017

Receipts:  86 loads    Last Week:  103 loads    Last Year:  93 loads

Compared to last week:   Alfalfa and grass hay sold with steady to firm. Demand good for all classes of hay and bedding materials.

Alfalfa:  Premium:  Large Squares, 3 loads 110.00-125.00; Large Rounds, 11 loads 110.00-122.50.  Good:  Large Squares, 3 loads 100.00-102.50; Large Rounds, 10 loads 100.00-107.50. Fair:  Large Rounds, 2 loads 77.50-92.50.

Grass:  Premium:  Large Squares, 1 load 130.00; Large Rounds, 7 loads 115.00-120.00. Good:  Large Rounds, 10 loads 90.00-107.50.  Fair:  Large Rounds, 14 loads 67.50-87.50.

Alfalfa/Grass Mix:  Premium:  Large Rounds, 2 loads 120.00-125.00.

Straw:  Large Squares, 1 load 85.00.  Large Rounds, 1 load 87.50; poor quality 1 load 47.50.

Cornstalks:  Large Squares, 1 load 50.00.  Large Rounds, 4 loads 62.50-75.00.

Dairymen Can Enroll Or Opt Out Of MPP Until Dec. 15

Starting Sept. 1, 2017, dairy producers can enroll for 2018 coverage in the Margin Protection Program (MPP-Dairy).  Secretary Sonny Perdue has utilized additional flexibility this year by providing dairy producers the option of opting out of the program for 2018.

Continue reading “Dairymen Can Enroll Or Opt Out Of MPP Until Dec. 15”

Steps For Being A Good Ag Borrower

For over a month I have been working on the first Siouxland Dairy Lenders Seminar in November and have talked to lots of lenders; most are excited to have this program in their “backyard” and like the idea of getting the most current market updates and perspective from industry leaders. But they also pointed out that as they progress toward annual reviews with borrowers, there are things that dairymen can do before the meeting that help make the annual task move smoother.

Continue reading “Steps For Being A Good Ag Borrower”

Reminder: New I-9 Form Required

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) once again issued a new Form I-9. Employers will be required to use the new version of the Form (dated 07/17/17) starting September 18, 2017. The new Form is available here. Employers may continue using the prior version of the Form (dated 11/14/2016) for new hires until September 18, 2017. The new Form applies to new hires only; employers should not complete new Forms I-9 for current employees.

The new Form I-9 includes only minor changes, as outlined below:

  • A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) is now listed as an acceptable List C document.
  • All certifications of report of birth issued by the Department of State (Form FS-545, Form DS-1350, and Form FS-240) are combined within selection C #2 in List C.
  • The Form reflects the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices’ new name, Immigrant and Employee Rights Section.

A new 15-page set of instructions is available for the new Form I-9. Additionally, an updated Handbook for Employers, a valuable resource for those handling Form I-9 issues, is available on USCIS’s website.

The new I-9 form can be downloaded at:

https://www.uscis.gov/i-9

Iowa State Dairy Association Announces New Executive Director

Iowa State Dairy Association (ISDA) has named Jeff Creger as their new executive director. Creger will be joining ISDA’s current associate director Mitch Schulte to lead public policy and government relation strategies to advance the success of ISDA members.

“We are excited to have Jeff join the ISDA family working to represent the 1,360 dairy farms in Iowa,” stated Larry Shover, Chair of the Board. “His experience in agriculture and sales will be a true asset in building relationships to advance our mission of facilitating, growing and promoting the Iowa Dairy Industry.”

Agriculture has been long a part of Creger’s life since he grew up on a family farm in Central Iowa. He received his bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University in agriculture business with an emphasis in sales and marketing. Prior to joining ISDA, he spent most of his career working with agronomy for Monsanto, Titan Pro SCI and Valent USA.

“One of the attributes that stands out for dairy farmers is their focus on family, and I am excited to join this family,” Creger said. “I am ready to work for dairy farmers to be their face and voice out in the countryside and at the Capitol. I have a lot to learn, but am ready to grow membership, strengthen relationships and build a better future for dairy in Iowa.”
Creger can be contacted at:

Jeff Creger

Executive Director

(641) 381-0030

jeffcreger@iowadairy.org

Weekly Hay Auction Report

Rock Valley Hay Auction for Thursday, Sep 21, 2017

Receipts:  103 loads    Last Week:  83 loads    Last Year:  94 loads

Compared to last week:   Alfalfa and grass hay sold with steady to firm.

Alfalfa:  Premium:  Large Squares, 4 loads 112.50-130.00; Large Rounds, 6 loads 112.50-130.00; Small Squares, 2 loads 120.00-130.00.  Good:  Large Squares, 2 loads 95.00-105.00; Large Rounds, 12 loads 97.50-105.00.  Fair:  Large Rounds, 6 loads 82.50-92.50.

Grass:  Premium:  Large Squares, 2 loads 117.50-132.50; Large Rounds, 3 loads 112.50-122.50. Good:  Large Squares, 3 loads 82.50-92.50; Large Rounds, 37 loads 82.50-105.00.  Fair: Large Rounds, 7 loads 67.50-77.50.

Alfalfa/Grass Mix:  Good:  Large Squares, 1 load 105.00; Large Rounds, 1 load 95.00. Fair:  Large Squares, 1 load 80.00.

Straw:  Large Squares, 1 load 85.00.  Large Rounds, 7 loads 85.00-100.00.

Cornstalks:  Large Squares, 1 load 45.00.  Large Rounds, 7 loads 40.00-57.50.

Holstein Percentage Growing in Beef Industry

In the recent issue of the Beef Cow Calf Weekly, U.S. Operations Vice President of AgriClear Nevil Speer discussed the National Beef Quality Audit and noted that while the industry has increased black-hided cattle, the percentage of carcasses with Holstein influence has moved from 5.7 percent in 2000 to 20.4 percent in 2016.

Continue reading “Holstein Percentage Growing in Beef Industry”

Iowa Milk Production Up 3 Percent From August 2016

Milk production in Iowa during August 2017 totaled 434 million pounds, up 3 percent from the previous August according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service Milk Production report.

The average number of milk cows during August, at 217,000 head, was the same as last month and 3,000 more than last year. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,000 pounds, up 30 pounds from last August.

 

Milk production in the 23 major state during August totaled 17.0 billion pounds, up 2.1 percent from August 2016. Production per cow averaged 1,948 pounds for August, 26 pounds above August 2016, whic is the highest per cow production for the month of August since the 23 state series began in 2003.

The complete report is available at:

https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Iowa/Publications/Livestock_Report/2017/IA_Milk_Production_09_17.pdf

 

 

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