Dairy Tour Focuses On Key Animal Care Protocols

Summer I-29 Moo University Tour set for August 3

The I-29 Moo University will be highlighting best management practices on Boadwine Farms and Crosswind Jerseys during the “Treat Me Right” Implementing Best Management Practices Summer Tour. During the tour there will be demonstrations of proper euthanasia techniques and discussions of farm biosecurity practices. Low-stress cow handling, newborn calf care and handling non-ambulatory animals will also be discussed to ensure animal health and welfare along with employee safety.

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Weekly Hay Auction Report

Rock Valley Hay Auction for Thursday, June 21, 2018

Receipts:  44 loads    Last Week:  91 loads    Last Year:  91 loads

Alfalfa:  Good:  Large Squares, 2 loads 135.00-145.00.  Fair:  Large Squares, 2 loads 120.00-130.00; Large Rounds, 4 loads 115.00-125.00. Utility:  Large Rounds, 12 loads 92.50-112.50, 1 load 75.00.

Grass:  Premium:  Large Rounds, 5 loads 157.50-165.00.  Good: Large Rounds, 3 loads 135.00-140.00.  Fair: Large Rounds, 2 loads 125.00- 130.00.  Utility:  Large Rounds, 1 load very poor 37.50.

Alfalfa/Grass Mixed:  Good: Large Rounds, 1 load 142.50.

Straw: Large Squares, 3 loads 42.50-60.00; 1 load 135.00.  Large Rounds, 1 load 45.00.

Cornstalks:  Large Rounds, 5 loads 45.00-55.00.

Fact Sheets available To Help Reduce Impact Of Flooding

On Friday, June 22 Rock Valley Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo issued a State of Emergency calling for evacuations for parts of the city due to rising flood waters. Dairy producers and businesses handling food and grocery items in flood affected areas need to reduce the impact to their operations.

Several guidelines and fact sheets are available to help identify actions that need to be taken.

http://www.mda.state.mn.us/~/media/Files/about/emergency/flood/flood-dairyfood.ashx

https://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/drought-and-flood

http://www.prep4agthreats.org/Assets/Factsheets/Floods-and-Your-Livestock.pdf

http://www.beefusa.org/CMDocs/BeefUSA/Producer%20Ed/Beef%20Cattle%20Information/flood%20management.pdf

https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/livestk/01815.pdf

http://www.prep4agthreats.org/All-Hazard-Preparedness/farm-emergency-preparedness-plan

http://www.welcometoiowa.org/emergency-services/flood-safety

For more information producers should contact their local Iowa State University Extension and Outreach office, in Sioux County that number is 712.737.4230.

 

Dealing with Dairy Farm Stress at Noon – “Recognizing and managing stress in dairy farmers”

Farming is one of the most stressful occupations in the U.S.  This stress can affect decision making during challenging times, particularly for dairy farmers as they are experiencing extended low milk prices.  Mark your calendar for noon on Tuesday, July 10 and join Dr. Larry Tranel, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Field Specialist and psychologist, along with Dr. John Shutske, Extension Specialist, University of Wisconsin, as they focus on the mental health element of dairy farm stress. Learn how stress affects our health and decision-making process as dairy farmers, and ways to recognize stress.

The webinar is sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, University of Minnesota Extension, University of Illinois Extension, and University of Wisconsin Extension. If you’d like to join the webinar, log onto https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/isuedairy , or in Northwest Iowa  contact Fred M. Hall at 712.737.4230if for more information.

Iowa Milk Production Up 1 Percent from May 2017

Iowa Pilk Production 2016-2018

Milk production in Iowa during May 2018 totaled 451 million pounds, up 1 percent from the previous May according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. The average number of milk cows during May, at 220,000 head, was unchanged from last month but 3,000 more than last year.
Monthly production per cow averaged 2,050 pounds, down 5 pounds from last May.

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Weekly Hay Auction Report

Rock Valley Hay Auction for Thursday, June 14, 2018

Receipts:  91 loads    Last Week:  72 loads    Last Year:  103 loads

Alfalfa:  Premium: Large Squares, 1 load 155.00.  Good:  Large Squares, 5 loads 132.50-145.00; Large Rounds, 11 loads 127.50-140.00.  Fair:  Large Squares, 4 loads 115.00-125.00; Large Rounds, 21 loads 105.00-125.00.  Utility: Large Squares, 1 load 102.50; Large Rounds, 2 loads 85.00-87.50.  Baleage: 1 load 67.50.

Grass:  Premium:  Large Rounds, 2 loads 160.00-162.50.  Good: Large Rounds, 3 loads 135.00-145.00.  Fair: Large Rounds, 20 loads 120.00-130.00.  Utility: Large Rounds, 3 loads 110.00-117.50.

Alfalfa/Grass Mixed:  Utility: Large Rounds, 1 load 112.50.

Rye Hay:  Large Rounds, 1 load 60.00.

Straw: Large Squares, 3 loads 62.50-75.00; 1 load 130.00.  Large Rounds, 2 loads 55.00; 1 load 125.00.

Cornstalks:  Large Rounds, 9 loads 45.00-57.50.

USDA Extends Dairy Margin Protection Program To June 22

On Wednesday, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the re-enrollment deadline for the Margin Protection Program (MPP) for Dairy will be extended until June 22.

The re-enrollment deadline was previously extended through June 8, 2018. The deadline is being extended a second time to ensure that dairy producers are given every opportunity to make a calculated decision and enroll in the program if they choose. This will be the last opportunity for producers to take advantage of key adjustments Congress made to provisions of the MPP program under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 to strengthen its support of dairy producers.

Complete information is available by clicking here.