Dairy Goat Producers Rally To New Program

Iowa currently ranks third in total milk goats, with the inventory up three percent from January 2018 standing at 32,000 dairy goats and 217 licensed dairies.

The Iowa State University Extension Dairy Team has recently completed a survey of the licensed goat dairies in Iowa and is processing the data. However, to start the conversations with dairy goat producers, the dairy team held its first program with concurrent programs in Orange City and Elkader on December 14.

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Global Dairy Trade Event 252 concluded with the GDT Price Index up 1.7%

Key Results

AMF index down 2.6%, average price US$4,821/MT
Butter index up 5.5%, average price US$4,250/MT
BMP not offered
Ched index up 0.6%, average price US$4,048/MT
LAC index up 0.5%, average price US$806/MT
RenCas index up 4.7%, average price US$9,375/MT
SMP index up 0.7%, average price US$3,036/MT
SWP not offered
WMP index up 2.4%, average price US$3,233/MT

Full results have been published on www.globaldairytrade.info.

I-29 Moo University Dairy Beef Short Course to Focus on Carcasses and Animal Health

The I-29 Moo University Dairy Beef Short Course is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, 2020 as part of the pre-educational events for the Central Plains Dairy Expo.  It will be held in the Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls, SD in rooms 8, 9, & 10.  The focus of this year’s program is dairy beef carcasses at the farm, processor and consumer end, along with targeting health considerations for maximum performance. Continue reading “I-29 Moo University Dairy Beef Short Course to Focus on Carcasses and Animal Health”

Eye on Employees webinars to address farm labor concerns

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team will host a five-session webinar entitled “Eye on Employees,” beginning Wednesday, Feb. 5 from noon to 1:00 p.m.

The webinars will address the main concerns that farm and more specifically, dairy employers face.

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Workshops to Discuss What Dairy Needs to Know about Contagious Disease

The free workshops will focus on how to prepare for a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and steps that can be taken to protect dairies from foreign animal diseases and diseases already found in the United States.

One workshop will be offered Jan. 27 in Sioux Center, Iowa, at Terrace View. The address is 230 St., Andrews Way, Sioux Center. A free lunch will be provided at each workshop and pre-registration is encouraged. Check-in starts at 8:15 a.m., with workshops ending at 3 p.m.

Registration must be made through IDALS. Register by emailing fad@IowaAgriculture.gov, or calling 515-281-5305.

More information is available here.

GDT Price Index up 2.8%

Global Dairy Trade Event 251 concluded with the GDT Price Index up 2.8%

Key Results

AMF index up 2.3%, average price US$4,929/MT
Butter index up 3.7%, average price US$4,029/MT
BMP index up 7.4%, average price US$3,040/MT
Ched index up 3.7%, average price US$4,015/MT
LAC index up 2.1%, average price US$798/MT
RenCas index up 8.6%, average price US$8,973/MT
SMP index up 5.4%, average price US$3,026/MT
SWP index not available, average price not available
WMP index up 1.7%, average price US$3,150/MT

Full results have been published on www.globaldairytrade.info.

Feeding 2019 Corn Silage

A recent mycotoxin survey of corn harvested in 2019 shows 96 percent tested positive for at least one mycotoxin, while 61 percent of samples had more than one mycotoxin. Combine that with the potential for quality issues that may mean fewer pounds of milk per ton and producers need to get a handle on what they have in their piles.

To help producers evaluate their options, I-29 Moo University asked Dairy Specialist and Assistant Professor at Iowa State University Dr. Hugo Ramirez-Ramirez, shared what he is seeing from labs in the upper Midwest and what mitigation options producers have.

Ramirez will also share several other thoughts plus pile maintenance during feed-out.

The archived webinar available at:

https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/pekv78669iqd/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

Foreign Animal Disease workshop planned Jan. 27 in Sioux Center

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa State University will host a workshop at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 27 at Terrace View, 230 St. Andrews Way, Sioux Center. Check-in begins at 8:15 a.m.

The workshop will focus on how to prepare for a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and steps that can be taken to protect dairies from foreign animal diseases and also diseases already found in the United States. The workshop is free and includes lunch.

Danelle Bickett-Weddle, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, encourages dairy producers, processors, haulers, veterinarians, Extension personnel and emergency managers to attend.

Brandi Hansen is New Program Director for WIDA

Brandi Hansen has begun her tour as the new program Director for the Western Iowa Dairy Alliance. She is officed in Orange City.

Brandi ahs a background in Human Resources and non-profit management and advocacy. She has worked in the dairy industry for nine years on the manufacturing side.

She can be contacted by calling 712.441.5308 or by email at westerniowadairy@gmail.com.