Economic Update: Dairy retail sales strong heading into summer; dairy outlook mixed

As we head into summer, dairy retail sales look strong, but the outlook on dairy over all appears to be mixed.

According to Abrielle Backhaus, research coordinator with IDDBA, retail dairy sales percentage gains have been up double digits over some of the comparable weeks in 2019 for 12 consecutive weeks, however, only the second week in the past dozen, in which sales growth, slipped below 20% when compared to the similar week a year ago.

To learn more, check out this recent article by Progressive Dairy’s Dave Natzke.

Prioritize cow well-being throughout transition period

According to Boehringer Ingelheim, providing proactive care throughout the transition period is crucial to help reduce calving-related disorders and it can also help boost milk production and extend cow longevity. Want to learn more about how to ensure your calving dairy cow has everything she needs during the critical time period before and following calving?

“There are three different rations: one that’s formulated on paper, one that gets mixed and fed and one that the cows actually eat,” said Dr. Jennifer Roberts, a veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim. “In a perfect world, these would all be the same, but in reality, cows can be picky eaters, and particular care needs to be given to ensure her ration is balanced for the cow’s metabolic needs and is properly mixed with the correct components and proper particle length to minimize sorting.”

This article covers an outline of nutritional needs during the transition period’s three milestones:

  1. Dry Period
  2. Calving
  3. Postpartum

Check out this great article from Feedstuffs: https://www.feedstuffs.com/nutrition-health/prioritize-cow-well-being-throughout-transition-period

USDA Modifies Dairy Revenue Protection Sales Period

The USDA is updating the Dairy Revenue Protection Sales Period.

Starting June 5th, 2020, the sales period for Dairy Revenue Protection will begin no later than 4:30 PM (CT) and will end at 9:00 AM (CT) on the next business day or 9:00 AM (CT) on Sunday, whichever is earlier.

“The DRP program is an excellent risk management tool for dairy producers, providing peace of mind during unpredictable market fluctuations such as the dairy industry is experiencing now,” RMA Administrator Martin Barbre said. “USDA wants to be sure that we make the necessary adjustments to ensure that the Federal crop insurance program continues to serve the risk management needs of our nation’s producers during this unprecedented time.”

To learn more about the USDA update, Check out this article by the Hoard’s Dairyman: https://hoards.com/article-28070-usda-modifies-dairy-revenue-protection-sales-period.html

For more information about DRP, visit RMA’s website or contact your local crop insurance agent using the RMA Agent Locator.

World Dairy Expo Canceled Due To Coronavirus

Due to concerns related to the coronavirus, this year’s World Dairy Expo in Madison has been canceled.

“Our collective heart is heavy as we share with you that World Dairy Expo 2020 has been cancelled,” said the event’s general manager Scott Bentley in the press release. “We know how much this hurts; we feel it, too. Please know other options were explored and considered by the World Dairy Expo Executive Committee and staff.”

For additional information, including answers to frequently asked questions related to the cancellation, please visit worlddairyexpo.com.

To learn more, check out this article by Bridgit Bowden from Wisconsin Public Radio.

Providing Milk Education to our Community | 97milk.com

Here is a site you might want to bookmark for milk education for your community and vendors. 97milk.com offers a large download collection for promotions and supporting information on drinking whole milk.

“97 Milk was created to be a voice for our local dairy farmers. This is a place where people can get nutritious information on dairy products, it’s a place where farmers can tell their story, a place where our community can get information on how to support local dairy farms. There is so much confusing information regarding dairy and there are always two sides to every story. 97 Milk tells the story of the many farms that love and care for their cows, the passion that many dairy farmers have, the many proven research-based facts on milk nutrition. This is our side that our community deserves to hear.” – Why 97 Milk? Originaly Posted on Facebook.

Read More Here.

10 Ways to Improve Early Lactation Performance and Peak Milk Yield | Dairy Herd Management

Looking for ways to help improve lactation performance? Here is some great info! In this article, Noah Litherland from the University Of Minnesota discusses 10 ways you can improve early lactation performance and peak milk yield:

“Peak milk is the highest recorded test day milk production in a cow’s first 150 days in milk (DIM). Historically, producers used peak milk as a measure of the success of dry period and early lactation nutrition and management. Peak milk indicates how well the cow responds to feeding practices during the dry period, calving and early lactation periods.

Most cows achieve peak milk by 45 to 90 DIM and then slowly lose production over time. Many cite that each added pound of peak milk could lead to 200 to 250 pounds more milk for the whole lactation. Nutrition and health disorders in early lactation affect peak milk. For example, low dietary fiber diet/sorting can lead to rumen acidosis, which can result in lameness or displaced abomasum. Both conditions can cause reduced peak milk.

Ten ways to improve early lactation performance and peak milk yield:
1. Start cows with a successful dry period

Research shows dry period nutrition and management affects health and performance after birth. Thus, evaluate your dry cow program if you’re unhappy with milk cow performance. Key goals for dry cows include: […]”

Read More Here.

 

How to Detect Respiratory Diseases in Calves Quicker | Farm and Dairy

In this article, Jason Hartschuh provides info on how you can better detect respiratory diseases in calves:

“Usually, I find winter calf management to be slightly easier than summer, especially with the addition of calf jackets helping to manage cold stress. This winter has been the opposite of simple — with temperatures on a roller coaster ride rivaling Steel Vengeance — that keeps me guessing as to how much to open and close my naturally ventilated calf barn.

Even if I had the advantages of positive pressure ventilation helping to manage air turns per hour, the 40-degree temperature swings can be hard on calves and humans. Factor in the high moisture in the air, and you have the perfect recipe for pneumonia. […]”

To read more, click here.

Don’t Let Inefficient Fans Rack Up Your Electricity Bill | AG Web

Looking to save on your electric bills? In this article Taylor Leach discusses how inefficient fans can drive your costs up:

“Have you noticed your electricity bill starting to climb up? Maybe it’s time to check the efficiency of your fans.

The energy used to operate ventilation systems on the farm typically accounts for 20-25% of your total energy bill, according to Dan McFarland, an agricultural engineer at Pennsylvania State University.  Regardless of the barn style, proper ventilation is an important part of cow comfort to ensure cows are in an environment that allows them to perform to their potential. Here are three areas to focus on when analyzing your ventilation system’s efficiency.

While the purpose of every fan is to get air moving, not every fan is created equal. Fan efficiency is affected by several factors including blade design, fan enclosure design, and motor efficiency, according to McFarland.

“There has been too much emphasis on ‘cheap’ fans in the ag industry and this is costing more in operating expense and maintenance. If you are looking to buy new fans, make sure you take a look at the efficiency rating of the fans as you compare,” McFarland says. “Typically, larger fan will have better efficiency than smaller fans.”

[…]”

To read more, click here.

Indiana Milk Quality Conference Coming to Fair Oaks in April | Hoosier Ag Today

On Tuesday, April 14t & Wednesday, April 15th The Indiana Milk Quality Professionals, Inc. will host the 2020 Indiana Milk Quality Conference at The Farmhouse at Fair Oaks Farms in Fair Oaks, Indiana.

This year’s conference will feature three panels:
– “The INDY 500 Milkman”
– “Milk Processing 101”
– The third panel will be a consumer panel in which consumers will be discussing their shopping preferences and thoughts on dairy.

To read more, click here.

Dairy Herd Management Market 2019 Global Outlook, Research, Trends and Forecast To 2025 | The NyseNasdaqLive News

Looking for some information regarding the outlook of dairy herd management? This article takes a deep dive into some key industry research and trends from 2019:

“Dairy herd management is a process that manages and regulates the health & productivity of dairy animals and is viewed as a cost saving process as it implements techniques of smart farming. Dairy herd management systems offer numerous benefits such as enabling dairy farm managers to keep count of animals, inspect & respond to livestock behaviour, record their conception rate, calf age, births, and promptly detect health related issues faced by the cattle.

These management programs also include vaccination programs for prevention from diseases, parasite control measures and some blood tests too for the better management of health of the animals. Moreover, this management system is developed to increase overall efficiency and production in dairy herd farming with reduced cost and lesser time. Whereas, earlier dairy herd farming practices needed more time, labour, and high cost. […]”

To read more, click here.