July 2017 vol.2
Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization®
  
Opportunities to learn...

DAIRY DIALOGUE DAY TOUR SET FOR AUGUST 16  with tours of two high-performing dairy farms in south-central Wisconsin. The daylong chartered bus tour will visit Wargo Acres and Blue Star Dairy with discussions focused on achieving reproduction goals, developing quality genetics, managing high production, optimizing calf growth and exploring different types of stall bedding and comfort. Dr. Randy Shaver of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UW-Extension will facilitate discussions. Space is limited to the first 50 dairy farmer registrations and the tour includes bus travel, refreshments and lunch. To learn more and to register , visit www.pdpw.org or contact PDPW at 800-947-7379. Dairy Dialogue Day™ is an accredited training and offers up to 4.0 Dairy AdvanCE continuing education units.
 
ACE ON-THE-FARM TWILIGHT MEETINGS SET FOR AUGUST.  Community leaders and dairy producers are invited to attend meetings to discuss issues important to our rural communities and economies. Each evening's tour begins at 6:00 p.m. and features a 60-minute tour of the hosting dairy, followed by a question-and-answer session with ice cream. The meetings are a joint program of the Wisconsin Counties Association, Wisconsin Towns Association and the Professional Dairy Producers and are open to the public. Hosting dairies include:
  • Monday, August 28, Brooks Farms near Waupaca, Wis.
  • Tuesday, August 29, Mar-Bec Dairy near Mondovi, Wis.
  • Wednesday, August 30, Cozy Nook Farm near Waukesha, Wis.
  • Thursday, August 31, Ripp's Dairy Valley near Dane, Wis.
Learn more - including host farm addresses-and register here .

MINIMIZING THE EFFECT OF WEATHER ON CALVES will be the focus of the second in a two-part World Class Webinars series Wednesday, September 27. Dr. Geof Smith of North Carolina State University will discuss approaches and options to combat the stressful weather change from summer to fall for calves. Log-on to learn both practical and creative solutions for housing, labor, nutrition and calf management. Register here or contact PDPW at 800-947-7379. Participants who have registered can watch the sessions live and will receive a fully recorded version to watch at their leisure.
For your dairy...

COMPARING IN-VITRO-PRODUCED EMBRYO TRANSFER AND ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION was the focus of research published in the July 2017 Journal of Dairy Science. Researchers used a simulation model to evaluate the genetic, technical and financial performance of a 1,000-cow dairy herd implementing an exclusive IVP-ET system with an AI system. The simulation scenario was run for a 15-year period with a number of options, including selection of donors for various criteria, prices of surplus calves, and more. The most profitable scenario was the one in which lifetime net merit was maximized in the herd. The study results showed that an IVP-ET system could be at least as profitable over 15 years as an AI system, assuming surplus calves could be sold at premium price. Learn more here .   

REPRODUCTION TRACT SIZE AND POSITION SCORING SYSTEM PROVIDES A TOOL  for identifying a subset of cows that are less fertile, helping producers make decisions to maximize reproductive efficiency in their herd, according to research published in the July 2017 Journal of Dairy Science.
A reproductive tract size and position score (SPS) system was developed which relied only on transrectal palpation to determine the cervical and uterine size and position of the reproductive tract relative to the pelvis. Researchers noted that cows with small and compact uterine horns that rested within the pelvic cavity (designated as SPS1) had a higher rate of pregnancy per artificial insemination. Click here to read the full article.

'MILK AMYLOID A ELISA' TEST CAN ASSIST IN SUBCLINICAL MASTITIS DIAGNOSIS  in addition to existing tools, according to research published in the Journal of Dairy Science. Researchers used modeling to estimate the diagnostic-test accuracy of a commercial Milk Amyloid A ELISA (MAA-ELISA), somatic cell count (SCC) and bacteriological culture. The study's authors suggest the use of SCC and MAA-ELISA as a combined screening procedure for situations such as a control program for Staphylococcus aureus  and identified a differentiated way to use the three diagnostic tools they analyzed. Read the full text of the article here .

IMPROVE YOUR BOTTOM LINE WITH VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVES on your farm's vacuum pumps and ventilation fans. VFDs regulate the speed and rotational force of an electric motor, giving you control over the amount of power being supplied and the amount of energy that's consumed. This gives producers the ability to manage the amount of milk entering the system and the temperature of the barn while cutting energy bills by as much as 60 percent. VFDs are effective tools that save energy, reduce maintenance costs, and extend equipment's operating life. Properly sized VFDs also increase precision and control. Need help identifying other energy efficiency measures for your farm? Learn more from Focus on Energy Advisors .
Hit the road...

REDHEAD CREAMERY, BROOTEN, MN
200 W. Liberty Drive, Thorp, Wis.
Owned and operated by Jerry and Linda Jennissen (Jer-Lindy Farms)
and Alise and Lucas Sjostrom

Redhead Creamery features cheese curds and cheeses made at the on-farm cheese plant. Information about tours and special events is available on their Facebook page and website .
Dairy currents...

PREVENT NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS   by changing workplace practices and adding new equipment. Noise-induced hearing loss is a result of exposure to high-intensity noise without proper hearing protection, and farmers are at increased risk due to loud noises in their work environment on a daily basis. Noise-induced hearing loss is preventable by reducing the level of noise at its source and correctly wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

 Four steps to prevent hearing loss are: duce noise by paying close attention to equipment maintenance and operating larger equipment at a lower speed.
  1. Isolate noise by buying implements equipped with sound-reducing cabs and tightly fitting cab doors and window.
  2. Limit workers' exposure to noise by rotating workstations between noisy and less noisy tasks.
  3. Use-and require employees to use-personal protective equipment such as earplugs and ear muffs.

Find more information in this article.
OBESITY CHALLENGE INCREASING AROUND THE WORLD  according to a new study released last month. The research published in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that about 107.7 million children and 603.7 million adults were obese worldwide in 2015, a significant increase over the past 30 years. In many countries, the rate of obesity is rising faster in children than adults, which means more young people are at risk of becoming obese adults and developing problems like diabetes, heart disease and a range of cancers. Read the journal article here .

URBAN AGRICULTURE DELIVERS ONLY SMALL ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS  according to a new analysis reported in the Environmental Science & Technology journal. While some studies have suggested that bringing food production into urban cities can lower food-related greenhouse gas emissions, the data in these reports did not apply to the cold northeastern climate. Using computer models, researchers found that urban agriculture in Boston, Mass., would reduce food-related carbon emissions by only 1.1-2.9% per year and would increase land impacts by less than 1% per year. However, growing fruits and vegetables in high-density areas could have other benefits such as providing city residents with easier access to fresh produce. Read more in the abstract here .
For your business mind...

WHERE DO AMERICAN CONSUMERS GROCERY SHOP? According to data compiled by UBS, more than a fifth of grocery market share is held by Walmart and its warehouse chain Sam's Club. The rest of the market is highly fragmented and split between dozens of other players, including Kroger (10%), Albertsons (5.2%) and Costco (4.2%). While news has emerged that Amazon.com is purchasing Whole Foods, those two companies hold just a combined 1.6% of the grocery market. The discount store Aldi has also announced an aggressive expansion plan that would give it more than its current 1.1% of the market. See a full list of the top grocery chain marketshare in this Business Insider article .

GLOBAL DAIRY PRICES AND OPTIMISM ROSE IN Q2 according to the Rabobank Dairy Quarterly Q2 2017 report. Global milk production rose, and is expected to continue its recovery. The report noted that strong demand growth in the U.S. and weak production growth in the EU at a time of year when butterfat levels are naturally depressed have "contributed to a global shortage of butterfat, forcing prices of butter and cream to exceptional levels." Read more here.  
 
AVOID THE "WHAT DID I GET DONE TODAY" QUESTION at the end of each day by following a few tips to help you stay focused and increase productivity. 
  • Track and limit how much time you're spending on tasks by keeping notes or using online tools and apps
  • Implement focused time and take breaks. Research shows working in intervals of no more than 90 minutes is most productive.
  • Stop multitasking. When you do two things at once, your brain is task-switching and, just like a computer, your brain slows down when you give it multiple commands at once. 
  • Plan for tomorrow. Tonight.  Planning for your day the night before makes it more likely that you'll start on the projects and priorities at hand. 

Find more productivity tips in the full article here. 
Book Review
 
STAND OUT: HOW TO FIND YOUR BREAKTHROUGH IDEA AND BUILD A FOLLOWING AROUND IT.  Author Dorie Clark shares examples and lessons from interviews on how to identify the ideas that set you apart, then successfully promote them. Capitalizing on your unique perspective and knowledge, then inspiring others to listen and take action is key. She teaches readers how to develop a big idea and leverage existing affiliations. Learn more here .
Words to live by...

"The essential part of creativity is not being afraid to fail." --- Edwin H. Land
A BIG Thank You...    
 
TO OUR PDPW SPONSORS who  support continuous improvement for the dairy industr y. T hey believe in producer leadership and place a high value on lifelong  education for those involved in the dairy industry. We deeply respect their commitment to PDPW and the members we have the honor to serve. 


 
OUR SPONSORS : Mission, Corporate and Event  
continue to invest and build a strong industry. If you interact with any of these companies, please thank them for supporting PDPW!    If you or a company you know is interested in participating as a sponsor, please contact one of our team members at [email protected] or call 800-947-7379.