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Upcoming Events
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Visit the WIDA web site for a full list of events
February 23
Orange City, IA
February 27
Orange City, IA
Sioux City, IA
March 28-31
Sioux Falls, SD
March 29
Sioux Falls, SD
June 28
Summit Dairy, Primghar
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2017 Silver Sponsors
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Celebrating 10 Years of Success
Thank you to everyone who made it out to our annual meeting and ten-year celebration on Monday, January 23. A special thanks goes out to Rick Kreykes for serving as our emcee for the night. Our entertainer for the evening was agricultural comedian, Tim Moffett aka Tim the Dairy Farmer, and he helped us to have a fun night filled with laughter.
Anna Van Ess, Van Ess Dairy, Eric Metzger, Summit Farm, Adam Maassen, Maassen Dairy, and Ron Smit, Deluxe Feeds, were approved by WIDA members to join the WIDA Board of Directors. One opening still exists for a producer/heifer grower board member, so if you are interested in serving on the board, please contact Jenna at 712-441-5308.
Thank you to outgoing board members, Nancy Jones, Brian Cuperus, and Londa Boogerd for you time and service on the WIDA board of directors.
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Dairy Producers Learn About Hiring, Retaining, and Growing Employees
On Friday, February 3, PDPW and WIDA hosted a dairy human resources workshop for dairy producers. Trevina Broussard, an Associate Trainer with Humetrics and Peggy Morrow & Associates in Texas, was our trainer for the day, and topics that were covered included hiring and on-boarding processes, and how to retain and grow employees. A producer panel was also included in the workshop, and the following panelists were able to join us:
- Kevin Wulff - Riverview LLP
- Dave Vander Kooi - Ocheda Dairy
- Dorothy Elliott - Drumgoon Dairy
A special thanks goes out to the panels for making the trip to Orange City to share their knowledge and experiences with other dairy producers. Also, a big thank you goes out to Van Zee Enterprises for sponsoring our meal that day.
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Thank You for 2017 Membership Renewals!
We would like to thank everyone who has sent in their membership renewals for 2017. Your support is greatly appreciated as it allows us to continue to serve as an advocate for the dairy industry, engage with consumers, support farm families, and help build the next generation of leaders. Please take a look at our
"Celebrating 10 Years of Growth" report to see how your membership is benefiting you.
We're excited to have new Silver members for 2017. See logos to the left and make sure to thank the businesses that you work with for their support. A full list of industry partners who have renewed or joined for 2017 can be seen on our web site.
If you did not receive renewal paperwork, need an invoice, or would like to pay with credit card, contact Jenna by emailing her at info@wiadairy.com or calling her at 712-441-5308.
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Midwest Dairy & ISDA Scholarships Available
The Iowa Division of Midwest Dairy Association will be awarding 20 $1,000 educational awards. Applicants who qualify include any producer who funds Midwest Dairy Association, the producer's spouse, and the producer's children or grandchildren. The producer must have an active dairy operation as of January 1st of the year the scholarship will be awarded. The producer must reside in Iowa. Please contact Midwest Dairy Association at 1-800-642-3895 if you need to verify these qualifications.
The application deadline for 2017 scholarships is March 17, 2017.
Click here for details and the application form.
ISDA will be awarding 14 college scholarships of $500 each for the 2017 fall semester. To be eligible for a scholarship, you must be the child or grandchild of a current ISDA member OR be an employee or the child of an employee on a dairy farm which belongs to ISDA. Applicants must also be attending college full time (or plan to attend full time).
All WIDA dairy farm members also have joint membership in ISDA. WIDA is funding two of the $500 scholarships.
Applications are due March 17, 2017.
Click here for details and the application form.
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American Dairy Coalition Update
Article provided by American Dairy Coalition
A new legislative session brings new goals for American Dairy Coalition members and renewed commitment to providing profitable dairy policy for our nation's dairy producers. The ADC is working hard to help secure a reliable labor force to ensure dairy and agriculture producers have the workers they need to work their fields, milk their cows and get their products to market. Additional details on the 2017 ADC Policy Resolutions can be found on ADC's website at
www.americandairycoalitioninc.com.
A brief overview of ADC 2017 Policy Resolutions include the following:
- Securing a Reliable Labor Force - Immigration
- Streamlining Environmental Regulations
- Increasing the Export of Dairy Products and Agriculture Commodities
Previously, ADC experienced early success by advocating to make section 179 of the federal tax code permanent. This tax provision has brought billions of tax savings to farmers, ranchers, processors and agriculture businesses by increasing expensing from $25,000 to $500,000 per year.
Click here to view the full list of issues they are tackling and to view their 2017 Leadership Team.
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ISU Extension to Host Farm Bill Reauthorization Hearing Webinar
The Senate Ag Committee will be holding a Farm Bill Reauthorization Hearing on Thursday, February 23. The northwest Iowa livestock and dairy specialists will be hosting a live webinar of the hearing for producers, which will be held in the basement meeting room at the Sioux County Extension office. The webinar will take place on Thursday, February 23 at 2:00 p.m. While no registration is required, seating will be on a first come first serve basis.
Attendees will be able to hear the questions and testimony taking place at the hearing, and producers will also have the chance to submit written testimonies. An email address will be provided at a date closer to the hearing.
For more information on the hearing webinar, contact the Sioux County Extension and Outreach office at 712-737-4230.
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Iowa State Beef Checkoff Effective March 1, 2017
Information provided by Chris Freland - Executive Director, Iowa Beef Industry Council
In November 2016, the new Iowa State Beef Checkoff Program was passed by voters. The Iowa State Checkoff is a producer funded and managed, state-level promotion, marketing, research and education program for beef and beef products. Producers will now pay an additional, refundable, $0.50 per head assessment on cattle at each point of ownership transfer in Iowa.
Even though payment is mandatory, the assessment is refundable.
What does this mean for dairy producers?
For each transaction of dairy or beef animals, the beef checkoff should be remitted. For private sales on or off the farm where animals are sold (for example, selling bull calves to a neighbor to feed) the seller must remit the checkoff on the total number of head. Starting on March 1, 2017, it will be $1.50 per head ($1.00 to the National Beef Check off and $0.50 to the Iowa State Beef Checkoff) to the Iowa Beef Industry Council.
For more information about the Iowa State Checkoff, please call 515-296-2305 or email beef@iabeef.org. You can also visit their website for more information and for access to the remittance forms by
clicking here.
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