Volunteers needed for 10th Annual June Dairy Month Open House

We are gearing up for another successful  June Dairy Month Open House scheduled for Wednesday, June 28 from 4 pm to 7 pm at Summit Dairy near Primghar.  

Thank you to the Westra family for hosting the open house. We will need more than 50 volunteers to help with farm tours, kids activities, the food tent, and drive golf carts. There will be two shifts to allow volunteers to also enjoy the meal and activities. If you are available to help, please contact us at 712-441-5308 or  [email protected].

Also, thank you to the dairy industry partners who have sponsored the open house. Watch for a full list of sponsors at the event and in future newsletters. 

Click here  for a list of other open house events in Iowa and neighboring states. 

PDPW World Class Webinars - Weather Outlook for Summer & Fall

The third installment of PDPW's weather webinar series will take place on Wednesday, June 14 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. The webinar is titled "Weather Outlook for Summer and Fall," and during this webinar, Eric Snodgrass will discuss long range weather outlooks for July and August. Viewers will also assess the current progress of the growing season and look for stressors that could impact grain prices. Participants will also learn how to forecast excessive heat and drought. 

You can view the webinar flyer by  clicking here.  WIDA producer members who want to purchase the webinar for viewing at their home or office will receive PDPW member pricing. 

Dairy Iowa Meeting Recap

The Dairy Iowa Meeting took place on June 8th at the Heartland Acres Agribition Center in Independence, IA. Kurt Wierda, Chair of Dairy Iowa, kicked off the meeting, and Kevin Murphy,  with Food Chain Communications, was the keynote speaker at the meeting.

Kevin discussed the "Food Morality Movement," how activists have surrounded the agricultural industry, and how they are swaying public opinion, even in rural America. He ended his presentation with tools producers can use to effectively respond to consumer questions. 

A producer panel followed, and producer panel members included Gary and Megan Kregel, Dennis Mashek, Kurt Wierda, and Jay Hansen. Panel members discussed the technology they use on their farms and how it is benefiting their operations.  

Secretary Bill Northey also attended the meeting, and he provided attendees with a brief agricultural update. The meeting ended with an industry panel, and panel members discussed how they are helping build the dairy industry in Iowa, how they are building consumer trust, and how they are helping build the next generation of Iowa dairy leaders. 

Cheese Fest Set for June 22

New Undeniably Dairy National Campaign 

Iowa Dairy Princess Candidates Sought

Midwest Dairy Association's Iowa Division is seeking candidates to serve as Iowa's 64th Dairy Princess.  The entry deadline is Saturday, July 1. 

The Iowa Dairy Princess serves as the official goodwill ambassador for the state's dairy industry, helping communicate with people about dairy farmers' stewardship for animals and natural resources, the safety and wholesomeness of dairy products, and the economic importance of dairy to Iowa's economy.  Eligible candidates include young women from 16 to 22 years old from active Iowa dairy farms, who work on a dairy farm, or whose parents are employees of an Iowa dairy farm. Young women who live in counties with a dairy promotion board princess contest must be nominated through their county program. However, candidates who live in counties without an active princess contest can submit an application to represent their own county. A full list of eligibility requirements can be found here. 

Potential candidates can learn more about the contest and dairy princess program at the Dairy Iowa Youth Communications Workshop, which will be held on Thursday, June 8, 2017, at the Heartland Acres Agribition Center in Independence, Iowa. Learn more or register by contacting [email protected] or calling 712-551-7918.

Four State Dairy Nutrition & Management Conference to take Place on June 14-15

Dairy producers are invited to the Four State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference on June 14 & 15, 2017. The conference will take place at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, IA. 

Presenters at the conference will address the latest research information on dairy industry issues. Check out the full conference agenda by clicking here. Registration is open, and the cost to attend the conference is $175 after June 1. To register, click here. 

Northwest IA Dairy Banquet to Feature Peterson Farm Bros

The Sioux County Dairy Promotion Board's annual dairy banquet will take place on Monday, June 26, 2017 at Western Christian High School in Hull. The meal will be served from 5:30-6:30 pm, and the Peterson Farm Brothers will take the stage at 7:00 pm. The Peterson Brothers are three brothers from central Kansas who make YouTube videos to promote agriculture. Their YouTube videos have received over 40 million views! The brothers all grew up and still work on their family farm alongside their parents and sister. 

To get your tickets for the banquet, click here.