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Hi, MariahBusta! I don’t know about you, but these above freezing temperatures are making me eager for spring. Before we know it, the giant snow pile in front of the parlor will be melted, we’ll be able to open the curtains on the barn and be back in the field. Speaking of spring, the farm management team recently met to discuss the crop plan for the upcoming year. With our commitment to cover crops, we will harvest about 60 acres of the rye we seeded last fall to use as heifer feed. Then, those acres will have manure applied and be planted to a sorghum, rye and clover cocktail mix. We will burn off the rye on the remaining 110 acres and plant a combination of BMR and conventional corn to harvest and store separately to compare the silage. We’re thankful to bring together a team with our farm staff, seed reps, nutritionist and custom hire to help create and implement the plan. If there’s one takeaway, it’s that it takes a team. Now, who’s ready for spring? |
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Mariah Busta
Coordinator, Northeast Iowa Dairy & Agriculture Foundation |
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What's Happening at Iowa's Dairy Center Mark Your Calendars for 2021 Annual Meeting Friday, Mar. 26 | 10 a.m. | Virtual The theme of this year’s annual meeting will focus on environmental stewardship and the Net Zero Initiative, which is the dairy industry’s goal to become carbon neutral or better by the year 2050. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Iowa DNR Director Kayla Lyon will be sharing updates from their departments and answering questions. Additional details and registration information will be available soon. Ad Space Available in Annual Report Businesses and organizations interested in supporting the Northeast Iowa Dairy & Agriculture Foundation’s annual meeting can purchase ad space in the 2021 annual report. Report books are distributed to attendees of the meeting and are available to download on our website. Ads are full color and are available in different sizes. Those interested in purchasing ad space can contact Mariah Busta at (563) 534-9957 ext. 8107 or bustam@nicc.edu. Save the Date: Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Jun. 10, Jul. 8, Aug. 5 | 9-11 a.m. | Virtual Progressive Agriculture Safety Day is moving virtual this summer. Youth ages 4-12 who live on a farm, work on a farm or visit a farm are encouraged to attend the virtual program. Topics may include ATV, animal, bike, electrical, fire, lawnmower, machinery and sun safety and basic first aid. Stay tuned for additional details and registration information. Registration Open for Spring and Summer A.I. Classes Mar. 9-11, Jun. 15-17 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Iowa’s Dairy Center This is a three-day hands-on class for those who wish to artificially inseminate their own cattle or gain experience to work for others. The class will cover all aspects of bovine reproduction, from anatomy and hormones to heat detection. Students have actual insemination practice on cattle at Iowa's Dairy Center. The minimum age requirement for this class is 16. The class is taught by Select Sires. |
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Parlor Talk Parlor Talk features bits of news from the Northeast Iowa Dairy & Agriculture Foundation and Iowa’s Dairy Center. The monthly column is written by Dave Lawstuen, NICC Agriculture Instructor and Chair of Iowa’s Dairy Center.
- Iowa’s Dairy Center was recognized by Dairy Farmers of America for producing high quality milk for the tenth straight year.
- The Dairy Center’s Holstein cow 2601 Indiana is averaging over 120 lbs. in the first 100 days of her first lactation. In the last two weeks, she averaged over 130 lbs., 4.0% butterfat and less than 100,000 SCC. Indiana, along with her three sisters, Iowa, Idaho and Illinois, are the product of a flush that the Dairy Science students in the animal genetics class were involved in. Students evaluated, mated, flushed and transferred embryos from Wake-Up Star Irish 310, a heifer which was purchased at the 2017 NICC Dairy Club Sale.
- Brodie Bushman, Dairy & Agriculture Foundation Herdsperson and Feed Manager, will begin teaching the Agricultural Equipment and Safety class at NICC as an adjunct instructor. In this course, students receive OSHA certification.
- NICC Dairy and Beef Science Technology students have recently completed and received their certification in Dairy Quality and Beef Quality Assurance.
- Congratulations to the following alumni herds who rank among the top of Minnesota herds for milk quality in 2020. Rachel Selke of Winona at 56,000 (4th); Andy and Aaron Houdek of Caledonia at 71,000 (16th); Matt Andring of Dover at 103,000; Cole Hoscheit of Caledonia at 143,000; and Alicia Metz of Rushford at 149,000.
- Additionally, several farms who have hosted internships for our Dairy Science students also ranked high on the Minnesota milk quality list. Wolf Creek Dairy of Dundas at 58,000 (5th); Sass Dairy of Chatfield at 86,000; Herber Dairy of Utica at 97,000; Johnson Rolling Acres of Peterson at 109,000; Trailside Holsteins of Fountain at 111,000; Borst Family Dairy of Rochester at 125,000; Shea Dairy of Viola at 135,000; Wayne Peters of Lake City at 139,000; and Bob and Jeanette Sheehan of Rochester at 139,000. Congratulations!
- Where are they now? Tony Kasper, co-chair of the first NICC Dairy Science Club Sale in 2006, is back home on the family farm in Owatonna, Minn. Tony, along with his wife Betsy and three children, milk 500 registered Holsteins with a few Jerseys and Milking Shorthorns. Tony breeds for high type, fat and protein.
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