Event Details

Date

August 24, 2017

Time

7-9pm

Location

Cornell Vet Teaching Dairy
Tulip Tree Drive
Ithaca, NY 14850

Cost

This event is free.

Host

South Central New York Dairy and Field Crops

Betsy Hicks
607.391.2673

Pre-Registration Deadline: August 22, 2017

EVENT HAS PASSED

Summer Dairy Reproduction Update

August 24, 2017


Summer Dairy Research Update
  • Heifer Reproduction
  • Hypocalcemia
Thursday, August 24th from 7-9pm
Cornell Vet Teaching Dairy, Tulip Tree Drive, Ithaca

Speakers will be:
  • Julio O. Giordano, DVM, MS, PhD - Cornell University, St. John Family Sesquicentennial, Assistant Professor-Dairy Cattle Biology & Management, Department of Animal Science
  • Magdalena Masello Souza, DVM - Cornell University, PhD Student-Dairy Cattle Biology & Management, Lab
  • Robert A. Lynch, DVM - Cornell University PRO-DAIRY Program, Herd Health & Management Specialist
Topics:

Reducing Replacement Heifers Rearing Cost through Improved Reproductive Management
Replacement cows generated by the heifer rearing enterprise are critical to the future of dairy farms. Nevertheless, raising heifers represents a major cost burden accounting for as much as 15 to 20% of the total cost of production. Thus, minimizing the duration of the non-lactating period by reducing days to pregnancy can help reduce farm operating costs. We will present new research data evaluating different reproductive management programs for dairy heifers in commercial dairy farms. The impact of these strategies on the reproductive performance and economics of heifers during their non-lactating period and their first lactation will be discussed.

Fresh Cow Calcium Supplementation- To Treat or Not to Treat
A recent large trial conducted on farms in New York State has provided insight into which cows truly benefit from oral calcium supplementation.  We will review the trial results to help you make practical decisions regarding post-calving calcium supplementation in your herds.

Registration is free, but required so we have an accurate count for refreshments.
Registration required by August 22nd-register online or contact Betsy Hicks at 607.391.2673 or email bjh246@cornell.edu.



Summer Dairy Reproduction Update (PDF; 1161KB)


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Upcoming Events

Dairy Feeder School - Host Farm: Twin Birch Dairy

October 31, 2024
Skaneateles, NY

One day on-farm training for dairy farm feeders;  Offered in English and Spanish at each site;  Stations with hands-on activities/demos

 Topics Covered During Feeder School:

 Â¨ Economics and importance of feeding and feed management

¨ Dry matter and feeder math basics: how to measure DM and refusals, and adjust ration

¨ Feed consistency and TMR audits

¨ Troubleshooting mixer wagons

¨ Bunk silo management, map out bunk, packing density and preservation, and feed out

¨ Safety

 

Dairy Feeder School - Host Farm: Walnut Ridge Dairy

November 12, 2024
Lansing, NY

One day on-farm training for dairy farm feeders;  Offered in English and Spanish at each site;  Stations with hands-on activities/demos

 Topics Covered During Feeder School:

 Â¨ Economics and importance of feeding and feed management

¨ Dry matter and feeder math basics: how to measure DM and refusals, and adjust ration

¨ Feed consistency and TMR audits

¨ Troubleshooting mixer wagons

¨ Bunk silo management, map out bunk, packing density and preservation, and feed out

¨ Safety

 

Announcements

Farm Participants Needed for Bale Grazing Grant!

Information on the Project:  
  • Approximately 10 acres total needed to bale graze two different bale densities
  • "Core" farms will graze two winters, "Demo" farms will graze one winter.
  • Payments for both "Core" farms and "Demo" farms
  • Baseline soil sampling by bale grazing team
  • Forage measurements in early season by bale grazing team
  • Late season clipping if residual not trampled down by farm
Interested farms can enroll for this winter or next.

Looking for 2-3 dairy farms to enroll! If interested, please reach out to Betsy Hicks, 607.391.2673 or bjh246@cornell.edu 


Cornell Cow Convos - New Podcast

On-going podcast, New episodes released on the last Thursday of the month.
Guest speakers, CCE Dairy Specialists.

Housed on Soundcloud Channel is CCE Dairy Educators


Topics:
  • Preventative healthcare for cows
  • The trend of beef on dairy
  • What to look forward to in the new year for dairy
  • Socially grouping or pair-housing calves



Dairy Acceleration Program Funds Available

Funds available for the
  • organization of financial records/benchmarking up to $1,000
  • continued business planning (for farms awarded in a previous year) up to $2,500
  • business planning up to $5,000
Guidelines remain the same DAP covers 80% of the cost up to the value of the award and the farm is responsible for 20%.  Visit https://prodairy.cals.cornell.edu/dairy-acceleration/

2018 Drug Residue Prevention Manual

For more than 30 years, the U.S. dairy industry has focused educational efforts on the judicious use of antibiotics through the annual publication of a Best Practices Manual. The 2018 edition of the National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management? Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual is the primary educational tool for dairy farm managers throughout the country on the judicious and responsible use of antibiotics, including avoidance of drug residues in milk and meat.

The manual is a quick resource to review those antibiotics approved for dairy animals and can also be used as an educational tool and resource for farm managers as they develop on-farm best management practices necessary to avoid milk and meat residues. Visit the Manual and Form Library to download copies of this important tool!



Follow us on Facebook

The team updates our facebook page frequently - follow us to be updated on our events, see some fun videos and get local area updates!

facebook.com/SCNYDairyandFieldCropsTeam


ProDairy Forage Management

Are you prepared to change your routine this spring?

By: Joe Lawrence, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY and Ron Kuck, Cornell Cooperative Extension North Country Regional Ag Team


While spring tasks vary by farm, there are many "rites of spring," and they are often completed in a fairly rigid sequence. Depending on the farm, these often include fixing fence, spreading manure, planting new seedings, planting corn and harvesting first cutting, and are often performed in this order.

We are optimistic that the upcoming turn in weather will allow these task to be accomplished in a timely manner, but at this point it is time to ask yourself: Are you willing to change your spring routine?

In addition to adverse weather it is no secret that everyone is facing extremely tight economic times, and dealing with forage inventories of poor digestibility forages from 2017. This combination of factors makes it more critical than ever to be ready to tackle the task that will have the most impact on your business at the proper time.

Recent reference articles on dealing with tough times:
• Key Opportunities to Optimize 2018 Crop Production Efficiency
• Resources for Dealing with Spring Weather Delays
First Cutting
The number one focus should be on timely harvest of first cutting.
• Park the corn planter when a field of first cutting is ready for harvest.
o Monitoring 1st cut harvest timing
• Approach harvest by the acre, not by the field. Be ready to skip over a field that has passed its optimum harvest stage.
o Dynamic Harvest Schedules
• Strategically plan feed storage to best utilize forage inventories for the right group of animals.
o Strategic Forage Storage Planning
o When More is Better
Corn Planting
The window for planting for silage is generally wider than for grain, which is why first cutting can and should take priority over corn planting. However, in the event of extreme delays in planting corn, performance will diminish with late plantings. If corn planting progresses into late May or early June, begin to consider alternative options for those acres. Previous research from Cornell and Penn State suggest a 0.5 to 1 ton/acre per week decline in silage yield for planting after mid to late May.

Multi-Tasking
First and foremost during a time of year that can be very busy and stressful, taking every precaution to keep your team safe is critical.

The idea of fitting all of this work into a condensed time period, and still getting key tasks completed before critical deadlines can seem impossible, but year after year many find unique ways to get it all done. Consider working with neighbors, custom operators or renting equipment to accomplish these key tasks on time.

If you currently utilize custom operators, now is a good time to set up a time to meet with them and make sure you are on the same page to get tasks accomplished in the time-frame needed. Make sure that your expectations and goals are clearly defined. They will also be under stress to fit their work into a condensed period and meet their customers' expectations, so defining expectations and pre-planning how to most efficiently get the work accomplished when the custom operator arrives can go a long way to increase the chances for success.



NYSERDA Agriculture Energy Audit Program

NYSERDA offers energy audits to help eligible farms and on-farm producers identify ways to save energy and money on utility bills. Reports include recommendations for energy efficiency measures.

Eligibility
Eligible farms include but are not limited to dairies, orchards, greenhouses, vegetables, vineyards, grain dryers, and poultry/egg. The farms must also be customers of New York State investor-owned utilities and contribute to the System Benefits Charge (SBC). Please check your farm’s current utility bills to see if your farm pays the SBC.

Energy Audit Options
You can request the level of energy audit that best fits your farm’s needs. NYSERDA will assign a Flexible Technical Assistance Program Consultant to visit your farm and perform an energy audit at no cost to you.

For more information and the NYSERDA Agriculture Energy Audit Program Application click here


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