California Ag Network

Category: Dairy Industry

  • New Keith Bolsen Silage Safety Foundation Announced

    Dr. Keith and Ruthie Bolsen announce the new Keith Bolsen Silage Safety Foundation.

    The non-profit organization is dedicated to promoting safe bunker silo and silage pile

    management, and providing safety educational resources and materials for the global silage

    industry. Send everyone home safe!

     

    Keith and Ruthie’s mission is to promote safe silage. As The Silageman™, Keith has had

    his hands on more silage than anyone, and is a widely-recognized educator. He taught Cattle

    Nutrition and Silage Technology at Kansas State University, where he is a Professor Emeritus.

    The foundation will officially become public at World Dairy Expo, October 3 – 7 in

    Madison, WI. The foundation’s first presentation, “Bunker and Pile Safety – Get Your Wakeup

    Call Today” is at the Arena Building Forage Seminar Stage on Friday, October 6, 10:00 a.m.

     

    “The foundation will share the importance of silage safety through proper management

    practices from harvest to feedout,” says Keith. “Ruthie and I have experienced the pain of injury

    and death with the family members of silage accidents, and it is our goal that everyone working

    on a dairy or beef farm goes home safe every day.” The foundation’s website outlines the

    resources available: printed and video materials, speaker opportunities, training workshops,

    and scholarships for families of silage collapse victims.

     

    “Preventing silage accidents is a big challenge, and we are looking for donors – both

    industry and individual farmers – who want to support this important mission,” adds Ruthie.

     

    Keith and Ruthie will be at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin October 3 – 7 to

    introduce and promote the foundation. Please stop by their display in the Connor Agriscience

    booth, Arena Building, Space 490 and 491.

     

    Learn more at www.silagesafety.org, or call 512-301-2281 for more information.

  • California Dairy Families Tell the Real People Story of California Milk in New Social Series

    “California Dairy Stories” videos further connect consumers with family farmers behind the Real California Milk seal

    TRACY, Calif. (August 17, 2017) – Family, hard work and responsibility are all key themes that come through in “California Dairy Stories”, a new social media series launched today by the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB). The series, which captures short day-in-the-life moments from real California dairy families, was created to continue to connect consumers with the real people behind the Real California Milk seal.

    Like life, it’s not all work and no play for the 1300 dairy families who farm in California. From tractor pulls to stroopwafels, the series of 12 short videos tell very personal stories of the families who farm in California and look to pass this tradition to the next generation.

    Each moment demonstrates the variety of the dairy industry in California, which spans the state and is responsible for over 40 billion pounds of milk each year. For Tony Louters of Merced, who stepped away from a planned career as a CPA, going into farming means being able to spend time with his family, including daughter Alexis who is applying the values of hard work she learned on the farm to her studies as a speech therapist. Fourth-generation producer, Megan Silva, uses her early morning run to help prepare for the challenges of three business, 12 barns and three kids. And David Jones uses his lens as an amateur photographer to tell the story of California agriculture.

    “Real California Milk is about real food from real people. These short slices of California dairy life not only help consumers connect with the California dairy families who put the food on their tables but also create a better understanding of how we share the same values and experiences,” said Michael Freeman, VP of advertising for CMAB. “We pass on family traditions, we squeeze fitness into our busy lives and our kids often aspire to go into the family business. For farm families, though, that family business is nourishing the world.”

    The multigenerational story of family dairy farming in California is evident in each video vignette. From sharing traditional recipes to teaching the tools to become successful in farming, what comes through is the love of family, love of community and the gratitude for being in an industry that allows them to share the fruits of their labor with the world while continuously working to preserve the tradition of farming for the next generation.

    As B. Van Beek of Dairyland Farms in Tipton, Calif. says, “We don’t inherit the land from our parents, we borrow it from our grandkids.”

    “California Dairy Stories” joins the “Growing Up Dairy” social media series that debuted last year and depicts dairy kids sharing the love they have for raising livestock and helping on the farm. All videos can be viewed at RealCaliforniaMilk.com or on YouTube @realcaliforniamilk. They will be shared out through the Real California Milk Instagram, Facebook and Twitter channels.

    Dairy products made with California milk can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies they are made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy
    farms. California produces more fluid milk, butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt.

  • Keeping Cows Cool With Less Water and Energy

    Davis, Calif., (September 12, 2017) – Innovative cooling technologies tested on dairy cows at the University of California, Davis, are addressing the long-standing challenge of keeping dairy cows cool in heat-stressed California.

    Cows cool off at UC Davis. (Paul Fortunato/UC Davis)

    Standard livestock cooling methods, such as fans and sprinkling cows with water, require significant amounts of electricity and water. The new technologies, being tested at UC Davis by the Western Cooling Efficiency Center and the Department of Animal Science, are designed to reduce water by up to 86 percent and electricity by up to 38 percent over conventional methods.

    Milk production and heat stress

    Milk is the most valued agricultural commodity in California, with $9.4 billion in retail sales in 2014. Roughly one in every five dairy cows in the nation lives in California. In addition to disturbing the cow, heat stress is a major cause of diminished milk production in dairy cows, with annual losses directly related to heat stress exceeding $800 million.

    “The process of rumination, where cows ferment their food, produces a lot of heat, as does milk production itself,” said Cassandra Tucker, a professor in the Department of Animal Science who focuses on dairy cattle welfare. “When the outside temperatures also rise, it’s a challenge for the animal in how she’s going to try to keep cool. This project is trying to reduce the energy and water use associated with that to help both the cows and the dairy producers.”

    How it works – The technologies involve two approaches. The first is conduction cooling, where the bedding area is cooled using heat exchange mats placed where cows lie down. To reduce energy consumption, water flowing through the mats is cooled through a novel evaporative chiller called a Sub-Wet Bulb Evaporative Chiller.

    The second approach is targeted convection cooling, which uses fabric ducting to direct cool air onto the cows while they lie down and when they eat. The air is cooled using a high-efficiency direct evaporative cooler.

    Keeping Cows Cool California Dairy Magazine

    “This is an exciting research opportunity for UC Davis to combine our expertise in engineering with our expertise in animal science,” said Theresa Pistochini, senior engineer at the Western Cooling Efficiency Center. “There is significant potential to apply existing technologies in a novel way to reduce both energy and water used to cool dairy cows. Through this project we aim to design, test and demonstrate an efficient alternative.”

    The project is part of a four-year, $1 million grant from the California Energy Commission to help improve water and energy efficiency in California’s dairy industry. The data being collected now will help determine which technology the team should use to pilot at a commercial dairy in a future phase of the project.

  • Dairy Producers Can Enroll or Elect to Opt-Out for 2018 MPP Coverage

    Washington, D. C., (September 8, 2017) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that starting Sept. 1, 2017, dairy producers can enroll for 2018 coverage in the Margin Protection Program (MPP-Dairy). Secretary Sonny Perdue has utilized additional flexibility this year by providing dairy producers the option of opting out of the program for 2018.

    “Secretary Perdue is using his authority to allow producers to withdraw from the MPP Dairy Program and not pay the annual administrative fee for 2018,” said Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Rob Johansson. “The decision is in response to requests by the dairy industry and a number of MPP-Dairy program participants.”

    To opt out, a producer should not sign up during the annual registration period. By opting out, a producer would not receive any MPP-Dairy benefits if payments are triggered for 2018. Full details will be included in a subsequent Federal Register Notice. The decision would be for 2018 only and is not retroactive.

    The voluntary program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides financial assistance to participating dairy producers when the margin – the difference between the price of milk and feed costs – falls below the coverage level selected by the producer.

    MPP-Dairy gives participating dairy producers the flexibility to select coverage levels best suited for their operation. Enrollment ends on Dec. 15, 2017, for coverage in calendar year 2018. Participating farmers will remain in the program through Dec. 31, 2018, and pay a minimum $100 administrative fee for 2018 coverage. Producers have the option of selecting a different coverage level from the previous coverage year during open enrollment.

    Dairy operations enrolling in the program must meet conservation compliance provisions and cannot participate in the Livestock Gross Margin Dairy Insurance Program. Producers can mail the appropriate form to the producer’s administrative county FSA office, along with applicable fees, without necessitating a trip to the local FSA office. If electing higher coverage for 2018, dairy producers can either pay the premium in full at the time of enrollment or pay 100 percent of the premium by Sept. 1, 2018. Premium fees may be paid directly to FSA or producers can work with their milk handlers to remit premiums on their behalf.

    USDA has a web tool to help producers determine the level of coverage under the MPP-Dairy that will provide them with the strongest safety net under a variety of conditions. The online resource, available at www.fsa.usda.gov/mpptool, allows dairy farmers to quickly and easily combine unique operation data and other key variables to calculate their coverage needs based on price projections. Producers can also review historical data or estimate future coverage based on data projections. The secure site can be accessed via computer, Smartphone, tablet or any other platform, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

    For more information, visit FSA online at www.fsa.usda.gov/dairy or stop by a local FSA office to learn more about the MPP-Dairy. To find a local FSA office in your area, visit http:// offices.usda.gov.

  • 2017 Alfalfa and Forage Field Day

    Parlier, Calif., (September 5, 2017) – Please come join us for this year’s Alfalfa and Forage Field Day on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. The event will be held at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, located at – 9240 S. Riverbend Ave., Parlier, CA 93648.

    Here is the agenda for your review:

    7:30 AM – Registration

    8:00 – TRAM LEAVES FOR FIELD TOUR

    • Alfalfa Varieties for Pest and Disease Management – Shannon Mueller, Agronomy Advisor and County Director, UCCE Fresno
    • Remote Sensing in Sorghum to Phenotype Drought Stress – Jeffery Dahlberg, Director at Kearney Agriculture Research & Extension Center
    • Sub-Surface Drip Irrigation Alfalfa Management – Daniel Putnam, CE Agronomy & Forage Specialist, UC Davis

    9:15 – TRAM RETURNS

    9:20 – Managing Weeds in Agronomic Crop Rotations – Kurt Hembree, Weed Management Farm Advisor, UCCE Fresno

    9:40 – Alfalfa Weevil Management – Rachael Long, CE Agronomy & Pest Management Advisor, UCCE Sacramento, Solano, & Yolo Counties

    10:00 – Managing Sugarcane Aphid in Forage Sorghum – Nicholas Clark, CE Agronomic Cropping Systems & Nutrient Management Advisor, UCCE Kings, Tulare, & Fresno Counties

    10:20 – Irrigation & Nitrogen Fertility Management in Forage Sorghum & Corn – Robert Hutmacher, CE Specialist, UC Davis, & Director of West Side Research & Extension Center

    10:40 – Break

    11:00 – Irrigation Systems and Salinity Management in Forage Production– Daniel Munk, CE Agronomy & Irrigation Advisor, UCCE Fresno

    11:20 – Low Lignin Alfalfa & GMO vs. Conventional Varieties for Export – Dan Putnam, UC Davis

    11:40 – Optimizing Surface Irrigation in High Flow Systems – Marsha Campbell-Matthews, CE Agronomy Advisor Emeritus, UCCE Stanislaus

    12:00 PM – Lunch

    Continuing Education Requested: DPR 1.5 hours of Other

    For more information, contact: Nicholas Clark (559) 852-2788 neclark@ucanr.edu

    Announcing a Blue Ribbon Brunch at the Farm Fundraiser September 10, 2017

  • “California Dairy Stories” videos further connect consumers with family farmers behind the Real California Milk Seal

    Tracy, Calif., (August 25, 2017) – Family, hard work and responsibility are all key themes that come through in “California Dairy Stories”, a new social media series launched today by the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB). The series, which captures short day-in-the-life moments from real California dairy families, was created to continue to connect consumers with the real people behind the Real California Milk seal.

    Like life, it’s not all work and no play for the 1300 dairy families who farm in California. From tractor pulls to stroopwafels, the series of 12 short videos tell very personal stories of the families who farm in California and look to pass this tradition to the next generation.

    Each moment demonstrates the variety of the dairy industry in California, which spans the state and is responsible for over 40 billion pounds of milk each year. For Tony Louters of Merced, who stepped away from a planned career as a CPA, going into farming means being able to spend time with his family, including daughter Alexis who is applying the values of hard work she learned on the farm to her studies as a speech therapist. Fourth-generation producer, Megan Silva, uses her early morning run to help prepare for the challenges of three business, 12 barns and three kids. And David Jones uses his lens as an amateur photographer to tell the story of California agriculture.

    “Real California Milk is about real food from real people. These short slices of California dairy life not only help consumers connect with the California dairy families who put the food on their tables but also create a better understanding of how we share the same values and experiences,” said Michael Freeman, VP of advertising for CMAB. “We pass on family traditions, we squeeze fitness into our busy lives and our kids often aspire to go into the family business. For farm families, though, that family business is nourishing the world.”

    The multigenerational story of family dairy farming in California is evident in each video vignette. From sharing traditional recipes to teaching the tools to become successful in farming, what comes through is the love of family, love of community and the gratitude for being in an industry that allows them to share the fruits of their labor with the world while continuously working to preserve the tradition of farming for the next generation.

    As B. Van Beek of Dairyland Farms in Tipton, Calif. says, “We don’t inherit the land from our parents, we borrow it from our grandkids.”

    “California Dairy Stories” joins the “Growing Up Dairy” social media series that debuted last year and depicts dairy kids sharing the love they have for raising livestock and helping on the farm. All videos can be viewed at RealCaliforniaMilk.com or on YouTube @realcaliforniamilk. They will be shared out through the Real California Milk Instagram, Facebook and Twitter channels.

    Dairy products made with California milk can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies they are made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy
    farms. California produces more fluid milk, butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt.

    Courtesy – California Milk Advisory Board

  • CDFA Utilizes California Climate Investment Funds To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions On California Dairies

    Madera, Calif., (August 23, 2017) – Representatives from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week at Philip Verwey Farms in Madera to celebrate the installation of an on-farm anaerobic dairy digester. It was made possible by a $2.3 million grant from CDFA’s Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP), which receives funding from the state’s cap-and-trade program. The digester will use methane formed by decomposing manure to produce energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    The facility will create an estimated 4.8 million kilowatt-hours of electricity — enough power to completely offset the dairy’s total electricity usage. The digester will also reduce 240,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas over the next 10 years– the equivalent of removing 50,696 passenger cars off the road.

    “Collaboration is critical in the fight against climate change,” said CDFA Deputy Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt, who attended last week’s event. “Technologies like anaerobic digesters are an excellent example of how government and the private industry can work together to meet our greenhouse gas reduction goals and add value to dairy byproducts. It is a win for agricultural economies and a win for the environment.”
    The project, which is the third digester to go online using DDRDP funds, was developed in partnership with Maas Energy Works and 4 Creeks Engineering. Additional financial contributions came from USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program and matching funds from Philip Verwey Farms.

    The DDRDP is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that uses cap-and-trade funds to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen the economy, and improve public health and the environment.  The DDRDP will provide an estimated $29-36 million in competitive grant funding to aid in the installation of dairy digesters.
    For more information, please visit https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/ddrdp/.

  • Diversifying Operations to Stay in the Dairy Business

    Dairying in California is not easy, and it can be an economic nightmare sometimes with the constant fluctuations in milk prices. Nevertheless, dairymen don’t want to give up their livelihoods and noble responsibility in providing consumers with healthy dairy products. But to ensure they can continue to remain economically viable, many dairymen are diversifying their operations with alternative crops and investing in renewable technology. Watch this video with Tipton Dairyman Mike Faria as he shares what he and his family are doing to stay ahead in the business.

    Sponsored By:

    Calagnet & YARA

  • California Dairy Digital Magazine: August

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    The August issue of California Dairy Magazine is now available to read online! Read the latest California Dairy & Feed industry news and technology.  Here’s a peek of what’s inside:

    • Dairy Princess Makayla Toste – A Voice for the Dairy Industry
      Educating a Misinformed Public and Building Dairy Trust
    • Prevelance of Salmonella In California Cull Cows
      Keep Your Feed Clean & Rodent Populations Down
    • Subsurface Drip Irrigation in Alfalfa
      Advantages & Disadvantages
    • Dairy Consumption Reduces Risk of Kidney Disease
      Positive Results From the International Milk Genomics Consortium
    • CA Milk Prices: Higher but not Quite Up To Par
      Stand-Alone Quota Program Continues Development
    • Udder Things
      California Dairy News Briefs

  • Rabobank Creates Scholarships In Memory Of Tony Degroot

    Fresno, Calif., (August 17, 2017) – The Ag One Foundation announced the creation of two Fresno State student scholarships sponsored by Rabobank N.A. in memory of Tony DeGroot, one of the area’s most respected and innovative dairy farmers.

    Each scholarship will provide one year’s full tuition and a $500 book stipend for a student in the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State.

    DeGroot passed away at age 80 in September 2015 in a plane accident while on a fishing trip in Alaska.

    He owned DeGroot Dairy near Hanford, which started in 1966 with 100 acres and 400 cows. The farm grew to 2,500 acres and 4,500 cows while raising its own youngstock. In addition, he developed a Dutch Warmblood horse breeding operation, D.G. Bar Ranch, which is well known in the dressage community.

    The farm is now run by DeGroot’s son, Tony DeGroot Jr.

    “The Tony DeGroot Memorial Scholarship honors Tony for his significant contributions to our community, industry and Rabobank,” said Bob Dingler, Rabobank executive vice president and food and agribusiness director. “He served for many years on Rabobank’s Ag Advisory Board and advocated for the bank to be involved in advancing the dairy industry through research and supporting education. We and his family decided that there is no better way to honor a man, who we all considered a friend and mentor, than to start a Jordan College scholarship in his name.”

    DeGroot immigrated to the United States in 1956 from the Netherlands and began a career as a baker near Rochester, Minnesota before developing a lung condition known as Baker’s Disease. His doctors recommended that he relocate to the Southern California coast in 1959, but the condition eventually returned, so he moved inland to the Central Valley where his farming and dairy career began.

    DeGroot was known in the industry for his progressive instincts, and he more than doubled the farm’s milk-per-cow productivity in the span of 25 years.

    His milking parlor developed a new milking system that used two pulsators simultaneously and mimicked the natural suction of nursing calves, streamlining the process and using less energy.

    His farm grew beets as a rotational crop in alkaline-rich areas to reduce soil salt levels, and the beets were incorporated into corn silage piles for feeding. He also incorporated microbial protein amino acids into cattle feed to assist milk protein synthesis and to cost effectively reduce the amount of protein needed in cattle diets.

    In 2015 he was honored with the Betaseed Feed Beets’ first Pioneer Award.

    The DeGroot endowment is among more than 100 that are managed by the Ag One Foundation. Started in 1979, Ag One has helped provide 3,700 students with more than $2.7 million in scholarships and grants.