Page 4 • Dairy Star • Second Section • Saturday, December 12, 2015
Continued from UW-RIVER FALLS | Page 3
in the parlor to assess teat end cleanliness and California Mastitis Test (CMT) results, as well as other aspects of sanitation and milk quality.” It also helps that the milking parlor is part of the state-of-the-art Dairy Learning Center (DLC), which has two 25-student classrooms attached to the parlor so that students and staff can enter the parlor and adjacent buildings easily. In addition to the DLC, the lab farm also has a pavilion which is used for judging contests and sales. The hands-on approach characteristic of smaller universities doesn’t just apply to the classroom. Students also have the opportunity to conduct independent undergraduate research and receive grant money to carry out their experiments. “Any student that wants to do some research at the farm can get a faculty member to supervise and some grant money to do it,” Kehoe said. “It’s a great resume builder for that future job or graduate school application.” Baumann said, “Our undergradu-
BRITTANY STATZ/DAIRY STAR
A very alert quartet wait by the feed bunk before heading to the parlor for evening milking. The herd boasts a rolling herd average of 28,000 pounds per year.
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Holsteins lounge comfortably on the bedding of the compost bedded pack barn.
ate research is applied research. We focus more on management practices and practical techniques that are useful in real life to the dairy farmer.” In addition to research and teaching, the farm is on the cutting edge of industry trends as a means of staying as relevant as possible for UWRF students and faculty. For example, as more dairy farmers turn to using pack barns for cow comfort and composting purposes, the barn that houses the UWRF dairy herd becomes a focal point within the industry that other farmers can look to when weighing their options. “We don’t do certain things at the farm just because we feel like doing them on a whim,” Baumann said. “We do them because we’re trying to stay on top of current trends within the dairy industry.” Schley added that teamwork has been key to the farm’s success, and is
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quick to give credit where it is due. “So much has changed in the two-and-a-half years I’ve been here,” she said. “If it wasn’t for everybody working together like we do, the cows wouldn’t be where they’re at right now. Bill, Mark and Harry make excellent feed for the cows, and the students are fantastic to work with. If I need to leave for some reason, they make sure everything is taken care of, and if someone needs to take a day off they nd a replacement to work that shift for them. I think that’s something else that sets this farm apart.” A shiny new facility, dedicated faculty and management, and a passion for learning all come together at the UWRF Mann Valley Farm to ensure that students spend their college years truly getting to know the creature that provides nature’s most perfect food – the dairy cow.
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Page 6 • Dairy Star • Second Section • Saturday, December 12, 2015
How to make the most of $16 milk
Swenson provides tips to spin a proďƒžt with current prices BY MISSY MUSSMAN Sta writer
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – With milk price futures for 2016 reaching just above $16, farmers are concerned how they will make a proďƒžt. “It’s not going to be fun or easy,â€? said Tim Swenson, a senior dairy business consultant with AgStar. Despite low milk prices, Swenson said there is potential for farmers. Swenson presented ideas to make a proďƒžt with the current milk prices on Dec. 3 during the Minnesota Milk Dairy Conference and Expo in St. Cloud, Minn. “We have an opportunity to get through this,â€? Swenson said. “It won’t be all gloom and doom.â€? Currently, Class III prices are below $15 with an average price for 2015 at $15.81. Looking at 2016, Class III milk prices will start out lower than December, but will slowly climb and eventually reach above $16 with a projected average of $15.76 for the year. “But these numbers are not locked in yet,â€? Swenson said. Knowing the futures, Swenson shared ideas of how to make a proďƒžt and said there is not one easy answer. The ďƒžrst thing farmers can do is to
increase their revenue. Decreasing the number of cows in the hospital pen, or not pulling as much milk to feed the calves are two options to achieve that. “Utilize waste milk to its fullest potential, but don’t create waste milk,â€? Swenson said. “We want to ship as much milk as we can.â€? Culling high somatic cell count (SCC) cows can help increase milk quality premiums. “There’s money on the table there,â€? Swenson said. “But the important factor is working on the milk prep protocols and milking systems to lower SCC and increase net income. Management is key.â€? Improving the milk components is another option, but the key to making the most of the higher components is to understand what the co-op is looking for. “If you have a high butterfat test, but they’re paying you for protein, then it’s doing you no good,â€? Swenson said. “Find what they’re paying you for and work with your ration advisors to plan accordingly to get a greater return. It’s optimizing their needs and your cash ďƒ&#x;ow.â€? Another opportunity to increase revenue is by converting assets like timber, non-productive land or expensive toys into cash. “We need to think of the things we don’t have to have when cash is tight,â€? Swenson said. Other opportunities might revolve around excess feed inventory.
“Be cognizant of it and see if you According to Swenson, making forage need to cut as much the next year or quality a priority is important. what you need for carry over,â€? Swen“We might have to take it up a son said. “That will allow you to make notch to get that extra half pound of decisions for crops you’re planting milk for maximizing our milk componext year. You might be able to com- nents without spending money on adbine more corn instead and not pur- ditives,â€? Swenson said. chase as much or sell more bushels of Managing bunkers is another way corn to improve cash ďƒ&#x;ow.â€? to reduce expenses. Selling excess heifers is another “Cut plastic back three times a option. And for farmers raising steers, week instead of once and make sure Swenson urged them to evaluate when you have adequate tire coverage to rethey can make the most margin per duce shrink,â€? Swenson said. “It’s one head. more step.â€? Besides increasing revenue, SwSwenson said farmers can push enson said farmers could also cut ex- feed one or two more times per day penses. than they already are and work with One initial thought Swenson nutritionists to minimize feed refusals. shared was looking at how farmers are If cows are grouped by producreducing their expenses. tion, Swenson encouraged farmers to “We need to cut costs for the right work with nutritionists to make sound reasons,â€? Swenson said. “You have to “We might have to take it up a notch look at the to get that extra et tha a half pound of milk long term and for maximizing our mil milk components where that will put you. without spending money on additives.â€? You need to TIM SWENSON be smart about it.â€? rations for lower production groups. Swenson also said farmers should “It doesn’t have to be at the same understand their purchasing style. level or cost as the high producing “We like to think we’re a low cost and input farmer but very few of us group,â€? he said. are,â€? Swenson said. “Really look at Farmers can also review their rayour philosophy for spending and for tions with their nutritionists. “Look at discretionary ingredients your farm.â€? Feed cost is one area to focus on, Turn to $16 MILK | Page 13 as it’s the No. 1 expense on a farm.
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