Dairy Project

[Piperion Giles]

Itis important to remember that a dairy farm is a business. Development of detailed business plan and a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) of your plan and the resources you have available will be critical to the success of your business. How many cows will you milk? Where will you market your milk? Will you hire employees? How much money do you need to live on after the dairy bills are all paid? Your business plan should include a cash flow plan that will help you set reasonable expectations for your expenses and cost of production.

Even if you grew up on a dairy and learned how to feed and milk cows from your parents and grandparents it is important to consult experts in the dairy industry as you develop your business plan and design your management system. Other dairy producers are great resources. Attend field days and open houses on dairy farms in your area and other parts of the state or country. When visiting other farms find out what has worked well on those farms and what has not worked, but keep in mind that just because something worked on one farm does not mean it will work for you on your farm. In addition to farmers, talk to veterinarians, nutritionists, agronomists, bankers, extension educators, and others that can provide different perspectives on management of your dairy.

Whether you are going to feed a TMR (total mixed ration), graze your cattle, or some combination of both; dairy cattle require a certain set of nutrients to support themselves, produce milk, and grow a calf. Work with a nutritionist to develop rations for your lactating cows and dry cows and heifers if these animals are to be raised on the farm. Many dairy farms in Pennsylvania produce most if not all their own forages and many of their concentrate (grain) needs. Raising all your own feed takes land and time, not to mention equipment for planting and harvesting the crops. Hiring custom operators to plant and harvest crops, or making arrangements with neighbors to share equipment and labor can reduce your capital investment as you get started with your dairy business and are building capital. Double cropping systems, with small grain crops following corn silage, are used successfully on many Pennsylvania farms.

Dairy cattle produce a lot of manure. While this manure is often referred to as waste, if managed and used properly it can be a great resource on the farm. Manure management will be tied closely to your cropping and feeding program. If you are able to use a double cropping system on your farm it will not only allow you to produce more feed but will also allow you to apply more manure to your land. Alternatives to direct land application of manure include composting and anaerobic digestion of manure, while these options may provide additional revenue and other benefits to your dairy they will also increase the capital investment required to get your dairy started. Every farm will need a manure management plan, but depending on the size of your farm a nutrient management plan may also be required. Check with your county Conservation District or local Extension office for more information.

Dairy farming requires a large capital investment. Land, buildings, equipment, and cows are expensive and few new dairy farmers will have the capital required to purchase everything when they get started in business. Many beginning farmers begin by purchasing their cows first and renting the farm and land. These initial animals are your farms equity.

The dairy farm is dependent on the cow's ability to live a healthy life, produce milk, and have calves that can become the next generation of the farm. Dairy farming requires detailed programs for herd health, reproduction and calf care in addition to the nutrition and financial aspects on the farm. Working with your veterinarian, genetics representatives and extension agents can help you develop comprehensive farm plans to create a positive future.

All dairy farms are different based on the producer's wishes, resource requirements, market needs and more. Multiple systems exist and can be profitable. Some producers contract out their replacements to a custom heifer raiser while others diversify by selling crops, raising steers or creating a home-bottling plant. How you farm will depend on your desires, resources, and drive.

All these previous items are just pieces of the puzzle. In order to succeed you will need to combine each aspect of management into a whole farm plan. However, you don't need to do it all. Work with trusted consultants to help you build a plan, and stick with your strengths. If you love milking cows but hate planting corn, find someone to work with who does, or contract that work out to a third party. Consider creating a farm management team or profit team that engages your consultants to be active participants in the farm's progress.

Approximately 20 Minnesota 4-H'ers will be selected to attend the National 4-H Dairy Conference. A committee of University of Minnesota Extension personnel will select the delegates based on their applications and notify them by Aug. 12.

The 4-H state fair show committee has the responsibility of providing the necessary direction and support so that 4-H animal science state shows and educational opportunities meet the needs of youth and adults.

Selections will be completed by Sept. 30. All adults selected must have completed the 4-H volunteer screening process by Dec. 1. Please note: Local Extension educators may be contacted to serve as a reference for applicants.

We want you to be able to learn about animals, even if you don't own one. You can lease an animal. You'll gain valuable hands-on experience managing and showing animals, and you'll learn from caring adults.

Livestock Quality Assurance training helps youth provide excellent care for their food animals and ensures a high level of food safety to consumers. We designed it to enhance the educational experience of 4-H animal science projects.

As part of their sustainability efforts, the US Dairy industry has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by the year 2020. In order to advise the industry in meeting this goal, scientists associated with the Sustainable Dairy project, funded by the USDA, National Institute for Food and Agriculture, are researching alternative management practices for use in the Great Lakes Region. The goals of the project are to: identify opportunities to increase the sustainability of dairy production systems common in the Great Lakes region; further develop decision-support tools for use by producers at the farm scale; and to educate farmers, the agricultural industry, policy makers, teachers, students, and the general public on sustainable management practices for dairy.

From 2008-18, we worked with farmers to implement a sustainable system that would improve the quality and quantity of their milk production and connect them to reliable markets. Farmers in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda received training to improve the health and yields of their cows, as well as guidance to improve their feed.

The hubs also provide additional services, such as stores where farmers can purchase the products they need to keep their animals healthy and access to local veterinarians who have been trained by the project to provide basic services like vaccinations. This gives them access to critical supplies and expertise at a low cost, helping to increase yields on their farms and ultimately resulting in higher incomes.

Not only do the hubs bring together hundreds, even thousands, of farmers in each location, they also provide additional sources of income for other people within the villages. Some started to provide transportation options to farmers who are required to get milk to the hubs every morning, while others have built successful businesses by purchasing milk and turning it into products like yogurt and cheese.

In Tanzania, we have also supported a campaign to promote the health benefits of milk in an area of high malnutrition. Along with providing vital nutrients for children in schools, it helps build a sustainable market for farmers going forward, contributing to our goal of closing the living income gap.

Throughout the course of the 10-year East African Dairy Development Project, Heifer worked with partners including TechnoServe, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), African Breeders Services, World Agroforestry Center and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Private sector partners have also been important for the continued sustainability of the hubs. The hub model itself has created a secure base from which the farmer-owned organizations can continue to expand their businesses and meet demand within their countries.

The Florida Department of Transportation District 6 is committed to keeping you safe on our roads and in our construction zones as we work to improve transportation infrastructure in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. When traveling through a construction zone, please be sure to obey the posted speed limit, watch for equipment, pay attention to our informational signs and never walk or ride your bike through the area.

Roadway and bridge work continues along NW 87 Avenue in western Miami-Dade County. The project will provide a continuous connection from NW 103 Street to NW 74 Street. Click here for more information.

The entrance to the northbound 95 Express Lanes has been temporarily moved approximately one mile north to NW 42 Street. The entrance will remain in this location for about two years while workers build emergency stopping sites in the express lanes and replace the concrete pavement on northbound I-95. For more information click here.

Widening and rebuilding the roadway continues along Krome Avenue between SW 88 Street and Okeechobee Road. Click here for more information regarding the ongoing work within the different segments.

On October 26, 2018, FDOT hosted its 2018 FDOT Days, an informative workshop geared towards collaborating with partnering agencies/municipalities to improve transportation throughout Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. For more information click here.

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