SouthCentral MN Winter Dairy Series
Thank you for registering for the SouthCentral Winter Dairy Series hosted by UMN Extension and Minnesota Dairy Initiative! This series will consist of six informal conversations on a variety of topics relevant to MN dairy farmers. This program is completely free and recordings will be sent to you via email if you're unable to attend live. Registration is required by noon on the day before the next event to receive meeting information. Each session will take place from 12:30pm-1:00pm.

January 8: Feeding for Components vs. Production – What makes sense for your farm?
Barry Visser will lead our discussion by introducing the value of each approach to feeding dairy cows for maximum profit.  Following Barry’s presentation, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and further discuss approaches that can be incorporated on their farms.

January 22: Am I ready for robotic milkers?
What's the craze with robotic milkers? Learn from farmers Ashley Swenson and Jim Dieball about the reasons they installed robotic milkers and keys to making them successful.

February 12: Bessy's bottom line: how much is that cow actually making you?
Joleen Hadrich will discuss feed cost per cow and opportunity cost of labor and management. We will also touch on how profit isn’t just about input management, but revenue management as well. In light of government funding this year, we will talk about which profit we should use to make decisions--the one which includes government payments or not?

February 26: Finding (and keeping!) employees
Dairy farms big and small sometimes struggle finding and keeping quality employees. In this discussion, UMN Extension educators and Phil Durst, Michigan State University, will talk with a couple MN farmers that have had success hiring employees.

March 12: Best practices for productive farm meetings
Whether you’re meeting with your farm employees or holding meetings with ag professionals to create strategies for your farm, it’s important that your meetings are effective.  In this discussion, Jim Salfer and Jill Zieroth will discuss how to prepare for those meetings, how to engage everyone at the table, and how to ensure you’re accomplishing the goals you’ve set for the meeting.

March 26: Pre-weaned calf rearing systems and raising healthy dairy calves
Dr. Brad Heins and Karen Johnson will discuss options for raising healthy dairy calves with different rearing systems. Examples from several rearing systems including automatic feeders, individual and pair-housing and raising calves with cows will be shared.


Questions regarding this series can directed to:
Adam Austing (Wright County): 320-249-5929, aausting@umn.edu
Karen Johnson (McLeod & Meeker Counties): 320-484-4303, ande9495@umn.edu

This series was put together by a large team. Here are the members of this team and what areas they serve:
Colleen Carlson (Scott & Carver Counties)
Claire LaCanne (Rice & Steele Counties)
Shane Bugeja (Blue Earth & Le Sueur Counties)
Dana Adams (Stearns, Benton, Morrison Counties)
Jim Salfer (Regional dairy educator)
Jill Zieroth (MDI SouthCentral region coordinator)


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