Agri News, MN
08-15-06
Midwest Dairy Grazing School is Aug. 25 near Calmar
By Jean Caspers-Simmet
Agri News staff writer
CALMAR, Iowa -- Hoping to spur interest among people who want to start dairying and producers considering low-cost milking parlors, Northeast Iowa Community College will host the Midwest Dairy Grazing School.
The event will be held Aug. 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the compost barn of the Grazing Center located between NICC and the Dairy Foundation Center, south of Calmar.
The Dairy Grazing Center demonstrates a low-cost, low-capital style of production to make it easier for new dairy operations to start, said Mary Steen, who is organizing the conference for NICC.
Eighty acres of cropland and existing pasture were fenced to create paddocks and lanes. A composting bedded pack barn was added and the existing tie-stall barn was remodeled into a swing-eight parlor and holding area.
Producers who have made the change to Management Intensive Grazing report many benefits, including increased net income and improved quality of life, Steen said. Some experienced grazers say it takes three years of observation and manipulation of soil, plant, and animal resources to really begin to manage them well.
Larry Tranel, ISU Extension dairy specialist, will present information on millionaire model farms and what they are doing that other farmers can do. He will talk about how these model farms use modified/seasonal calving, crossbreeding, labor efficient facilities and management intensive grazing.
Grazers vary on supplementation during the pasture season. Nelson Dairy Consulting senior nutritionist Clint Renken will talk about diets to optimize rumen health and profitability.
Dick Horne, past Dairy Foundation treasurer and ag banker, will share the real numbers behind the Grazing Center.
Mark Hotvedt, director of the Northeast Iowa Community-Based Dairy Foundation will moderate a producer panel consisting of Jim Hageman of Calmar, Kurt Wiedel of Riceville, Jeremy Peake of Waukon, and Dan Beard of Decorah. The four producers served on the committee that oversaw the development of the grazing center and its low-cost parlor.
"All these producers will bring an interesting component to the panel,'' Steen said.
Hagemann milks 80 Holsteins in a recently remodeled stanchion barn and swing parlor. He uses a managed grazing system. Weidel is a rotational grazier whose system involves seasonal calving with a crossbed herd. Peake is an NICC graduate who is operating a start-up dairy on his grandfather's farm. His operation is organic and he milks Jerseys.
Dan Beard and his family have an organic herd north of Decorah. They milk 150 crossbred cows.
"Producers will be struck by the enthusiasm and creativity these grazers bring to the management of their particular dairy operation," Steen said.
Jim Ranum, NRCS grazing specialist, Carrie Corlett, Grazing Center manager, and Brian Lang, Iowa State University Extension crops specialist, will host a pasture and fencing walk to complete the afternoon. Steen said both Lang and Ranum are experts on pasture management.
The event is sponsored by Northeast Iowa Community College, Iowa State University Extension, the Northeast Iowa Community Based Dairy Foundation, Croell Redi Mix and AMPI.
To register for the Midwest Dairy Grazing School, call Northeast Iowa Community College at 1-800-728-2256 Ext. 399.
The entire program, numerous exhibitors and a Lynch Livestock meal will be held in the compost barn unless weather moves it to the Dairy Center.