PDPW Manager's Memo

March 2022 Vol. 2

Brought to you by Dairy's Professional Development Organization®

For your dairy

WHAT WE’VE LEARNED IN TRANSITION-COW RESEARCH over the past 25 years? Dr. Tom Overton, Cornell University, presented a Learning Lounge session at the 2022 PDPW Business Conference, where he reviewed what’s been learned and what is still underway in regards to understanding the biology and management of the transition cow. Key learnings include:

Producers need to employ intentional nutritional strategies for close-up cows to effectively manage postpartum hypocalcemia.
Controlled-energy diets during the dry period improve postpartum metabolism and dry matter intake.
Metabolizable protein supply is likely important during the close-up period. Also, rumen-protected methionine improves metabolism and performance.
Greater diet fermentability postpartum promotes better performance and metabolic status, as long as ruminal health is maintained.
Certain nutrients are likely to be conditionally essential in the transition cow, and certain feed additives are likely to lead to beneficial responses.

DOES LIMITING PHOSPHOROUS DURING TRANSITION PERIOD PRESENT A RISK to the health and productivity of high-performing dairy cows? Recognizing excessive phosphorous in animal manure has the potential to contribute to water quality or other environmental issues, researchers examined this topic in a Journal of Dairy Science article. In the study, researchers assigned 30 cows to a dry cow diet with either low or adequate phosphorous content in the dry matter to be fed in the four weeks before calving. After calving, all cows received a diet with adequate phosphorous content. Results showed that restricting dietary phosphorous content to a maximum intake of 20 grams of phosphorous per day is effective in significantly improving calcium homeostasis during the first week of lactation and in mitigating the severity and duration of hypophosphatemia. The restriction did not have pronounced effects on dry matter intake or milk yield in highly productive cows. Read the full study here.

UNDERSTANDING COMPOST STORAGE, HANDLING CONSIDERATIONS is key as more farmers consider its use amidst rising fertilizer prices. A six-part series from Michigan State University highlights the compost-making process as well as crop management and other considerations. Compost builds soil health by feeding microbes that produce “glues” that hold soil particles together, acids that release mineral components into the soil and compounds that stimulate plant growth. While compost does not supply a quick source of nutrients, it supplies the soil with organic matter that contains a blend of nutrients that are gradually available to the crop and add to soil carbon. Environmental impact, neighbor relations, and crop-nutrient utilization should all be taken into consideration when applying compost. Read the full series here.

PDPW Prime Exhibitors are leading dairy-industry companies and service providers. We’ll continue to highlight several exhibitors in upcoming editions.

Thank you, PDPW Prime Exhibitors. We appreciate your continued support!

Click here to view all PDPW Prime exhibitors

LIRA GOLD, a division of Daniel Baum Company

Marawood Construction Services, Inc.

For your business mind

MANAGING AROUND THE UNCONTROLLABLE. At the 2022 PDPW Business Conference, Dr. David Kohl shared strategies for effectively navigating volatile economic times. A once-a-year review of financials isn’t enough, he told attendees, especially as inflation compounds both good and bad decisions. Instead, he recommends a weekly or monthly review of financials. Effective managers work to manage the controllable, including production management, operational efficiencies, milk quality, work culture, budgets and cash flows. Meanwhile, it’s critical to manage around uncontrollable factors such as weather, trade policy and political turmoil. He encouraged investing time and resources into building a network, or feedback loop, of peers and professionals who can provide insights and feedback.

A TWO-WEEK COMMITMENT can create a routine and jumpstart progress toward a larger goal. It can also help you determine if you’re committed to achieving it. An Inc Magazine article highlights how a 14- day focus on a long-term goal is a manageable time frame that seems less overwhelming to most people and allows them to feel good about reaching a short-term milestone in a long journey. Whether the goal pertains to work habits, physical fitness, or something else, the full article shares more tips on putting the Two Week Rule to work.

IS ADDING INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS TO YOUR BOARD THE RIGHT STEP for your family business? Research conducted by the Family Business Consulting Group shows that family businesses with independent directors have higher levels of board effectiveness, which could lead to better performance. The reasons to add independent directors vary but could include:

When the person responsible for business operations isn’t the sole owner
When other members of the family share ownership but not leadership responsibilities
When ownership is spread across a large group of shareholders in increasingly smaller percentages
When the business is transitioning to the second generation and beyond and ownership is seeking more effective corporate governance

Read more here.

The Dairy Signal

TUNE INTO THE DAIRY SIGNAL™. Join leading experts across dairy and agricultural industries, government and regulatory associations and universities for insights on the most pressing issues in today’s marketplace. The educational sessions air every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with recorded episodes available for free at pdpw.org. Click here to find archived recordings of sessions.

Presenters and topics covered recently include:

March 22

Tune in for an overview of milk and commodity pricing trends as well as a look ahead at what the industry should be preparing for in a constantly changing economic environment.

Dr. Mark Stephenson, PhD, Director of Dairy Policy Analysis at UW-Madison and Director of Wisconsin’s Center for Dairy Profitability

March 23

As weather warms and activity on the farm increases, you’ll want to make sure you and your team are using personal protective equipment (PPE) to stay safe on the farm. It’s also important to review best practices for safely handling farm equipment.

Jenna Gibbs, Director of Operations, Ag Health and Safety Alliance; Personal Trainer, University of Iowa

March 24

What is the weather outlook for spring planting and the 2022 growing season? Take a deep dive into weather trends and forecasts that will impact the agricultural and dairy community.

Eric Snodgrass, Principal Atmospheric Scientist for Nutrien Ag Solutions

March 29

Hear about the latest research findings in caring for newborn calves, including the non-IgG factors that are important to stimulating the gut health while building the calf biome.

Dr. Robert James, PhD, PAS, Professor Emeritus, Dairy Science Department Virginia Tech; owner of Down Home Heifer Solutions, Inc.

March 30

This month’s Rising Stars - Graduate Research Showcase will feature Iowa State University graduate students and highlights of their research findings regarding the effects of hindgut acidosis on intestinal barrier dysfunction in dairy cows as well as the immune activation’s role in transition-cow performance. Tune in to hear about the potential dietary solutions they’ll recommend.

Megan Abeyta, PhD Candidate, Iowa State University
Brady Goetz, PhD Student, Iowa State University
Dr. Lance Baumgard, PhD, Professor, Norman L. Jacobson Endowed Professor in Dairy Nutrition, Iowa State University

March 31

As quarter one comes to a close, tune in for insights on the latest news and analysis of agricultural markets and trends that will impact dairy producers and ag industry.

Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company

Dairy currents

NEARLY 30% OF AMERICAN JOBS ARE LINKED TO FOOD AND AG SECTORS, according to the sixth annual Feeding the Economy report. The report’s findings show that 7% of the nation’s economy and 29% of American jobs are either directly or indirectly connected to food and agriculture. Despite the dual crises of global supply-chain interruptions and the rise in inflation, these sectors exported $182.91 billion worth of goods. The total economic impact of the food and ag sectors is $3.01 trillion to the U.S. economy. Learn more, including how the direct and indirect economic activity is calculated, in the full report and news article.

FOUR IN 10 AMERICANS HAVE NO CONCERNS ABOUT DINING OUT as recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the country. Two years after the initial outbreak, a recent survey reported that 70% of Americans believe the worst of the pandemic is behind us—providing a positive sign for restaurants and bars as they plan for the summer season. The survey reported that value and cleanliness were the top two priorities for consumers during the pandemic and will remain key considerations as the recovery continues. Read more here.

REMEMBER “PASS” TO OPERATE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. While a fire extinguisher is part of the farm safety equipment checklist, not many people have actually used one in an emergency. The PASS acronym can help with remembering the steps to properly operate a portable extinguisher:

P – Pull the pin. This will also break the thin plastic tamper seal on the extinguisher.
A – Aim at the base of the fire.
S – Squeeze the handle of the portable extinguisher from a safe distance. If you’re using a CO₂ extinguisher, avoid touching the horn-shaped discharge nozzle, as it can cause frostbite.
S – Sweep from side to side across the base of the fire as you approach it to make sure the extinguishing media completely covers the burning material.