Next Stop: Kentucky!
Kentuckiana Dairy Exchange Is July 31-August 1!

The Kentuckiana Dairy Exchange is an annual event that IPDP and Purdue Extension partner with the University of Kentucky. This year's farm visits will include the following dairies near Shelbyville, Kentucky:

John Kalmey Dairy
150 Registered Holsteins, BAA 107, RHA-
20,000, Annual SCC 225,000, 25% Culling
Rate, Freestall Barn

Harvest Home Dairy
130 Holsteins, RHA-20849, New Compost
Bedded Pack Barn, Camera Monitoring System,
Agri-Tourisum, Only US Real Time Location
System for Cows

Eddie Klingenfus Dairy
110 Holsteins, RHA-25,000, SCC 175,000,
Sand Freestall Barn, Heavy Use of Alternative
Feeds

Longview Dairy
200 Holsteins, RHA-21,000, Annual SCC
<200,000 Recently Installed Heat Detection
System, Breeder of High Net Merit Sire-ELongview CM

Dick Davis Dairy
70 Holsteins, 77 pound bulk tank average,
SCC ~ 150,000, Lone Star Milk Quality Award
Winner, Sand Freestalls and Compost Bedded
Pack Barn

The Kentuckiana Dairy Exchange will take place on July 31 through August 1. You can download a brochure with all the details here.  Transportation is included with the tour registration, only $75 for IPDP members. Thanks to generous sponsorship, this is a great value to any dairy producer or industry person who can get away for a short visit to Kentucky!

The Indiana State Fair has highlighted a special agriculture feature every year since 2007. This year is extra special because this is the year of dairy cows! Coming August 3-19, there will be three wonderful weekends, and lots of great days in between, to visit some terrific events at the Indiana State Fair. As dairy farmers, we have a rare opportunity to share a bit about what we do with many folks who have never been on a dairy farm. Following is preview of what's being planned.

First of all, there are many great dairy foods that taste so wonderful during a hot, sunny day at the fair. For example, how about a delicious, thick milkshake at the dairy bar. This year, a celebratory lemon chiller shake is being introduced. And there's a specialty grilled cheese sandwich to go with it--a Moo Chew: three slices of pepper jack and cheddar cheese on sour dough! Of course, all the traditional cheese sandwiches, shakes, ice cream, and cheese sticks are also available!  

 

In the DuPont Pavilion, there will be 24 cooking demonstrations featuring dairy. In the Ellison Bakery, enjoy a giant cookie decorating contest, complete with a cold glass of milk! Dairy producers will be on hand at many of these events to help answer consumers' questions about dairy farming.

 

In the cattle barn, there will be a live cattle display of the six major dairy breeds. You will also be able to see a comparison of different types of bedding that modern dairy farmers use to keep cows comfortable: sand bedding, water beds, and more. You can even lie down and check them out yourself! There will also be a robotic milking machine, video of the robot at work, and experts on hand to talk about it.

 

The Normandy Barn will have a rotary milking parlor and real-to-life cow statues. In addition, there will be a classroom style setting where fairgoers can learn about milking cows and the different dairy breeds in air-conditioned comfort. The Normandy dairy display will continue through November.

 

There will be lots of events at Pioneer Village, including opportunities to milk a cow and enjoy homemade ice cream.

Every evening at 6:30, the parade will feature the famous "Buttercup" cow, as well as dairy farm families visiting the fairgrounds that day. If you twist the right person's arm, it could be you wearing that (hot) Buttercup costume!

 

Many other groups are planning coordinating cow and dairy foods events, and there's no doubt it will be an udderly wonderful time! Please try to find an opportunity to experience it! What could be better than combining fun along with sharing our ag stories! Click here for more information on the year of dairy cows and the Indiana State Fair. Questions, or to volunteer, email Kimmi Devaney at Milk Promotion Services of Indiana at Devaney@WinnersDrinkMilk.com.

 

We Need YOU!!! Indiana Dairy Farmers Are Needed at the Indiana State Fair!

Calling all Indiana Dairy Farmers! We need you! Every available dairy farmer and dairy industry person is needed at the Indiana State Fair! This is our year, folks. This is the Year of Dairy Cows. This is our chance to share our stories, our knowledge, and our passion for what we do every single day. So, plan some time away from the farm to attend the Indiana State Fair sometime between August 3-19. We will continue to report on the many specific events planned in upcoming e-updates. But rest assured, Indiana is going to be aware of dairy cows at the Indiana State Fair!

Here are some specific needs for the Indiana State Fair, so check your calendars!

•  Work at the Dairy Bar on  
  • Friday, August 3  from 7-11 PM (call Doug Leman 317-695-8228)
• Friday, August 10 from 7-11 PM (Call Doug Leman 317-695-8228)
• Work at the Indiana Cattlemens Beef Association Ribeye Sandwich Tent (New this year--provolone cheese is an option on the ribeye!) Call Dave Forgey to work any of the following ICBA shifts (574-652-2461):   
• August 15 5-10:30 PM
• August 16 1-5:30 PM 
• August 18 9 AM-1:30 PM

The following events are available for participation every day and are being organized by Milk Promotion Services of Indiana:

• Dairy Farmer Presence in the Cattle Barn
• Dairy Farmer Presence in the DuPont Food Pavilion
• Dairy Farmer Presence in the 6:30 PM parade (line up at 6 PM)

Also, please save the date for the ice cream social, especially for Indiana Dairy Farmers, on August 14 from 11AM-1PM behind the Farm Bureau building.  Contact Kimmi Devaney a 1-800-225-MILK with questions or to confirm a volunteer opportunity.   

Beginning in February 2013, new rules regulating how manure and other fertilizers can be staged on farms and applied to fields will take effect in Indiana.

 

Matt Pearson, Fertilizer Administration in the Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC) says they're in the process of informing those impacted by the new rules.

 

"Most people probably won't see this as a big change," said Pearson. "Some habits might have to be adjusted a little bit, but overall it's all in good management practices and it should not be a significant change to most operations."

 

In addition to how far from waterways and wells fertilizer can be applied and under what conditions, Pearson tells Brownfield the new requirements specify how long fertilizer can be staged.

 

Click here for the entire article and additional resources.

BSE in the News: What Went Right
DMI Update

When the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that a dairy cow in California tested positive for BSE on April 24, what could have been a "catastrophic" event for the dairy and beef industries "was handled so well that it barely caused a ripple," according to Dr. James Marsden, professor of food safety from Kansas State University.        So, what limited the story's shelf life in both traditional and social media? According to government and industry representatives, the factors were preparation, upfront food safety messaging and government-industry coordination.       Coordination Vital to Success A practiced and well-organized operational response allowed USDA communicators to focus on the issues the public and the media would be most concerned about, such as food safety, said Ed Curlett, director of public affairs, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.       "We made a concerted effort to be responsive to potential concerns from the public and our stakeholders," Curlett said.   "Messages were kept consistent by having one government agency take the lead on communications," said Jennifer Giambroni, director of communications, California Milk Advisory Board. "For the industry, being well-informed about the situation and the government's communication plan were essential for communicating with our board and farmers." Read more

Have you checked the tips & tools resource page on Hubbard Feeds website? There is a wealth of information of timely topics like heat stress management in dairy cows, fly control, hoof care, forage planning, and much more. Click here to learn more. Also, click here to learn how to avoid the three strikes of summer heat stress with Hubbard Feeds.

IPDP Corporate Sponsors

There is a growing list of companies that recognize IPDP's value to Indiana's dairy industry. Please visit our list of companies that have become Corporate Sponsors for only $100. If you know of a company that may have an interest in supporting IPDP at some level, please download a brochure here.