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It has come to our attention that Gmail and some other email services, see a "clipped" version of our e-update. For best results and to view all the articles and pictures on our e-update, please click the online link at the top of the newsletter.
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Diamond
Sponsors
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Platinum
Sponsors
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Indiana Dairy Producers
Board of Directors
Julie Bommer, Secretary/Treas.
Liz Kelsay
Brian Huber
Fred Kunkel
Greg Peters
Brian Houin
Cory Craig
Nathan Kuehnert
Industry Advisers
Andy Tauer
Todd Janzen, Attorney
Nathan Hrnicek
Chris Moore
Alicia Hrnicek, Administrative Assistant
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Silver Sponsors
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website
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 Indiana Dairy Picture GalleryOver the years we have organized many tours and events, and we have tried to take pictures at all of them. We frequently invite you to watch a picture slideshow, but if you want to see our albums on our flickr page, click here.
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RESOURCE CENTER
Click on each picture or logo to learn more
 | | Indiana Grazing & Forages NRCS Website |
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 | | Calf Notes and Links |
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 | Innovation Center for U.S.
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Check out the resources available to you on the Purdue University Dairy Extension site: Topics on nutrition, business management, animal health and many more topics related to our dairy industry and animal care. |
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Visit Our Bronze Sponsors
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Click on above button!
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Contact Chris Moore for free insurance consultation and quotes on your farm and agribusiness Insurance needs! IDP members receive an exclusive discount on SECURA Insurance.
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IDP Corporate Sponsors
 There is a growing list of companies that recognize IDP'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 IDP at some level, please download a brochure here. |
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on the Archive button to access previous issues of our E-Updates and important information for your dairy operation, industry issues and trends.
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In celebration of June dairy month, it is with great excitement that IDP has made the decision to move from concept to reality with the Indiana Dairy Forum! The idea formed from our Strategic Plan over two years ago, we surveyed, studied, discussed, so now we are moving forward boldly. We will put together a program that you will not want to miss! The venue being an experience in its own right, French Lick Springs Hotel, scheduled for February 1st and 2nd of 2017; we are pleased that we can announce our anchor speaker will be Dr. Tom Furhmann of Dairy Works, no stranger to IDP! As the decision has been made to move forward, the planning will now begin in earnest - first thing you need to do immediately is go to your calendar and save the date - Feb. 1-2, 2017. Stay tuned as the planning begins for The 2017 Indiana Dairy Forum - don't miss it!
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| | IDEM Commissioner Caorol Comer |
We had the tremendous opportunity to host our new Commissioner at IDEM, Carol Comer and several others from
the agency for a dairy farm "field trip" recently. We spent several hours together looking at every aspect of the farm and then discussing how we all can work together as a team to improve the permitting process, thereby strengthening the Indiana dairy industry. We look forward to continuing to work together to fully support our producers.
We have sent out a second notice to a few of you that possibly misplaced your previous membership invoice, we would really appreciate if you would be able to get current - each of you are important to us.
As in the last several years, IDP will again have the opportunity to work in the dairy bar the three Friday nights of the Indiana State Fair - Aug. 5th, 12th, and 19th. We would love to have producers, spouses, older children (16 yrs. and up) and sponsors get signed up to help - just let me know. We always have a great time serving from 7-11 p.m. As always you can get in contact with me for any dairy issue at 317-695-8228 or dougleman@indianadairy.org . Take care and God bless!
Doug Leman
IDP Executive Director
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Plan Ahead for Summer Heat Stress
Julie Ainsworth, PAS, NorthStar Cooperative, Dairy Records Analysis Coordinator
Heat and humidity can be dangerous for dairy cows as it lowers milk production and suppresses their immune function.Often cows are stressed before you realize it. Mild heat stress can start at a heat index of 68�F (a combination of heat and humidity). At 80�F cows feel significant heat stress if they are not offered some form of relief.
While it's been a cool spring, heat is on the way. Review these 10 areas on your farm to ensure you are doing all you can to minimize summer heat stress.
Water, water, water:At 40�F a cow will drink an average of  25 gallons of water. At 80�F the same cow will drink 33 gallons. The higher her production the more water she will drink. Cows should have at least three linear inches per cow trough space. This will give subordinate cows a chance to drink as well.
 Fans: Choose fans 36-48 inches wide to help remove radiant heat. Place them eight feet off the ground, 20 feet apart and at an angle of 15-25 degrees downward. When placed correctly there should be continual airflow of 4-6 mph and no dead air spaces. Shade: Most cows in the Midwest would be under the cover of a barn roof but don't forget dry and milking cows on pasture and those sick and down cows laying outside. Studies have shown 10-20 percent more milk for cows on pasture offered shade.  Soakers for evaporative cooling: Sprinklers over the feed alley, combined with fans, offer the best possible cooling by using evaporation. They should be placed eight feet off the ground just under the fans with a 180-degree spray pattern and 10 PSI water flow. Soakers over the beds should be avoided so they won't contribute to environmental mastitis. Ration changes:If ever there was a place for highly digestible roughages it is in the summer. Faster rate of passage contributes less to the heat from fermentation. Decreasing concentrates and adding rumen inert fat can also help to make up for the lack of dry matter intake. 
Holding pen and parlor: Make these areas a priority as they can be one of the hottest on the dairy. Fans and sprinklers should be considered a "must"! The cows should also have access to water soon after exiting the parlor.
Focus on fresh cows: Watch dry matter intakes and be sure to cool them adequately. Heat stress can cause their immune functions to decrease and they should be monitored more closely and intervened on quickly.
Minimize working cattle: Don't do anything to add stress such as moving, sorting, transporting and vaccinations. These will stress an already compromised immune system.
Feed at cooler times of day:Feeding early morning and late evening can encourage dry matter intakes.
Reduce stocking density: Overstocking in hot weather can generate too much heat to dissipate.
Minimizing heat stress should be the goal of every dairyman. Use this list as a guide for ways to minimize the negative effects of heat stress and maintain performance in the hot summer months. Have questions, contact me at ainsworthj@northstarcooperative.com
Julie Ainsworth provides dairy records analysis, reproductive trouble shooting and consultation to dairy producers.
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Maximize your best asset: Your employees
 By B. Lynn Gordon, South Dakota State University Extension
There never seems to be a slow time around a farm or ranch. The to do list is always there, and as a result farm owners and managers who oversee employees and or work alongside family members sometimes can overlook how important it is to allocate time to enhance the skills and abilities of those who work for you. There are great opportunities year round, such as tours, field days and seminars employers can take advantage of as continued educational opportunities for your employees. Recognizing you believe in helping them succeed builds pride and commitment to your business along with increasing their abilities. Four Benefits of Continued Education
- Reduces employee turnover.
- New technology requires new skills.
- Impacts safety.
- Updating job descriptions. More
Maximizing your greatest asset. What a better way to instill positivity and motivation in your employees, but to let them know that you are 100% behind them by investing time in training and keeping their skills up to pace with technology or a new enterprise you have added. The U.S. Small Business Administration website discusses, 'Maximizing your greatest resource - Employee Training' and emphasizes confidence comes from ability, and results in productivity.
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Milk always wins at Indy500
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| | click photo to see more photos from the event |
100th running is one for the books
Story and photos by Sherry Bunting
After 500 miles, 200 laps, 54 lead changes and 13 different leaders, the winning of the 100th Indy500 came down to a fuel strategy that put Alexander Rossi -- the 9th rookie ever, and the first since 2001 -- into Victory Lane on Sunday afternoon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the sweet taste of victory in the form of the 80th traditional ice cold drink of milk, delivered this year by milkwoman Janet Dague of Kewana and rookie 'milkman' Joe Kelsay of Whiteland.
Nearly a half million people turned out for the 100th running of the Indy500 on Sunday. To put it in perspective, the largest-ever attendance of the NFL Superbowl was just over 100,000 people. The 100th running of the Indy500 on Sunday clocked in at 350,000 in the gates and another estimated 100,000 outside the gates just wanting to "be there."
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Plymouth, Indiana Dairy Honored at 2016 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award Ceremony
One of Indiana Dairy Producers very own is making dairies proud to be producing milk in the state of Indiana. Homestead Dairy was one of the dairies featured in the Kentuckiana tour back in 2013. Bryan Houin, featured in the photo, is a vital board member with IDP. Congratualtions to the Houin family at Homestead Dairy.
Honorable Mention: Homestead Dairy, Plymouth, Indiana -
The growth of Homestead Dairy, now home to 2,400 cows, has been fueled by a sustainable business plan designed to allow three more members of the family to join the farm. Operated by the Houin family in Indiana, Homestead Dairy installed a methane digester to generate additional revenue and improve the farm's manure and nutrient management. Each day, the digester produces 800 kilowatts of energy, which is sold back to the electrical grid. Recycled biosolids from the digester system provide 100 percent of cow barn bedding. Other sustainable practices include recycling water, using nutritious byproducts from other food manufacturing facilities including a local chocolate manufacturer as cow feed and implementing the best nutrient management practices on cropland.
With collaboration, long-term planning and creative problem-solving, the 2016 award winners successfully addressed waste and nutrient management, food insecurity, water quality protection, energy efficiency and other sustainability issues.
"For the past five years, we've had the opportunity to see hundreds of examples of how the dairy community is working toward a sustainable future. Some are innovative breakthroughs and others are everyday practices that bring continuous and sustainable improvement," said Paul Rovey, an Arizona dairy farmer, member of the judging panel and chair of Dairy Management Inc.™ "Best of all, most of the winning ideas can be adopted by others to extend the reach of our sustainability efforts."
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ZFS Feed Ingredient Update
As weather warms up, haylage is being made and cows keep cranking out milk, the CME futures continue to rise steady for soybean meal, canola meal, and beans. Corn is holding in the bay, relatively speaking. U.S. Exports have taken off with the weaker dollar lately and South America reports of less production and values.
Co-products are plentiful at processors except for gluten, which a couple plants have had mechanical issues already this month and ones taking scheduled downtime for the next 8 days, creating some real tightness in the market place affecting the wet and pellets both. Supply should straighten out in July, on forward. Contracts are offered July-Sept, and some Oct-Dec already too. It could be an opportunity to cover some risk at good levels, not knowing how crops will develop.
Hominy is a good buy relative to ground corn in most areas with basis steady on corn. A good partial replacement in the ration.
Cottonseed has taken an up-tick with soybean meal futures up. If you need to get some bought yet through August, now is a good time for quality supply. New crop is creeping into market at a good $40 discount to old crop offers. Again a good value if it works in ration, to cover some purchase needs.
Canola meal is slightly tighter this time of year as a couple plants do some maintenance. July-Sept basis offers are pretty good if you still have open tons to cover. There are also new crop Oct-Mar offers out if you want to get some risk covered vs. the Dec. futures being $35/ton less than July.
Soy hulls and pellets are steady to lower, if you are open on fiber coverage. Late July-Aug will get tighter as plants do maintenance again.
Citrus pulp pellets are available and steady offers are lower than last year, and Beet pulp pellets available in the market if you need a different fiber source.
Oat hulls, cereal feeds, bakery meal and wheat midds are options in the market too, call for information.
*Non-GMO feeds are also available in Oats, Soybean meal, and hulls, corn gluten, and hominy, call for inquiries.
Enjoy Dairy Month! Take an ice cream break.
Michelle Robinson
Feed Ingredients Merchandiser
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Northern Indiana Dairy Trail Offers Close-Up Look at Modern Milk Production
 Are you interested in learning where milk come s from and how it is produced? This summer, you can see for yourself by journeying along the Northern Indiana DairyTrail for an up-close look at modern milk production. The event, to be held on two consecutive Saturdays in June plus one more date in early October, will feature farm tours, educational displays, children's activities and dairy product tastings. The farm tours will be led by hard-working dairy farmers, who will answer your questions on such topics as animal care, farmers' community involvement, the environment, and family farming. As an added attraction, visitors can take part in special activities celebrating the 200th anniversary of Indiana's statehood. At each stop along the dairy trail, visitors will enjoy free milk and yogurt. View the open house schedule here.To find out more about the Northern Indiana Dairy Trail and the 12 host farms, Click Here |
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Purdue's 2016 Farm Management Tour highlights northwest Indiana farms
Featuring Fair Oaks Dairy.
This nutrient management interview will also take place at the Farmhouse Restaurant at Fair Oaks Dairy. The environmental manager at Fair Oaks will explain how this large-scale dairy's approach to dairy cattle manure management has evolved over time with an emphasis on their recently implemented new technology that presses water out of manure to produce a solid fertilizer product with multiple uses. Tour participants will have a chance to see Fair Oaks' new fertilizer plant in operation.
For more information on this tour and a list of the other farms that will be featured click here. |
2016 Indiana State Department of Agriculture Photo Contest
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| | 2015 Photo Contest winners |
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is now accepting submissions for the 9th annual photo contest, which was created to showcase the hard work and contributions made by Hoosier farmers. The contest is open to the general public, and winning photographs will be featured at this year's state fair.
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2016 State Fair Entries for Competitive Exhibits
2016 Indiana State Fair "Celebrating Indiana's Bicentennial" entries for competitive exhibits continue being accepted online through Exhibitor's Corner. Note: Early Registration deadlines (department fee increases after first deadline): View dates.
Indiana State Fair 4-H and Open Livestock competition judges are now posted. View Judges
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Upcoming 2016 Events
June Dairy Month
June 18 Northern Indiana Dairy Trail open houses at Beer, Gingerich, Knollbrook, Metzger, Nor-Bert and Perkins Dairy Farms, learn more here
June23-24 Purdue Farm Management Tour - Featuring Fair Oaks Dairy, learn more here
June 25 Northern Indiana Dairy Trail open houses at Homestead, Oneeda, Phares, Stutzman farms, learn more here.
July
July 8 Ice Cream Social, learn more here
July 28 Boone County Dairy Show, learn more here
August
August 5-21 INDIANA STATE FAIR "Celebrating Indiana's Bicentennial" learn more here
August 5,12,19 You have the wonderful opportunity to help serve at the Dairy Bar at the Indiana State Fair with IDP, contact Doug Leman dougleman@indianadairy.org
August 12 IDP Board meeting at State Fair.
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Support IDP
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Individual membership in the Indiana Dairy Producers is $50. Encourage your dairy farming friends to join IDP! Also, any individual who is not a dairy producer but would still like to support IDP can join as an associate member. Download a membership/associate brochure here.
We appreciate our industry supporters. They make it possible for IDP to support the dairy industry in many ways. If your company is interested in finding ways to join IDP, download an information sheet here. |
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