Dairy Days assist producers with good management practices

Approximately 20 Washington County and area dairy producers met in a half-day forum to hear Iowa State University Extension specialists share information on emerging dairy industry issues at the 2014 ISU Extension Dairy Days held in Kalona on Tuesday, Feb. 4.

The ISU Extension Dairy Team conducts this workshop each winter to help producers make herd management decisions based on the latest research. ISU Extension Field Agronomist Brian Lang offered insight on grass/legume forage mixtures for dairy. Larry Tranel, ISU Extension dairy specialist, discussed how to determine the value of corn silage for contracting.

Attendees also heard a presentation by Melissa O?Rourke, ISU Extension farm management specialist, on the "Top Legal Issues Dairy Producers Should Know." Lee Kilmer, Extension dairy specialist and professor of animal science, discussed producer surveys on calf management practices and followed up with a session on the best management practices for calves.