As we told you in the previous post, the dairy industry gets a new tool to help it better research and market its products. Dairy Management Incorporated and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy have announced the formation of the Dairy Research Institute, a non-profit group designed to strengthen the dairy industry’s access to and investment in the technical research needed to drive demand for dairy products and ingredients around the world.
In this episode of the Milking Parlor, we talk to Greg Miller, president of this new Dairy Research Institute and executive vice president for research, regulatory and scientific affairs for DMI. He says the institute will bring industry, academics, government and commercial partners together with a focus on nutrition, product and sustainability areas of innovation.
Posted: August 25, 2010 at 3:14 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Jim Smith, Pioneer livestock information manager in Minnesota, discusses the impact of growing conditions on corn for silage. Moisture and heat, depending on stage of growth, have a multitude of effects on nutritional value and readiness of the corn for harvest. Smith also talks about conditions in the northern Corn Belt.
Posted: August 15, 2010 at 7:49 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
As the choppers start to roll across the country, Pioneer Hi-Bred dairy specialist Kevin Putnam discusses some management considerations for chopping corn silage. Corn heat units in many areas are ahead of schedule, triggering harvest. Putman discusses proper chopper set up, inoculant options and other factors for achieving optimum quality.
Posted: July 23, 2010 at 1:12 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
2010 JAM, the joint meeting of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), Poultry Science Association (PSA), Asociación Mexicana de Producción Animal (AMPA), Canadian Society of Animal Science (CSAS), American Society of Animal Science (ASAS), and ASAS Western Section (WSASAS) was held earlier this month in Denver, Colorado.
This month’s “Milking Parlor” podcast features Gary Winter with Novus International talking about some of the research presented at the meeting and what it means for dairy producers. Gary also provides some information about Novus – the research and field trials that they do, recent acquisitions and their commitment to the dairy industry. Dairy professionals will be interested to know that while Novus is a fairly new name in the animal health field, they actually have a five decade history behind them.
Posted: July 8, 2010 at 7:39 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
Last year many growers encountered a wet growing season which led to some concerns with ear molds. Bill Seglar, Pioneer nutritional sciences veterinarian, discusses conditions conducive to ear molds and the impact it has on nutritional value.
Posted: June 18, 2010 at 12:24 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
In this edition of Forage Forum, we have the second of a two-part series on Bt corn for silage with Bill Seglar, Pioneer nutritional sciences veterinarian. Here Seglar highlights the extensive registration process for biotech traits.
There have been some concerns raised about proposed changes to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association governance, not the least of those concerns raised by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. He wants to make sure the NCBA changes don’t affect the independence of the Federation of State Beef Councils, they keep separate checkoff and policy dollars… maintaining a firewall between the two, federation members won’t be required to buy a seat, and USDA’s Ag Marketing Service will maintain regulatory oversight of the federation and the board.
In this episode of the Milking Parlor, we’ll listen in to part of the press conference where Illinois cattle producer and NCBA President Steve Foglesong and Scott George, NCBA Federation Division Chair and Wyoming dairy/beef producer, address those concerns.
To subscribe to the Milking Parlor podcast, click here. Listen to or download this episode in the player below.
Posted: May 27, 2010 at 9:22 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
In this edition of Forage Forum, Bill Seglar, Pioneer nutritional sciences veterinarian, addresses questions on BT corn for silage. Seglar says biotechnology traits do not impact nutritional value of the corn, but it is usually environmental factors that affect silage quality and nutritional value.
In this edition of Forage Forum, Pioneer livestock information manager Steve Soderlund discusses the benefits of dual-purpose hybrids, which can allow a producer greater flexibility, depending on environmental conditions and feed needs.
Posted: April 22, 2010 at 1:48 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Alfalfa is an important part of Pioneer’s forage portfolio. In this edition of Forage Forum, Pioneer director of alfalfa research David Miller, discusses the company’s variety development. When it comes to choosing an alfalfa variety, he says growers should consult their local sales professional and university data to match the right product to the right acre.
He’s best known as “Big Al, your beverage pal,” but Alex Conti, Senior Director, U-S Menu Management for McDonald’s has been more than just a friend for the dairy industry … his innovations to expand the amount of dairy the food giant uses has made him a major benefactor for dairy farmers throughout the country.
In this edition of the Milking Parlor, we get to meet Conti (trust me, I tried to get a picture of him when he spoke to a recent gathering of dairy farmers … but that’s a whole other story!) and listen in as he details how McDonald’s works more milk, cheese and ice cream into the tasty treats the company offers. From the old standbys … Big Macs, Quarter Pounders with Cheese, Egg McMuffin … to the new line of McCafe and Frappe drinks, the Golden Arches continues to be a major buyer and seller of dairy products.
Top hear Conti’s presentation, just click on the latest episode of the Milking Parlor in the player below.
To subscribe to the Milking Parlor podcast, click here. Listen to or download this episode in the player below.
Posted: April 7, 2010 at 1:36 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Alfalfa, from a genetic standpoint, is different than other major crops growers plant. Every seed in an alfalfa bag varies genetically, unlike corn or soybeans where each seed is genetically uniform. David Miller, Pioneer director of alfalfa research, discusses the uniqueness of variety development.
He’s the man behind the YouTube hit, “Water and Poo,” and now he’s also the new chairman of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. In this episode of the Milking Parlor, we meet Will Gilmer, a third-generation dairy farmer from Alabama, whose operation milks about 230 holsteins. And when those chores aren’t enough, he’s racking up more than 14,000 (and counting) views of his clever ditty sung about what to do with the waste from his cows, as he spreads that nutrient management across his pastures.
And if all that isn’t enough, Gilmer maintains a Web site, www.gilmerdairyfarm.com, along with The Dairyman’s Blog, in an effort to reach out to the public about modern farming practices. Gilmer also is active on the micro-blogging Web site Twitter under @gilmerdairy.
You can hear more of Peoria farm broadcaster Meghan Grebner’s interview with Will in this episode of the Milking Parlor in the player below. And if you haven’t seen Will’s hit, “Water and Poo” (and even if you have seen it!) it’s available right here:
To subscribe to the Milking Parlor podcast, click here. Listen to or download this episode in the player below.
Posted: March 4, 2010 at 2:08 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Pioneer director of alfalfa research, David Miller, discusses Pioneer brand alfalfa varieties, traits and testing to help producers put the right product on the right acre.
Posted: February 26, 2010 at 8:47 am
By John Davis
The USDA has issued the final rule on organic access to pasture. This rule amends the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations to clarify the use of pasture in raising organic ruminants.
USDA officials say the final rule provides certainty to consumers that organic livestock production is a pasture based system in which animals are actively grazing pasture during the grazing season. The majority of organic dairy and ruminant livestock producers are already grazing animals and maintaining pastures that meet the requirements of this rule. These standards contain clear requirements that will provide greater assurance that all producers are being held to the same standards.
This episode of the Milking Parlor podcast features Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan, laying out out the terms regarding the final rules and telling how this underlines the ag department’s commitment to organic agriculture.
To subscribe to the Milking Parlor podcast, click here. Listen to or download this episode in the player below.
Posted: February 11, 2010 at 8:10 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
Bill Rutherford, Pioneer research coordinator, discusses in situ analysis. In situ testing allows Pioneer researchers direct analysis of inoculant performance and fiber digestibility, providing producers additional product information.
Posted: January 27, 2010 at 9:47 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
New technologies make data sampling easier and more efficient. Bill Curran, Pioneer research scientist, discusses some of the technologies that measure silage traits. Curran also talks about how this information benefits producers.
Posted: January 15, 2010 at 10:48 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
Understanding how inoculant organisms interact with other organisms can have a large impact on how well an inoculant organism affects the organisms in the silage. Hear more about the cutting-edge microbial ecology from Pioneer research coordinator Bill Rutherford.
Posted: November 19, 2009 at 4:07 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
Have you ever wondered where the heat comes from in silage?
This really cool infrared camera can read the temperature of a silage bunker and provide a color picture of the variations in heat levels on the face. The camera has gotten cheaper since it first came out a couple of years ago, but it still retails for several thousand dollars.
A great way to measure silage heat, but not practical for most producers, so Pioneer ruminant microbiologist Scott Dennis suggests using a thermometer to quickly and easily determine whether heat is physiological or microbial.
Dennis explains more about this topic along with management techniques to reduce heating in this edition of Forage Forum, recorded at the Pioneer Forage Media day held in September at the Livestock Nutrition Center in Johnston, IA.
Jim Smith, 
He’s the man behind the YouTube hit, “Water and Poo,” and now he’s also the new chairman of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. In this episode of the Milking Parlor, we meet Will Gilmer, a third-generation dairy farmer from Alabama, whose operation milks about 230 holsteins. And when those chores aren’t enough, he’s racking up more than 14,000 (and counting) views of his clever ditty sung about what to do with the waste from his cows, as he spreads that nutrient management across his pastures.
This really cool infrared camera can read the temperature of a silage bunker and provide a color picture of the variations in heat levels on the face. The camera has gotten cheaper since it first came out a couple of years ago, but it still retails for several thousand dollars. 
A great way to measure silage heat, but not practical for most producers, so