• DFBS Preliminary Report
• NEDPA Conference
• Stress Management Webinar
• PRO-DAIRY's 30th Anniversary
• Soil Health Farmer Survey
• NYAAC's Annual Report
• Save the Date!

Preliminary Report – Dairy Farm Business Summary and Analysis Program

By: Jason Karszes, Ashley Howlett and Anna Richards

The changes that occurred on farms from 2016 to 2017 can be reviewed in the first preliminary progress report of the Dairy Farm Business Summary and Analysis Program. Dairy businesses across New York use this program, which is supported by Cornell University, Cornell Cooperative Extension and PRO-DAIRY, to analyze their financial performance.

An important function of management is to compare how your farm changed from one year to the next, how this compares to goals, how this compares to the industry, and asking the question why. Highlights from the DFBS February 2018 Report include:

• Milk shipped per farm increased by 2.4%. This was a combination of an increase of 4.7% in average herd size and a decrease of 2.2% in milk sold per cow.
• Labor efficiency increased 2.3%.
• Average cost per hired worker equivalent increased 7.2%.
• Total cost of producing cwt. of milk increased $0.84.
• Total cost of producing cwt. of milk in 2016 ranges from $17.26 to $23.72.
• Net milk price increased $1.28 per cwt. to $17.49.
• Net farm income per cow without appreciation increased from $285 to $444 per cow.
• Labor and management income per operator returned to positive levels, averaging $22,952 per owner operator.
• Debt per cow decreased 2.8% to $4,441 per cow.

To analyze the performance of your business, contact your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office to learn what resources are available.

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PRO-DAIRY Celebrates its 30th Anniversary

PRO-DAIRY has released a report highlighting its history and celebrating 30 years of Enhancing New York's Dairy Industry through Education and Applied Research.

"The past 30 years have been a time of tremendous change for the dairy industry in New York, and the next 30 years promises to bring even more change. All along the way, PRO-DAIRY has been there to develop the management skills of our farm owners and managers, help dairy farm businesses hone in on opportunities to improve their profitability and family livelihoods, provide technical expertise on many aspects of environmental stewardship, forage and crop production, cow health and management, facilities and dairy systems engineering, and help to attract our young people to opportunities to continue their education and find professional opportunities in the dairy industry," writes PRO-DAIRY Director Tom Overton.

Soil Health Researchers Launch Farmer Survey

A statewide survey of New York farmers is underway, with the aim of highlighting economic costs and benefits associated with maintaining and improving agricultural soil health. The soil health survey, which will examine the agricultural practices of using cover crops and reduced tillage, is being conducted by the New York State Soil Health Workgroup and funded by NYS department of Ag and Markets. The survey is open until March 10.

The New York Animal Agriculture Coalition is a charitable  501-c-3 not-for-profit organization committed to being a proactive voice and source of factual, credible information about New York dairy farms and their role in today’s food system. Their intention is to strengthen the public’s trust and support for our family farms that contribute to a safe, wholesome, affordable and sustainable food supply. Efforts highlighted in NYAAC's 2017 annual report are primarily focused on dairy farms, and includes the Birthing Center at the Great New York State Fair.

For more information about PRO-DAIRY, visit prodairy.cals.cornell.edu.

Julie Berry, Editor | Tom Overton, Director | Facebook

Northeast Dairy Producers Conference

Forward Progress Through Changing Times
Presented by Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY and the
Northeast Dairy Producers Association

March 7 - 8, 2018 at the Holiday Inn, Liverpool

Dynamic and informative general sessions are included in the agenda, and are supplemented with breakout sessions addressing current industry topics. In breakout sessions, PRO-DAIRY's Karl Czymmek will present on "Current Topics in Environmental Law" and Jason Karszes will present on "Strategies and Approaches to Rising Labor Costs." Industry sponsored pre-conference presentations have been added for even more educational offerings. Networking is the bonus benefit of attending and the schedule leaves time for attendees to make new connections. Online registration is open.

Stressed? What to do about it.

NY FarmNet is offering a free stress management webinar for agri-service and farmers at 1 PM, March 29.

This webinar will discuss:

• different perspectives and types of stress
• symptoms of stress and warning signs
• stress management techniques
• how stress may affect farm business management decisions
• warning signs and evaluating individual stress levels
• where to get support

Additional resources include:

• New York Farm Net: Guides farms through periods of transition, opportunity or challenge by providing free, confidential, on farm consulting services. Farm Net also has a Stress on Farm Families fact sheet.
• New York State Agricultural Mediation Program: Provides the the opportunity to communicate clearly and negotiate effectively to find fair and workable solutions to challenges faced. Decisions are made by the people directly involved, and not by mediators or outside authorities. Mediation and consultations to discuss mediation are completely confidential. 

Save the Date!

Pesticide Recertification Day
March 1 at The Century House, 997 New Loudon Rd, Latham, NY

Webinars:

Spanish Dairy Webinar
Practical Considerations for Feeding Dairy Calves.
Feb 28, 12:30 to 1:00 PM
Rodrigo Molano, DVM, PhD student Cornell University, Van Amburgh Lab

Thursday Dairy Updates
Milk Quality: It’s Not Just About Cell Counts Anymore.
March 1, 12:30 to 1 PM
​Frank Welcome, DVM, MBA, Sr. Extension Associate, Quality Milk Production Services, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University

Make the Most of Advances in Forage Management.
March 15, 12:30 to 1 PM
​ Joe Lawrence, Dairy Forage Systems Specialist, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY

Herd Manager Training
This is a regional two-day program held one week apart from each other at four locations statewide in March. The training will be held on-farm with a combination of presentations, demonstrations, farm tours and discussion.

Transition Cow Online Course
April 2 - May 18
Registration Deadline: March 26, 2018

​The course targets dairy business on-farm personnel who are seeking to increase their knowledge of transition cow management. Participants should possess a formal or informal background in dairy cattle management, but not necessarily in transition cow management. Topics include: nutritional strategies for transition cows, fresh cow health management, metabolic disease, non-nutritional management and monitoring health.

Herd Health and Nutrition Conference
April 10 at the Doubletree by Hilton, East Syracuse, NY
Early Bird Registration: March 20

The Herd Health and Nutrition Conference provides an opportunity for dairy producers, veterinarians, feed industry representatives and agriservice personnel to increase their knowledge of current herd health and nutrition management techniques while interacting with other professionals.