Green County DHIA Newsletter

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1 November 2015 Green County DHIA Newsletter Upcoming Events November 9-20 December 2 January 2 7 Green County Area Ag Plastic Film Recycling Collection, 7AM-3PM weekdays, Green County Landfill. Farmers can recycle their silage bags, bunker covers and bale wrap plastic for free. UW-Extension Soil, Water and Nutrient Management Meeting, 10am-3pm, 5201 Fen Court, Madison. Call to register. Green County Steer Weigh-in, 8-11AM, Equity Livestock, Monroe 28th Annual Green County Dairy Management Seminar, 11am-3pm, Multipurpose Room, Green County Justice Center, Monroe Deadline for Dairy MPP Sign up is November 20 The USDA deadline to enroll in the 2016 Dairy Margin Protection Program is November 20, Dairy farmers must contact the FSA Office and pay the $100 administration fee before this date to enroll in the program for If a farmer enrolled in the program in 2015 they are required to remain in the Dairy Margin Protection Program through At a minimum they must pay the $100 administration fee that provides the catastrophic margin protection of $4/cwt. However, dairy producers have the option of selecting a different margin coverage level each year. If you want help in determining what margin level to sign up for there is an on-line tool that can show projected margins for 2016 using futures prices for milk and grain commodities at: pages/content/farmbill/fb_mppdtool.jsp In looking at the projections for 2016 based on futures prices quoted in early November the probability of getting a payment at the $6.50 margin level in 2016 was approximately 10% and a payment in any of the two months for the $8 margin protection level was approximately 30%. Ag Plastic Recycling Program Runs Through November 20th Farmers from Green County and the surrounding area have an opportunity to dispose of used Ag Plastic from wrapped bales, silo bags, bunker silos from November 9-20 at the Green County Landfill. The landfill will be accepting agriculture plastics from 7AM 3 PM daily during that time period. Farmers can dispose of their agriculture plastics listed above free of charge at the landfill which is located at W2002 County SS, Brodhead WI. Only #4 plastic from silo bags, bunker covers, and bale wraps will be accepted through this collection. Plastic twine, mesh bale wraps, plastic jugs, bunker covers with a nylon scrim and all other types of plastic containers will not be accepted through the program. New technology allows for these Ag plastics to be recycled. However, farmers are asked to shake any excess mud, gravel, dirt, stones and feed off the plastic before storing it, or bringing it to the collection in November.

2 Cost of Raising Dairy Replacements for 2015 Raising dairy replacements continues to be expensive. The cost of raising calves and heifers is often the second highest expenditure on dairy farms after milking herd feed costs. In 2013, these costs were determined using data collected by UW-Extension agriculture agents from 36 dairy farms and custom heifer growers across the state. However, in the past 2 years costs have changed especially lower feed cost and higher calf value. Calf Enterprise Calf rearing expenditures were broken into four management areas: feed cost, labor and management, variable costs (veterinary service, bedding, death loss, and interest) and fixed costs (housing and equipment). The major change since 2013 was increased calf value ($400 vs $150 per calf) which caused both death loss and interest costs (other variable costs) to increase. Other variable costs increased from $41 per calf ($0.64 per day) to $51 per calf ($0.70 per day). No other areas were changed for calf costs. In 2013, feed cost was the most expensive cost at $165 per calf ($2.40 per day). Feed costs included liquid feed (milk replacer or pasteurized milk), starter, and forages. Labor and management costs were the next largest expense at $134 per calf ($1.95 per day). Fixed costs averaged $23 per calf ($0.35 per day). The average total cost to raise a calf in 2015 was $374 per calf or $5.51 per calf per day not including the calf value. The cost for raising calves ranged from $3.81 to $5.59 per calf per day with the average being $5.51 per day over 68 days. The Heifer Enterprise Since 2013, feed costs have decreased significantly leading to feed costs decreasing from $1,046 per heifer ($1.71 per day) to $910 per heifer ($1.37 per day) in Labor and management were the next largest expense at $342 per heifer ($0.53 per day). Other variable costs were approximately $278 per heifer ($0.44 per day) and were similar to 2013 costs with slightly lower interest costs due to lower feed costs, but higher death loss costs due to higher calf value in Fixed costs averaged $217 per heifer ($0.32 per day). The average cost for raising a dairy heifer from weaning to freshening (or returned to the dairy by custom grower) in 2015 was $1,736 per heifer or $2.77 per day (range was $2.04 to $4.32 per heifer per day) which is 10% lower compared to 2013 ($1,914 per heifer). Total Costs from Birth to Freshening Since the cost of many farm inputs have increased in the past few years, it is to be expected that dairy replacement rearing costs have increased as well. Based on the 2015 cost updates, the total cost to raise a heifer, from birth to freshening, averaged $2,510 (including the $400 value for the calf). This is actually higher than total heifer costs in 2013 which were $2427 per heifer due to a $250 higher calf value in Calf and heifer raising is an expensive part of a dairy operation, but it is often overlooked since no direct income is derived from the replacement herd. The data collected in this study provides an excellent benchmark on dairy replacement rearing costs for dairy producers and agri-business professionals. However, to truly understand your own costs of production, you need to analyze your actual farm inputs. This information should be used to compare the performance and cost of your own dairy replacement management program. Identifying areas to improve producer efficiency may lead to enhanced profitability. Economic Costs and Labor Efficiencies Associated with Raising Dairy Herd Replacements on Wisconsin Dairy Farms and Custom Heifer Raising Operations Reports are now available. To view the ICPA Research Reports please visit our website at:

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7 Green County DHIA Newsletter Green County DHIA, P.O. Box 400, Monroe, WI Bonnie Moser - Office Manager Field Technicians Office Phone November 2015 Sue Pudwill Jim Moser Diane Foulker Lisa Becherer Robert Cramer, Jr W3224 Norton Rd, Juda President Craig Tourdot W3872 Hwy 11-81, Monroe Vice Pres John Dieckhoff W2210 Pinnow Rd, Brodhead Sec/Treas Jeremy Mayer N3926 County Rd N, Monroe Director Andrew Houlberg N4991 Spoerry Rd, Monticello Director Stephanie Miranda 6931 State Hwy 11 W, Janesville Director Green County UW-Extension Office Justice Center th Street Monroe, Wisconsin Phone: Internet: green.uwex.edu COUNTY EXTENSION STAFF Mark Mayer, Dairy & Livestock Agent & Editor Victoria Solomon, Community Resource Development Educator Ellen Andrews, 4-H & Youth Development Educator Bridget Mouchon, Family Living Educator Jayne Butts, Extension Activity Assistant Amy Krass, Extension Activity Assistant Mark Mayer Dairy and Livestock Agent & Editor Green County The University of Wisconsin-Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and educational programming, including Title IX and the ADA requirements. Please make requests for reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to educational programs as early as possible preceding the scheduled program, service or activity. If you need this material in an alternate format or other accommodations for access, please contact the UW-Extension Office at , voice or 711 for Wisconsin Relay.

8 Green County DHIA Newsletter UW-Extension Office Green County th Street Monroe, WI 53566