Dairy Education Assists Producers with Implementing Technology to Improve Profitability and Efficiency
Extension Education
Jennifer Bentley
Extension Dairy Specialist
Decorah
Abstract
A producer's decision to implement a precision technology is a significant investment. Understanding the challenges, maintenance requirements, data analysis, and technical support are critical factors in the decision. Iowa lost 10% of their dairy producers over an 18-month period. With continued low profit margins, labor efficiency and adoption of profitable technologies will be key factors in farm viability. Combining good management practices with financially sustainable technologies can provide greater levels of farm productivity. With the assistance of an RME grant, this project helped guide the decision-making process for new and current dairy producers to determine if precision technologies were a financially sustainable tool that would improve quality of life for the dairy animal and producer, while increasing labor efficiency.
This project focused on automatic milking systems, low-cost parlor automation, feed mixing automation, automatic calf feeders, and health sensors. With limited interaction in person during the project, more emphasis was put into time lapse camera demonstration to show how it can be used to improve farm productivity.
We completed 31 producer management surveys, 9 on-farm workshops, 4 webinars, 5 best management practice videos, and 18 individual farm visits. We also installed time lapse cameras on 9 farms and captured over 1800 hours of activity in barns and milking parlors on time-lapse video. Over 100 producers and industry partners increased awareness, understanding, and decision-making ability regarding precision technologies. Long term, producers will reduce risk and increase labor efficiency, impacting profitability.
A Qualtrics evaluation was used to evaluate the increase in knowledge gain for the educational topics delivered during the webinar series. Knowledge gain ranged from 30-80 percent knowledge gain in delivered topic areas. As of 3/15/22, there has been 131 archived views of the time lapse webinar, 125 archived views of sensor technology, 95 archived views of the Automatic Milking Systems, and 65 archived views of the Automatic Calf Feeders. The best management practices videos that were posted to you-tube have also received 57 views-Taakes Family Farm Implements Technology and On-Farm Processing; 177 views-Trans Iowa Parlor Design with Schanbacher Acres; 149 views-Dairy Farm utilizing solar panels; and 64 views-Installing Time Lapse Cameras.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.
Click to view Poster
Authors: Jennifer Bentley, Brian Dougherty, Fred Hall, Larry Tranel
-
Bentley, J. Extension Dairy Specialist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Iowa, 52101-1833
-
Dougherty, B. Extension Field Ag Engineer, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Iowa, 52003
-
Hall, F. Extension Dairy Field Specialist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Iowa, 51041
-
Tranel, L. Extension Dairy Field Specialist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Iowa, 52003