|
|
Extending thanks to CPDE sponsors and members
“As summer winds down, we want to extend a sincere thank you to all sponsors and members featured in the Central Plains Dairy Expo’s  (CPDE) online Member Directory,” reflected Central Plains Dairy Association Member Services Director Renee Brod. “Your commitment – from supporting our organization to stepping forward as trusted resource providers – continues to drive growth and innovation within the region’s dairy industry.”
The CPDE Member Directory serves as an essential tool by linking dairy producers directly with service providers across the Central Plains. “Whether it’s through our monthly EMOOs newsletter, the annual Grazing on the Greens golf outing or the Expo Prayer Breakfast, our members and sponsors support our shared mission of advancing dairy education and communication.
Thanks to your unwavering support:
- Dairy producers across the Central Plains have better access to vital services and solutions.
- The Expo, events and our communications continue to strengthen connections within the dairy community.
- We’re able to foster educational growth, innovation and collaboration across the region.
“We deeply appreciate the investment of time, effort and trust you bring to our organization,” Brod added. “We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events and continuing to grow together!”
Reminder: Mark your calendars for the 2026 Central Plains Dairy Expo, March 17-19, in Sioux Falls, S.D.
English
The basic biology of feeding cows
By Jorge Delgado, Alltech On Farm Support
The key to the success of a progressive dairy starts when the cows are fed, which makes the role of the feeder of paramount importance.
The cost of feeding cows accounts for a substantial portion of expenses on a dairy farm. On average, it ranges from 45 to 60% of all expenses. Most farms spend about $6 to $8 per cow per day on feed. On a dairy farm of 1,000 cows, that could equate to a
quarter of a million dollars spent on feed each month!
That is why the role of the feeder is very important. Uncontrolled feed costs can be the difference between profits and losses. Closely following an optimal nutrition program is crucial to maximizing milk production, improving health and reproduction, and ensuring animal welfare.
How do cows convert the ingredients they consume into milk? Let’s explore the basics of the feeding process.
Find the full article here.
Spanish
La biología básica de la alimentación de las vacas
Por Jorge Delgado, Alltech On Farm Support
La clave del éxito de una lechería progresiva comienza cuando se alimenta a las vacas, lo que hace que el papel del alimentador sea de suma importancia.
 El costo de alimentar a las vacas representa una parte sustancial de los gastos en una granja lechera. En promedio, oscila entre el 45 y el 60% de todos los gastos. La mayoría de las granjas gastan alrededor de 6 a 8 dólares por vaca por día en alimento. En una granja lechera de 1.000 vacas, ¡eso podría equivaler a un cuarto de millón de dólares gastados en alimento cada mes!
Por eso el papel del alimentador es muy importante. Los costos de alimentación incontrolados pueden ser la diferencia entre ganancias o pérdidas. Seguir de cerca un programa de nutrición óptimo es crucial para maximizar la producción de leche, mejorar la salud y la reproducción, y garantizar el bienestar de los animales.
¿Cómo convierten las vacas los ingredientes que consumen en leche? Exploremos los conceptos básicos del proceso de alimentación.
Encuentra el artículo completo aquí.
Wright County’s Malorie Thorson crowned 72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way
 A 20-year-old college student from Wright County was crowned the 72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way on Aug. 20. The winner, Malorie Thorson, studies dairy production at South Dakota State University.
Thorson said she’s looking forward to connecting with people during the 12 days of the Minnesota State Fair and beyond. “I’m really excited to meet everyone I can talk to; I’m a chatterbox, for sure,” she said. “Talking with my mom every single morning during milking has made me an outgoing person, so I’m really excited to channel that energy into every single interaction.”
Thorson was one of 10 young women from across Minnesota who competed for the Princess Kay title – to serve as a goodwill ambassador for the state’s nearly 1,800 dairy farmers and organized each year by Midwest Dairy.
The runners-up were Alexis Hoefs of Le Sueur County and April Klaphake of Stearns County. Lauren Steffl, Brown County, was named Miss Congeniality.
To read the complete MPRnews article, click here.
Timp earns Iowa Dairy Princess title
Northeast Iowa will once again be represented as the home of the Iowa statewide royalty as Ossian’s Kelsey Timp was crowned as the 72nd Iowa Dairy Princess on Aug. 6, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Timp, the daughter of Brett and Robin Timp, previously served as the 2024 Winneshiek County Dairy Princess and represented South Winn FFA as its chapter president last year. She was also named Miss Congeniality in the 2025 Iowa Dairy Princess competition, which featured 13 candidates from around the state.
As part of her duties as Dairy Princess, Timp will spend the year serving as a goodwill ambassador for Iowa’s dairy farmers. Throughout her year-long reign, she will make public appearances to connect with consumers and help them understand the dedication of dairy farm families to their cows, their land and the milk they produce.
A member of South Winneshiek’s graduating Class of 2025, Timp is heading to Iowa State University this fall to study agricultural communications and agricultural business. Serving alongside Timp will be 2025-26 Iowa Dairy Princess Alternate Alia Domeyer of Dehli, while Washburn’s Taylor Sparrgrove was recognized for her performance in the public speaking portion of the contest. The outgoing 2024-25 Iowa Dairy Princess Haley Ronnebaum of Earlville and Alternate Princess Harley Baumler of St. Lucas will compete their terms at the end of August with Timp and Domeyer beginning their duties on Sept. 1.
SDSU honors ag leaders
South Dakota State University’s (SDSU) colleges of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, and Education and Human Sciences named four individuals as winners of the 2025 Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community Award. The honorees are Greg Moes of Goodwin, Wallace Knock of Willow Lake, Reid Christopherson of Garretson and Jeff Lakner of Wessington. The award, a South Dakota tradition for nearly a century, celebrates individuals for their leadership and service contributions to agriculture and their communities at the local, state and national levels.
“It’s important for us to recognize these members of the agriculture community who have gone above and beyond in sharing their time, talent and treasure for the good of others,” said Joseph Cassady, dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.
Evan Ortlieb, dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences, added that the honorees are “unsung heroes” who work tirelessly and embody a “blue-collar work ethic.”
The 2025 award recipients will be honored at a banquet on Sept. 19, at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center on the SDSU campus. During the event, portraits of the honorees will be unveiled and later displayed in a virtual gallery on the university’s website. Tickets for the banquet can be purchased online before Sept. 5.
Harvesting legacy: The inspiring story of Iowa’s Heinrich Family
By Karen Bohnert, Dairy Herd Management
The Heinrich family from Maquoketa, Iowa, was recently honored with the Way We Live Award at the Iowa State Fair.
In the heart of Maquoketa, Iowa, farm families uphold the rich traditions of their agricultural heritage while embracing innovation and community. Among them stands the Heinrich family, recipients of the esteemed Way We Live Award, sponsored by Iowa Farmer Today and WHO Radio, The Big Show. This accolade honors Iowa farm families who exemplify dedication to agriculture and embody the state’s core farm values.
A farm rooted in passion and tradition
The Heinrich family, represented by Joe and Shelley Heinrich, their daughter, Amber Selman, and her husband, Ben, as well as nephew, Troy Petersen, and his wife, Anessa, manage the robust farming operations at Peterson Cattle and Grate View Farm. On these farms, they raise beef cow/calf pairs, milk 60 Holstein and Jersey dairy cattle, and cultivate corn, soybeans, alfalfa and oats.
Selman and her husband have breathed new life into the family’s dairy operation since 2019, ushering in a modernization of practices and nearly doubling milk production.
Shelley instills passion within the family, with each member playing a pivotal role in the success and growth of the farm, supported by their community. Whether managing the day-to-day operations of the dairy, overseeing crops and livestock or raising pork, beef and lamb on ancestral land, the Heinrich family continues to embody a balance of tradition and progress.
Read the full Dairy Herd Management story here.
Faribault cheesemaker honored with national lifetime achievement award
By Chloe Kucera, Faribault Daily News
From gouda to cheddar and gorgonzola to blue, Faribault native Jeff Jirik has dedicated his career to innovation in the cheese industry and has brought cheese made in the city to global recognition.
In late July, Jirik was awarded the National Lifetime Achievement Award at the American Cheese Society’s annual conference in Sacramento, Calif.
Beginning his work in the industry in 1979, Jirik was hired as a general laborer for the Caves of Faribault. He was then able to advance to work in quality assurance, using his educational background in biology. Helped by extensive studies to figure out “what makes the cheese from the Caves so special,” Jirik used science to analyze variables used in the cheesemaking.
Click here to read the complete article.
**Photo credit: faribaultdairy.com**
DCHA webinar offers webinars on September 8 and 25, and October 9
 Dairy Calf & Heifer Association’s (DCHA) Sept. 8 webinar features “CSI for Cocci: How to Diagnose a Cocci Break.” David Prentice, Elanco Animal Health technical consultant, Dairy Business Unit, will lead this free, one-hour educational offering, which starts at 10 a.m. Central time (Chicago time).
During the webinar, participants will learn about coccidia in dairy calves – from prevention to detection to treatment. Discover the life cycle of coccidiosis and its clinical signs. Prentice will share a case example of coccidiosis and wrap up the program with describing how to evaluate a calf enterprise during a possible coccidiosis outbreak.
Prentice obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1991 from Iowa State University and spent the first seven years of his career in a private mixed animal veterinary practice in Northeast Iowa, followed by an exclusive dairy practice in Tulare, Calif. In 2000, he obtained a master’s degree in dairy science from the University of Wisconsin, where he researched ionophores and subacute ruminal acidosis. Since leaving on-farm veterinary practice, Prentice has worked in various industry positions and has been a technical consultant for Elanco Animal Health for almost 16 years.
To register for the webinar, go to: https://bit.ly/DCHAelanco090825.
September 25 webinar
“Implant Physiology and Opportunities for Dairy Calves” headlines the Sept. 25 DCHA webinar. Bryan Bernhard, managing nutritionist on the Beef Strategic Technical Services team at Zoetis, will address implants and how they impact the physiology of calf growth during this free, one-hour webinar, which starts at 12 p.m. Central time.
To register for the webinar, go to: https://bit.ly/DCHAZoetis092525
During this webinar, Bernhard will discuss how to properly administer a growth implant, what happens at the muscle level and how that connects to calf performance. Next, he will review the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) guidelines for production phases (GFI #191), which implants are approved for use in each phase, and their respective growth responses. Bernhard will wrap up the webinar by reviewing lifetime implanting options and on-farm support opportunities that will help educate veterinarians, managers and farm employees
Bernhard has been with Zoetis since 2016 and helps support customers and nutritionists from Texas to the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, he works with new product development and monitoring research trials in the areas of growth promotion and nutrition. Prior to joining Zoetis, Bernhard was on faculty at Texas Tech University in a teaching and research role. His research focused on starter cattle programs and growth-promoting technologies. Bernhard earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science and master’s degree in ruminant nutrition from Texas Tech University, and his doctorate in ruminant nutrition from Oklahoma State University.
October 9 webinar
Join DCHA for its Oct. 9 webinar – “Microbes, Immunity and Calf Health: Helping Calves Win the War You Can’t See” – set to start at 2 p.m. Central time. Leonardo Bringhenti, AHV International technical services consultant, will lead this free, one-hour educational offering.
To register for the webinar, go to: https://bit.ly/DCHAAHV100925
Calves face a constant and complex battle within their immune systems, which are working hard to defend against a wide range of microbial threats from day one. In this webinar, Bringhenti will explore the dynamic interactions between immunity and pathogens in young calves – focusing on how these relationships shape health outcomes. Additionally, the presenter will help participants develop strategies to support immunity, reduce disease risk and give calves the best possible start.
Bringhenti earned his veterinary degree in Brazil and completed his PhD in animal science at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., with a major in epidemiology and a minor in immunology. His research focused on dairy calves, emphasizing the microbiome of the upper respiratory tract and preventing respiratory and digestive tract diseases. Raised on a beef cattle operation in Brazil, Bringhenti combines a strong academic background with hands-on livestock experience, bringing practical insight and scientific expertise to calf health and management.
Veterinarians and veterinary technicians may earn one Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) credit for attending these DCHA webinars. To learn more about this opportunity, contact JoDee Sattler at: jodee@calfandheifer.org.
DCRC webinar, presented in Spanish, focuses on automated monitoring technology
“Use of automated monitoring technology for enhancing dairy herd health performance and management” (Uso de tecnologías de monitoreo automatizado para mejorar el rendimiento y la gestión de la salud del rebaño lechero), presented in Spanish, headlines the Sept. 11 Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) webinar. The free webinar starts at 1 p.m. Central time (USA/Canada). Julio O. Giordano, Cornell University, will serve as the instructor for this one-hour webinar. 
Are you wondering what automated monitoring systems can do for a dairy? In this presentation, Giordano will discuss the latest research and experiences with on-farm use of monitoring technologies for dairy herd health monitoring and management. Special emphasis will be placed on what we can learn about cows with sensor technologies and the implications on herd management and performance of integrating these automated systems in dairy operations.
To register for this webinar, go to: https://bit.ly/DCRCWebSept11. If you are a DCRC member and cannot attend the live program, you may access the webinar at www.dcrcouncil.org after Sept. 25.
Giordano is the director of the Dairy Cattle Biology and Management Laboratory in the department of animal science at Cornell University, director of the Cornell Agricultural Systems Testbed for the Farm the Future, and a co-director of the Cornell Institute for Digital Agriculture. His research focuses on the development, implementation and evaluation of technology and novel management strategies for dairy production systems. The overarching goal of his research program is to integrate concepts of animal biology, farm management, engineering and data-analytics for enhancing the reproductive performance, health and profitability of dairy farms.
September 12 webinar addresses immigration enforcement for livestock and dairy producers
The next Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team webinar will be held Sept. 12, from 12-1 p.m. Central time. This program will be presented by Kristiana Coutu who will review common reasons federal immigration officials may contact an employer or arrive at the farm.
 To register for this webinar, go to: https://go.iastate.edu/IMMIGRATIONISSUES.
Coutu is an attorney with the Center for Agricultural Taxation at Iowa State University. Agricultural employers are increasingly concerned about immigration enforcement and have questions about how it may directly impact their farm. This webinar will cover common reasons federal immigration officials may contact an employer or arrive at the farm, along with key compliance areas every agricultural employer should understand and have in place. The goal of this webinar is to provide practical, educational information to help producers know what to expect and how to prepare for potential interactions with immigration enforcement officials.
Coutu’s work focuses on current legal and tax issues impacting agriculture. As director of the Beginning Farmer Center, Coutu brings her passion and commitment to supporting new farmers and providing resources for farm succession planning. Before joining Iowa State University, she was a practicing agricultural attorney. Also, Coutu is a fourth-generation dairy farmer.
AgLaunch offers help for startups
AgLaunch opened applications for the 2026 AgLaunch365 Accelerator, a multi-stage challenge designed to catapult the next generation of ag tech startups. Applications are due Sept. 15. Apply at: www.aglaunch.com/aglaunch-365.
If you’re building a breakthrough startup that can reshape how we grow food, raise animals or steward the land, then AgLaunch is your  proving ground.
AgLaunch365 isn’t like other accelerators. AgLaunch 365 embeds founders directly into the real-world complexity of farming. Selected startups will partner with AgLaunch’s aligned and connected national farmer network, made up of farmers working hundreds of thousands of acres, more than 150 crops and all major classes of livestock. Using standard trial protocols and milestones, these innovation-ready producers operate across diverse regions and production systems throughout the country, forming a massive, real-time feedback loop that powers technology validation and adaptation at scale.
What accepted startups gain
- Investment: $100K initial investment, with additional milestone-based capital available through seed round to prepare for a strategically timed Series A.
- Farmer Insight: Endorsement and co-development support from the trusted national farmer.
- On-farm Trials: Commercial-scale testing in real-world conditions in key markets, funded through sponsored cost-share program developed with Tennessee Department of Ag and now being replicated across the United States.
- Farm Data Access: Datasets from farm operations to train, test and refine your model(s).
- Technical Expertise: Guidance from in-house agriculture expertise from managing farm trials to building regional teams.
- Business Development: Deep understanding of market entry and scaling within complex agricultural systems.
- Strategic Partnerships: Unapparelled access to influential partners like Ag Ventures Alliance and Farm Journal.
- First Access: Priority integration into new AgLaunch ventures, including the AgLaunch Data Cooperative and others in development.
What accepted startups give
- 10% equity: Founder-friendly terms to a shared pool benefiting farmers and mission-driven partners.
- Time and Commitment: Willingness to iterate, refine and scale your technology in collaboration with AgLaunch and its ecosystem.
- Embedded Engagement: Boots-on-the-ground approach to solving complex agricultural challenges in farm regions across the United States.
- Unwavering Focus: Relentless drive to achieve bold, system-changing outcomes.
What type of startups should apply
Early-stage, pre-seed startups that are working on groundbreaking technologies that need ongoing feedback iterations from farmers.
- Intelligent Farm Systems: Autonomous machinery, smart infrastructure, AI-driven tools, “plants as sensors”
- Regenerative Biological Solutions: On-farm biomanufacturing, microbial and living inputs
- Farmer-centered Data Platforms: AI copilots, sensors and cooperative data ecosystems
- Regionally Adapted Innovations: Solutions grounded in place, ecology and local culture
- Full-stack Ag Robotics: Scalable robotics for labor, precision and value delivery
A full list of 20 “areas of interest” is available here.
How it works
The journey begins with a farmer-sourced down-select to yield invitations to a two-day competitive, in-person Challenge Event in Memphis, Tenn., this fall. Challenge participants will interact with AgLaunch, farmers and investor partners, refine their business models and pitch to secure a spot in the exclusive 2026 AgLaunch365 cohort, which will start in January 2026 with multi-year farm trials starting in spring of 2026. The startups chosen for the 2026 cohort will receive deep support through product development, field validation and early commercialization built around real farmer trials and co-development across the United States, integrating into milestone-based capital allocation.
AgLaunch is an innovation engine built around a national network of forward-thinking farmers advancing agricultural technology through farm trials, knowledge, market access, data and investment. AgLaunch365 is an industry-leading commercialization approach that provides multi-year support from proof of concept through Series A. The program consists of its accelerator, farmer-centered business development approach and multi-year farm trials across the United States. AgLaunchFarmers LLC is a business network of farmers from across the United States that supports startups from idea to scale. Learn more at: www.aglaunch.com.
Holstein Association USA announces Virtual Interview Contest for junior members
The Holstein Association USA Virtual Interview Contest gives youth the opportunity to enhance their resume writing, cover letter development and interview skills in a supportive, real-world setting. Feedback from dairy industry professionals gives Junior Holstein members actionable ways to grow. All Junior Holstein members ages 12 to 21 are encouraged to participate in the online contest.
 First, youth submit their resume and cover letters for a mock scenario, and up to 15 applicants from each division will be selected for a virtual interview with a panel of three judges. Every individual who participates will be given written feedback on their cover letter and resume. Those who reach the interview phase will receive additional feedback on their interview.
Junior Holstein members will be split into three categories based on age. Cash prizes of $250 for first place, $100 for second place and $50 for third place will be awarded in the junior and intermediate divisions. In the senior division, youth will be given cash prizes of $500 for first place, $250 for second place and $100 for third place.
Entries for the Virtual Interview Contest will be accepted through Oct. 1. Following are the mock scenarios for each age division.
Junior Division Mock Interview Scenario (ages 12 to 14, as of Jan. 1)
Youth are applying to be sponsored for an award trip to World Dairy Expo. Through their resume and cover letter, youth should indicate why they would be the best candidate to receive this sponsorship.
Intermediate Division Mock Interview Scenario (ages 15 to 17, as of Jan. 1)
Youth are applying for an internship experience on a Holstein farm in another country. In their resume and cover letter, youth should explain why they are the best candidate to be selected for this opportunity.
Senior Division Mock Interview Scenario (ages 18 to 21, as of Jan. 1)
Youth are applying for the career of their dreams. Youth should list the position and/or the company they are applying for in their cover letter and resume.
Interested youth should submit their cover letter and resume corresponding to their appropriate age division to the online form found at: www.juniorholstein.com/virtual-interview. Youth who make it to the virtual interview round will be notified in November with interviews to follow in December.
For more details on the contest or how to apply, visit the Junior Holstein website or contact Kelli Dunklee at: kdunklee@holstein.com or 802-451-4124.
Responsibly using antibiotics is fundamental to raising healthy, productive and profitable cattle
Judicious use of antibiotics is tremendously important for the future of beef and dairy production.
“If we’re going to preserve the effectiveness of the limited number of antimicrobials that we have in the cattle industry, using them appropriately to minimize the development of antimicrobial resistance is vital,” said Pat Gorden, Iowa State University professor. Utilizing antibiotics responsibly also supports the long-term success of cattle operations and helps reinforce consumer trust in our industry.
“Keeping cattle healthy is always the goal,” stated Nathan Meyer, Boehringer Ingelheim. “When antibiotics are used judiciously, it improves the lives of cattle, producers and consumers.” Using antibiotics judiciously requires implementing these fundamental herd health practices on your operation.
Maintain a veterinarian-client-patient relationship
The foundation of responsible antibiotic use begins with establishing and maintaining a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), which is required to access prescription antibiotics. With a VCPR, your veterinarian can be a true partner in supporting your herd’s health. It can help them gain a better understanding of your herd and be more aligned with your operation’s goals.
“Before a disease occurs, your veterinarian can help develop protocols for receiving cattle or moving cattle through an operation that can minimize the stress and the risk of disease,” noted Gorden.
Then, when treatment is needed, your veterinarian can provide more timely and accurate treatment advice. “Your veterinarian can help identify the correct animals that need treatment and recommend when to implement metaphylaxis protocols,” related Meyer.
A strong VCPR allows you to work with your veterinarian to build more effective protocols, preventing problems before they start and ensuring long-term success for your herd.
To read the complete article, click here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
