The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.
Cow College meetings and farm tours have been offered as in-person events during prior years. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cow College 2021 meetings and tours have moved to a virtual format.
Tune in on Jan. 13, 2021 from 12-1 p.m. to hear Dr. James Salfer, University of Minnesota Extension, discuss the economics of automated milking systems and learn if robotic milking is right for your farm.
Dairy heifer management will be the topic on Jan.20, 2021 from 12-1 p.m. Tina Kohlman, UW- Madison Extension Fond du Lac County, will focus on heifer inventory management practices. Tina will help your farm decide which heifers to keep and which heifers to cull. In addition, you will also learn about the importance of achieving the correct heifer maturity from the second speaker of the day, Dr. Gavin Staley, Diamond V.
Virtual farm tours and discussion will be held Jan. 27, 2021 from 8-9 p.m. We will begin by taking a virtual tour of Townline Acres Registered Holsteins, Birnamwood, to learn more about using a ground grain mix feed in a robotic box, rather than traditional pelleted feed. We will also virtually visit Wichman Farms, Inc., Appleton, to tour their automated calf feeding facilities and learn more about robotic calf feeding. In addition, Kevin Jarek, UW-Madison Extension Outagamie County, will provide an update on 2021 feeds, while Dr. Rodrigo Werle, UW-Madison Extension Weed Specialist, will discuss the introduction and spread of Palmer Amaranth in Wisconsin farm fields.
If you do not have adequate internet service at home, Fox Valley Technical College, Clintonville Regional Center, will open rooms for viewing the webinars. All pandemic protocol will be followed to maintain the safety of all attendees. When registering, please indicate if you plan to view the program at home or at FVTC, Clintonville Reginal Center.
There is no registration fee for these virtual meetings and farm tours. However, you must pre-register by 5 p.m. the night before the meeting. Register online at https://go.wisc.edu/91xc62. Please indicate on the registration if you are viewing from home or at the FVTC, Clintonville Regional Center.
This program is sponsored by UW-Madison Division of Extension Shawano and Outagamie offices and Fox Valley Technical College.
