Heat-stress season has kicked off, and farmers are bracing for all it brings: reduced production, higher energy costs, and the accompanying tension while watching the thermometer creep up. A study from a pair of University of Wisconsin researchers recently published in the journal Agriculture compared potential reduction in milk-margin coverage — determined via milk prices and feed costs from the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program — with electrical expenditures for ventilation fan usage. While milk margin amounts are subject to multiple variables, including what’s happening in the feed and milk markets, the authors of the study pointed out that the relatively stable cost of electricity offers an opportunity for farmers to control costs where they can.

The results of the research also offer food for thought on long-term planning when considering ventilation upgrades, especially if there continues to be an uptick over time in days with temperatures and humidity reaching heat-stress levels. And with recent research indicating that heat stress is not only linked to lower production but a host of other wide-ranging issues that can even affect an unborn calf’s oocytes — thus creating problems two generations down the line — heat abatement has become a critical aspect of farm and budget management.

But where does throwing money at the problem reach the point of diminishing returns? The authors sought to find equilibrium among ventilation infrastructure investment and maintenance costs, the electric bill, and potential gains or losses in milk production. They noted that on average over five years, a 600-head herd’s milk margin reduction was about $20,000, and electrical costs were approximately $8,500 of that total. With the annual milk-margin variations thanks to market fluctuations as well as the weather’s impact on electrical usage, they concluded that in some years, farmers are likely to simply break even rather than recoup their electrical expenditures. To mitigate this risk, they recommend careful and thoughtful ventilation practices, especially if temperature-humidity index (THI) information is based on what’s happening at the weather station, not inside the barn. Maintaining existing equipment, even seemingly little things like keeping up with the dust that builds up on blades and housing, can boost efficiency by 15% to 30%, the researchers emphasized. Other maintenance tasks can impact both efficiency and the longevity of ventilation equipment, so building them into routines is a good way for producers to ensure they get the most bang for their initial investment. If replacing old fans, the authors suggested farmers look for high-efficiency models with variable speed options to customize cooling and energy usage to specific weather conditions. Commonsense measures like maintenance and shopping wisely will help you keep a cool head when both the thermometer and milk margins are fluctuating.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.