Sustainable Economic Development through Organic and Grazing Dairy Farm Establishment and Transition

This grants aims to provide financial and production information about model grazing farms for other beginning and transitioning dairy producers who aspire to establish profitable dairy operations. Methods and Procedure: Financial analysis of model dairy operations will be done in 2008 for 2007 data. This data is or will be presented in a format for producers to use to help benchmark their beginning or transitioning dairy operations.

The results are still in process for the financial data. The biggest highlight of accomplishment for Year 1 of the project was the very successful development of the PowerPoint presentation on “Building Your Own Low Cost Parlor” which was viewed 546 times since July 25, 2007. The second biggest accomplishment was the creation of the Low-Cost Parlor publication. The third biggest accomplishment was beginning the “Designing a Dairy Grazing System” PowerPoint presentation. There were three major items published. The first was the PowerPoint presentation on “Building Your Own Low Cost Parlor” which is available on the web here.

The second piece published was the “Low Cost Milking Parlor” publication which can be viewed here.

In addition to the video shots, a 45-minute video was produced that includes the above items, but depicts the building and milking process of the low-cost TRANS Iowa Parlor. This video is too large for the internet website so is available only by request. Though not specifically part of the grant, these fit nicely within the project scope. Conclusions: Producers are using the information items produced and when the financial models are published, it is anticipated they will be of high interest as well.

Contact:
Larry F. Tranel
Dubuque County Extension Director and Dairy Field Specialist
Iowa State University Extension
14858 West Ridge Lane
Dubuque, IA 52003-8466
Tranel@iastate.edu
563-583-6496