Generating Revenue on Your Dairy

Every year, I get fooled by some article on milk pricing and the forecasters predicting the price that we will see in the future. They take on the nearly impossible quest of prediction with the same confidence of the newscaster reading the weather on my tv, and we all know how that went this spring. In February the mailbox price was in the $15 cwt range and now, fast forward to June, we are around $19 cwt. On a 600-cow dairy, that’s about $75,000 a month difference equating to just under a cool million in a year. How does your farm handle this volatility? I don’t think there’s a magic cookie cutter answer in how we manage this, and it appears volatility is here to stay in commodity prices.  

Maximize Fertilizer Efficiency with Grid Sampling

Phosphorous (P), potassium (K), and soil pH have an optimal range in the soil. Underapplying fertilizer will lead to nutrient deficiency in the plant and reduced yields. Overapplying fertilizer will increase costs without improving yield. Soil tests provide the information needed to determine what rate of fertilizer will maximize yield potential without excessive cost.

Digital Dermititis

Digital Dermatitis, commonly referred to as hairy heel warts, poses many threats to a dairy herd in terms of health, productivity, and longevity. Hairy heel wart typically presents on the back of the heel and can look red and raw initially. The area may have raised, hair – like projections and can extend to the front of the foot. Factors such as stress leading to decreased immunity, poor micronutrient intake, wet and muddy environment, exposure to infected animals, inadequate foot bath and hoof trimming can all lead to DD (digital dermatitis) infections. Unfortunately, this is an industry – wide battle. According to a recent study by the USDA, over 70 percent of dairies in the United States had reported cases of DD. In this article we will go through key factors to prevent and treat digital dermatitis. 

Grain Notice

Premier Cooperative participates in Wisconsin’s Agricultural Security program.  If we fail to pay you for grain when payment is due, you may file a claim under this program.  The program may provide some compensation.  However, our “estimated default exposure” exceeds program coverage, and we have not filed security to cover the difference, so compensation may cover only a portion of your loss.  For more information, you may contact the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, 2811 Agriculture Drive, Madison, 53708-8911 (phone 608/224-4998).   

The Best Tub Prices of the Year

The best tub prices of the year are here! Save money and have the opportunity to earn an Eddie Bauer vest, tumbler, or a Wisconsin Badger football ticket and tailgate package. From now until November 4th, booking select Purina livestock tubs can help you earn prizes and take advantage of quantity discounts.

Making the Most of your Silage Crop

Corn silage season is knocking at the door and it’s time to start preparing to put up the best possible silage you can for the upcoming year. Between get the chopper set, processor in, opening fields and getting the silage in at the correct moisture, there is a lot that can go wrong. That’s why it’s in you best interest to equip yourself with the best tools, people, and information needed before heading to the field. 

Overcrowding - One Size Does Not Fit All?

As a livestock nutritionist traveling the countryside, it is not often a question of “if” herds are overcrowding, but more so “how much.” Back in May of 2020, there were farmers wanting to sell cows to reduce their milk production, only to find that their bulk tanks did not budge an inch when they did so. Now in August 2022, we find ourselves with considerably better milk prices, but excessively high feed costs. Where does that leave farmers in the decision-making tree of what to sell and what to keep? Here are five essential areas to focus on if we want to be successful in keeping some of those extra cows around.

Changes in the feed business over the past 37 years.

I have given it a lot of thought and have decided that after working in the ag nutrition field for 37 years, it is time to retire. Not from agriculture altogether, but to work on my family farm alongside my children and grandchildren.

Silage Inoculant

Ensiled forages account for the majority of most dairy rations around the world. The main purpose for feeding ensiled forages is to preserve and recover organic dry matter, while retaining nutritional value and palatability.

Proper or improved silage management can have a significant impact on the overall profitability of the dairy. One way to do this is to use a silage inoculant.

How Good is your On-Farm Feed aDivision?

The last 2 years in the dairy business have brought out the most volatile times that any of us in the business of milking cows, processing milk, selling food, manufacturing feed or providing nutrition services have witnessed so far in our careers. I’ve spent 28 years as a nutrition consultant to farms and this past year witnessed some things for the first time, along with market instability getting more volatile with quicker peaks and valleys than ever before. I’d never dream it was sustainable for a year with most being over $25 cwt total pay price now. We saw $2 and some odd cent corn 2 years ago in August and pushing $8 corn now. $290/ton soybean meal in August to now over $500 a ton.  I could go on and on with other ingredient disruptions, erratic prices and limited or no availability but I’ll stop there. I’d like to think that we won’t see this again but these times might be here to stay. How does your farm handle this volatility? I don’t think there is a magic answer in how we manage this. However, there are multiple tools available that we can use to help mitigate these variables.   
 

How Good is your On-Farm Feed Division?

The last 2 years in the dairy business have brought out the most volatile times that any of us in the business of milking cows, processing milk, selling food, manufacturing feed or providing nutrition services have witnessed so far in our careers. I’ve spent 28 years as a nutrition consultant to farms and this past year witnessed some things for the first time, along with market instability getting more volatile with quicker peaks and valleys than ever before. I’d never dream it was sustainable for a year with most being over $25 cwt total pay price now. We saw $2 and some odd cent corn 2 years ago in August and pushing $8 corn now. $290/ton soybean meal in August to now over $500 a ton.  I could go on and on with other ingredient disruptions, erratic prices and limited or no availability but I’ll stop there. I’d like to think that we won’t see this again but these times might be here to stay. How does your farm handle this volatility? I don’t think there is a magic answer in how we manage this. However, there are multiple tools available that we can use to help mitigate these variables.   
 

Preparing for Breeding Season - Male to Female Ratios

Breeding season will be here before we know it and with it, bull turnout. In our area, we are fortunate to have many outstanding registered seedstock breeders who will be marketing bulls this Spring. The opportunity to invest in genetics to improve the profit potential of your operation may have you wondering what exactly you should be looking for.

Feeding for Butterfat

This sensitivity analysis considers the portion of palmitic acid fed as a dietary supplement that ends up as butterfat and energy for body utilization.  It assumes that:

Crop Input Planning

I want to start this out with a BIG thank you to all who have come in and made commitments and prepayments for your 2022 crop needs. This is a big help to get us off on the right foot with direction on what products to stock for the upcoming spring season. 

As we head into the tail end of winter and turn the corner into spring, I want to take a few moments and comment on an opportunity that still lies ahead in the coming month: planning. Though discussions of planning ahead have happened over and over this past winter, it remains important as we get closer to spring. 
 

The Top 3 Reasons to Switch to Propane Autogas

With diesel prices continuing to rise, there's no better time to rethink how you're fueling your fleet. Propane Autogas can save money, save time, and keep your students safer. Here's the top 3 reason why you should make the switch to Propane Autogas.

Aphanomyces Root Rot and Anthracnose in Alfalfa

The combination of healthy roots and healthy stems lead to higher alfalfa yield potential. Below ground, alfalfa roots gather water and nutrients. Above ground, stems and leaves produce and transport plant energy to make valuable forage. Diseases such as Aphanomyces root rot and Anthracnose can limit these plant processes.

Increase your value and net return per acre with CROPLAN® Alfalfa

A strong start to your alfalfa stand is important. The soil environment that alfalfa is seeded into can mean success or failure for the stand. Management practices like seedbed preparation and soil fertility can influence stand establishment. Soil borne diseases in the upper Midwest and Eastern U.S. like Aphanomyces root rot and Anthracnose can also have a serious impact on your stand establishment and alfalfa productivity.
 

Properly Delivering Additional Energy to Dairy Calves

Winters in the Midwest pose many challenges to dairy farmers. One common challenge being how to keep calves not only healthy but also growing through this stressful time. As we know, calves use the energy they take in for maintenance first, then growth last. 

January Feed News

Each winter, Premier joins our trade partners to host meetings on beef information to help your herd. This year is NO exception! We’ll be joined by Elanco to discuss feed conversions, Rumensin (a big player over the years in our programs) and the resulting return on investment. We’ll also feature a presentation from Corteva.  

Crop Input Planning and Budgets

Every year crop input planning and budgeting are important but with the abnormal fluctuation in the prices of your inputs, they are now more important than ever. The Premier Cooperative Team has the tools to work through your budget spreadsheets with you and calculate your breakeven cost per bushel. This will help you develop a crop input plan to meet or exceed your profit goals. 

 

Herbicide Shortage - Fact or Fiction?

We are living in some unprecedented times regarding supply and demand. As many of you know, there has been a considerable amount of press about glyphosate and other CPP product shortages for the 2022 growing season. There are several different factors for the herbicide shortage including a decline in the number of laborers to unload tanker ships at gulf ports, lack of truck transportation from the ports to get the ingredients to U.S. formulation plants and formulated products to the retailers, reduced supplies of some of the inert ingredients of the formulation, shortages of materials to make containers and packaging, and Hurricane Ida that damaged a glyphosate production plant in Luling, LA. 

 

Long Day Lighting

Photoperiod is the duration of daily light exposure in a 24 hour period.  When the photoperiod has been manipulated to 16-18 hours of light exposure; research has shown an increase in milk production, feed efficiency, reproduction, and heifer growth.

Planning for Profits

With the 2021 season behind us our thoughts have turned to planning for 2022. Many of you started that thinking process during harvest and decided to buy/book and apply fall fertilizer. In general, fertilizer prices have remained strong throughout the fall with potentially more upside. Some supply concerns have made the news as well. We have worked hard with our suppliers to secure fertilizer tons for the remainder of the fall application season and to fill and re-fill our bins for spring application. Premier’s storage capacity is one of the largest in the area which helps lessen our dependence on shipments in the spring. Working with your local agronomist to plan your needs for spring will help us forecast product amounts and timing of those tons for application in the spring.

Agronomy Year End Prepay

Last year we changed up our “Year End Prepay Days” due to the COVID-19 guidance that was in place and went to offering private one on one appointments. These appointments ended up being very efficient and timely for all, giving us time to prepare in advance for the appointment and locking in a time for yourself to help in your day-to-day schedule as well. We have decided to continue with this same layout for our “Year End Prepay Days”. We would like to offer you a window of time between Mid-December and the first week of January to prepay for your 2022 crop inputs. Please call your local agronomy location to schedule a private one on one appointment. We appreciate your business and look forward to meeting with you.
 

Use technology tools to support in-season decision-making​.

Making good seed decisions starts with leveraging the data that’s best suited for your operation. Ideally, this means fusing national data with highly localized data from your region or your farm specifically. ?Although you never know what the season will bring, the highest odds of success come from managing the seed as recommended.

Fall Beef Herd Tips

Pasture conditions are variable in southwest Wisconsin this fall, and how you manage this with your cows can have an impact on winter-feeding costs and cow performance next year. What are some things to assess right now?

Energy or protein, do you know what you need?

 
Harvest is in full swing and soon mother nature will be presenting us with colder temperatures and the white stuff we all have grown to have a love-hate relationship with as livestock producers. With these changes also comes a change in how we manage our beef cattle, transitioning from stored pasture forage to perhaps grazing of corn fodder to feeding of stored feeds.

Fall Armyworm

Fall Armyworms have begun to make an appearance in alfalfa fields in Southwestern Wisconsin, Northeast Iowa, and Northern Illinois. Fall armyworms range in size large to small, so feeding will continue for some time yet.  Small worms (the size of pencil lead) can feed for another 10-15 days especially in cooler temperatures.  In final worm growth stage, (size of pencil eraser) this is the most destructive stage … they can destroy and consume a lot of alfalfa very quickly.   Here's what to know: 
 

Propane Autogas: The Safest Way to Get Back to School

Propane Autogas is the not just the best economical choice you can make for your district, it's also the safest for your students. Here's why:

Do you allow your cows to reach their potential?

This topic is one of the most talked about items by dairy cow nutritionists and dairy producers.  I wanted to add to prior newsletter articles written by my colleagues where they talked about setting the table for fresh cows by ventilating dry cows and feeding dry cows for success.  Building from that I will add on how handling postcalving animals is crucial to those lactating animals reaching peak milk.  

Fall Fertilizer Applications

It’s hard to believe how fast the summer has flown by.  While I’m ready for more fall like temperatures and the beginning of corn silage harvest, followed closely with soybeans and corn, I am not looking forward to less sunlight hours and cold weather.  I am however, looking forward to high school, Badger, and Packer football games. 

2021 Corn Silage Harvest

I don’t know about where you live but in my area in the SW corner of WI a majority of the corn tasseled on or near the July 7-11^th this year. Easy rule of thumb is the corn is close to ready or ready to be chopped for corn silage 45 days after tasseling.  That means some people could be chopping corn silage around August 18. Yes, weather has a big impact on the time of harvest time.  A week ago, I’d say it’d be earlier due to drought conditions and now with rains it may mature normally. The good news is we don’t have to guess about this. 

Are you setting your dry cows up for success?

We often focus on the ROI of additives in lactating cow diets as they are the ones currently earning their keep, but without a smooth transition period, they cannot reach their potential. Two of the most important metabolic shifts that occur at calving are calcium and fat mobilization to support milk production. Clinical milk fever is relatively easy to identify, but subclinical milk fever is a pervasive, and often unrecognized problem. Low calcium impacts muscles, the immune system, and the digestive system. The high prevalence of subclinical ketosis has also gotten a lot of attention in the past few years with the introduction of reliable cow side blood testing capabilities and the recognition of the associated decreased milk production. Today, we have research proven feed additives (ex. negative DCAD, choline) to help alleviate these metabolic issues and provide a good ROI to the farm. 

Potato Leaf Hopper Management

In the Midwest and Eastern US, PLH are considered the most damaging insect pest to alfalfa yield and quality. PLH damage can lead to stunting, lower yields, reduced crude protein content, loss of forage palatability, and loss of stand density.

Protect Your Crops from Insects

Nobody likes insects, plain and simple. But, we really don't like insects when they're affecting our crops and livelihood. Both Japanese beetles and spider mites can cause problems on your farm. Here's some solutions to the problems they may cause.

Identifying & Treating Tar Spot

With cooler, wet conditions moving into our geography the past week, it is going to be very imporatnt to scout our corn crop for Tar Spot. As the name implies, tar spot can be identified by small black and circular lesions. They are slightly raised, and bumps can be felt on affected plant tissue. Lesions can appear on leaves, husks or stalks and are often surrounded by a light tan colored halo.

Should you Cool your Dry Cows?

Warm weather is upon us, and with that heat stress enters your mind. The effects of heat stress are obvious in your lactating cows with decreased milk in the bulk tank, but may not be as obvious in your dry cows. Heat stressed dry cows can have a much bigger effect than you may have thought possible. Cows that have heat stress leads to lower production throughout the entire lactation, decreased ability to fight off infections, and affects the potential for their offspring to compete in the herd. 

R7 Tool Available For Free to All Members Receiving Custom Application Services

Nobody knows your farm as well as you do, but the R7® Tool can give you a whole new perspective to identify new challenges and opportunities.   Personalized to fit your fields, the R7 suite of tools combines powerful data with localized information to help you make the best decisions for your crop. 

Your Farm at Your Fingertips

When you're away from your desk, you can access your farm's information using our Boss Grower™ mobile app to see how your fields are trending in the R7 Tools, message your Premier team, and view weather and grain bids.

Micronutrients Aren't Optional

When you hear the word “micro,” what comes to mind? Do you immediately think “inconsequential,” “insignificant” or “nonessential”? If so, you may assume that micronutrients are an optional component of your plant nutrition program. But that’s not the case. Micronutrients are needed in smaller quantities compared to macronutrients, but their importance on plant nutrition for your corn and soybean crops can’t be overstated.

Dairy Financial Drivers

There is no question that the state of the dairy industry, as it has been since my time began at Premier in 2017, has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. While there are plenty of moving parts not in a consultant’s or producer’s control, there are still several ways to improve profitability on our dairies today.

Protect Plants From Stress with Biostimulants

During the lifespan of a crop, it’s faced with numerous stressors that can chip away at yield. So what can you do to protect plants from stress? It starts with keeping crops healthy from day one with good management practices. Toggle^® is a biostimulant fertilizer used in corn, soybeans, cotton and other crops. It’s derived from seaweed and enhances root growth, promotes synthesis of antioxidants and improves photosynthesis by increasing chlorophyll production in plants. 

Assessing Frost Damage

Frost has speckled a few areas of the across the northern Midwest this weekend. Fortunately, most of the corn has the growing point below ground and soybeans are either not planted or they have not emerged. However, some of the Midwest, these crops are at more susceptible stages for injury. Frost issues create a number of grower questions as to their effect on emerged corn and soybeans. The following may help answer some of these questions.

The Big 5 This June

As we progress thru the growing season, we are entering a period of time that making correct agronomic decision can have great impact on your ending yields this fall. Stress as we know it is often not a good thing. How to mitigate that for your crops is key. Looking ahead to the coming month there can be decisions to help decrease stress. I am going to call it “The Big 5” for the month of June.

Have No Doubt If There's A Drought

Conditions have been very favorable for a successful calving season this year. Not having to battle mud and the associated challenges that present themselves when we calve in wet, damp, cold environments can lead to some benefits. However, our mindset will soon shift as concerns of plentiful precipitation, pasture quality and longevity may be of greater concern. This month we take a look at a few decision-making opportunities when our region is challenged with drought conditions.

Get Notified When We Finish Applying in Your Field

ANVOL® Nitrogen Stabilizer

Maximize your yield by supplementing nitrogen, sulfur or other valuable micronutrients when the crop’s needs are at its highest demand. Including a nitrogen stabilizer like ANVOL can reduce cumulative ammonia loss to 12 percent, compared to losses of more than 30 percent with untreated urea.

Fungicide Application Windows

A fungicide targeting foliar diseases is only as effective as its application timing. Generally, there are three key growth stage options to choose from — V5-V7, V8-V10 and VT-R1 — for making a fungicide application, and there are advantages and disadvantages associated with each stage.

We’ve taken an in-depth look at these options, the pros, cons and expectations associated with a foliar fungicide application at any of these stages.

Interactive Alfalfa Maturity Map

There is an optimum time to harvest alfalfa based off on the maturity and height of the plant. Once the maturity and height of plant is captured, feed value can be predicted.

Winter Damaged Alfalfa Management

A question producers have every year is “How is the alfalfa going to over winter?” We had a lot of conditions that warrant the concern, but now is where the rubber hits the road and decisions will be made.

Alfalfa Seeding Date Recommendations

Many times producers will plant alfalfa early out of convenience. But, planting alfalfa later has its benefits and may lead to more success on your farm.

Tips for a Robust Alfalfa Crop

As we round the corner on winter, spring alfalfa planting is just around the corner. Here are some key strategies and tips our Premier Cooperative forage team recommends for success in the next few weeks as you plan for the upcoming season.

Stop Loss of Nitrogen with Spring Applications

You’ve probably heard about the benefits of using nitrogen stabilizers to protect fall-applied nitrogen over the winter, but did you know that spring nitrogen applications are at risk for loss as well? That’s because the majority of the nitrogen that is applied at planting is not going to be taken up by the plant until about 60 days later. If that nitrogen converts to nitrate before the crop is able to use it, it can be lost. It often becomes a race between the nitrate leaching and the growth rate of the plant’s roots. In a wet year, nitrate is more likely to reach the tile lines before the plant has a chance to take it up. Stabilizing nitrogen helps keep it in ammonium form longer, which greatly reduces the risk of leaching. That helps protect your nitrogen investment and improves your return on investment potential and yields..

Maximize Nutrient Applications

As a producer, you want to get the absolute most out of your nutrient applications. Adding in AMS or Toggle can help you accomplish this. 

5 Products to Enhance Your Alfalfa Yield Potential

Enhancing your alfalfa yield potential is easier now with the addition of several new tools. Make sure you check the basics first; soil pH, phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), and Sulfur (S).

These 5 yield enhancing products and tools work great when you have your soil fertility foundation built.

Premier Cooperative Mini Bulk System

Premier co-op's mini bulk system is perfect for anyone tired of throwing around 50lbs bags of feed. The system is a refillable mini bulk bin that uses 2,000 lb tote bags that are cut in using a built in cutter. It is perfect for mineral, pellet and textured feeds.

Take the High Octane Supplement Challenge

Let Premier Cooperative help you get the winning edge in your next 4-H show project with Purina® High Octane® supplements.

The experts in show nutrition think this line of supplements will give your project the winning edge. Each of our supplements has a different use and benefit for your animal. They may need more muscle, more cover, more shape, or more depth of body. Whatever adjustment you need to make to your show project to get into the winner’s circle, we have got something in our toolbox for you.

Prepping for Calving Season

As beef cattle producers calving season is one of the most anticipated times of the year but can also be one of the most stressful times burdened by cold, late nights checking cows. Although many of our seedstock operators have been through the rush of their calving season many of Wisconsin’s commercial cattleman are just getting prepared. Now is the time to make sure your team and facilities are adequately prepared to ensure a smooth calving season. 

2021 Virtual Update Meeting

1. Fair Ribbon Program - Matt Severson

??2. Board Introductions

• Steve Burns - Chairman
• Mitch Seston - Vice Chairman
• Steve Trescher - Director
• Dave Unbehaun - Director
• Louie Kieler - Secretary

3. Minutes from 2020 - Louie Kieler

4. Chairman's Report - Steve Burns

5. Manager's Report - Andy Fiene

6. Closing Remarks - Matt Severson

7. Scholarship Recipients

8. Giveaway Registration

2022 Calendar Contest

WE NEED YOUR HELP! For 2022, we're doing something a bit different for our annual calendar. We are looking for any pictures that help depict our cooperative and agriculture in general! From a picture of a sprayer out in the field, to your cattle enjoying our high quality Premier feed and all the family grill outs, LP tanks, and stops at our convenience or hardware stores, we're looking to capture our patrons experience with your cooperative.

2021 Scholarship Winners

Since our usual in-person annual meeting had to go virtual this year, our scholarship program had to as well. To apply, students had to submit a video essay on the importance of cooperatives in rural America. Congratulations to our scholarship winners and good luck in the future!

3 Key Abilities of a Mineral Program

As you consider a minreal program for your cow herd, there are 3 key things to consider:

• Bioavailability
• Palatability
• Weatherability

Biome Boost Promotion

Premier Cooperative has a NEW & IMPROVED calf feed lineup featuring Biome Boost; an exclusive calf feed technology to support the microbiome of the calf. As a part of this new feed lineup, Premier is running the following promotion: 

Managing Mycotoxins in Feed for Dairy Cattle

Growing conditions during the crop year often leave cattle feeders and nutritionists concerned for mold and yeast growth on corn and other grains throughout most of the Corn belt. The 2020 growing and harvest season seemed to be an improvement over the last three years, but there are still pockets of the region that are experiencing challenges with mycotoxins. Simply observing mold on corn does not mean that mycotoxins are present. A first but important step is to identify the main types of molds and yeast  present. Identification of the potential mycotoxins in the feed is important when formulating a plan for minimizing the effects on cattle. 

Formulating Winter Rations

To date fall weather has been rather mild, however, soon enough good ol mother nature will bless us with the season livestock producers dread…. WINTER. As the saying goes, if you like winter you never owned livestock. However, owning cattle, winter can be a time of excitement as you await the coming calving season and get things geared up to see the success of last years breeding decisions. More importantly during this time  though is being aware of the nutritional demands of the cows as you transition from a typical maintenance type diet to diets that meet the needs of a cow in the last 1/3 of gestation.

1st Annual Holiday Food Drive

In recognition of the need faced in our communities, Premier wanted to find a way to give back this holiday season. With the uncertainty of the world today, the need to eat stays constant. Beginning mid-November, Premier branches began to collect non-perishables to donate to local food pantries. The food drive officially ended on Friday, December 4th with a total of 1,849 items to be donated to local food pantries.
 
 

Feeding your Top Replacements

As producers continuously push to get more pounds of milk and combined solids, there tends to be more conversations around developing healthy eating habits within the lactating herd. As nutritionists, we might recommend switching up the feed routine to avoid running the bunk out of feed or even increasing feed push – ups per day. However, have we ever thought about how we train our cows to eat in the stages before they get to the lactating herd? Here are four points to consider when feeding your herd’s top replacements.

Scholarships for High School Seniors

Again this year Premier Cooperative is proud to be sponsoring scholarships for graduating high school seniors planning to pursue an Ag Short Course or any other 2+ year accredited degree program after high school. In order to qualify for one of the 30 potential scholarships (up to $500 each) to be awarded at the Premier January 2021 virtual meeting, the student must:

• Be a graduating high school senior in the class of 2021.
• Be the child of an active member of Premier Cooperative. Active members must have done over $1,500 of patronage business with Premier from October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020.
• Student must submit a video essay on the role and importance of cooperatives in rural America. Length of the essay must be at least 200 words.

QLF Applications - Dealer Delivered

At Premier Cooperative we have a lot of producers that use our tubs, but we also carry Quality Liquid Feeds! QLF has been a great partner of Premier. Below are the QLF products we carry and a brief description where best used.

How Does Your Herd Stack Up?

Fall is a busy time for cattleman, harvest, weaning and
selling of the calf crop, and preparation for the months
ahead. I challenge you this year, to consider a new annual
routine when it comes to fall herd management. Take the
time this fall to subjectively body condition score (BCS) the
cow herd on the scale from 1 (emaciated) to 9 (obese) and
assess the distribution of condition scores across the cow
herd.

Grain Bin Safety

When harvest is in full swing it’s easy to overlook safety precautions in the interest of time, but that’s no excuse. No amount of bushels is worth a serious accident or life. Take time to be safe while working on or near grain bins.

Improve Your Calves' Microbiome

In recent years, microorganism based nutrition has been the new hot topic. As we learn more about the microbiome and the population of microbials in each region of the digestive tract, research is showing improved gut health, proper nutrition and stress mitigation help lead to better overall calf health.

Premier Cooperative is proud to introduce Biome Boost, a new feed technology that contains a specific combination of ingredients that improve the microbiome of the calf. The technologies in the Biome Boost include specific prebiotic, probiotic, live yeast, beta-glucans, MOS (Mannan Oligosaccharides), yucca, and a high intensity sweetener.

DRP & Driving Production Webinar

Delivering more dollars & protecting your investment 

June 30th we hosted a webinar with Dr. Tom Overton (Cornell University) and Jessica Sarbacker (State Bank of Cross Plains) on the Dairy Revenue Protection program and driving components and pounds of solids. 

Cattle Market & Creep Feeding Webinar

As we wrapped up National Beef Month just a few weeks back, we THANK YOU all for everything you do day-in and day-out to provide us with wholesome quality protein to feed our families and friends. As we put national beef month behind us we still have everyday needs, marketing, and management decisions that need to be made to ensure our operations are profitable and we obtain the desired outcomes we expect in the fall when we decide to market or retain ownership of our calf crop. All this is dependent on market and how many pounds we sell can be influenced by management on farm, allow us to play a role in providing you some insight on dollars you can expect and dollars you could gain.

Get Rewarded For Your Show Animals

In 2002 Premier instituted a new program to reward the youth in our area for their participation in showing of LIVESTOCK at the fairs in our trade area. Over the years we have rewarded thousands of kids with tens of thousands of dollars for their hard work and commitment to animal agriculture.

This year, because COVID has canceled most fairs and pretty much everything else, we are offering a new program. Each student of a Premier member who had planned on showing LIVESTOCK at a fair will be eligible to earn $30 whether or not they were able to show the animal (and earn a ribbon). The student's parent will need to upload to our website a picture of themselves with their animal while holding the attached Premier logo for the picture. The logo can be printed in color or black and white. Each student who successfully uploads a completed form will receive $30 regardless of the number of animals they had planned to show. After receiving the emailed picture, we’ll compile them weekly and send out checks to the students. Look for your picture on our website—premiercooperative.com. Thanks for participating and supporting animal agriculture.

Premier Cooperative Mini Bulk System

Tired of throwing around 50 lb bags of feed? Our Mini Bulk System is perfect for you! 

It's Time to Rethink Particle Size

It is time to update our recommendations for optimal ration particle size. Physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF) was defined by Dave Mertens in 1997 as the portion of forage or feed particles that are retained on the 1.18mm (millimeter) screen during dry sieving multiplied by the NDF content. This proportion of fiber is effective at stimulating chewing and forming a functional rumen digesta mat.

Tips for Successful Weaning

Weaning is a stressful event and combined with low intakes and not meeting nutritional needs, this can lead to health issues and lower performance. The return on investment in a good starter program is selling a higher percentage of your calf crop. Here are 4 simple components to a starter program.
 

Reduce Shrink in Dairy Feed

When someone says minimize shrink in dairy feed, what’s the first thing that pops into your head? Is it feed bunk management, proper defacing or feed waste? Shrink is all of that and much more.  A different definition of shrink is dairy feed that was not consistently consumed or adequately utilized by the animal. Examples include:
 •Unprocessed corn silage that passes through into manure.
 • Commodities blown away as a delivery truck tries to deliver feed on a windy day.
 • Feed consumed by the cow that she didn’t need or was fed in incorrect amounts. 
In all these cases, shrink impacts your bottom line.  So, how can you combat shrink and reduce the impact on your wallet?

Calves Need Water

Water plays essential roles in hydrating a calf and in rumen development, not only in the summer, but year-round.  Baby calves are on a liquid diet, so it may seem that offering water is not necessary, but that is not true. Offering water separate from milk will increase weight gains by increasing starter intake.  Best practice is to provide calves access to clean, fresh, warm water from the first day of life. However, according to the National Dairy Health Monitoring System (USDA, 2014), the average age of heifers when first offered water in the United States is 17.3 days. The age when first offered water tends to go down as herd size increases (see table), and no category of herd size is (on average) offering water the first day of life.