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Weekly ACH Program - I'd like to introduce you to our Weekly Autopay Discount Program. In order to incentivize automatic payments from our members, we have established the following discount program for customers who enroll their accounts in our weekly ACH autopay. Members may enroll their accounts in our weekly ACH autopay at any time. Accounts enrolled in ACH autopay will have their future purchases automatically debited to their bank accounts via ACH (often called e-check) on the Friday following the week of purchase (example below).
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Give Your Fields the Nutrients They Need
Know the benefits of Fall soil sampling. Analyze your soil now to prepare for next season. Soil sampling is essential for developing an effective fertility plan for your operation. Take advantage of these three benefits by sampling your fields this fall.
Select Seed That Performs on Your Farm
Buying seed can feel overwhelming.
With all the different genetics and traits going around, making agronomic decisions like hybrid placement can become a challenge. To optimize yield potential on your farm, our crop production specialists understand the importance of knowing how hybrids are affected by management.
Pre Harvest Tips
You've heard the term garbage in - garbage out. This is especially true when working with yield monitors. There is one chance to get this information correct each year. Having properly working equipment, consistent farm and field setup, and crop flow and moisture calibration are very important. The rewards you’ll reap from retrieving this valuable information will be well worth the time and effort.
Garbage In, Garbage Out – Importance of Calibrating Yield Monitors
From maintenance on combine heads to replacing feeder house chains, there is no shortage on the amount of work that needs to be done before heading out to the field. However, there is one very important piece that is often overlooked…the Yield Monitor.
Forget Surprises, Plan Ahead -- Harvest Plan
Harvest is an exciting and extremely busy time of year. As you run around making sure equipment is ready to go, stop and ask yourself. Are you ready? Do you have a harvest plan in place? Where will you start and where will you end up?
The 0% Interest & Get All Your Seed Discounts Financing
Often with our financial decisions the question isn’t so much about “Can I invest in/purchase X to improve my operation?”, the question is “If I invest in/purchase X to improve my operation, can I also invest in/purchase Y and Z?”
X, Y, and Z could be different options based on your personal situation. For an expanding operation, it could be a new piece of equipment (or land) to increase your throughput or bring down your cost per acre...