Southeast Minnesota Forage Field Day and Dairy Tour

Aug 04, 2023

By Katie Drewitz

Forage, beef and dairy farmers are invited to the Southeast Minnesota Forage Field Day & Dairy Tour on Tuesday, Aug. 8 in Spring Valley. With two great farm hosts, Valley Angus Farm and Heusinkveld Farms, the tours will look at grazing fields, fencing, water types, and alfalfa’s role in organic systems, as well as a heifer barn and tunnel-vented dairy barn.

The event begins at 9:45 a.m. at Valley Angus Farm. Prior to a field tour led by Dan Miller, participants will learn about the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) resources for livestock producers and hear from farmers who have benefited from MDA’s cost-share programs. They will also learn about the pros and cons of different fencing and watering options and hear from Tom Cotter on methods to optimize the conservation and economic benefits of grazing cover crops.

After the field tour at Valley Angus Farm, participants will move to Heusinkveld Farms for lunch served at noon. Prior to the tour of the farm’s dairy facilities led by Nate Heusinkveld, participants will hear about farmer resources offered by the event’s co-organizers Midwest Forage Association, Minnesota Diary Initiative, and University of Minnesota Extension, as well as a talk on carbon credits.

Source : umn.edu

Video: Exploring Precision Data in Swine Production - Dr. Janice Siegford

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show, Dr. Janice Siegford from Michigan State University discusses how precision livestock farming data can support pig health, welfare, transparency, and decision making. She explains why data ownership, privacy, consumer perception, and cost sharing must be addressed as technology becomes more common on farms. Listen now on all major platforms.

“Precision livestock farming data can support producers, veterinarians, certifiers, and consumers by enabling improved monitoring, prediction, and decision-making across the entire production system.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Janice Siegford / janice-siegford-24318839 is a Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University. Her expertise in animal welfare, neuroscience, and zoology supports research on pig behavior, stress resilience, and precision livestock farming. Her work explores early weaning, genetics, and stakeholder perspectives on technology adoption to improve pig care, health, and productivity. Learn more from Dr. Janice Siegford on The Swine it Podcast Show, available on all major platforms.