INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Costs and Returns on Ohio Dairy Farms, Dr. Cameron Thraen, Milk Marketing Specialist, The Ohio State University
Cost of Nutrients and Benchmarks of Profitability for Ohio Dairy Farms, Dr. Normand St-Pierre, Dairy Management Specialist, The Ohio State University
Taking Control of Feed Costs, Dr. Normand St-Pierre, Dairy Management Specialist, Ohio State University Extension
Controlling Flies on Farms, Mr. Steve Foster, Extension Agriculture Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Darke County
Highlights of the Ohio Ag Manager Newsletter - January through May Issues

Announcements

New 15 Measures of Dairy Farm Competitiveness Available, Ms. Dianne Shoemaker, Extension Dairy Specialist, Ohio State University Extension
Farm Financial Database, Mr. Donald Breece, Farm Management Specialist, Ohio State University Extension
Dairy Producer Johne's Disease Survey, Dr. Maurice L. Eastridge, Extension Dairy Specialist, Ohio State University Extension
2008 Recipients of the Dairy Science Hall of Service Awards, Dr. Maurice L. Eastridge, Extension Dairy Specialist, Ohio State University Extension
Ohio State's Participation in the Midwest and National Dairy Challenge Programs, Dr. Maurice L. Eastridge, Extension Dairy Specialist, Ohio State University Extension

Calendar of Events

Costs and Returns on Ohio Dairy Farms
Dr. Cameron Thraen, Milk Marketing Specialist, The Ohio State University (top of page)

A chart is attached which shows the net returns to dairying in Ohio by month over the 2003 through 2008 period. Net returns are expressed per hundredweight of milk. The data source is the USDA Cost and Returns data for Ohio. Gross returns are calculated for Ohio using the monthly Ohio Mailbox price. The mailbox price for January and February 2008 were based on projections. Non milk income and Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) income is not included in the calculation of gross return. As you can see, over the long pull, net returns are generally negative on the typical Ohio dairy farm. However, 2008 stands out as a stark exception. With the mailbox price declining and input costs continuing to rise, the net return has declined substantially for the first two months of 2008. Without a strong rebound in the skim milk powder and whey markets, this may hold for the remainder of 2008.

For more information on the dairy industry, prices, and policy, link to my OhioDairyWeb 2008 at: http://aede.osu.edu/programs/ohiodairy/

Cost of Nutrients and Benchmarks of Profitability for Ohio Dairy Farms
Dr. Normand St-Pierre, Dairy Management Specialist, The Ohio State University. (top of page)

As we do in all issues of this newsletter, we used current market prices of 29 feed commodities traded or available in Ohio to determine the implicit costs of nutrients and estimate break-even prices of all these commodities using the SESAME^TM software developed here at Ohio State. Results for the nutrient costs are reported in Table 1.

Net energy for lactation is still at a very high price, close to two times more expensive than at this time last year; NE_L price has averaged $0.089/Mcal since August 2004. Likewise, metabolizable protein (MP: the sum of digestible rumen undegradable protein and digestible microbial protein from the estimated rumen fermentation of the feed) has also nearly doubled in price. Its implicit price is currently much greater than its long-term average ($0.193/lb since August 2004). The non-effective fiber fraction is currently severely discounted in the feed markets (its long-term average is -$0.076/lb). Effective NDF, however, is currently in its normal historical range ($0.018/lb since August 2004). Thus, from a formulation standpoint, attention should be given to dietary energy (NE_L) and MP, making sure that rations contain minimum margins of safety. Increasing dietary non-effective NDF (possibly by reducing starch) should lower the cost of the ration by about $0.15 for each pound of additional ne-NDF.

Table 1. Prices of nutrients, central Ohio.

At this time last year, corn was priced in the $3.50 to 4.00/bu, prices that were well above the estimated breakeven price for dairy. Thus, corn was then expensive, both from a historical perspective as well as when compared to other feed commodities available on the market. The situation has changed dramatically this year (Tables 2 and 3). In essence, a great number of other commodities have seen substantial price increases, some over-shooting what would be a normal equilibrium price (e.g., tallow). There are still some relative bargains that can substantially lower feed costs if used wisely.

Table 2. Grouping of feed commodities, central Ohio, April 2008.

Table 3. Commodity assessment, central Ohio, April 2008.

As usual, we used these results in combination with Class III component prices for Federal Order 33 to calculate a benchmark for feed costs (which are really nutrient costs) and income over nutrient costs (Table 4). In this column, we have in the past been using figures for a hypothetical Holstein cow producing 75 lb/day at 3.6% fat and 3.1% protein. From now on, costs and income figures will be calculated for a cow more representative of the average cow in Ohio, with a milk production of 65 lb/day, at 3.6% fat, 3.0% protein, and 5.7% other solids. In addition, all results will now be expressed on a per hundredweight basis.

Table 4. Nutrient costs and income over nutrient costs, central Ohio.¹

¹Costs and income for a 1400 lb cow producing 65 lb/day of milk, with 3.6% fat, 3.0% protein, and 5.7% other solids. Component prices are for Federal Order 33.

Although milk prices are still very good from a historical basis, the large increase in the costs of providing the required nutrients to our cows (i.e., feed costs) has increased markedly. Since August 2004, the price of our standardized milk has averaged $15.12/cwt. The current standard milk price is close to $2 above this average. Nutrient costs, however, are now $3.51/cwt greater than the $5.56/cwt average over than same time span. Consequently, the amount of revenues left to cover all other expenses - the income minus nutrient costs, an index that we have named the Cow-Jones Index - has fallen to $7.87/cwt, which is $1.69/cwt under the $9.56/cwt that the index has averaged since August 2004. In prior year, when energy prices were considerably lower, a value of $8.00/cwt for the Cow-Jones Index was a good estimate of the break-even level of producing milk in this state. We now estimate that the break-even for the Cow-Jones Index is somewhere around $9.00/cwt.

Taking Control of Feed Costs
Dr. Normand St-Pierre, Dairy Management Specialist, Ohio State University Extension (top of page)

I remember thinking that $3.00/bu for corn was outrageous, that $300/ton for soybean meal was a rip-off, and that $200/ton for cottonseed must have been a revenge of the Confederates. How much I would like to see these prices again!

We've had high corn prices in the past; we've experienced high soybean meal and cottonseed prices also. Some years, hay has been very expensive as well. But, we were getting hit with only one calamity at a time. When hay was expensive, corn was cheap. What is unique about the current upsurge in feed prices is that all prices went up. And based on the current supply and demand situation, it is unlikely that we will see cheap feeds anytime soon. So what is a dairy producer to do?

1. Cows do not require corn, soybean meal, or cottonseed. Cows require nutrients and these are supplied by feeds. There are an infinite number of rations that can be put together to provide the same supply of nutrients, and thus, result in the same level of production. This is, in fact, the essence of applied nutrition science. Cows do not have a requirement for corn. So when corn is expensive, you can substitute some or all of the corn by a combination of other feeds. For example, the results of two well-controlled experiments have shown that cows milk just the same even when all the corn that made up 40% of the ration was substituted by barley. A good, professional nutritionist can be of great help to put together a good ration that is also cost effective.
   
   
2. Relax the ration formulation constraints on starch and non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) levels. The recommended levels used by many nutritionists were generated in an era of cheap corn. The production response to starch and NFC is not large. When we aggregated the results from four well-controlled studies, we found that the optimum level of starch was somewhere between 24 and 41% of the ration dry matter (DM). The optimum NFC was between 37 and 49% of DM. These are hardly tight and narrow boundaries!
   
   
3. What was cheap last month may no longer be cheap. Feeds prices keep jockeying for room in livestock rations. Two years ago, soybean hulls were very cheap, about 1/3 the price of corn. Today, they sell at over 80% of corn prices; they are severely over-priced. So unless you have a very good reason for using soybean hulls, they should not be part of your dairy rations right now. Even at a price close to $6.00/bu, corn is currently a bargain compared to many other feeds. Last spring, at $3.25/bu, corn was actually overpriced.
   
   
4. Feed more forage of better quality. A large dataset from California showed that the difference between a fair quality corn silage (average of 46.5% NDF) and a very good quality corn silage (average of 39% NDF) resulted in an income difference of $91.50/100 cows/day. That's a lot of dough entirely within your reach.
   
   
5. Know what you are feeding. How often do you sample your forage for laboratory testing? How often do you check the moisture in your silages? Our research at Ohio State has shown that forages are sampled too infrequently on most of our farms. An optimal sampling schedule can generate an extra $90/cow/year. When feed prices go up and the profit margins are squeezed, it is very tempting to cut on the feed testing expenses. The opposite should be done to ensure that the rations fed are as close as possible to the rations that were formulated.

You can't control market prices of feeds, but there are ways to reduce the impact of high feed prices on your farm.

Controlling Flies on Farms
Mr. Steve Foster, Extension Agriculture Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Darke County (top of page)

Flies are not just a nuisance; they're a major cause of disease and economic hardship around the world. All told, they are known to be involved in the transmission of more than 65 diseases to humans alone, including typhoid fever, dysentery, cholera, leprosy, and tuberculosis. They are also responsible for significant reductions in the production of farmed meat and dairy products. It's estimated that flies are responsible for global livestock and poultry production losses measured in the billions of dollars. Modern methods of livestock and poultry farming often provide an ideal breeding environment for flies, making control a major challenge.

Fly Biology

All flies pass through four life stages: egg, larva (maggot), pupa, and adult. During its life cycle, which is about 30 days, a house fly female can lay up to 1000 eggs. These eggs are deposited on moist manure or any type of moist rotten or decaying organic matter. The eggs hatch in 10 to12 hours and the maggots move into the wet manure. Fly maggots mature in 4 to 5 days under warm moist conditions. Pupation occurs in the drier parts of manure, with the adult flies emerging in 3 to 5 days. Under ideal conditions, a house fly can complete its life cycle in 9 to 14 days. The life cycle can be much longer in cooler temperatures. Although capable of movement up to several miles, house flies normally move no more than one half to three quarters of a mile from their breeding sites.

Sanitation

Flies around dairy buildings develop in moist manure or other wet decaying organic matter. No insecticide can be expected to control flies under poor sanitary conditions. A thorough sanitation program is a must to hold down fly populations in and around livestock buildings.

(a) Remove all manure from livestock pens as frequently as possible. Calf and bull pens with animals in them require special attention. It is best to clean these pens once a week. Using sawdust instead of other materials for animal bedding reduces fly development. A clean livestock barn has fewer fly problems.

(b) Spread the manure thinly outdoors in order that fly eggs and larvae will be killed by drying, or stack this waste and cover with a black, plastic tarp.

(c) Eliminate silage seepage areas, wet litter, manure stacks, old wet hay or straw bales, and other organic matter accumulations that may attract flies anywhere on the farm. Wet feed remaining at the ends of mangers will breed flies.

(d) Provide proper drainage in barnyards. Use clean gravel and other fill to eliminate low spots in livestock yards. Proper grading and tiling can reduce wet barnyards. Keep water troughs and hydrants leak-free.

Integrated Pest Management

To be successful in controlling flies, it is important that producers implement a control program that best fits their particular operation. Reliance on a single practice or pesticide product is not the best approach to achieving effective and economical pest control. A better approach is to combine routine sanitation with a variety of pesticide strategies, such as baits, residual sprays, space sprays, and larvicides whenever flies are a problem. Do not wait for heavy fly populations to build up. It is much easier and less expensive to prevent fly populations from increasing at the beginning of the season than to attempt to control them after they have reached unacceptable density levels. As fly populations begin to increase, take time and treat as needed.

Residual Sprays

The next line of defense is residual sprays applied to the outside and inside of buildings. Other practices such as the application of larvicides, space sprays, and baits should be considered supplementary to sanitation and residual sprays. Residual sprays are applied to walls, ceilings, partitions, stanchions, posts, and other fly resting places. These sprays are much more effective in stanchion barns than in loose-housing, open barns where landing and resting surfaces are minimal. Also, barn surfaces vary in the amount of spray that should be applied to them. Smooth surfaces require less spray than rough, porous surfaces. Thoroughly wet the surface to the point of runoff at low pressures of 80 to 100 lb per square inch. Avoid contaminating feed, drinking water, milk, milking utensils, and milk rooms. The importance of following directions exactly according to the label cannot be stressed enough when using any pesticide.

Long-Term Residual Treatments

(a) Fenvalerate [10%]. This product is labeled for use only in swine or horse buildings as a premise spray. Mix 1 quart product in10 gal of water and apply at the rate of 1 gal of spray per 750 sq ft. Remove animals before spraying. Keep animals out of treated buildings for at least 4 hours. Do not allow feed or drinking water to become contaminated.

(b) Permethrin [25%]. This product is not labeled for use in milk rooms. Mix 6.67 oz of product in 10 gal water and apply at the rate of 1 gal of spray per 1,000 sq ft. Do not make direct applications to animals, feed, or drinking water.

(c) Permethrin [10%]. Mix 1 qt of product in 25 gal of water and apply at the rate of 1 gal of spray per 750 sq ft. Can be used in barns, dairy barns, feedlots, stables, and poultry houses.

(d) Permethrin. Refer to label for directions regarding these and other permethrin products.

(e) Tetrachlorvinphos [50%]. Follow directions according to label. Remove calves and lactating animals before spraying. Keep them out of treated buildings for at least 4 hours. Do not allow feed or drinking water to become contaminated. Can be used in dairy barns, poultry houses, swine buildings, and other animal buildings.

(f) Tetrachlorvinphos [23%] and dichlorvos [5.3%]. Mix 1 gal of product in 25 gal of water (or 1 gal of product in 12.5 gal of water for extreme infestations) and apply at the rate of 1 gal of spray per 500 to 1,000 sq ft of walls, ceilings, or other areas where flies rest or congregate. Remove animals before spraying. Keep animals out of treated buildings for at least 4 hours. Do not allow feed or drinking water to become contaminated. Can be used in dairy barns, poultry houses, swine buildings, livestock sheds, and other animal buildings.

Medium-Term Residual Treatments

Deltamethrin [0.02%]. Controls stable flies, horn and face flies, house flies, deer flies, mosquitoes, and gnats in livestock and horse facilities. Apply thoroughly to surfaces until wet. Apply as needed but not more than once per week. Do not spray animals or humans. Do not contaminate feed or drinking water. Do not use in milk room or milking parlor.

Short-Term Residual Treatments

(a) Dichlorvos [43.2%]. Make up a 0.5% solution by mixing 1 gal of product in 100 gal of water and apply diluted spray as an overall premise application. Particular attention should be given to areas where flies congregate. Animals may be present during treatment. Do not allow feed, water or foodstuffs, milk, or milking utensils to become contaminated. Apply to cattle feedlots, stockyards, holding pens, and corrals.

(b) Naled [58%]. Follow directions according to label.

(c) Pyrethrins [0.1%] and piperonyl butoxide [1.0%]. Follow directions according to label. Apply as a space spray for quick knockdown and kill of house flies, stable flies, and horn flies in barns, milk rooms, and dairy barns.

(d) Pyrethrins [0.5%] and piperonyl butoxide [4.0%]. Controls stable flies and other flies, mosquitoes, fleas, and wasps in livestock, dairy, hog, and poultry facilities. Close all windows and doors and apply at a rate of 2 to 3 seconds/1,000 cubic feet of area. Do not remain in treated area and thoroughly vent treated area after 15 minutes.

Bait Treatments

Although fresh baits will help control flies, results may be poor if fly breeding is excessive. It is suggested that baits be applied following the removal of all floor litter and manure. For best control, use baits liberally and repeat as needed. It may be necessary to increase amounts when flies are breeding heavily, but check label for proper use directions for any bait product. Baits are most effective when used in conjunction with other control measures. Do not use bait in areas where animals can slip and fall or where children may come in contact with the bait.

(a) Methomyl [1%]. No mixing required. Bait can be used only around the outside of feed lots, broiler houses, livestock barns, and on walkways in caged layer houses. Scatter bait (do not put in piles) at a rate of approximately 0.25 lb per 500 sq ft of fly feeding area, keeping 1- to 2-inch intervals between particles. Do not allow food-producing animals to have access to treated areas. Do not allow contamination of feed or drinking water.

(b) Methomyl [1%] and (Z)-9-Tricosene [0.025%]. See label for use directions.

Space Treatments

Space sprays or aerosols can be effective for rapid knockdown and kill of adult flies. It is important to reduce air movement as much as possible. Follow directions according to label.

(a) Pyrethrins [0.1%] and piperonyl butoxide [1.0%]. Before spraying, close doors and windows. Apply as a fog or fine mist, directing spray toward ceiling and upper corners until area is filled with mist. Use about 0.5 oz of solution per 1,000 cu ft. Allow mist to settle on animals. Leave room closed for 5 minutes after treatment, remembering to ventilate area before reoccupying. Repeat as needed. Wash teats of dairy animals before milking. Avoid breathing fumes by wearing a mask or respirator of a type recommended by the U.S. Bureau of Mines.

(b) Dichlorvos [23.4%]. Apply by fogging or misting at a rate of 1 quart of 0.5% solution per 8,000 cu ft. Reduce air movement as much as possible before applying. Do not use in areas where animals have received a direct application within 8 hours. Do not allow feed, water, milk, or milking utensils to become contaminated.

(c) Dichlorvos resin strips. Suspend from ceiling as directed on label. Use 1 strip per 1,000 cu ft. These strips work best in closed rooms. Do not place over water or feed. Keep strips away from animals and children.

(d) Spinosad [2.46%]. Dilutable spray for control of stable and house flies on animal premises, including in and around poultry, beef, dairy, horse, swine, and sheep premises. Do not apply product in milking parlor or milk room. Mix 20 oz of product per 5 gal of water and apply at a rate of 1 gal solution per 500 to 1,000 sq ft. Do not use in overhead sprinkler system. Refer to label for more directions.

Larvicides

Oral Treatments

The use of oral larvicides such as cyromazine, tetrachlorvinphos, and diflubenzuron [9.7%], is not legal in all states. These feed additives and boluses often are not the answer to fly control unless used very extensively. All manure must be treated within an area in order to effectively reduce the fly population. In many cases, the area must be very large because flies rapidly move from one herd to the next over large geographic regions.

Oral larvicides work by preventing the development of flies in manure. They are not effective against existing adult flies and should be used in conjunction with a regular manure sanitation practice. Supplemental fly control often is needed where flies breed in manure from untreated animals or other organic sources.

(a) Diflubenzuron [9.7%]. This product is a controlled-release bolus for beef and dairy cattle
that aids in the suppression of house and stable flies. Administer 1/2 bolus to cattle weighing 300 to 550 lb, and 1 bolus to cattle weighing 550 to 1,100 lb or more. Do not administer to cattle weighing less than 300 lb. NEVER administer more than 1 bolus to any animal.

(b) Tetrachlorvinphos [97.3%]. Follow directions according to label. For beef cattle and lactating dairy cattle, feed at the rate of 70 mg of product/100 lb of body weight. Start feeding in early spring before flies begin to appear, and continue through the summer and fall until cold weather restricts fly activity.

Manure Treatments

(a) Tetrachlorvinphos [23%] and dichlorvos [5.3%]. Mix 1 gal of product in 25 gal of water and apply at the rate of 1 gal of spray per 100 sq ft of droppings. Repeat at 7- to 10-day intervals until droppings begin to cone up, then treat only "hot spots" (small areas found to have large numbers of maggots). Can be used in poultry and livestock facilities. Do not spray animals directly. Do not contaminate feed or drinking water.

(b) Tetrachlorvinphos [50%]. Apply at the rate of 1 gal of 1% solution per 100 sq ft of poultry droppings, manure piles, etc. Repeat every 7 to 10 days until control is achieved. Do not spray animals directly. Do not contaminate feed or drinking water.

Mineral Mixtures and Feed Additives

S-methoprene [10.5% and other formulations]. The Al in Altosid Cattle Custom Blending Premix is an insect growth regulator (IGR) that interrupts the development of the horn fly (and possibly other species of filth-breeding flies) in the manure of treated cattle. Begin use in the spring before horn flies appear on cattle and continue feeding until cold weather restricts horn fly activity. The product is safe for beef and dairy cattle, including breeding cattle, lactating cattle, and calves. The product can be fed up to slaughter and to lactating dairy cows without withholding milk. Refer to label for details on proper feed-to-weight blending ratios.

Perimeter Area Treatments

Citric Acid and crystalized propanetricarboxylic acid [100%]. Apply 1/8 cup per sq ft of treatment area. Treatment area should have a moderately salted appearance after application. Apply every 7 days during fly season. See label for specific area applications.

(References are available on request.)

Highlights of the Ohio Ag Manager Newsletter - January through May Issues (top of page)

January 2008 Issue

• Ohio Minimum Wage Increase

February 2008 Issue

• Ethanol Plants to be Operational in Ohio - 2008
• Ohio Crop Enterprise Budgets Available

March 2008 Issue

• Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rents, 2007-08
• Pricing Hay

April 2008 Issue

• Getting the Most from Dairy Manure
• Helpful Hints to Retaining Hispanic Labor

May 2008 Issue

• Ohio Farm Custom Rates - 2008
• Dairy Farm Financial Analysis Opportunities
• Starting, Organizing, and Managing an LLC for a Farm Business
  

Announcements

New 15 Measures of Dairy Farm Competitiveness Available
Ms. Dianne Shoemaker, Extension Dairy Specialist, Ohio State University Extension (top of page)

"How do I know if I am competitive?" "How can I become more competitive?" These were the questions from producers that led to the development and publication of "Dairy Excel's 15 Measures of Dairy Farm Competitiveness" in 1997. Those same questions are just as valid today and can be answered in the context of today's dairy industry using the newly released 2008 edition of the 15 Measures.

The 15 measures fall into 10 broad areas, which together provide a good view of the competitiveness of a dairy farm business. The 10 areas are:

1. Rate of production
2. Cost control
3. Capital efficiency
4. Profitability
5. Liquidity
6. Repayment schedule
7. Solvency
8. Mission
9. Maintain family's standard of living
10. Motivated labor force

These measures represent key characteristics of the most competitive dairy producers in the midwest. Some dairy producers already exceed many of the measures. While a single dairy business is unlikely to meet all 15 measures, dairy producers who meet most of the measures are competitive with dairy producers anywhere in the world and enjoy a high standard of living.

Following a complete listing of the 15 measures and their competitive levels, are pages describing each measure in detail. These pages explain each measure, tell how to compute and interpret it, and discuss the desirable range. The measures were designed to be easily calculated with information readily available on most farms. We also suggest changes to help a dairy operation move into the desirable range.

Some dairy businesses do not meet many of the measures. Without change, these producers will likely be exiting the dairy business within the next 10 years.

The new "15 Measures of Dairy Farm Competitiveness" is available on-line and as a for-sale publication which can be purchased through your local Extension Office.

Farm Financial Database
Mr. Donald Breece, Farm Management Specialist, Ohio State University Extension (top of page)

The Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota provides FINBIN, one of the largest and most accessible sources of farm financial and production benchmark information in the world. Information is available on "Dairy Cost and Returns by Size or Location of Herd", "2006 Minnesota Organic Dairy Summary Report", and many other topics. The web site for the the farm financial database and valuable reports is: http://www.finbin.umn.edu/.

Dairy Producer Johne's Disease Survey
Dr. Maurice L. Eastridge, Dairy Extension Specialist, Ohio State University Extension (top of page)

Over the past few years, efforts have been made nationally to implement a voluntary Johne's Disease program. To continue to move this effort effectively forward, input from dairy producers is needed. An online survey is available for dairy producers to provide feedback on improving the Johne's Disease programs. This project is being led by Penn State University and is funded by the Johne's Disease Integrated Program, a large consortium of scientists and Extension personnel. Dairy producers, vets, state and federal agencies, milk cooperatives, other allied industries, and Johne's researchers have helped to design the survey. The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete and is available at: https://online.survey.psu.edu/johnesdisease/

2008 Recipients of the Dairy Science Hall of Service Awards
Dr. Maurice L. Eastridge, Extension Dairy Specialist, Ohio State University Extension (top of page)

The annual Dairy Banquet for the Department of Animal Sciences and the Buckeye Dairy Club was held on Saturday, May 10 at the new Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center on the OSU campus in Columbus. One of the highlights of the banquet was the induction of Mr. Wayne Dalton (Wakeman, OH) and Dr. Kent Hoblet (Starkville, MS) into the Dairy Science Hall of Service. This award was initiatied in 1952 with the objectives to recognize worthy men and women who have made a substantial and noteworthy contribution toward the improvement of the dairy industry of Ohio, elevated the stature of dairy farmers, or inspired students enrolled at the Ohio State University. The citations for the 2008 award recipients are provided below.

MR. WAYNE DALTON

Pictured: Dr. Jim Kinder, Jane and Wayne Dalton, and Dr. Bobby Moser

Wayne Dalton was born in New London, Ohio on October 21, 1933. The Dalton family has been in farming and the registered Holstein business for 3 generations. The main farm at 3333 State Route 60, Wakeman was purchased by Wayne's parents in 1937. After graduating from Wakeman High School in 1951 and earning the FFA State Farmer Degree, Wayne attended OSU during 1952 to 1954 and was a charter member of the Buckeye Dairy Club. He served in the U.S. Army Artillery during 1956-1957 and then returned home to farm with his family. Wayne continues to express appreciation to his parents Byron and Edna Dalton for the many opportunities they provided him and the many enjoyable years working together, and to the originator of the farm, his grandfather Henry Dalton.

In 1962 Wayne married Jane Forney Temm, and through the 1960's, Wayne earned recognition and served his community. He was named Outstanding Young Farmer by the New London Junior Chamber of Commerce and also received the Huron County Efficient Dairyman Award. He was president of the Huron County Farm Bureau and secretary-treasurer of the Huron-Erie County Holstein Club. In 1969, he became a director of the Milk Producers Federation and was a charter director of Milk Marketing, Inc.

The 1970's were filled with activities and growth. By 1972, Wayne installed a Ross-Holm milking parlor, possibly only one of four outside of California. He also constructed a new, including being new for the area, bunker silo and free stall barn and switched his waste handling to a manure irrigation system. Dalwood Farms was incorporated in 1974 and expanded from 100 to 250 registered Holstein cows and from 500 to 2,000 acres. These innovations and expansions triggered many tours, field days, and media coverage. In the March 25, 1977 issue, he was featured on the cover of Hoard's Dairyman and as a participant in a nationwide round-table on the topic "Dairymen look to the future through recent expansion".

By 1981, Wayne was the first in Ohio to go on-line for DHI records. He also began a tree-planting program and now has a 250-acre farm planted with 220,000 hardwoods. He was active in Soil and Water Conservation and served on the Wakeman Township Zoning Board for 44 years. Throughout his career, Wayne earned many awards for conservation, crop production, and dairy production.

In 1979, Wayne and Jane began sponsoring an Ohio State University Dairy Science Scholarship that has continued for 29 years. The 1996-1997 Cow Tales was dedicated to Wayne and Jane Dalton. Wayne served on the OSU Dairy Science Advisory Board from 1992 to 1997 and on the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Vice-President's Development Board from 1999 to 2008. The Ohio State University will benefit from a Charitable Remainder Trust funded by the gift of a 200-acre Dalton family farm. The Dalton's also have made recent contributions to the College's endowment fund to support the World Food Prize and Scarlet and Gray Ag Day programs.

Wayne has always been a willing mentor to young people, including the building of a 600 cow dairy farm over 11 years to developing a 3,000-acre grain farm over 29 years. Both of these operations continue today. Over the years, he has provided the opportunity for many students to gain experience on a modern dairy farm. Having sold his registered Holstein herd in 1994, Wayne traveled to Papua, New Guinea at the request of the Peace Corp to help the native bush people learn how to care for newly acquired dairy cattle. The Dalton's also have participated in the OSU Dairy Extension tours to Europe, China, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and California. Wayne has sponsored a trophy for "Outstanding Junior Dairyman" at the Huron County Fair since 1983. In 1996, he established the Dalton Community Park in Wakeman on 25 acres of donated land. In 2007, he began participating in the Western Reserve High School Endowment Scholarship for Agricultural Interest and provides scholarships for students graduating from the Wellington High School.

Wayne is a lifelong member, volunteer, and contributor of the Wakeman Congregational United Church of Christ. He is a 32nd Degree Mason and a 50-year member. Wayne credits his wife Jane for being a willing partner in the farm operation and altruistic endeavors. Through the years, they have especially enjoyed their family of three grown children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Wayne has been a visionary dairy farmer with integrity and a widely respected record of service to the dairy industry. The recognition provided as a recipient of the Dairy Science Hall of Service Award acknowledges not only his service to the dairy industry but also the generous service he has extended to his community, the growth and development of young people, and The Ohio State University.

DR. KENT HOBLET

Pictured: Dr. Larry Smith, Dr. Jim Kinder, Dr. Kent Hobet, Connie Hoblet,
Dr. Bill Weiss, Dr. Joe Hogan, and Dr. Bobby Moser

Dr. Kent Hoblet is a native of Henry County, Ohio and graduated with the Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree from The Ohio State University in 1971. He practiced veterinary medicine in Ashland County from 1971 to 1983. He returned to OSU and then in 1984, he received a Master of Science degree from the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and accepted an Assistant Professor position in the same department. He became an Associate Professor in 1988 and was promoted to Professor in 1983. He served as Acting Chair of the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine from 1991 to 1992 and Chair from 1992 to 2006. Since 2006, Dr. Hoblet has been serving as Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University. During his career at OSU, he held an adjunct faculty appointment in the Department of Animal Sciences. Dr. Hoblet advised or co-advised 9 MS and PhD students while at OSU. He has been to Venezuela on at least 8 occasions as a dairy consultant. He also has provided professional instruction on milk quality and lameness in Egypt, Japan, Romania, and Thailand. He was selected as the Veterinarian of the Year in 2000 by the American Association of Extension Veterinarians and received the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2007 from the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

For 22 years, Dr. Hoblet served the Ohio dairy industry as an Extension veterinarian. During the initial part of his career at OSU, he specialized in mastitis and mammary gland health. He presented numerous workshops and talks throughout Ohio on how to produce quality milk and prevent mastitis. Dr. Hoblet presented material with equal skill to both veterinary professionals and dairy farmers. He also made more than 450 farm visits to Ohio dairy farms, with many of these visits involved in solving a mastitis or milk quality problem. In the early 1990's, Dr. Hoblet started a research/Extension program on foot health and lameness. He was one of the first in the U.S. to conduct on-farm surveys to determine the magnitude of the problem (which was substantial). He developed a foot care workshop that was presented throughout the State geared mostly toward hoof trimmers. He also actively participated in conducting some of the first research demonstrating the benefits on hoof health of feeding biotin to dairy cows which has now become common practice.

Another Extension program developed by Dr. Hoblet that had, and continues to have, a substantial positive impact on Ohio's dairy industry was the Dairy Expansion Workshops. The participants in these workshops were veterinarians, bankers, feed company workers, Extension educators, and dairy farmers. In this workshop, participants learned how to evaluate dairy farms and determine whether they were viable candidates for expansion. This workshop was held throughout the State and most likely contributed to the growth of the dairy industry during the past several years.

Dr. Hoblet had a substantial positive influence on the Ohio dairy industry via his work with students. He often took veterinary students on farm visits so they could see how to address problems. He developed a problem-solving workshop for graduating veterinary students that had an interest in dairy herd health. In this very intensive workshop, students would go to several commercial herds that were experiencing various problems. The students learned how to obtain the necessary information, interpret it, and communicate recommendations back to the farmer. Dr. Hoblet, as chair, helped to strengthen the curriculum for future dairy veterinarians through course offerings in dairy records, dairy nutrition, and mammary gland health.

Dr. Hoblet's meek, gentle personality has portrayed to farmers, students, veterinarians, and industry personnel that "I care about you" and then in these conversations and efforts, his unequivocal passion for the dairy industry and the veterinary profession unfolded. The recognition provided as a recipient of the Dairy Science Hall of Service Award acknowledges his impact on the Ohio dairy industry, the career of many students (undergraduate, graduate, and veterinary students), the advancement of the veterinary profession in food animal health, and the advancement in our understanding of mammary health and bovine lameness.

Ohio State's Participation in the Midwest and National Dairy Challenge Programs
Dr. Maurice L. Eastridge, Extension Dairy Specialist, Ohio State University Extension (top of page)

Eight Ohio State students participated in the Fourth Annual Midwest Dairy Challenge, which ran Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2008 and attracted 102 students from 13 universities and colleges to the heart of a blizzard in Merrillville, IN. The inclement weather forced the group to forge new territory for the Dairy Challenge, as buses were unable to transport students to the contest farms for tours. This year's contest was hosted by Purdue University. After they arrived, students joined their new teammates and had the opportunity to experience the Fair Oaks Dairy Adventure in Fair Oaks, IN. The next day, students were led in virtual farm tours of three dairy farms located in the Merrillville area by Midwest Dairy Challenge Committee members. After the virtual tours, students had time to meet with their teams and develop questions for the herd owners. The herd owners were then put in touch with the students either in person or via teleconference. Saturday was presentation day as the teams were given 20 minutes to offer their suggestions. This was followed by a question-and-answer session and a critique by the judges regarding their presentation and recommendations. The students from Ohio State who participated in the program were Paige Gott, Anton Henry, Stephanie Metzger, Jeff Riethman, Renee Starkey, Kyle Uhlenhake, Eric Weitzel, and Jesse Whinnery. Judges chose six teams as platinum winners, the contest's highest distinction. The students from Ohio State who comprised these teams included Renee Starkey, Stephanie Metzger, Anton Henry and Eric Weitzel.

It was a clean sweep for the Big 10 at this year's North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge (NAIDC), hosted by the University of Wisconsin and held April 4-5 in the Madison, WI area. Teams from the University of Minnesota, Michigan State University, University of Illinois and Purdue University earned the highest award - First Place Platinum - in the Seventh Annual NAIDC. A record number of 32 teams from the US and Canada participated, challenging them to put their textbook and practical knowledge to the ultimate test. The contest started with a walk-through at the dairy farms, followed by the opportunity to ask questions of the owners and analyze farm-specific data. Student teams used this information to develop management recommendations, and then presented their management recommendations to the herd owners and a panel of five dairy industry judges. Second Place Platinum award winners included: Iowa State University, The Ohio State University, Kansas State University, and North Dakota State University. The Ohio State team consisted of Anton Henry, Eric Weitzel, Jesse Whinnery and Stephanie Metzger with Maurice Eastridge serving as the coach. The farm analyzed by the Ohio State Team consisted of 200 cows milked in a double-8 parallel parlor averaging 30,000 lb RHA milk with 3-Xmilking. The owners also cropped about 3500 acres and raised dairy steers. In the 7 years of the contest, this is the second time that Ohio State has received a Platinum rating - congratulations!

Pictured: Front row: Stephanie Metzger and Anton Henry. Back row: Eric
Weitzel, Jesse Whinnery, and Maurice Eastridge (Coach).

Calendar of Events (top of page)

June 21 - 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl, Animal Science Building, Columbus campus, Contact: Bonnie Ayars, (614) 688-3143, ayars.5@osu.edu

July 7-11 - Annual Meeting of American Dairy Science Association, Indianapolis, IN

July 30 - August 10 - Ohio State Fair

August 2 - 4-H Dairy Judging Clinic, Ohio State Fair, Contact: Bonnie Ayars, (614) 688-3143, ayars.5@osu.edu

August 7 - 4-H Dairy Judging Clinic, Ohio State Fair, Contact: Bonnie Ayars, (614) 688-3143, ayars.5@osu.edu

August 8 - Dairy Cattle Skillathon, Ohio State Fair, Contact: Bonnie Ayars, (614) 688-3143, ayars.5@osu.edu

Web links to Milk Marketing Information: Ohio Dairy Web - http://aede.osu.edu/programs/OhioDairy/; eDairy, Inc. - http://www.dairy.nu/