When it comes to making better, smarter decisions on the farm, Dairy One can help. We have the information and tools necessary that can make daily jobs more efficient as well as helping you to find areas of opportunity in your farm business. Below are 15 tips in 3 distinct areas that we believe could make a positive difference.
5 Ways to Make Test Day More Valuable
- Are you signed on and off for all the Processing Center reports, including Web reports? Review the printed reports you are getting from the processing center to make the most of what you get in the mail. If you have Internet access, sign up for economical web reports to get fast access to all of your DHIA information. In addition, get the SCC Hot Sheet via your e-mail if possible.
- Are you getting the correct on-farm Test Day reports? Talk to your Dairy One Technician about the reports they are leaving you on test day. Do these reports need to be tweaked in any way to make them more valuable? Our software is extremely flexible so if you are not getting what you need, chances are we can change it to be more helpful.
- Have you talked to your Technician about milk pregnancy testing? Get more value from that milk sample by submitting it to our Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory for pregnancy testing. Your DHI Field Technician will make the appropriate list of cows eligible for milk pregnancy analysis and make all the necessary arrangements on test day. Turnaround is fast and provided through e-mail or through Herd Management Software.
- Do you have good cow ID tags, and are they readable? Good information starts with good cow identification. If we don’t know who she is, everything else is suspect. If you have missing ID tags, duplicate cow ID’s or tags that cannot be read, there is a good chance information will be wrong and test day dollars will be wasted.
- Are you testing at a regular intervals? You milk at the same time every day, feed at the same time every day and do chores at the same time every day. There is value in consistency and continuity. Testing at regular intervals provides this same continuity in your cow records. If we can help you to test more regularly, talk to your DHIA Technician or Market Manager.
5 Ways an On-Farm Network Can Improve Efficiency
Dairy One has a group of people who can help you figure out how technology makes the most sense on your farm. There are many products and services technology brings that can save time, reduce labor and/or increase the overall efficiency of your operation. However, much of it begins with a simple on-farm network. Networks can be wired or wireless and once in place, create a lot of opportunity.
With your on-farm network, you can:
- Access DHIA web reports after test day
- Run multiple copies of herd management software, allowing data entry at different sites around the farm
- Use web-based time clock software for your employees to clock in and out
- Use a web-based accounting software
- Install and use camera systems for security, fresh pen monitoring or parlor monitoring
Installing the network is the first step. You can proceed from here at a pace that is comfortable for your operation. Contact the Integrated Farming Solutions team for more information.
5 Farm Safety Tips
Hazards exist nearly everywhere on the farm. The first step to improving farm safety is to be aware of the hazards that surround you in order to avoid accidents and injuries. Here are some tips that can help prevent injury when working on the farm.
- Have an escape route. Ensure you have an option—or multiple options—to make a quick exit from the proximity of animals in the event that they become aggressive or spooked.
- Use appropriate hazard signage. Clearly mark all hazardous areas and items, such as manure pits, grain bins, moving parts on machinery, chemicals, and electrical boxes, with the proper signs and warnings.
- Store chemicals properly. Make sure all chemicals are stored safely in proper containers, identified clearly, and located out of the reach of animals and children.
- Keep high-traffic areas clean and treated with a nonslip surface. This allows both you and your animals to have secure footing, avoiding slips and falls.
- Review safety protocols on a regular basis. Inform new employees about safety procedures, note any changes that have taken place on the farm that impact your safety plan, and make sure that first aid kits are well-stocked and easily accessible.
Agricultural Consulting Services can help you create a farm safety program. For more information, email ACS at [email protected].
For more information about any of these services, contact Dairy One by emailing [email protected].