I-29 Moo University to Hold Three Dairy Webinars In October

By Fred M. Hall

The I-29 Moo University Dairy Webinar Series, in collaboration with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will continue with three webinars on Tuesday, Oct. 14, Tuesday, Oct. 21, and Tuesday, Oct. 28, from noon to 1 p.m. CDT.

Producers and ag industry professionals are invited to learn about forage economics and strategies for small ruminants, robotic milking and bovine respiratory disease in the individual webinars. There is no cost to participate.

Oct. 14 webinar: Forage topics

The first webinar will be held in partnership with the Northern Plains Forage Association, featuring three forage-related presentations.

Jaelyn Whaley, extension sheep field specialist at South Dakota State University, will share nutrient requirements for sheep and goats and how to best utilize forages to meet those requirements. Whaley will also discuss targeted grazing, forage and parasites plus winter feeding.

Larry Tranel, dairy specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will discuss the economics of grazing heifers. Additionally, Paul McGill, owner and manager of Rock Valley Hay Auction, will share his insights on the future of the hay market and his perspective on the upcoming season.

Online registration is required at least one hour prior to the webinar.

Registration hyperlink: https://go.iastate.edu/OCTOBER2025FORAGE

Oct. 21 webinar: Training heifers for robotic milking success

The second webinar will feature James Salfer, University of Minnesota Extension dairy educator, who will discuss strategies for training and pre-training heifers for robotic milking system success.

Salfer’s education program helps farmers and other industry professionals understand key factors driving dairy farm profitability and develop management strategies to improve profitability.

Participants will learn effective strategies and tips for successfully integrating heifers into robotic milking systems, including early exposure and positive reinforcement, as well as hands-on techniques to facilitate a smooth transition.