MU Extension Available to Assist Dairy Producers With MDA Grant

Oct 30, 2025

University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist Chloe Collins urges dairy producers to apply for the Dairy Producer Margin Enhancement Initiative Grant through the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

Collins serves dairy producers in Christian, Douglas, Howell, Ozark, Taney, Texas, Webster and Wright counties. She is available by appointment for phone consultations and farm visits to help producers brainstorm project ideas and review draft applications.

This competitive grant program provides up to $40,000 per project, covering 75% of eligible expenses to help Grade A dairies improve efficiency, expand operations and invest in herd and facility upgrades. Eligible projects include equipment purchases, facility improvements, herd expansion and advanced breeding technologies. A 25% cash match is required.

Applications are due by 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov.19, and will be evaluated based on feasibility, impact and readiness.

Source : missouri.edu

Video: Validating Net Energy in Commercial Swine Systems - Gustavo Lima

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Gustavo Lima, PhD candidate at Iowa State University, explains how soybean meal net energy is evaluated using growth assays and calorimetry. He discusses caloric efficiency, validation under commercial conditions, and differences between controlled and real-world environments. Gustavo also highlights practical implications for diet formulation and ingredient valuation. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Indirect calorimetry provides a precise estimation of ingredient energy, yet validation under production conditions remains essential for accurate application in real systems.”

Meet the guest: Gustavo Lima / gustavo-lima-a9867127 is a PhD candidate in Animal Science at Iowa State University, specializing in swine nutrition, ingredient evaluation, and energy metabolism. With over 15 years of experience across Latin America, his work focuses on soybean meal utilization, caloric efficiency, and applied research for commercial production systems.