Start to Farm Series for New and Early Career Dairy Farmers begins Nov. 17 at Dordt College

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team will conduct a series of workshops starting Nov. 17 in the Campus Center Board Room at Dordt College in Sioux Center, IA. The series, Dairy Start to Farm, is for beginning and early-career dairy farmers looking for an edge in managing and growing their dairy business.  

“Our goal is to provide an open atmosphere for discussion, sharing of ideas and learning about resources for producers who are in their first 10-12 years of dairy farming”, said Jennifer Bentley, ISU Extension and Outreach dairy specialist. “It is important to help producers make sound dairy farm management decisions that are backed by current and relevant information.”

Start to Farm will be offered at four locations across Iowa with the same topics presented at each site. As noted above, the Northwest Iowa location for the program is the Campus Center Board Room at Dordt College. Programs will start at noon and conclude by 2:00 p.m. Participants are encouraged to attend all or some of the following workshops:

•      Nov. 17 - How to Get Started      

•      Dec. 1 - Cost-Effective Facilities

•      Dec. 8 - Feeding the Herd            

•      Dec. 15 - Crop Nutrient Management

•      Jan. 12 - The People Side of Dairy           

•      Jan. 26 - Raising Calves & Heifers

•      Feb. 16 - Herd Health & Records

•      March 1 & 2 - Dairy Tours, TBD

Registration is requested, but there is no participation fee. To register, contact the Sioux County Extension Office at 712-737-4230 or e-mail Beth Doran, ISU Extension and Outreach beef program specialist, at doranb@iastate.edu. Detailed information about Dairy Start to Farm may be accessed at www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/content/start-farm-series-new-and-early-career-dairy-farmers.