Business Digest Highlights
New product and services
GEA introduces new generation of milking robots for greater profitability
GEA is launching a new generation of the DairyRobot R9500 and DairyProQ automated milking systems, which bring significant enhancements to the milking technology module, the In-Liner Everything milking and the MilkRack milking unit, among other benefits. A new service concept also ensures improved serviceability, lower maintenance costs and minimized system downtimes. Rounding off the new-generation systems is a comprehensive software package to optimize the milking process. All in all, dairy farms benefit from increased availability, more milkings and milk per day, and reduced operating costs of up to 35% compared to the predecessor model, for greater profitability. For existing systems, appropriate upgrade packages can be purchased to take advantage of the new features.
The In-Liner Everything technology performs every step of the milking process in one single procedure. The dipping agent in the process is applied both in the teat cup and teat, which means the teat rubber surface is also wet. The camera and teat cup are now cleaned in parallel. These process improvements not only shorten the box time for more milkings per day – they also protect the environment and reduce operating costs.
With the new software package 1.5, the company brings another innovation to the DairyRobot R9500 – with just one click in the MView control, a separation mode is activated. This allows animals whose milk is being separated to be milked as a group without intermediate rinsing or cleaning after each individual cow.
For the new generation of automatic milking systems, the company has fundamentally revised the regular service intervals and service packages. Longer-lasting materials and extended service intervals result in lower service costs.
In addition, the milking technology modules have been improved. Optimized technical components in these modules now ensure a longer service life. Their design has also been redesigned: Improvements in the extended installation space allow better accessibility to the module components and faster replacement of control service parts for continued milking and minimized downtime.
The new generation milking systems also feature an optimized MilkRack – new cup segments increase the service life of the round belts and enable the cleaning position to be adjusted with less maintenance. And thanks to fewer gaps, it is now less susceptible to contamination.
Up to four milking robots can be connected to the supply unit of the robot. This enhances the energy efficiency of the operation and provides flexibility for future expansion. Optional empty space modules have been developed accordingly for the DairyProQ milking carousel. These can be used to reduce investment costs and increase throughput capacity at the appropriate time by retrofitting additional milking parlor modules.
Visit GEA for more information.
Advanced Comfort Technology Inc. introduces new line of cow waterbeds, mattresses and mattress covers
Advanced Comfort Technology Inc. (ACT) introduced its new line of cow comfort products for freestall barns. ACT Comfort Wave allows farmers to pair the original dual-chambered waterbed design with a resilient foam cushion. The dual-chambered waterbed design provides superior comfort, and the foam allows for enhanced comfort and hoof grip.
ACT Comfort Max mattresses offer cows the comfort of resilient latex foam and are covered with the company’s premium ACT Cover Plus. The new cover is an economical way to breathe new life into your existing mattress system. The cover delivers two layers of rubber with an inner layer of reinforcing fabric.
For more information, visit Advanced Comfort Technology Inc.
FERA introduces AccuStaph for affordable and accurate on-farm identification of Staphylococcus aureus
FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals is introducing AccuStaph, an on-farm mastitis culture test found 99% sensitive for Staphylococcus aureus detection. Producers now can test four cows for Staph. aureus using one plate, making on-farm screening reliable, affordable and convenient.
The test builds on the innovation of the company’s original AccuMast system and uses the same proven lab-grade precision and convenience.
Visit FERA
Select Sires unification update
The farmer-owner boards of Minnesota Select Sires Co-op Inc. and COBA/Select Sires Inc. have voted with overwhelming support to ratify the unification of the Select Sires federation. Voting results from Select Sires MidAmerica Inc. did not garner enough support to ratify the proposal.
The board of directors and member cooperative boards will engage in ongoing improvement discussions this summer and into the fall season. With proactive intentions, the farmer-led boards and management teams continue to develop plans to ensure a bright, sustainable future for the cooperative and provide the best in genetics and services to farmer-owners and dairy and beef producers around the world.
Visit Select Sires Co-op Inc. for more information.
Industry news
Alta Seeds brings herbicide tolerance to Empyr Premier Forages
Alta Seeds announces the first-ever herbicide-tolerant technology available in forage sorghum. The company will feature igrowth technology for pre- and post-emergence weed control applications with Imiflex Herbicide in its newest forage sorghum hybrid, ADV F8484IG, a hybrid that is a member of Empyr Premier Forages, a complete line of forage sorghum, sudangrass and sorghum-sudan hybrids.
This sorghum system, fully commercialized and adopted on upward of a half-million grain sorghum acres in 2021, will now be available for growers’ fields in the 2022 growing season in both grain sorghum and forage sorghum hybrids.
This is the first non-GMO herbicide-tolerant technology for forage sorghum. The herbicide manufactured by UPL Ltd. is the exclusive imidazolinone herbicide partner for the igrowth system. Approved by the EPA in December 2020, this product is a Group 2 herbicide that provides broad-spectrum, residual control of yield-robbing grass and broadleaf weeds, including lambsquarter, sandbur, morning glory, Texas panicum, crabgrass and foxtail. The igrowth technology allows for clean stand establishment and minimizes competition for water and nutrients, enabling maximum early season growth and weed suppression.
This hybrid offers good stability and superior aphid protection for growers throughout the Sorghum Belt. It contains the BMR-6 (brown midrib) trait for increased feed palatability and digestibility. In field trials, the hybrid yields forage equal to or greater in feed value than corn silage.
Visit Alta Seeds or Empyr Premier Forages for more information.
Furst-McNess Co. acquired by Easy USA Holdings Inc.
Animal feed and ingredients producer Furst-McNess Co. has been acquired by Easy USA Holdings Inc. (Easy USA) of Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Furst-McNess has 12 major facilities in eight states and Canada selling animal feeds, premixes, commodities and specialty solutions. The company will retain its name and continue to operate as a stand-alone business, receiving financial, talent and other resources from Easy USA.
No jobs are expected to be affected by this combination; to the contrary, Furst-McNess is hiring and looking to bring onboard even more talent in the months ahead. Meanwhile, longtime company leader Ned Furst will continue to be involved as chairman emeritus of the board.
Easy USA is a newly formed subsidiary of Easy Holdings Co. Ltd. (Easy Holdings), a $2 billion publicly traded, international animal feed nutrition and feed mill organization with distribution in 65 countries. Furst-McNess is expected to realize new growth opportunities especially through another Easy Holdings subsidiary called Easy Bio Inc. (Easy Bio).
Organization news
2022 Holstein USA delegate election underway
Holstein Association USA’s 2022 delegate election process is currently underway. Each year, members have the opportunity to nominate members from their state to serve as voting delegates at the following year’s Holstein Association USA annual meeting, held in conjunction with the National Holstein Convention. The 2022 Annual Meeting will be held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, June 30 – July 1.
Here are the important deadlines to take into account:
- July 30 – Nominating petitions mailed to members
- Sept. 24 – Nominating petitions must be received by Holstein Association USA
- Oct. 8 – Deadline for nominees to withdraw names from the ballot
- Oct. 29 – Ballots mailed to members
- Dec. 31 – Ballots must be received by Holstein Association USA
- Feb. 1, 2022 – 2022 delegate election finalized
Typically, members become ineligible to serve as a delegate after serving as a delegate at three consecutive annual meetings. With the cancellation of the 2020 annual meeting, that requirement was waived for the 2021 delegate election. With the clock re-set, all members are eligible to be nominated as a delegate for 2022.
Call (800) 952-5200, ext. 4261 for more information.
Expo celebrates two decades of Virtual Farm Tours
For 20 years, World Dairy Expo has been bringing some of the best dairy operations in North America to Madison through Virtual Farm Tours. The eight dairies selected this year once again span the country and feature the latest in technology, genetics, environmental efforts, on-site processing, deep community ties and, for the first time, dairy goats. During the tours, dairy owners and managers share a visual presentation followed by a question-and-answer segment with audience members. Tours are presented daily in Mendota Room 1 of the Exhibition Hall.
Below is the tour schedule that can be enjoyed in person at WDE or online through ExpoTV on Expo’s website.
- Sept. 28, Hosted by: Newalta Dairy LLC, Pipestone, Minnesota
- Sept. 29, Hosted by: Royal Dairy, Royal City, Washington and Laughing Goat LLC, Cuba City, Wisconsin
- Sept. 30, Hosted by: Steinhurst Dairy LLC, Creston, Ohio and Donley Farms, Shoshone, Idaho
- Oct. 1, Hosted by: Hildebrand Farms Dairy, Junction City, Kansas and Hendrickson Dairy, Menahga, Minnesota
- Oct. 2, Hosted by: Prairieland Dairy, Belleville, Wisconsin
Visit World Dairy Expo for more information.
Applications open for Holstein Association USA’s Virtual Interview Contest
Holstein Association USA is offering the second Virtual Interview Contest for Junior Holstein members. This program is designed to prepare youth for real-world opportunities, giving them the chance to sharpen their resume writing and interview skills. The top three winners in each age division will be awarded cash prizes. The contest is open to youth ages 12 to 21 as of Jan. 1, 2021. Individuals must be a junior member of Holstein Association USA to be eligible.
Entries are currently being accepted and interested youth should send a cover letter and resume corresponding to their appropriate age division to kdunklee@holstein.com by Sept. 1. Youth who make it to the virtual interview round will be notified in September, with interviews to follow in October.
Visit Holstein Association USA for more information. 
