Penn State’s Extension Dairy Team has developed a mobile app titled DairyCents that offers two features: calculate income over feed costs (IOFC) feed price comparisons with the Penn State Feed Price List or other users across the country Income over feed cost is determined by taking milk income per cow minus feed cost per cow and addresses only the lactating animals. It is a simple calculation but for most producers requires a lot of inputs because of all the different feeds fed and grouping strategies. The question arose: Would using readily available market information to simplify the calculation result in a realistic number?

Today’s U.S. beef industry is certainly in unchartered territory – cattle prices have seen historical highs, but so have production costs.

Dairy promotion directors elect board officers Leaders of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) and the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB) announced the following dairy producers as officers: Chair – Paul Rovey, Glendale, Arizona Vice Chair – James Ahlem, Hilmar, California Secretary – David “Skip” Hardie, Lansing, New York Treasurer – Steve Hanson, Clovis, New Mexico DMI, which manages the national dairy producer checkoff program, is funded by the NDB and the United Dairy Industry Association. —From Dairy Checkoff Update DFA volunteers' afternoon of service in Ohio A group of volunteers representing Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) convened at Matthew: 25 Ministries for an afternoon of service reflecting the Cooperative’s core value of community.

Where rain has returned in sufficient volume to make pastures green again, so have fall armyworms. This annual scourge is ready to mow those luscious new blades of grass, said Kelly Loftin, extension entomologist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.  Parts of Cleveland County received 3 to 11 inches of rain in mid-July, reviving parched pastures and making them a target for the fall armyworms.

Farmers harvesting corn in the Mississippi Delta region need to beware of aflatoxin contaminated grain. Aflatoxin contaminated corn may develop this year because drought was severe. Damage to corn by drought can enhance the development on corn kernels of the mold that produces aflatoxin. All corn farmers – even those that irrigated their crop – should take some precautions to avoid problems with aflatoxin.

Many Missouri producers are asking if it is safe to use soybeans for livestock forage. The topic was brought up repeatedly by attendees at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the combination feeding of Pulmotil, an in-feed bovine respiratory disease (BRD) treatment, with Rumensin, an efficiency-enhancing feed additive. This means producers can now combine the only 14-day sustained, in-feed BRD treatment with one of the most proven, widely used feed additives in the industry.

Heather Porter Engwall, director of National Product Communications for the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, shares information on the Cheese Cupid Cinema and pairing app with Progressive Dairyman. This app was developed to aid consumers in pairing cheese and beverages. Whether your drink of choice is a Chardonnay, stout beer or Scotch, you'll find the perfect Wisconsin cheese match. PD

Livestock Grain and Market News cattle report for Aug. 17.