Extension Plans Dairy Field Day for March

Auburn, Jan. 30, 2004 --- The Alabama Cooperative Extension System will hold a Dairy and Nutrient Management Field Day March 18 at Taff Dairy near Phil Campbell in Franklin County.  

Taff Dairy has a history of strong production combined with sound management.  The dairy has recently begun a new waste management system that will interest dairy producers from Alabama and surrounding states as well as people in the horticulture and nursery business. 

The Field Day begins at 9:30 and features a number of brief seminars, including a discussion of Taff Dairy’s new waste management system.      

Dr. Pete Moss, an animal scientist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, said James Taff decided there was marketing potential in the manure his operation generated.   

“About a year and a half ago, they made changes in their waste management.  They continue to use a settling basin with draining of liquid into their lagoons, but semi-solids are pumped into a screw-type press for removal of additional water,” said Moss.  “The solids are then composted in a large tumbling cylindrical vat.  The resulting compost receives some additional drying before marketing.

“James has gotten a lot of interest in his product, and he is pleased with marketing to date as well as the possibilities for the future.”

Although the focus of the field day will be on waste management and the compost material, other management options at the Taff Dairy will also be discussed as participants tour the facilities.  An update on milk pricing or outlook will also be included along with a lunch.

For more information, contact Dr. Timothy Reed, Franklin County Extension coordinator, at (256) 332-8880 or via e-mail at reedtim@auburn.edu, or Boyd Brady, Extension dairy associate, at (334) 844-1562 or via e-mail at bbrady@acesag.auburn.edu.
 

DAIRY & NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FIELD DAY

March 18

James and Deb Taff Dairy

2 miles South of Phil Campbell, Ala. on State Hwy. 13  

 9:30 a.m.         Registration for Field Day

10:00 a.m.         Welcome & Introductions

                         Dr. Pete Moss, Dr. Tim Reed and James Taff

10:10 a.m.       Tour of Freestall Barn and Nutrient Management System

                        Dr. Pete Moss, James Taff and Andy Tangeman

Freestall Barn; Bedding, Cleaning, Flushing Waste Water Removal; Settling, Basin and Screw-Type Press Handling Water-Nutrients; Lagoon, Irrigation; Composter Filling and Fermentation; Emptying Composter and Handling of Composted Solids; Nutrient Content of Cow Peat Composted Solids

                        Use and Marketing of Composted Solids (Cow Peat)

                  Nursery Bedding

                  Freestall Bedding Material

                  Other Uses and Sales

                  Questions

11:30 a.m.     Addressing Consumer and Media Questions on Dairy Issues

                     Larry Shirkey, SUDIA

11:50 a.m.      Animal Identification Cradle to Grave, Calf Hutch to Consumption

                      Boyd Brady

12:05 p.m.       Lunch

12:45 p.m.       Milk Prices and Outlook

                       Mickey Childers and Jim Cravey

1:20 p.m.         Management Overview and Tour of Dairy

                               Dr. Pete Moss, James Taff, Deb Taff, Boyd Brady and Others

                                    Herd Health

                                    Breeding and Genetics

                                    Parallel Milking Parlor

                                    Silage and Hay; Harvesting, Purchasing and Storage

                                    Feeding Program; Purchasing, Rations, Storage

                                    Calf Raising

                                    Heifer Housing and Management

 3:00 p.m.         Summary and Wrap-Up

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