(Note: 2021 meetings and farm tours will be held on Wednesdays, rather than the traditional Tuesdays in the past.)

Cow College meetings and farm tours have been offered as in-person events during prior years. However, due to the pandemic, Cow College 2021 meetings and tours have moved to a virtual format.

Tune in on January 13, 12:00 to 1:00 pm to hear Dr. James Salfer, University of Minnesota Extension, discuss the economics of automated milking systems and learn if robotic milking is right for your farm.

Dairy heifer management will be the topic on January 20, 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Tina Kohlman, Extension Fond du Lac County, will focus on heifer inventory management practices. Tina will help your farm decide which heifers to keep and which heifers to cull. In addition, you will also learn about the importance of achieving the correct heifer maturity from the second speaker of the day, Dr. Gavin Staley, Diamond V.

Virtual farm tours and discussion will be held January 27 from 8:00 to 9:00 pm. We will begin by taking a virtual tour of Townline Acres Registered Holsteins, Birnamwood, to learn more about using a ground grain mix feed in a robotic box, rather than traditional pelleted feed. We will also virtually visit Wichman Farms, Inc., Appleton, to tour their automated calf feeding facilities and learn more about robotic calf feeding. In addition, Kevin Jarek, Extension Outagamie County, will provide an update on 2021 feeds, while Dr. Rodrigo Werle, Extension Weed Specialist, will discuss the introduction
and spread of Palmer Amaranth in Wisconsin farm fields.

If you do not have adequate internet service at home, Fox Valley Technical College, Clintonville Regional Center, will open rooms for viewing the webinars. All pandemic protocol will be followed to maintain safety of all attendees. When registering, please indicate if you plan to view the program at home or at FVTC, Clintonville Reginal Center.

Three webinars will be held:

January 13, 2021, Webinar: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm with Q/A at 1 pm.
Is Robotic Milking Right for You? Economics of AMS for the Family Farm
Presenter: Dr. James Salfer, University of Minnesota Extension

January 20, 2021, 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm with Q/A at 1 pm.
Does She Grow or Should She Go? Heifer Inventory Management
Presenter: Tina Kohlman, Extension Fond du Lac County
Why Building Mature Heifers Matter
Presenter: Dr. Gavin Staley, Diamond V

January 27, 2021, 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm – Farm Tours and Feed/Crops Update
Feeding a grain mix in the robotic box –Townline Acres Registered Holsteins, Birnamwood
Robotic group calf feeding – Wichman Farms, Inc., Appleton
2021 Feeds Update
Palmer Amaranth in Cotton Seed

There is no registration fee for these virtual meetings and farm tours. However, you must pre-register by 5:00 pm the night before the meeting. Registration can be made online at https://go.wisc.edu/91xc62. Please indicate on the registration if you are viewing from home or at the FVTC, Clintonville Regional Center.

Questions about the program? Please contact Extension Shawano County, 715-526-6136 or Extension Outagamie County, 920-832-4763.

This program is sponsored by Shawano and Outagamie UW-Madison Division of Extension offices and Fox Valley Technical College.