Increase your milk quality in 2015

TRANSFER, Pa. — The Penn State Extension Dairy Team will offer several workshops around the state to educate producers, farm managers and milkers on proper milking techniques and practices to produce a high quality product.

Designed to help increase productivity and profitability on dairies, these hands-on workshops will focus on consistent milking practices that emphasize teat cleanliness, udder stimulation and rapid milk flow while performing the most important job on the farm.

Workshops

The first workshop will be held Jan. 27, with a Jan. 19 registration deadline. The workshops will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and cost $35, including lunch and materials.

Dates and locations are: Jan. 27, Mercer County, Brass Lantern, 3565 N. Hermitage Road, Transfer; Jan. 29, Blair County; 310 Airport Drive, Suite 9, Martinsburg; Feb. 2, Union County; Carriage Corner Restaurant, 257 E. Chestnut St., Mifflinburg.

Best milking practices

Two additional workshop dates will focus on best milking practices: on farm culturing.
Participants will acquire the proper techniques for collecting milk cultures, setting up cultures for on-farm identification and the knowledge to identify bacteria growth. Each farm participating will receive the tools needed to start culturing on their farm immediately.

Culturing workshops

The on-farm culturing workshops cost $45 without supplies or $60 with supplies, and will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dates are: Feb.24, Juniata County, Spruce Hill Grange, Route 75 South, Port Royal; Feb. 26, Crawford County, Penn State Extension, Crawford County, 13400 Dunham Road, Suite A, Meadville.

Registration

To register and for more details visit extension.psu.edu/best-milking-practices.
The best milking practices program is eligible for two SmartStart credits and the On-Farm Culture program is eligible for one SmartStart credit from AgChoice Farm Credit.

For more information, call toll-free 888-373-7232 or contact: Amber Yutzy, Extension educator: anl113@psu.edu or Greg Strait, Extension educator: gls10@psu.edu.