Automatic milking systems tours feature precision management

The number of automatic milking systems used in dairy operations continues to increase with over five percent of farms now milking with robots.

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach dairy team will present a first-hand look at how fellow dairy farmers are managing automatic milking systems in new or retrofit facilities. Areas of focus will be facilities, economics and overall management of automatic milking systems.

Nine dairy facilities in northeast and eastern Iowa will be visited as a part of the tour. Two sites will be visited each day October 23, November 5, November 13, and three sites November 14.

Tuesday, October 23
10-11:30 a.m. - JoLane Dairy, 13254 Hickory Ave., Monona; two Lely robots installed in 2013
12:30-2 p.m. - Frieden Dairy, 19731/19733 Abbey Road, Elgin; three Lely robots installed in 2017

Monday, November 5
10-11:30 a.m. - Mike and Kathleen Scott, 12402 R. Ave., Westgate; two Lely robots installed in 2016
12:30-2 p.m. - New Day Dairy, 31000 175th St., Clarksville; two Insentec Galaxy robots installed in 2015

Tuesday, November 13
10-11:30 a.m. - Koopman Bros., Chad and Brent, 7242 Koopman Road, Epworth; two Lely robots installed in 2015
12:30-2 p.m. - Todd Moser, 30215 370th St., Colesburg; two DeLaval robots installed in 2016

Wednesday, November 14
10-11:30 a.m. - Mark Hosch, 2374 County Road D61, Bernard; three Lely robots installed in 2012-14
12-1:30 p.m. - Green Bros., Mel and Ed, 7820 St. Joes Prairie Road, Dubuque; two Lely robots installed in 2012
2-3:30 p.m. - Bill and Jeff Lawler, 18655 Old Highway Road, Peosta; four Lely robots installed in 2013

Each tour is open to the public, no preregistration is required and travel between farms is on your own. For more information, contact Jenn Bentley at jbentley@iastate.edu or 563-382-2949 or Larry Tranel at 563-563-583-6496 or tranel@iastate.edu.