Due to loss of primary funding this will be the last issue of this newsletter.

Milk Quality

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Milk Money, a UW Extension program used by more than 450 dairy producers statewide to improve milk quality, is changing direction. Dairy producers throughout Wisconsin are still able to access the Milk Money program through local extension agents, but will no longer receive the comprehensive educational, diagnostic and communications services associated with the Milk Money program in the past.

“Milk Money has had a lasting and positive influence on milk quality here in Wisconsin since its inception in 2001,” says Pamela Ruegg, UW Extension Milk Quality veterinarian and leader of the Milk Money program. “This comprehensive and shared industry effort to promote and improve milk quality in Wisconsin has resulted in concrete outcomes for both individual farms and improved the image of the Wisconsin dairy industry.”

Between 2000 and 2006, the Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) average bulk tank SCC for Wisconsin dairy herds dropped from 306,000 cell/ml to 258,000 cells/ml.  In contrast the California state DHIA average increased from 248,000 cells/ml to 291,000 cell/ml in the same time period, Ruegg notes.

Primary funding support from the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB), for a partnership between Extension and the UW Department of Dairy Science, allowed the creation of a centralized statewide milk quality promotional and training program. The WMMB has recently decided to reallocate its priorities resulting in a reduction of funding for the Milk Money program.

“Wisconsin dairy producers may still contact their local county extension agents for help with improving milk quality,” Ruegg says. The change means Milk Money will no longer provide such support as the toll free milk quality hotline, farm visits and laboratory support, the email newsletter, development of educational materials and other specialized training programs.

The achievements of the program are both large and small. The success of individual herds that completed the program is well recognized and a summary has been published in a well respected science journal. The analysis documented that herds completing Milk Money adopt many best management practices, have improvement in milk quality and improve milk quality related financial performance.

While much emphasis is often placed on the success of the individual teams, the Milk Money program has been far more than a provider of individual team services.  More than 1,300 individuals including producers, agribusiness, extension employees, veterinarians and university personnel have registered as participants in the program.  That ability to leverage the existing UW extension infrastructure, with private resources, such as veterinarians and agri-professionals, along with a centralized milk quality support staff was a unique component of this program and allowed Milk Money to impact most of the state.

“It’s always a pleasure to partner with others in the Wisconsin dairy industry to promote the production of high quality milk.  The successes of the Milk Money program are recognized both nationally and internationally and we hope that the Wisconsin dairy business community remains a leader in this area,” Ruegg says.

Over the last few years, more than 450 Wisconsin dairy farms have worked on improving milk quality using the Milk Money program. Milk Money teams have been registered in 63 of 72 Wisconsin counties. Enrollment of five or more teams has occurred in 36 counties. On an individual basis, over 1,200 agribusiness professionals have participated in at least one Milk Money Team.

Milk Money evolved into a statewide milk quality improvement program that extended beyond an individual dairy's team, however. Extension agents, veterinarians, dairy field reps, nutritionists, and equipment dealers participating and learning in the team environment guaranteed that the milk quality improvement message reached other clients and customers as they interacted on a daily basis. Additionally tools such as the web site, this e-mail newsletter, farm visits, recruitment mailings and outreach through farm shows were provided by the Milk Money staff.

Progress toward the vision of improved milk quality statewide has been steady even under the stress of an uncertain future. We thank you for your support of that progress.

The Editor