Welcome to the first electronic dairy newsletter featuring our new portal DairyNet system. January will feature 10 Area Dairy Days starting on January 8 at Effingham and end on January 23 at Harvard. Visit our DairyNet website and click on 2003 Dairy Days to review the program, dates, locations (with map and directions), and times. In February, a series of Round Tables will be held across IL allowing participants to bring their questions to informal programs with no planned presentations.

Feeding questions continue to arrive including fuzzy cottonseed quality. If free fatty acid content is over 10 percent (top quality seed is less than 3 percent free fatty acid), the fuzzy cottonseed is lower quality and should be evaluated for mycotoxin and lower feed value. Some discounts have been offered for lower quality cottonseed. Beware of these risks and limitations!

Drought in southern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and western states has put a premium on dairy quality hay (over 150 RFV) with prices up $10 to $20 a ton compared to 2002. Soy hull prices have increased as a forage extended for beef and dairy cattle. Distiller’s grains continue to be a “good” value as more ethanol plants open. Wet distiller’s grain can be economical if a supply is available. Break even prices for dried distiller’s grain ranges from $180 to $200 a ton depending on local corn and soybean meal prices.