Minnesota Dairy Initiative

11/11/2025

❄️🐄 Winter is Coming — Keep Your Cows Comfortable and Healthy! 🐄❄️

Cold weather is just around the corner, and now’s the time to prepare your herd for the challenges of Minnesota’s winter. Proper nutrition, shelter, and care can make all the difference in keeping your cattle strong and productive through the season. 🌾💪

The University of Minnesota Extension offers great tips on:
✅ Providing windbreaks and dry bedding
✅ Ensuring access to clean, unfrozen water
✅ Adjusting feed for increased energy needs
✅ Monitoring body condition and health

Take a few steps now to protect your cows and your bottom line all winter long.

👉 Learn more: https://loom.ly/X3J--tw

Quick facts Cattle expected to live outside during the winter should remain outside to adjust to the changing conditions as winter approaches. A windbreak is the single most important factor for the success of your cattle riding out severe winter weather. Building a defined bedded pack behind your w...

11/06/2025

⏰🐄 Don’t Miss Out! AGRI Livestock Investment Grant Deadline is Nov. 13th - ONE WEEK FROM TODAY! 🐄⏰

Minnesota livestock farmers and ranchers — this is your chance to improve, update, and modernize your operation with help from the AGRI Livestock Investment Grant! 🌟

Applications are open now but must be submitted by 4 p.m. on November 13th — don’t wait to take advantage of this great opportunity to invest in your farm’s future.

👉 Apply here: https://loom.ly/WJdMI_g

11/05/2025

11/04/2025

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is expanding its Minnesota Ag Weather Network (MAWN) with the launch of three new weather stations spanning Southern Minnesota—a critical step in strengthening data coverage for producers statewide.

“𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙥𝙩 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨.”

👉 Learn more at: https://loom.ly/HUJLyJY

11/01/2025

DON'T FORGET—Daylight Savings Time ends tonight! ⏰🕑
Remember to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed tonight. Daylight savings time ends at 2 AM. Enjoy that precious extra hour of rest! 🥰
This is a great time to check smoke detector batteries and review farm and household safety plans as we head into the colder months.

10/31/2025

🎃👻 Happy Halloween from all of us at Minnesota Dairy Initiative! 🐄🎃

Wishing everyone a safe and spooky day filled with treats, fun, and maybe a few tricks! 🍬 Whether you're enjoying a cozy fall evening or heading out for some festive fun, don't forget to enjoy your favorite dairy treats—because even ghosts and goblins love a good glass of milk! 🥛👻

10/30/2025

Get to know the MDI team!

10/28/2025

For the first time in history, the University of Minnesota can claim a record three consecutive wins in the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at World Dairy Expo in Madison.
🌟 Learn more from Dairy Star here: https://loom.ly/jr49bTQ

MADISON, Wis. — For the first time in history, the University of Minnesota can claim a record three consecutive wins in the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at World Dairy …

10/26/2025

🎃🐄 Happy National Pumpkin Day! 🐄🎃
Dairy cows and pumpkins make the perfect pair! Thanks to their four stomachs, cows can digest foods like leftover pumpkins, which humans can’t. This means that when pumpkin season wraps up, those extra pumpkins won’t go to waste—they get turned into nutritious food for cows instead!
It’s just another way dairy cows contribute to sustainability and help reduce waste! ♻️🐮

10/23/2025

🤔 Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers! 🐄🌾
What do you want to know about dairy farming, farm management, or anything related to the dairy industry? Whether you’re curious about animal care, sustainable practices, or how to get started in dairy farming, we’re here to help!
Drop your questions in the comments, and let’s start the conversation! 💬✨

10/21/2025

OUR MISSION is to serve dairy farmers through on-farm teams. Our coordinators facilitate meetings to provide collaboration, networking, and resources. 🌟🐄
Learn more about MDI! https://loom.ly/TXXptQk

10/16/2025

Grants Available to Improve Safety on Minnesota Farms

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is announcing that farmers can apply for funding through two key safety programs. The Grain Storage Facility Safety Grant and the Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) Rebate programs help farmers add critical safety equipment to on-farm grain storage facilities and retrofit older tractors with lifesaving rollover protection. Learn more: https://loom.ly/BjYUYEk

In recognition of National Farm Safety and Health Week, September 21-27, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is