Dairy Farm | Climate Ready Assessments

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I rely on the following sources for weather forecasting:
I do not use any.
Local radio
TV
Weather app
Enviroweather
On-farm weather station
I use the weather forecast to:
Plan for daily activities
Improve timing of practices like heat abatement strategies (turn on fans and sprinklers, increase feed drop, change diet etc.)
Adapt management like pest control
Manure application
I have observed that weather has impacted:
Cows' milk yield
Cows' reproductive performance
Overall herd growth rates
Cows/calf disease incidence
Feed productivity and quality
Water availability
Water quality
I have observed more frequent extreme weather events such as:
I have not
Heavy storm precipitation
Flooding or saturated soils
Hail
High wind events
Sun intensity (causing sunburn or scald)
Drought
I use the following strategies to minimize damage from extreme weather:
Change the location of the calves' hutches
Change barn curtain management
Provide jackets for calves
Change cows post-dip
Nutrition/feeding management
Reproductive management
Change the timing of the cows' movement
Change curtains management
Use fans/sprinklers
Nutrition/feeding management
I prioritize SECTION (Select one):
Very much
Somewhat
A little
Not at all
I have become aware of flooding risks at my farmstead by doing the following:
My site was deemed suitable through MDARD Site Selection GAAMP process.
I have looked at FEMA flooding maps.
I know where the risks are by experience.
I do not know the risk of flooding on my farmstead and all my fields.
When my manure storage is at freeboard, I have a plan to:
Take the manure to a sandy or otherwise appropriate field
Take the manure to cooperate farmer's manure storage
Allow the manure to continue to accumulate
Allow the manure to overtop the storage
I keep clean water out of my manure storage by:
Installing gutters on my buildings and shunting the water away from my storage
Placing my barn out of 100-year flood plains
Covering areas that slope toward my storage
None of these
I reduce manure runoff from my sacrifice lot by:
Scraping or collecting manure daily
Installing and maintaining a buffer strip of vegetation around the lots
None of these
I reduce manure runoff from my pastures by:
Using rotational grazing system that employs small, subdivided paddocks sometimes called intense grazing
I move the water tanks and shade around to avoid concentrated manure areas
None of these
I prioritize SECTION (Select one):
Very much
Somewhat
A little
Not at all
I have become aware of flooding risks in fields where I spread manure by doing the following:
I have mapped sensitive and flood-prone areas with a program like SAIS or with the assistance of a technical service provider
I have looked at FEMA flooding maps
I know where the risks are by experience
I do not know the risk of flooding in all my fields
If the weather forecast calls for rain within 48 hours after a manure application I:
I hurry to spread before the rain
I check the EnviroImpact tool for the risk of runoff in my field
I do not spread manure
I spread manure on fields with drainage tile (Select one):
Yes
Yes, and my drainage tile has nutrient reduction technology like a saturated buffer or nutrient filter installed
No
I am aware of the location of tile lines (Select one):
I do not know where the tile lines are in the field
I know where they are, but I don't have a map
I have a map of tile lines, but it stays in the office
I use a tile line map as part of my manure application plan
When I spread manure on fields with tile drainage tile I:
Check to see if the tile line is running before I spread
Check to see if the tile line is running clear after I spread
I avoid spreading over tile lines or I disrupt the preferential flow pathways before I spread (up to 7 days before application)
I lower my application rate on those fields
I do not spread on saturated fields
I spread manure on wet fields
I spread manure without checking tile lines
I don't know the effect of manure application to the tile water
I prioritize SECTION (Select one):
Very much
Somewhat
A little
Not at all
Where are your cows housed?:
Barns (tie-stall, free-stall, bedded pack)
Dry lots
Dry lots with shelter or shade structures
Pasture
Pasture with access to shelter or shade structures
My barn is:
Long edge east/west oriented
Long edge north /south oriented
< 80 feet from another building/barn
Between 80 and 100 feet from another building/barn
> 100 feet from another building/barn
Naturally ventilated, no fans (go to question 4)
Naturally ventilated with High-Volume, Low-Speed (HVLS) Fans
Naturally ventilated with Box Fans or simple circulation fans
Mechanically ventilated (Tunnel ventilated or cross-ventilated)
My fans are:
Automated controlled
Manually controlled
Turned on at 65°F to 68°F
Turned on at 69°F to 72°F
Turned on at > 72°F
Located over the feed lane
Located over the bed areas
Located over the cows' alleys
Located on the holding pens
Maintained if needed
Maintained once a year
Maintained twice or more in a year
Checked for wind speed when I suspect something is wrong
Checked for wind speed regularly
Not checked for wind speed
My sprinklers/misters are:
I do not use them (go to question 5)
Automated controlled
Manually controlled
Turned on at 65°F to 68°F
Turned on at 69°F to 72°F
Turned on at > 72°F
Located over the feed lane
Located on the holding pens
Located at the exit of the milking parlor (showers/soakers)
Maintained if needed
Maintained once a year
Maintained twice or more in a year
Do you have water through at the exit alley from the milking parlor? (Select one):
Yes
No
What is the stocking density of fresh cows and high cows' barns? (Select one):
< 100%
100 to 110%
111 to 130%
> 130%
I prioritize SECTION (Select one):
Very much
Somewhat
A little
Not at all
Do you change cows feeding or nutritional management due to extreme weather (hot or cold)? (Select one):
No
Yes
If you answered "Yes" to question 1:
Increase feed push frequency
Increase feed drop frequency
Change the time of feed drop
Increase frequency push feed out (cleaning feed bunk)
Increase energy density
Add oil or rumen-protected fat acids
Increase mineral inclusion (P, K or Na)
Increase buffers inclusion
Add direct fed microbial/yeast
Add Monensin
Add Betaine
Add chromium
Change DCAD
I prioritize SECTION (Select one):
Very much
Somewhat
A little
Not at all
Do you change the reproductive management during warm weather? (Select one):
No
Yes
If you answered "Yes" to question 1:
Increase efforts to get cows that are open pregnant before heat weather or heat waves
Increase use of timed AI
Use of embryo transfer
Do not AI cows during heat waves
Use bulls
I prioritize SECTION (Select one):
Very much
Somewhat
A little
Not at all
Do you control for pests on your farm? (Select one):
Yes, always
Sometimes
No, never
How are you controlling rodent pests on your farm?:
I do not control for rodents
I have rodent control (baits/traps) at the foundation of all my livestock buildings
I have rodent control at the foundation of all my feed buildings
I keep the barn clean and in good repair
I keep trees and brush away from the buildings
I have a 3-4' wide barrier of sharp stone along the barn perimeter
How are you controlling flies on your farm?:
I do not manage for flies
I keep manure scraped and covered
I bait and trap flies
I use spray-on insecticide on my livestock
I use insecticides on my facilities
How do you control for other insects (lice, mites, ticks) on your farm?:
I don't manage for lice, mites or ticks
I treat as needed using ectoparasitides (e.g., Ivomec, amitraz)
I feed larvicidal agents during certain times of the year
I clean and decontaminate my facilities using agents that kill all stages
I prioritize SECTION (Select one):
Very much
Somewhat
A little
Not at all
Does weather cause farm safety concerns? (Select one):
Yes
No
To prepare for and prevent accidents on my farm:
My farm is in accordance with OSHA standards
My farm is in accordance with Worker Protection Standards (ex. central posting location)
My employees and I receive farm safety training (ex. Worker Protection Standards, storage facility safety procedures)
I have an emergency prevention and/or preparedness plan for possible weather disasters (flooding, fires)
On file with local fire department:
I have a pollution prevention plan (ex. Sensitive areas, chemical spills)
Pesticide storage facilities are constructed with emergencies in mind
I am aware that the following resources can help me address stress:
MSU Extension Teletherapy Program
Connecting with family, friends, neighbors, or other farmers
Nation Suicide Prevention call or text line (Call:1-800-273-8255; https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/)
Personal physician
Farm business management for financial advice
Self-care (i.e. Exercise, hobbies)
Other
I prioritize SECTION (Select one):
Very much
Somewhat
A little
Not at all

Weather

Farmstead Site Preparation

Nutrient Management

Animal Housing

Nutrition

Reproduction

Biosecurity

Farm Safety and Stress