NE Iowa Dairy Center robotics project gets donation from REC utilities

(Left to right): Cheri Popp of Central Iowa Power Cooperative; NICC President Dr. Liang Chee Wee; John Molumby of Allamakee Clayton Electric Cooperative; Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation vice president Phil Hemesath; Mike Meissen of the Iowa Area Development Group; Dave Mohr of Eastern Iowa Light & Power; Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation president Gary Kregel; NICC Dairy Science program instructor David Lawstuen; and Patty Manuel of Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative

Ten local energy utility companies have donated a total of $19,000 to the Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation in support of a new robotics milking system being installed at Iowa's Dairy Center.

Rural Electric Cooperatives members include Allamakee Clayton Electric, Butler Co. REC, Central Iowa Power Cooperative, Corn Belt Power, Dairyland Power, Eastern Iowa Light & Power, Hawkeye REC, Heartland Power, Iowa Area Development Group Community Foundation and Maquoketa Valley REC.

The new $1.7 million robotic milking system and the construction in progress to build a new addition at Iowa's Dairy Center to accommodate this technology will also provide enhanced stall conditions for the 300-cow herd, including improved ventilation and bedding with sand for enhanced animal comfort.  There are also benefits in the long run for the region's dairymen as robotics technology gains ground because the introduction of robotics is predicted to improve dairy farmers' quality of life.

In addition to the labor benefits gained through automation, robotic milking systems are also more efficient in terms of their energy consumption, particularly during peak demand times. Typical energy consumption for traditional, two-time milking per day dairy operations results in significant spikes in energy demand during their milking times. With robotic milking systems, the demand is leveled out over a 24-hour period because cows are milked throughout the day rather than at designated times. This helps to manage costs for dairy operations and, by reducing energy use during periods of high demand, utility companies will save money and can maintain more stable electricity rates for all customers.