Managing northern leaf blight
06/19/13 - Features
Source: DuPont Pioneer
Northern leaf blight (NLB) is found in areas with a humid climate. It spreads up through the Corn Belt riding hurricane winds, which can quickly carry the organism from south to north. Caused by the fungus Exserohilum turcicum, NLB can overwinter in diseased
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How much will heat stress cost you this summer?
06/19/13 - Features
Source: Purina Animal Nutrition
Heat stress is expensive. It is estimated that heat stress costs the dairy industry anywhere from $900 million[1] to $5 billion[2] each year depending upon the calculation used. The level of stress experienced by an animal and resulting financial losses fluctuate
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Manage newborn calves for productivity
06/19/13 - Features
Source: DCHA
The first few weeks of a calf's life are pivotal to its productivity. With proper management, you can minimize pitfalls such as overcrowding, environmental factors, physical hazards and less-than-pristine barn conditions.
Here are some steps you can take to
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OSU expert: Scout for potato leafhopper in alfalfa
06/19/13 - Features
By Tracy Turner
Now is the time to be on the lookout for the potato leafhopper, a pest that can cause significant economic losses for alfalfa growers by reducing yields and quality, says an entomologist with Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental
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Audio: Robots find a home on Wisconsin farms
06/14/13 - Features
Brian Holmes, UW-Extension agricultural engineer, provides a look at the modern farm and explains how robotic milkers work. Visit
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Early season weed control is a must
06/12/13 - Features
Source: Pioneer
After starting the season with clean fields at planting, now is the time to focus on early season weed control to maintain maximum yield potential. For corn, weeds can reduce yield as soon as the V2 stage or when corn is roughly six to eight inches tall. Focus on weed
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Stay one step ahead of hot weather
06/12/13 - Features
Source: DCHA
Temperatures are shifting again and it's time for dairy herd growers to make accommodations. Early preparation to stay ahead of heat management should be on the list of things to do.
Cows are considered homeotherms and they do whatever it takes to maintain a constant
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Is group calf housing in your future?
06/12/13 - Features
Source: Purina Animal Nutrition
There has been a lot of discussion about group calf housing recently. Perhaps you are giving it serious consideration on your operation. Before diving in there are a few questions you may want to ask yourself, advises Ed Denton, calf and heifer specialist
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Partnership to research ‘eating habits’
06/11/13 - Features
The Family Resiliency Center and the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Dairy Research Institute® (DRI) established a new partnership to help fill critical research gaps in how healthy eating habits are formed from the earliest
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Paper: Vaccines, cow pregnancy impact studied
06/11/13 - Features
Source: Novartis
When cattle producers select a vaccine to protect against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), they expect their cows and heifers will produce a healthy calf. Understandably, the health and well-being of breeding stock is paramount in cow-calf and dairy operations.
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Manage your fly population this season
06/11/13 - Features
ource: Purina Animal Nutrition
Not only are flies a nuisance to both animals and employees, they impact the health and well-being of the animal and cause economic losses that can last a lifetime. Heavy housefly populations can lead to any number of viral and bacterial diseases, such as bovine
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Improve stall design
06/11/13 - Features
Source: DCHA
Cows spend approximately 10 to 14 hours resting and the remainder eating or standing. Excessive standing has been linked to aggravated lameness and other forms of discomfort. The initial purpose of cow stalls was to maintain overall cleanliness of the facility. However, recent
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Alltech’s Global Beef and Dairy 500 headed to Dublin
06/11/13 - Features
For the first time ever, Alltech’s Global Beef and Dairy 500 conference will be held in Dublin, Ireland. The event is scheduled for Oct. 1-3, with farm tours beginning on Sept. 30.
This year, added efficiencies, profitability and sustainability will be at the top of the agenda. Questions
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Eyeball manure for a quick read on feed utilization
06/07/13 - Features
Source: Purina Animal Nutrition
Many tools exist to evaluate the effectiveness of a dairy cow’s diet. But the final judge of how well a ration performs is the cow herself. Dr. Stuart Rymph advises, “We shouldn’t overlook the vast amount of information you can garner just by
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Farm safety: Keeping your employees in mind
06/07/13 - Features
Source: DCHA
All farms, regardless of size and location, should have a safety program. According to the national statistics for Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2011, the third highest fatality rate occurred in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sectors.
Farm workers
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Consider using a tedder to minimize forage drying time
06/06/13 - Features
Source: CLAAS
One of the most important factors in the cutting and harvesting of forages is minimizing drying time. With the unpredictable weather patterns farmers experience, getting forage crops cut and quickly harvested must be done efficiently.
To accomplish this goal, incorporating a
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Are your calves ready for fly season?
06/06/13 - Features
Source: DCHA
Flies are significant pests on calf operations, both for the animals and for the premises, by potentially decreasing productivity, spreading disease or simply being a nuisance to animals and people.
How are flies costly to an operation?
Flies are known to:
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Cool dry cows to boost income potential
06/06/13 - Features
ource: Purina Animal Nutrition
It’s fairly common practice to operate fans and sprinklers to keep the lactating herd cool. But an often overlooked group of cows are the dry cows.
According to National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) Dairy Study 74.3 percent of all operations
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Management tips for potato leafhoppers in alfalfa
06/06/13 - Features
Source: DuPont Pioneer
Potato leafhoppers (PLH) are one of the most common and destructive insects affecting alfalfa. While there is no reliable method to forecast damage, DuPont Pioneer forage specialists offer up scouting tips for this pest.
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Start your calves out right
06/05/13 - Features
Source: Purina Animal Nutrition
Each stage of a calf’s nutritional program is important to ensuring a healthy and profitable calf crop. A sound and well-managed feeding program is critical after birth to allow a good foundation for calves. In addition to water, colostrum and milk
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Reduce your risk when commingling calves
06/05/13 - Features
Source: DCHA
Dairy calf growers often raise calves from a variety of sources, including trusted dairy partners. This unique relationship can result in less direct control over the early lives of those calves. However, there are ways to reduce those risks and increase the
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Monitor water quality
06/05/13 - Features
Source: DCHA
Producers are often consumed with ensuring their dairy cows are consuming the appropriate rations. However, according to Dr. Jim Quigley, in the bustle focusing on rations, the most important nutrient can be forgotten – water!
Water serves to lubricate,
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Entire mycotoxin load monitored
06/05/13 - Features
2012’s harvest is likely to be remembered as one of the most challenging in recent history. While in some areas there was record rainfall, other parts were devastated by drought. This kind of deviation from normal harvest conditions, whether too wet or too dry, can lead to increased
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U.S. dairy’s sustainability commitment realizes benefits for dairy producers
06/04/13 - Features
By Tom Gallagher
Producers are among the original environmentalists, dedicated to stewardship and sustainability for many generations. This legacy is a big reason why producers continue to responsibly provide nutritious, wholesome and safe dairy products to feed the world.
Building
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Profitability through production: Pennsylvania strives to regain ‘milk per cow’ leadership
06/04/13 - Features
By Alan Zepp
Based on a 2012 survey of 1,100 Pennsylvania dairy producers, respondents plan to maximize homegrown feed production and milk price, lower cost of production and stabilize their milk checks in the next five years. The vast majority do not see increasing herd size as an
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