Month: May 2018

The Six Pillars of Successful Calf Raising

Starting calves off on the right hoof can set the stage for a lifetime of health and productivity. Diseases such as bovine respiratory disease (BRD) greatly reduces heifer-raising success. Calves affected by BRD don’t grow [Read More …]

Calf Feeding Automation Makes These Brothers Better

It was time. If fourth-generation farmers Kevin and Steven Erf were going to keep their Huron County farm strong, they knew they needed to make an upgrade. Two years ago, the Erf brothers went from [Read More …]

Feeding Water to Calves

Water as a nutrient comes in more than one form. But, where does water go inside the calf? Profitable rates of rumen development depend on water. Tips for promoting water intake. Water as a nutrient [Read More …]

Dry cow and calving management: DeLaval Hosts Second Calf College Webinar

The latest free webinar in the DeLaval Calf College series, led by Dr. Robert James, DVM, featured dry cow and calving management. Dr. James, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech University, stressed the importance of caring [Read More …]

Dairy Campaign is Undeniably Different

In June, we as an industry will celebrate National Dairy Month … and the kickoff of year two of the Undeniably Dairy campaign. Developed by dairy farmers and the broader dairy community through the Innovation [Read More …]

Consider the Margin Protection Program – Deadline June 5

Largely considered a failure by dairy farmers, changes to the Dairy Margin Protection Program (MPP) included in the 2018 Bipartisan Budget Act earlier this year may be helpful for some farmers. Dairy farmers should re-evaluate [Read More …]

Six Factors To Drive Dairy Profitability

Zoetis and Compeer Financial’s analysis of 11 years of herd data from 489 year-end financial and production record summaries identified six key drivers of profitability on dairies based on net farm income, or NFI (NFI [Read More …]

The “Other” Enterprise on Dairies

If forage needs for the herd are being met, crop sales may offer an additional revenue stream for dairy farms. Production perspective: The current situation of milk prices not meeting the breakeven cost of production [Read More …]

15th annual Ride to Farm June 2

Ride to Farm welcomes cyclists, pledges for UW beginning farmer school 2017 Ride to Farm participants. (Photo submitted by Dick Cates) Cyclists will ride through the rolling hills of Dane and Green Counties on [Read More …]

Consumers Increasingly Answering ‘no” to the Dairy Industry’s Question, “Got Milk?”

Conventional fluid milk sales have fallen since the 1970s and the industry is more price sensitive and competitive than ever. Today’s consumers eat less cereal and are shifting towards plant-based milk alternatives made from soybeans [Read More …]

Notes from California

Cal Poly Classic Sale – June 2nd Join us on the beautiful Central Coast in San Luis Obispo, California for the Cal Poly Classic Sale on June 2nd, 11 am at the Cal Poly Dairy. [Read More …]

New Product: Harvest Tec Precision Moisture Sensor for Round Balers

Harvest Tec is once again rolling out new technology for making quality hay. The latest product being introduced is the H2O Precision Moisture Sensor, specifically designed for use on variable and fixed chamber round balers. [Read More …]

New Product: John Deere Announces New Chisel Plow and Nutrient Applicator

John Deere announced the release of a new chisel plow and nutrient applicator to replace the current 2410 models. Three big improvements make the new 2430 chisel plow and the 2430C nutrient applicator higher performing. [Read More …]

New Product: Fiscalini Family Dairy Farm Partners with Ceres Imaging to Save Water and Thousands of Dollars

Case Study Reveals How Aerial Spectral Imaging Can Help Dairy Farmers Save Time and Money, Farm More Sustainably and Improve Crop Quality Ceres Imaging, which provides science-backed aerial images to growers, has released a case [Read More …]

New Product: Ascus Pioneers Endomicrobial Ecology—An Emerging Science Harnessing the Natural Diversity of an Animal’s Microbiome

Ascus is pioneering Endomicrobial Ecology, an emerging science harnessing the natural diversity within an animal’s microbiome to improve animal health and performance. Integrating recent advancements in DNA and RNA sequencing methods with breakthrough methods of [Read More …]

Behind-the-Scenes Heroes of Indianapolis 500 Saluted with Milk Bottle Deliveries

Commemorative Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil milk bottles have been delivered to various celebrities, VIPs and civic officials this spring as 102nd Running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” approached. Now that the Month of [Read More …]

Lee Mielke’s Market Report May 18

Lee Mielke is a veteran dairy journalist and broadcaster, currently carried in a dozen Ag newspapers nationally. This column is prepared especially for the readers of DairyBusiness. Based in Lynden, Wash., he can be reached [Read More …]

California: Organic? market? update

There is a lot going on with organic milk in California and despite the high interest for information, there is not a lot of data on organic producer pay prices. Still, USDA’s Dairy Market News provided some [Read More …]

Inaugural Dairy Experience Forum to Explore Critical Connection to Today’s Consumers

Forum to provide participants with valuable tools and resources to help ensure a successful future for the dairy industry The expectations of today’s consumers are always evolving. They want to know more about where their food [Read More …]

AFIA’s Board of Directors Welcomes New Leadership, Meets with Congressional Officials on Priority Issues

The American Feed Industry Association’s Board of Directors met May 15-16 for its annual spring meeting in the nation’s capital, where they elected a new chair and several Board and Executive Committee members, discussed priority [Read More …]

This Week in Dairy: Interview With Financial Consultant John Ellsworth

With dairy producers under seemingly endless financial pressure, we talk this week with Financial Consultant John Ellsworth who shares some management strategies aimed at improving margins.

A quality Farm Bill is worth the wait

Let’s ask our members of Congress to write a good Farm Bill, not just a fast one Kara O’Connor is the Government Relations Director for Wisconsin Farmers Union, an education and advocacy organization for family [Read More …]

Dairy Farms, Businesses Recognized For Sustainable Farm-to-Table Practices

Winners of seventh annual U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards announced The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, established under the leadership of dairy farmers, announced its seventh annual U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award winners during a May 16 [Read More …]

Lallemand Animal Nutrition offers scholarships for fourth year

$13,500 in Forward scholarships to be awarded in 2018, applications due Aug. 3 For the fourth consecutive year, Lallemand Animal Nutrition will offer Lallemand Forward Scholarships for students pursuing degrees in agriculture. The scholarship program [Read More …]

Grant awarded to develop a multiplex rapid test for mastitis in cattle

Abingdon Health (“Abingdon”) is pleased to announce it has been awarded a grant by Innovate UK to develop an on-farm multiplex rapid test for mastitis in cattle. Innovate UK will be offering a grant for [Read More …]

Nutrition Facts Label Changes