Magazine

Lameness ranks only behind mastitis and infertility in importance of health and performance challenges dairy farms face. It robs dairies of about 800 pounds of milk per incidence and carries an average cost of more [Read More …]

Demand Uncertainty is Impacting Global Dairy Markets

Global dairy markets are impacted by ongoing factors on both sides of the supply and demand equation that spur volatility. Anything from changing weather patterns to political unrest can impact markets, which makes it even [Read More …]

Water Policy in California: Lots of Activity; Not Much Clarity

There is a lot going on in California water right now and I will mention a number of things in today’s update. So much of it is a work in progress, with some encouraging signs, [Read More …]

The Advantages of a Telescopic Agricultural Telehandler in Feed Mixing Operations

Beer Farms relies on Manitou ag telehandler as primary material handler and recipe builder at Ohio family farm. Family has been at the center of Beer Farms and Cattle Co. since it was founded in [Read More …]

Preparing and Storing Farm Equipment for Winter

Winter in Pennsylvania is notorious for extreme temperature changes and varying moisture levels. This article summarizes best practices from equipment manufacturers to keep your investments protected from harsh winter conditions. Each winter, cold, dry arctic [Read More …]

Texas Farm Bureau recognizes Burns for legislative efforts to protect agriculture

Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) recognized State Rep. DeWayne Burns of Cleburne for being a strong champion for Texas agriculture in the Texas Legislature. Burns received the S.M. True Agricultural Champion Award in a special presentation [Read More …]

Alltech Wisconsin announces dairy farm Most Valuable Employee Award winner

Carlos Galvan of Weltzien Farms in Arcadia, Wisconsin, is this year’s award recipient Alltech Wisconsin is pleased to present the 2023 Most Valuable Employee (MVE) Award to Carlos Galvan of Weltzien Farms in Arcadia, Wisconsin. This award [Read More …]

Strategies to include sorghum silage in lactating cows rations. Part 1

The continuing expansion of the milk processing capacity in the Southern High Plains region is increasing the number of dairy cows and their forage demand while water scarcity continues to be a concern. While corn [Read More …]

Checkoff Provides Dairy Scoop to Media Outlets

A reporter not long ago was in search of an expert to interview about wine and cheese pairings. The dairy checkoff has a guy. In fact, it’s Chad “The Cheese Guy” Galer. Chad is a [Read More …]

Decade of Pre-Competitive Collaboration

Serving as CEO of CDCB since September 2014, João Dürr reflects on the accomplishments of the last decade while emphasizing the future needs to advance genetic progress and serve producers worldwide. Read his complete comments [Read More …]

DMI’s O’Brien Highlights Science-Based, Partnership-Driven Results

Checkoff leader addressed nearly 800 farmers, others at joint annual meeting Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) CEO and President Barbara O’Brien outlined a series of checkoff-led successes, including more science-based and partnership-driven results, to 780 dairy [Read More …]

DeLaval to Host VMS™ Batch Milking Webinar Series

In early 2024, DeLaval plans to host a webinar series to introduce VMS™ Batch Milking to the North American dairy industry. These sessions will educate and inform producers, consultants, academics, and other industry personnel on [Read More …]

The Financial Impact of More Components per Cow

Cheese now utilizes over 50% of the U.S. milk produced. Cheese and other dairy items need only components, not milk volume. Fluid milk continues to decrease in consumption. Butterfat is at record high prices, and [Read More …]

Why Does It Take So Much Time?

Often, Clients will ask “Why does this improvement process take so much time?” I often respond with a thought from my business coach Dan Sullivan of The Strategic Coach organization who said, “Reaching your goals [Read More …]

Everything You Need to Know About Canola Meal

A literature review published in the journal “Advances in Dairy Research” consolidates all the research conducted on feeding canola meal to dairy cattle that has been published since 2000. The manuscript entitled “Canola Meal as [Read More …]

The Haplotype Call for Early Onset Muscle Weakness Syndrome

Introduction of HMW The December 5, 2023, dairy cattle genetic evaluations will contain a new haplotype call for Early Onset Muscle Weakness Syndrome. Abbreviated HMW, U.S. genetic evaluations will include the reporting of noncarrier (0), [Read More …]

Where are the Most Productive Cows?

In the last post, the long term economic impact of increasing components was reviewed. One of the reasons components increased was by increasing milk production. Over the last 23 years milk production per cow increased by [Read More …]

The Do’s and Don’ts of Winter Manure Spreading

If winter manure spreading is absolutely unavoidable, follow these requirements to do it legally. Spreading manure in the winter is discouraged because it is a high-risk time period for nutrient losses and contamination of surface [Read More …]

A Successful 2023 Southwest Dairy Day

1 Graduate Research Assistant 2 Extension Dairy Specialist Department of Animal Sciences, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service The Texas A&M University System The 2023 Southwest Dairy Day hosted in Bovina Texas highlighted anaerobic digesters, water [Read More …]

How Data Insights Can Improve Heifer Reproduction Efficiency

After a heifer calf hits the ground, what are the chances she will survive calfhood, reach the breeding pen, become pregnant and deliver a healthy calf herself? Many variables affect a heifer’s journey from birth [Read More …]

Experts Examine, Validate Checkoff’s Environmental Research Path

External review and feedback are critical parts of the scientific process. There are many benefits to be gained by having experts poke and prod at research, providing support for what’s going “right” as well as [Read More …]

Training Your Feed Team: The Four Pillars to Feeder Success

In the world of dairy farming, the delicate balance of a cow’s routine can make or break her health and performance. As creatures of habit, cows rely on consistency, especially when it comes to their [Read More …]

Foreign Investment in U.S. Ag Land – The Latest Numbers

Foreign investment in U.S. agricultural land is a hot topic, largely spurred by media reports raising concerns about bad actors from adversarial nations purchasing land for potentially hostile purposes. Several questions arise when considering this [Read More …]

Where are Milk Prices Going?

Producer milk prices are based on the wholesale price of four dairy commodities: butter, cheese, nonfat dry milk (NDM), and dry whey. The Agricultural Marketing Service does a weekly survey of these wholesale commodities. At [Read More …]

Do You Know the Rules of the Game?

I understand that these are tough times in our economy currently. This is characterized by high inflation, high interest rates, ridiculous costs of repairs and, in fact, almost all of your inputs. People are [Read More …]

Fall Burndown of Weeds and Declining Forage Stands

Fall is a great time to control winter annuals and perennials weeds as well as declining sod stands. In the fall, foliar-applied herbicides can be effective if the plants are green and appear healthy and [Read More …]

Comparing New York dairy farm characteristics, costs, and performance across four quartiles of profitability in 2022

In 2022, the milk price paid to farms reached a 30-year high, according to data from New York dairy farms participating in the Dairy Farm Business Summary and Analysis Program (DFBS).1 These data also show [Read More …]

Dairy Heifer Reproductive Management. Part 1:Estrus Synchronization Protocols

Each individual dairy farm is an intricate and complex business, with many important operational aspects such as reproduction. When looking at the input costs of running a conventional dairy farm, around 50% is spent to [Read More …]

Streptococcus spp. in Dairy Foods? Is it a New Problem?

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus is not a new pathogen, but it does pose a risk to humans. A recent article (Bosica et al., 2023) described a foodborne illness outbreak due to Streptococcus in unpasteurized milk. The title [Read More …]

Timed AI Protocols: Presynch Ovsynch