Magazine

IDFA’s efforts related to federal order updates have been ongoing for more than a year. We have engaged in an extensive process with several dozen meetings and multiple streams of work internally with IDFA members [Read More …]

Holland Holstein sHow 2023

Judges have been announced. On Friday November 10 and Saturday November 11, the 2023 Holland Holstein sHow will take place at WTC-Expo in Leeuwarden (The Netherlands). We are pleased to announce the 4 internationally renowned [Read More …]

Rep. DeWayne Burns asks Texas dairy community for support

The dairy farming community has enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with the people of Texas which has allowed dairy farmers to continue producing wholesome dairy products for our state and beyond. During this legislative session, I [Read More …]

Calf barn ventilation

Many calf housing options exist, but important system fundamentals need to be incorporated into the design related to ventilation, calf comfort, labor efficiency, cost effectiveness, and group versus individual housing strategies, for the system to [Read More …]

Grazing During the Summer Slump

As we approach the peak of summer with hot, dry weather, we need to adjust our grazing strategies to maintain pasture longevity. The summer slump is when perennial cool-season grasses slow in growth or essentially [Read More …]

Starbucks, Nestlé at Dairy’s Side on Sustainability Journey

When we talk about the dairy supply chain’s commitment to sustainability, it’s an all-hands-on-deck mentality. The journey, of course, starts at the farm where our nation’s nearly 30,000 dairy families are established environmental stewards, leaders [Read More …]

Effective Insect Control Made Easy With Starbar® Exhalt WDG™ Insect Growth Regulator

Discover effective insect control solutions from the makers of Starbar® products at Central Life Sciences, including Exhalt WDG™ Insect Growth Regulator, which helps reduce labeled insect populations and interrupt their life cycles. By scatter or [Read More …]

New Options for Reducing Pathogens in Recycled Manure

As dairies got larger and technology became available, dairy producers began developing methods to turn manure into bedding. It seemed like a great opportunity—the product is certainly readily available, and cows need good, quality bedding [Read More …]

Actions to Mitigate Drought-Related Risk in 2023

Drought throughout North America is threatening agribusiness stability. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, currently 16.05% of the United States and Puerto Rico is in drought, with the lower 48 states slightly higher at 19.2%. [Read More …]

Are You Living Your Best Life?

Sound like a silly question, especially in light of our current challenges with higher inflation, rising interest rates, and many hurdles you are facing in your business today? I don’t believe so. Despite these items [Read More …]

Milk Creates Zany Ziplines In Response To Gaming Community Request

Milk is Launching Gamer Requested Zany Ziplines in Fortnite at the 2023 VidCon Anaheim Milk (yes, real dairy milk), is excited to debut Zany Ziplines — a game concept the Fortnite community highly requested. The game [Read More …]

Understanding the Detrimental Effects of Heat Stress in Dairy Calves

Heat stress represents a significant threat in livestock agriculture, impacting animal health, productivity, and overall welfare. It is gauged by measuring the temperature humidity index (THI) which are influenced by factors such as solar radiation [Read More …]

Thoughts for Drought: Forage Inventorying

Taking an inventory of forage may be common for livestock producers, but becomes even more important when drought stress leads to decreased yields. Periods of drought are challenging to any producer, but they can be [Read More …]

The Business of Dairy Farming

Every morning, dairy farmer Corey Miller, a partner at Chaffee Farms, LLC, comes to the dairy in Barker, New York, and organizes the work that needs to be done for the day and checks on the [Read More …]

Elevating performance with the right source of organic selenium

Selenium, like the other trace minerals, is necessary to sustain life and is essential for basic physiological functions in dairy cows. While the daily requirement for trace minerals is small, their importance to livestock has [Read More …]

Checkoff cultivating science leaders of tomorrow

We know many consumers are disconnected to the true source of food and the farmers who work every day to assure a steady supply of affordable, safe, nutritious dairy. But it isn’t just the average [Read More …]

Set The Bar for Fly Control With DuraStrike® Fly Scatter Bait From Starbar

Learn more about fly control solutions from the Starbar team at Central Life Sciences, including effective products such as DuraStrike® Fly Scatter Bait. Proper rotation is essential in fighting against fly bait resistance — allowing [Read More …]

Three ways to minimize stress when moving calves to groups

Calves prefer routines. Any stress or disruption to normal activity, especially significant changes like a new environment and exposure to other animals, may negatively impact their well-being. One key stressor in a calf’s life is [Read More …]

What Is the Ideal Herd Demographic

Improving herd productive life raises average milk production, improves feed efficiency, increases beef cross opportunity, lowers heifer inventory, and helps reduce greenhouse gas. Many attractive positive outcomes. Accomplishing this goal requires converting “Platinum Heifers” to [Read More …]

The Producer Review Board had a Meeting

On May 25, ten members of the Producer Review Board (PRB) got together with California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) staff and interested members of the public to have an in-person meeting at the [Read More …]

What Choice Do We Have?

During a recent meeting with a business prospect, he shared his frustration with the rising costs of most inputs, especially the commodities he has been purchasing for his dairy operation. He was quite adamant about [Read More …]

Heat Stress Reminders: Warm Weather is Here

Heat stress begins with spring warm weather. Spring is the time to focus on cow comfort, feed and water intake to buffer some of the effects of heat stress. Pennsylvania summers typically have high temperatures [Read More …]

Dairies are Returning to Work After Floods

Dairy operators in Tulare and Kings counties say they are thankful to return to the normal rhythms of feeding, milking and calving after historic flooding in March burst levees and forced dairies to rapidly evacuate [Read More …]

Utilizing Pasture – Strategy to Lower Feed Costs

Incorporating grazing into your feeding management program can offer financial benefits. However it is important to ensure continued management of both animal and feed when doing so. Production perspective: There are 5 to 7 months [Read More …]

Preventing abomasal bloat in dairy calves

Abomasal bloat is a disease that occurs within the first few weeks after birth and with more frequency between five-10 days of life of calves. It is characterized by accumulation of gas in the fourth [Read More …]

Herbicide Options for Controlling a Failed Corn Crop

If you have a failed corn crop or volunteers from last season, here are some suggestions to kill the existing stand before replanting. With a spring like this, we are getting questions about poor corn [Read More …]

Examining milk molecules could open new doors for dairy

There are thousands of molecules in a glass of milk. Some of these molecules are well known to farmers and consumers alike, such as protein, Vitamin D, calcium and others that comprise milk’s unique package [Read More …]

Overcoming Challenges with Beef Cross Cattle

While the concept of beef cross cattle, also referred to as beef on dairy, is not entirely new in the cattle industry, it certainly is a segment of the fed cattle population that has received [Read More …]

10 Key Messages on How to Mitigate the Impact of Heat Stress in Dairy Cattle

Husbandry and housing management strategies should be a high priority during the months of potential heat stress. Facilities should be adequately equipped with fans, sprinklers/soakers and proper natural ventilation in order to aid cows in [Read More …]

Focus on Feed Hygiene for Resilient Cows