Magazine

Growing consumer demand for protein poses a crucial question for dairy producers: How can they meet that demand without adding costly new production capacity? For a growing number, the answer is to pursue “hidden” yield [Read More …]

Mid-Season Crop Tissue Testing

Tissue testing corn and soybeans at the transition to reproductive growth stages can provide a valuable snapshot of nutrient sufficiency levels. Why Take Tissue Samples? Tissue testing is a valuable diagnostic tool that can aid [Read More …]

Factors Influencing Fiber Digestibility in Sorghum Silage.

Water scarcity is a major limitation for forage production in the Southern High Plains, making sorghum a forage alternative to corn silage. However, concerns remain about sorghum silage fiber digestibility, which is critical for enhancing [Read More …]

Alternative Forages for Spring and Summer Planting

There are many reasons to need an alternative forage: the ever-changing environment of forage management, herbicide and fertilizer prices, unpredictable weather, winter-killed or damaged cereal crops, and so on. If you fall behind during the [Read More …]

Magazine

Soccer Fans Will See How ‘Dairy Does More’

Soccer is often called “The World’s Game” and good reason. There are an estimated 4 billion soccer fans globally and hundreds of millions of active players across more than 200 countries. No sporting event captures [Read More …]

How Do You Keep Up With Herd Data When There’s No Time to Slow Down?

Today’s dairy herd managers live and work in a fast-paced, demanding environment, rarely pausing for breaks, much less dedicating time at the office computer to review the latest Test Day results or confirm the list [Read More …]

More than 25,000 retailers in 20 states will be stocked with Prairie Farms or Hiland single-serve milk bottles

Celebrating five winners of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Indianapolis Motor Speedway, American Dairy Association Indiana and the Prairie Farms Family of Companies once again are collaborating to bring Indianapolis 500-branded single-serve milk bottles and [Read More …]

When Cow Level Oversight Slips, So Do Outcomes

It’s easy to spot herd-level trends when you’re tracking daily numbers. But what about the cow that’s quietly underperforming without making a ripple in the averages? Missed insights at the individual level can snowball [Read More …]

Too Much Milk and Too Many Cows

The milk cow population in the U.S. has grown significantly in 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 (Chart I). During this time the milk cow population has grown by 3%. As covered in prior [Read More …]

John Ellsworth: Are You Being Reasonable?

During my career, I have often been described as “unreasonable” by some Bosses, numerous Bankers, and some of the so called “Industry Experts.” While they might not agree with my approach, it has really served [Read More …]

Earlier BRD Intervention Leads to Better Outcomes for Beef-on-Dairy Cattle

Timely treatment supports lung health and long-term performance. As beef-on-dairy cattle become a larger part of the U.S. supply chain, early health decisions carry long-term performance consequences — especially when it comes to bovine respiratory [Read More …]

When and How to Safely Involve Children in Farm Tasks?

Practical information that farm parents, or any caregiver, can use to decide when children can be on the farm worksite, the type of tasks that can be assigned to the children, and the [Read More …]

There’s No “I” in Team or in Dart

“I love it when a plan comes together.” This famous quote delivered by the leader of the fictional action stars in “The A-Team” celebrates when all the pieces of a puzzle fit together in perfect [Read More …]

Natural trans fats in dairy do not raise heart disease risk

Trans fats found naturally in dairy foods such as milk, butter and cheese do not increase the risk of heart disease or type 2 diabetes, a new study has found. Researchers analysed evidence from 22 studies involving thousands of people across Europe, [Read More …]

The Hidden Costs of Employee Turnover on a Dairy

Finding and keeping quality employees has become one of the greatest challenges today’s dairy operations face. As dairies continue to grow and adopt more advanced technologies, employees are no longer simply an added labor source, [Read More …]

Magazine

Why Global Dairy Conversations Matter at Home

Global conversations about dairy foods and health have relevance beyond borders. The science and insights help inform perspectives and dietary guidance as well as consumer education and demand here at home. This is why the [Read More …]

Trusting Herd Decisions Through Standarized Data With Dart

Dairy herd management requires decisions to be made every day: breeding choices, culling strategies, and protocol enrollment all depend on reliable data. Producers don’t have time to wonder if the latest input makes sense, remember [Read More …]

Bovine Respiratory Disease: The Importance of Early Detection

One of the most common and costly health problems dairy producers face is Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD), often referred to as pneumonia or “shipping fever,” an acute, stress-related form that can develop after transport. BRD [Read More …]

How a New Repro Approach May Give Dairies an Economic Edge

Research shows an $87 per head average annual profit advantage from targeted reproduction management There may be money on the table for dairy producers using a reproductive approach that combines monitoring technology and synchronization, according [Read More …]

Will You Thrive?

Currently, most of agriculture is in a challenging situation, with interest rates just starting to be reduced, costs that are out of sight due to inflation since 2021, and regulations on labor & other business [Read More …]

What DHI Milk Data Makes Possible

How does the standard DHI milk sample provide valuable research data? DHI milk analysis not only provides information for genetic evaluations and valuable real-time information for the producer to make decisions on-farm, but it also [Read More …]

Update on Fluid Milk Consumption

Prior posts to this blog have followed fluid milk sales. Chart I lists total U.S. milk sales. The decline through 2023 has slowed and leveled out in 2024. Unfortunately, the decline in sales has returned. [Read More …]

Current Insurance Expectations for Dairy Producers

As dairy producers head into peak production months, many are focused on milk price, feed costs and labor availability. Running parallel to these pressures is a growing reality: how your operation responds to them directly [Read More …]

What’s Going on with New World Screwworm? CDQAP Quality Assurance Update

Livestock producers remain understandably concerned about reports that the New World Screwworm (NWS) continues to creep towards the U.S. – Mexico border. Recent briefings by USDA, CDFA, and a webinar hosted by the NMPF, however, [Read More …]

Balancing Corn Protein in Dairy Rations

Corn remains the backbone of dairy rations across North America, supplying both highly digestible energy and a substantial share of total dietary protein. Its versatility, yield and cost‑effectiveness ensure that corn grain, corn silage and [Read More …]

Securing Texas Dairies: Protecting Herd Health and Operations from Cyber Threats

Introduction The Texas dairy industry is rapidly evolving. With the integration of “Dairy 4.0” technologies, such as automated milking systems (AMS), wearable sensors, and internet of things devices, production has been optimized like never [Read More …]

The Do’s and Don’ts of Drone Trespass

The increasing frequency of reports of drones loitering over livestock facilities has producers understandably concerned. Drones are used by criminals to scout rural property for equipment theft and by animal liberation activists to gather video for [Read More …]

NMPF Farmer Focus: Paloma Dairy in Gila Bend, AZ

Four brothers – along with their father’s guidance – have taken dairy farming to the next level, promoting sustainable, cost-efficient farming in a place where it’s necessary, using everything from effective water management to Artificial [Read More …]

Grazing Management to Avoid Soil Compaction