Magazine

Back in October I authored an article for Dairy Business characterizing the serious dilemma faced by dairy producers and cooperatives in securing sufficient labor to meet the needs of the dairy industry. Now five months [Read More …]

Coaching Tip: Learning Required

The world around us – locally, regionally, nationally, globally – is changing more rapidly than ever before. This was true two years ago before the pandemic accelerated that change. It is said that anytime you are [Read More …]

Milk Production – Some States are Growing, and Some are Shrinking.

As covered in the prior post, milk production in 2021 has slowed down (Chart I). In early 2021 there was continued steady growth of milk production, but in the last half of 2021, production has leveled [Read More …]

Tripwire – What to do when the Bank says “Sell?”

To start, I’d recommend that you listen closely. They may be correct. However, many times I have found them to be off track in their assessment, or as I like to describe them, “Often [Read More …]

Digital Tools Can Increase Worker Engagement

Employee acquisition and retention is a big challenge on dairy farms. It takes a considerable investment to recruit and hire employees, and a larger investment when those employees decide to leave. A key part [Read More …]

Five Ways to Dry Off Cows More Comfortably

“We in the dairy industry have a social contract with our consumers to keep cows comfortable,” said Linda Tikofsky, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim. “Consumers want to be assured that dairy cows have a good life [Read More …]

Dairy Financial Performance: How Did 2020 Compare to Previous Years?

Take a look at the 2020 dairy financial summary in comparison to the previous four-year performance. Dairy financial performance over the past five years has been challenging. During this time, farms included in the Extension [Read More …]

Dairy calves are social animals

A new study in JDS Communications® explores young calves’ motivation to seek companionship Most dairy calves are housed individually in the first weeks and sometimes months of their lives, a practice that has come under [Read More …]

Understand the Risks of Waste Milk

On a dairy farm, where efficiency is critical to business success, waste not want not is a phrase that hits home with many dairy producers. That is especially true with the most precious commodity produced [Read More …]

Around the Texas Capitol: What happens during a non-legislative session year? Plenty.

The structure of Texas’ legislative process, with odd-numbered-year-only sessions, allows for a year of preparation in the interim during even-numbered years, such as 2022. State agencies work diligently to implement legislation passed by the previous [Read More …]

Winter is the Time for Planter Maintenance

December 30, 2021 DairyBusiness News Team DP 0

Here are some tips and videos on no-till planter design features, adjustment, and maintenance. Planter breakdowns are extremely costly at planting time and poor planter performance reduces crop yields. Planter maintenance is especially essential for [Read More …]

Joel Hastings: With Many Thanks!

This issue of DairyBusiness Digital Magazine marks the conclusion of my career as an active and regular content provider for DairyBusiness News. Joel Hastings For more than 53 years it’s been my pleasure and privilege [Read More …]

Sharing the Dairy Scoop with Kroger’s Dietitians

About 9 million customers walk through the doors of The Kroger Co.’s 2,742 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 35 states each day. Many of them have questions related to their food choices and they often turn to Kroger’s team of dietitians for answers and [Read More …]

Milk and mobile apps collide – how smart tech is optimizing milk pick-ups

The Traveling Salesman Problem. This classical mathematical equation solves how salespeople can travel between each city with the least miles traveled while only visiting the exact location once. An equation of efficiency. However, what [Read More …]

The Importance of a Fresh Risk Management Approach for Dairy Farms in 2022

A heightened focus on technology and food safety will continue to provide both opportunities and challenges for the dairy industry in 2022. A fresh risk management approach could provide the right security and resilience moving [Read More …]

Are You Drowning or Climbing Out?

During the last 23 years of my consulting work, there have been times when my life has seemed like a cross between two of my favorite movies, Catch Me If You Can and Up In [Read More …]

Maximize IVF Investment by Shortening Generation Intervals in Dairy Herds

As dairy farmers aim to accelerate the genetic progress of their herds, in vitro fertilization (IVF) leads the way in efficiency of quick genetic improvement, allowing producers to capitalize on their best genetics, and shorten [Read More …]

The Uniform Price

What is the “Uniform” price for producer milk? The Uniform Milk Price is the weighted average price of all producer milk used in all classes, sometimes referred to as the “Blend” Price. It is an [Read More …]

Calculating Forage Inventory

For all businesses, inventory is a crucial part of the day-to-day and year-to-year operations. Without product to sell — or worse yet, parts or ingredients to make saleable items — a company cannot survive. Livestock [Read More …]

Managing Increasing Crop Input Prices

Probably every cost in your 2022 crop budget will increase. Fertilizer, seed, fuel, chemical and land rent are all on the rise. Is there still an opportunity to make a profit in corn, soybeans and [Read More …]

How overstocking affects cow performance

A common saying in the dairy industry is, “When milk prices are high, I want to milk more cows and when milk prices are low, I need to milk more cows.” This often means [Read More …]

Dairy Sense: Water: Vital Resource and Nutrient

Water quality and quantity impacts drinking water for animals, and the water used in the milking system. Production perspective: Water is a precious resource that many people take for granted. Pennsylvania is fortunate to have [Read More …]

Book Review: For the Love of Beef: The Good, the Bad and the Future of America’s Favorite Meat

In the publicity release we received about this book, the title caught our attention right away… not the least because beef is this reviewer’s favorite meet as well. And the subtitle was attention getting as [Read More …]

Cows Powering Electric Cars with Next Generation Technology

Clean energy and air quality experts, government officials, and dairy industry leaders recently gathered to celebrate the launch of a next generation, climate-smart dairy technology. The digester at Bar 20 Dairy in Fresno County [Read More …]

What Drives the Financial Success of a Dairy?

Is looking at the past an indication of the future? Civilizations have advanced to make life easier. Industry and agriculture have led the way in advancements. We have moved from hand tools, ox – horse [Read More …]

Dairy, Animal Agriculture Unite Around Issues, Crisis Priorities

It’s not uncommon for members of the dairy checkoff’s issues and crisis team to receive a late-night text message asking, “have you seen this?” The sender usually is Hannah Thompson-Weeman from the Animal Agriculture Alliance [Read More …]

How Is Inflation Impacting the Cost of Production for Dairy Farmers?

I keep seeing/hearing references to inflation and how, or if, it will impact dairy prices. It feels like the prices for nearly everything are going up, so what would stop dairy prices from also rising? [Read More …]

Telling the Farm Story Virtually at North Harbor Dairy

December 3, 2021 DairyBusiness News Team DP 0

Even before the COVID pandemic limited travel, tours of dairy farms online were supported by dairy promotion groups to show consumers how modern dairy farms operate. But at North Harbor Dairy near Sackets Harbor, [Read More …]

Digitizing your Dairy Supply Chain

When it comes to Dairy Supply Chain software choosing the right partner can boost productivity at managing your suppliers, tracking sustainability, improving traceability, and increasing the bottom line. This decision is crucial. The wrong choice [Read More …]

Dairy Data – Are You Being Informed or Overwhelmed?