Magazine

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

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?

Dairy farmers, especially large producers, recognize that data-driven farming is the future. However, data has the potential to either inform or overwhelm farm managers with more information making it harder, not easier to take action  [Read More …]

Are You Preparing for What’s Next?

Are you actually preparing for what’s next? I’m not talking about post Afghanistan, after our summer temperatures abate, or after Apple stock goes over $200/share. I’m talking about your business. Business Coach Brendon Burchard stated [Read More …]

Update on Commodities Used to Price Producer Milk

Producer milk prices for all four Classes of milk are based on the commodity prices of cheese, butter, dry whey, and nonfat dry milk. Class III milk (the largest use of milk) is priced based [Read More …]

Changes to CDCB Evaluation System – December 2021

CDCB has announced the changes being implemented for the triannual evaluations on December 7 Feed intake variance adjustments and parameters Genetic evaluations for Residual Feed Intake (RFI) were improved using variance adjustments and a higher [Read More …]

How Can You Save the Supply Chain This Holiday Season?

In recent months, we’ve been sharing stories about crowded West Coast ports. These stories could leave the impression that port traffic is stopped dead. That is, one might think the ports are so crowded that nothing is [Read More …]

Family Farm Dairies Hope “Build Back Better” Helps Soon

America needs a new food system, free of the market predators that have forced producers and workers into lives of perpetual fear and bankruptcy. As of September 29th, 2021, one-hundred and seventy-eight of the best [Read More …]

Stonyfield and Cabot Join Farm Powered Strategic Alliance

Alliance members commit to food waste reduction, repurposing and decarbonization Stonyfield Organic and Cabot Creamery Cooperative are joining forces alongside the Farm Powered Strategic Alliance (FPSA) and Dairy Farmers of America to place dairy as [Read More …]

CDFA Forms a Manure Recycling and Innovative Products Task Force

All California dairy farms operate with permits issued by water quality regulators. One of the major issues those permits are designed to manage is making sure that manure produced on the dairy is handled in [Read More …]

California Dairy Sustainability Summit Returns in 2022 for Virtual Event