Magazine

Now, more than ever, it’s important to protect your investment in your heifer. We tend to put a lot of emphasis on genetic progress with our breeding programs but often fail to partner that with [Read More …]

Getting Ready for Winter Months

In many parts of the U.S., the temperatures are dropping and the days are getting shorter, which means it’s time to start planning for the winter months to come. Managing your dairy during cold months [Read More …]

You Want to Know My What?

This was the question I was asked when I met with Jerry for the first time. Our discussion was by phone, but I can imagine the look on his face when he asked me this. [Read More …]

Winter Ventilation for Calves

Take a look at calf housing to determine what calves need to stay healthy during cold weather months. The goal of a ventilation system is to control heat and moisture within a shelter and remove [Read More …]

Scours Protection Starts in the Dry Period

The dry period presents a key time frame to incorporate prevention points that not only guard cow health, but also the health of their offspring against the No. 1 cause of neonatal calf deaths. Scours [Read More …]

Component Levels are Rising. FAST!

Component levels in producer milk have been slowly but steadily increasing for years. Now, the growth in component levels is growing much faster. Technology to increase component levels is available and improving. Producers and nutritionists are [Read More …]

Knock Down External Parasites This Fall to Improve Milk Production

Not only do external parasites turn a shiny coat into a tattered one, they also can reduce the comfort, efficiency and overall performance of your dairy herd. “If you’ve ever had a case of poison [Read More …]

White House Announces PFAS Plan; EPA Launches Three-Year PFAS Strategic Roadmap

On October 18, the White House unveiled a comprehensive national strategy to address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) pollution that includes actions involving eight (8) different federal agencies. As part of the roll-out, the U.S. Environmental Protection [Read More …]

Four Functional Treats Compete for $250,000 in Real California Milk Excelerator Competition Finals

3rd Annual Innovation Competition Showcases Sweet Ideas in Functional Food Formulations Sweet treats with functional benefits took home the four finalist spots this week in the Real California Milk Excelerator product innovation competition created by the California [Read More …]

“More Water Now” Initiative Effort Underway in California

A final version of the Water Infrastructure Funding Act of 2022 is under review by the California Attorney General’s office. It is anticipated that this ballot initiative will be ready for signature collection around November [Read More …]

Staffing for the Life of Your Dairy

A son reflects on his father’s labor-torn dairying years; is inspired to change the way dairies are staffed today using automated animal management systems After milking cows for more than three decades, Tony Spaeth’s father has [Read More …]

Plan to Attend the Western Dairy Management Conference

This popular event is in-person Nov. 1 – 4 at the Peppermill in Reno, Nevada The program for the popular Western Dairy Management Conference is set for Nov. 1 – 4 at the Peppermill Resort, [Read More …]

National Dairy Council’s Legacy Carries on for Future Success

When farmers created National Dairy Council (NDC) in 1915, they did so to help assure school children understood the benefits of eating healthy. While much has changed in the school cafeteria this last century, milk [Read More …]

Exports Overtake Fluid Milk Sales: What’s the Impact?

Currently there are multiple factors that we are tracking that are affecting the U.S. dairy industry. In the U.S. dairy market, a hot topic of conversation over the last few years has been the decline [Read More …]

Are You Playing All Four Quarters?

I recently had an excellent discussion with one of my Clients about how the last 12 months had turned out. As many of you know, early 2020 presented an incredibly challenging time with the onset [Read More …]

The Agriculture Labor Dilemma In The Dairy Industry

The lack of sufficient labor for dairy farmers has been a significant problem for a very long time. Although the recent COVID pandemic has exacerbated the availability of securing an adequate farm workforce on dairy [Read More …]

Long Term Trends in Milk Pricing

This post will review the changes in producer milk prices since the introduction of the current Class and Component pricing system which was introduced in January 2000. After nearly 22 years, what way are producer [Read More …]

What is Cow Comfort?

Change management and mindset to design the environment for the cow, not the worker. Cow comfort has become a buzzword in the dairy industry, but often it’s not really defined or even understood. So what [Read More …]

Feeding dairy cattle in a drought

Quick facts You can feed and substitute many different feedstuffs as long as you meet the animal’s nutrient requirements. High fiber by-products such as beet pulp and soyhulls can substitute for a portion of the fiber [Read More …]

CA: Dairy and Almond Groups Partner on Healthy Soils Research

UC Davis evaluates use of compost pellets made from dairy manure and almond twigs. Building healthy soils has tremendous benefits. Increasing the amount of organic matter within the soil can improve water retention and protection, [Read More …]

CA: Governor Newsom signs climate action bills, outlines historic $15 billion package to tackle climate crisis

September 30, 2021 DairyBusiness News Team DP 0

$1.1 billion for Climate Smart Agriculture At the site of the KNP Complex in Sequoia National Park, Governor Gavin Newsom today highlighted the California Comeback Plan’s over $15 billion climate package – the largest such [Read More …]

DairyVoice Podcast: Special extended podcast featuring Alex Peterson who talks with Joel Hastings on his pasture-based, cross-bred herd – Turning the table on Joel at the end of this extended interview!

Alex Peterson and his family at Peterson Farms in Missouri march to the beat of their own drummer, with a pasture-based, cross-bred herd that works very well for them. Alex gets into the details of [Read More …]

How the Checkoff Is Making ‘Every Drop Count’

I have the good fortune of speaking with farmers from across the country each and every day. These discussions help me understand what is happening on the farm and key concerns of farmers from all [Read More …]

The Four Factors to Watch in the Market

There are four important drivers in the current dairy market outlook. Slowing U.S. milk production growth, Chinese import demand, government programs, and the ongoing pandemic. I’m going to start with the most bullish, which is [Read More …]

Don’t Take Your Milking Parlor for Granted: Why Parlor Audits are Extremely Important

The milking parlor is perhaps one of the most used areas on a dairy farm, but it can be taken for granted and overlooked. Yet the parlor is the “heart” of your operation. It’s the [Read More …]

What’s Up With This Measurement Acronym?

In previous articles I have often stated that if you measure something, you can understand it. If you understand it, you can control it, and of course, if you have the ability to control something, [Read More …]

Effects of Repeated OPU Procedures on Fertility in Cattle