Magazine

A fantastic book by author Harvey Mackay entitled We Got Fired! – And It’s the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us was published back in 2004. While his book focused on celebrities like Baseball [Read More …]

More Than Mycotoxins: Bacteria, Yeast and Other Feed Contaminants Can Affect Animal Health, Producers’ Bottom Lines

Dairy and beef cows are only as healthy as the feed they ingest — so feed cleanliness and hygiene are imperative for maintaining animal health and a producer’s bottom line. While molds and mycotoxins are [Read More …]

Rising Feed Costs Impact Dry Cows and Heifers

With rising feed costs, ensure that proper nutrition is maintained for growing heifers. The feed costs for dry cows and heifers can influence the cash flow as much as the lactating cow. This is particularly [Read More …]

Is Inflation Hitting Dairy Prices?

The news is full of inflation concerns. This post will deal with inflation in the dairy industry, specifically fluid milk. This data used in this post is from the beginning of 2018 through May 2021. [Read More …]

Keeping an Eye on Stored Hay Temperatures

Take time to monitor hay temperatures in order to prevent a possible barn fire. As hay producers, our goal is to always put the best quality product into the bale as possible. But sometimes weather [Read More …]

California FarmLink Helps People of Color Become Successful Farmers

Farm Credit supports group as part of its commitment to diversity in agriculture Over the past seven years, former farmworker Aldo Gonzalez has expanded his farm business from five to 44 acres, helped by annual [Read More …]

California Air Resources Board (CARB) Seeking Public Comment on Draft Analysis of Progress Toward Achieving Dairy Methane Emissions Target

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is seeking public comment on a Draft Analysis of Progress toward Achieving the 2030 Dairy and Livestock Sector Methane Emissions Target. The draft Analysis is available on CARB’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutants [Read More …]

Dairy in the Conversation Leading to UN Food Systems Summit

In September, the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) will take place and it’s an event every dairy farmer should be aware of, if you aren’t already. The Summit’s goal is to “launch bold new [Read More …]

Solar Farms in Agricultural Areas: A New Challenge for Land Use Planning

(article updated 9/9/2021) Land use decisions is one of those topics that can seem rather insignificant at the micro-level, such as converting one acre of land to a housing lot. However, at the macro-level it [Read More …]

When Building a Barn or Building a Business, Plan for Success!

Take time to develop a plan for building your business. Building a new dairy barn, whether a freestall barn, transition cow barn, or calf facility, comes with some excitement, cost and return considerations, and time [Read More …]

Drought is Impacting Milk Production in Both the U.S. and Mexico

Very dry conditions in the Western U.S. and most of Mexico are getting more attention. The concern is that drought could reduce milk production in both countries, which would mean Mexico would be looking to [Read More …]

Planning Ahead for Disasters Can Help Dairy Farmers Recover Faster

Dairy farms run on a strict timetable and when there is a disruption to the delicate ecosystem, economic havoc can erupt. Being prepared for any type of interruption can ensure the dairy operation can recover [Read More …]

Are You a Prime Target for Creative Destruction?

Scary thought, isn’t it? Please allow me to put a more positive spin on this concept. It was introduced by Austrian-American economist Joseph Schumpeter who lived from 1883-1950. He considered entrepreneurs (Yes, that’s you, whether [Read More …]

Dairy Labor Management: The Hamburger Dilemma

Recently, my wife asked me to cook some hamburgers on the grill. However, she specified that she wanted them juicy… and not pink. Now, I have cooked thousands of hamburgers in my lifetime—but it seems [Read More …]

Eight Strategies to Reduce Dry Period Mastitis to Improve Reproductive Efficiency

Dairy cows are most susceptible to new intramammary infections (IMIs) during the dry period. IMIs acquired during the dry period can have a significant impact on milk production, milk quality, herd removal and reproductive performance post-calving. [Read More …]

Know the Herd’s Maximum Milk Cow Feed Cost

Balancing feed costs and milk prices. Production perspective: Feed prices are rising at an alarming rate. It is difficult to predict how long they will persist but 2021 is beginning to mimic 2012 when corn [Read More …]

Cull Rates: How is Your Farm Doing?

Involuntary or biological culling happens because of poor animal health or management, especially during the transition period. The cull rate is one number that may be used to assess how well the dairy is performing. [Read More …]

California Dairy Council Wraps Up a Very Different School Year

Dairy Month, we want to share an update on Mobile Dairy Classroom and provide resources that support the role of dairy foods in healthy eating patterns. With the pandemic continuing to impact how schools operate, Mobile [Read More …]

Hindsight Is 20/20 with Heifer Raising

Imagine how much better off you would be if you could know, with certainty, the outcomes of every decision before you made it. You would know who to bet on in the Super Bowl, which [Read More …]

Heat Stress and the Often-Forgotten Heifers

Shade structures can help reduce the effects of heat stress. Heat stress occurs when cows generate and absorb more heat than they can get rid of through respiration, sweating, and from wind or fans blowing [Read More …]

Work with Entrepreneurs Puts Dairy in Unexpected Places

There are many possibilities and great potential for dairy’s future. However, it’s going to require a different way of thinking. The world is moving at a faster pace than ever before and there seemingly are [Read More …]

Are You Using “Pareto’s Law?”

Are you taking full advantage of Pareto’s Law? Vilfredo Pareto was an Italian economist who lived from 1848 to 1923. Of course, he was initially known for his observation that 80% of the property in [Read More …]

Take Your Fly Control Efforts to the Next Level

Flies on a dairy are more than just a nuisance, they contribute to a loss in production, spread diseases and annoy both your herd and employees. Protecting your dairy against fly infestations can make for [Read More …]

Dairying in Ecuador with Robbie Watson

Last time we visited with Robbie Watson about his farm in Peru. This month, we conclude the interview by talking about Ecuador, and hearing Watson’s thoughts on the future of dairying in Ecuador, Peru and [Read More …]

Insights into the Calving Process of Cattle

One of the most stressful and consequential moments in life is when something is born. In the human species, it is an experience that is never forgotten… just ask a mother. Compared to humans, the [Read More …]

WSU researchers look to quantify dairy cow health and wellbeing