Magazine

The decision of whether a pasture or hay field should be destroyed and renovated or simply restored depends on management goals and the current condition of the area. Early fall and spring are the best [Read More …]

Climate scientists agree… Reducing methane in the short term is the most critical path

This year, the state’s dairy farms will achieve an annual reduction of 5 million metric tons of methane (5 MMTCO2e/year). This has been accomplished through on-farm projects to improve manure management and continuous gains in milk [Read More …]

Economic and nutrient management conditions for adopting co-digestion of dairy manure and food waste

Adoption of anaerobic digestion (AD) of dairy manure has grown in New York state and across the U.S. in recent years, driven primarily by strong market value for use of biogas as transportation fuel under [Read More …]

Why male embryos grow faster: Study reveals genetic clues

Cornell researchers have uncovered the genetic triggers that cause male and female bovine embryos to develop differently, as early as seven to eight days after fertilization. The breakthrough in basic science has implications for human [Read More …]

Harness the Full Potential of Your BRD Vaccine with the Right Adjuvant

A trusted adjuvant can make all the difference in capturing a strong immune response in young calves. Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is one of the greatest threats to young calves, and gaining protection through vaccines [Read More …]

Why Test Forage Quality?

Forage testing is an inexpensive way to be sure animals are being fed properly. Are you testing your forage quality? For nearly four decades, scientists have been refining their ability to test forage quality. This [Read More …]

Why I Invited Social Media Influencers to My Dairy

If you want to reach people these days, you’d better show up on their social media feed. As a Minnesota dairy farmer, I’ve always believed in the power of showing – not just telling – [Read More …]

Metabolic Resilience in Transition Dairy Cows: A Key Factor on Health and Productivity

Abstract The transition period in dairy cows is characterized by significant metabolic demand changes that challenge the cow’s ability to maintain homeostasis. Metabolic resilience, the capacity to restore metabolic balance, is critical for navigating this [Read More …]

HerdHQ Case Study: How a High-Producing Herd Used HerdHQ to Cut Antibiotic Use by 78%

Editor’s Note: This case study is built from real DRMS testing data collected over several months and reflects actual herd-level outcomes. While the farm is not identified, the example reflects a real situation and is intended [Read More …]

Why is Milk De-pooled in the Federal Milk Marketing Orders?

The Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs) exist to create orderly milk markets, provide fair prices for dairy farmers, and ensure a steady supply of quality milk for consumers at reasonable prices. The USDA has recently implemented significant [Read More …]

What Is the Key to Success?

During a recent trip to Florida to participate as a judge in the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge contest, my wife and I had a unique experience. On the way to Florida, we stayed in [Read More …]

Are Cheese Exports Really Growing? How about Imports?

This post follows the trends of growth in cheese exports and imports based on the U.S. Trade and Tariffs database. The prior post covered imports of butter only. There are very minimal exports of butter due to [Read More …]

Late season forage considerations for 2025

The challenges of the 2025 growing season continue with questions about adequate quantity and quality of forages to meet the needs of dairy herds in the coming year. As we look for a strong finish [Read More …]

Great management pays better than ever

“Doc, guess what I got for the bull calf I sold on Monday?” “I couldn’t believe it when I opened the check for that cow we couldn’t get bred!” “I remember just a few years [Read More …]

Late Summer Forage Seeding for Hay and Pastures

When done correctly, late summer forage seedings give producers the highest chance of establishment success. This guide will help ensure it is done properly. Late summer seeding of forages is generally the most successful in [Read More …]

Mitigating a perilous flow: CAES researchers explore ways to abate PFAS in water and soil

In April 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the nation’s first drinking water standard for “forever chemicals,” a group of persistent, human-made chemicals that can pose a health risk to people at even the [Read More …]

Crops Feed Livestock, Power Exports, Fuel the Economy

Feed, Fuel or Exports? How Corn and Soybeans Are Used Corn and soybeans may not often appear directly on your dinner plate, but they’re behind much of what does. From feeding the livestock that produce [Read More …]

How Dairy Checkoff is Winning in Today’s Retail World

If the past few years have taught us anything about retail, it’s that change is the only constant. Grocery has evolved from a bricks-and-mortar-first experience into a fast-moving, multi-channel ecosystem, with e-commerce, retail media networks [Read More …]

Butterfat Prices are Dropping. Is it a Trend or a Blip?

In the last four quarters, the price of butterfat has consistently dropped each quarter from $3.59 to $3.02, to $2.80, to $2.68 per pound (Chart I). Is this a sign of a declining market or [Read More …]

A Young Professional Who Realized How Fulfilling Dairy Farming Careers Can Be

Rylee Fuller grew up raising dairy-beef steers and participating in FFA, but she didn’t have much experience in the dairy industry. During her junior year of high school, her path led her to Laurel Grove [Read More …]

2025 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook shares global feed production survey data

Data collected from 14th annual global feed survey estimates world feed production increased in 2024 by 1.2% to 1.396 billion metric tons Alltech, a global leader in animal nutrition and biotechnology, has released its 2025 Agri-Food Outlook, [Read More …]

Heat Stress in Dairy Calves: Why It Matters

Heat stress is a significant threat in livestock agriculture, impacting animal health, productivity and overall welfare. It is commonly assessed using the temperature humidity index (THI), which is primarily determined by ambient temperature and relative [Read More …]

What Producers and Veterinarians Need to Know about New World Screwworm (NWS)

Reported on July 9th 2025, the latest case of New World Screwworm (NWS) identified in Mexico was in Ixhuatlan de Madero, Veracruz. Some 370 miles from the United States border, this most recent case resulted [Read More …]

What Ever Happened to Cost Control?

Peter Drucker once stated, “In cost control, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This has never been more true than it is today. Since the joyous period of Covid and the [Read More …]

In-Utero Heat Stress: Dry Period Heat Stress Effects on the Calf

Avoid negative effects of in-utero heat stress on the calf by cooling the dry cow. Many studies within the last ten years have shown that heat stress during the dry period of the dam negatively [Read More …]

Dairy farm modeling tool boosts sustainability, decision-making

A new free modeling tool is enabling researchers, farmers and food processors to assess how changes in the ways a dairy farm is managed would influence its environmental impact, energy use and economics. The Ruminant Farm [Read More …]

How Long Should the Dry Period Be?

Historically, many farmers have aimed to have a 60-day dry period. New research has shown that it may be feasible to shorten this time period. It is well known that a dry period is necessary [Read More …]

Research advances precision dairy care with AI-powered tools

Paudyal drives innovation to support dairy farmers with data-driven tools to boost efficiency As the dairy industry increasingly adopts automation with the use of sensors and robotics, researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife are helping producers harness [Read More …]

New LakeEffect winter barley offers flurry of benefits for NYS

LakeEffect, the first winter malting barley released by the Cornell Small Grains Breeding Program, is set to take the New York craft beverage industry by storm. The new variety produces high yields, is disease resistant and [Read More …]

Texas A&M AgriLife experts draw on past success to tackle screwworm