It was 20 years ago that BST officially entered the marketplace. Originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late 1993, its entry was delayed another 90 days when a moratorium was...
A meeting with your accountant can occur any time of the year. Generally, it takes place near year-end for tax planning purposes and after the first of the year for the completion of taxes
Antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals are among the most regulated products by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). And rightly so, as they do an incredible job of holding bacteria at bay while immune...
Lawsuits are underway against four Yakima, Wash., dairy families that, if successful, will set an environmental precedent that potentially threatens the existence of every farm - dairy or otherwise - in...
December 2013 Hoard's Dairyman Bull List. Click the image or here for the December 2013 Hoard's Dairyman Bull List. This summary appears on pages 809 through 812 of the December 2013 issue
Throughout the year, I keep track of the changing dairy scene and make changes to my nearby forecasts on a regular basis. Those changes are usually minor adjustments based on current events
The world has been the United States' dairy products export oyster in 2013. Droughts and other challenges experienced by others brought great opportunity to our doorstep, and U.S. companies responded with...
The needs of commercial dairy producers, milk utilization and consumer preferences play major roles in the color of our national herd. by Calvin Covington The author is a retired breed association executive...
Because it has been so widely quoted, we have become numb to what was once a sobering statistic: we will need to feed 9 billion people by 2050. For many, this is not a reality we can easily wrap our heads...
Getting a firm handle on farm financials will be critical to long-term business success. If your operation needs to get up to speed, now would be a good time as milk prices are favorable by historic standards...
Agriculture has made great strides in reducing nutrient movement from our farm fields even though the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relentlessly aims for tighter standards. From our vantage point,...
As consolidation continues, producers who remain in business will need to develop a plan to handle the mounting economic pressures. While processors continue to consolidate, retailing is concentrating...
Global demand for dairy products remains strong. As a result, international factors are playing a larger role in determining milk prices. But farm-level profits - or losses - are still a local matter
Asking questions helps you zero in on why your business has changed and to focus future efforts. The top 20 percent of herds saw gains in labor efficiency, milk sales and herd size. Change in the financial...
As farms have grown in size, so has the equipment used in crop production. Field equipment is heavier, with the potential to cause more soil compaction at depths that make it difficult (in some cases impossible)...
Many breeders believe that today's cows lack the strength needed to withstand the rigors of high production. In recognition of the need to emphasize a balance between high yield and cow fitness, a new...
Many university budgets across the country have come under duress in recent years. While nearly all academic programs have felt the pain, programs viewed as traditional science - particularly ones with...
There appears to be a "shift" coming that will put a strain on most dairy farm cash flows. In the past five years, lenders have been flush with money. With historically low interest rates, it has been...