Overcrowding sometimes seems to make economic sense, but at a certain level it hurts your cows and your bottom line. Rumination, reproduction and milk quality may all suffer in an overcrowded pen. Think...
As a commodity price rally rolls over and a trend or cycle price high is identified, attention shifts to evaluating how low a price may fall. A number of sophisticated technical price analysis tools are...
How long do you wait before you start A.I. breeding your cows after calving? That is the very definition of voluntary waiting period (VWP). Setting the duration of your VWP should take into consideration...
In May, our genetic industry leaders - A.I., breed associations, and milk testing organizations - publicly shared the first of two draft documents that are to guide U.S. dairy genetic evaluations next...
After over two years of discussion, industry leaders have begun to publicly share draft documents which could one day guide U.S. genetic evaluations. The first document, known as the Cooperative Agreement,...
Parmesan. Provolone. Feta. These words are as common as terms like tenderloin, peanut butter, and applesauce. However, if the European Union's trade negotiation team gets its way, these before-mentioned...
Fatal design flaws can be found in many nonengineered buildings. Check with your structural engineer before proceeding with your next project. Every year, various pockets of the country experience a rash...
After over two years of discussion, industry leaders will publicly share draft documents which could one day guide U.S. genetic evaluations. The first document, known as the Cooperative Agreement, details...
Subsurface drainage often is called "tile drainage," but as practiced today, that's a misnomer since very few drainage installations in farm fields still are done with clay tiles. Modern drainage systems...
by Scott Brown The author is a research assistant professor in the department of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Missouri. The elimination of the Western federal milk order sheds...
How this year's contest classes were placed BROWN SWISS - C A B D C A B D is my placing for this class of Brown Swiss cows. The class sorted itself into two pairs. The stylish C places over the dark A...
Genomic evaluations were officially released for the first time in January of 2009. The third anniversary gives us a good opportunity to review the accuracy of those initial predictions. There were more...
Nature always has a way to restore balance. In the chase to capture the highest possible returns, countless crop farmers turned a blind eye to Mother Nature and planted continual rotations of corn, soybeans,...
Milk production is beginning to outpace demand even though domestic and international consumption remains strong. As this takes place, milk prices could soften. For good or bad, basic economics remain...
The group includes: a two-time grand champion, a bred-and-owned champion, and a national butterfat record holder. These cows not only look good . . . 19 of the 20 cows were bred by the five herd owners...
USDA's pilot insurance project can provide insights into producer's demand for different levels of margin protection and the price they are willing to pay
Those who support the legalized sales of raw milk do so with a zeal and passion that is rarely seen in our industry. Despite proponents' strong personal beliefs, science is not on their side. A study recently...
Most consumers have a positive perception of dairy farmers thanks to our track record of concern for our farms, our land, and our animals. With a proactive approach, we can ensure that credibility remains...
For back-to-back years, U.S. milk output rose by a remarkably uniform 1.8 percent. However, unlike 2010 when higher production gains fell solely on improved milk per cow, the nation's dairy herd expanded...