All dairy farms can be financially viable. However, larger dairy farms tend to be the most profitable while smaller farms also carve out a profit. Some dairies between 100 to 700 cows tend to ha
We transport milk over to our calf area using 5-gallon buckets with lids. I was annoyed by how quickly our already hard-to-see premarked milk amount lines (using “longer lasting” ear tag pen
In the testing phase, the Stuffed Garlic Knot Pizza took seven minutes to create. With the work of in-house and partner chefs, Pizza Hut was able to get prep time down to less than three minutes from
One of the most perplexing questions regarding the sustainability debate centers on “What should we eat?” While a host of advocates champion one diet or one farming method over others, a comprehen
Forage systems match modern cows and farms Alfalfa cutting schedules, corn silage's growing role in diets, and storage demands due to larger herds highlight changes to forage practices in the past 40 years
We had to make a better pizza Dairy Management Inc., via the dairy-farmer checkoff, provided the shot in the arm that not only turned around Domino's, but the entire pizza category
This trifecta led to better milkout. By monitoring these big three - two minute milk flow, time in low flow, and unit on time - better milkout can be achieved while minimizing
Handy Hint: September 25, 2016 Wash bottles with a push of a button I was searching for a more efficient way to wash and dry calf milk bottles. Two years ago, I bought a dishwasher through Craigslist for...
If you build it, they will come Wisconsin prepares to focus on agriculture education each and every day with a $13 million facility. If you build it, they will come."
Our farm created this calf pen with a roof that can be lifted up and down. My dad, Fred Ritsema, and employees from his 3,000-cow dairy welded the pen. The roof is lifted by a hand winch and strong cable,...
Serving up the very first meal What matters more: The amount of colostrum fed or the method in which it is delivered? If quality colostrum is fed in large quantities, both bottle and esophageal tube delivery...
In 2004, McDonald's revolutionized how milk was offered in Quick Service Restaurant chains. These days, 80 percent of items on the menu at the world's largest restaurant chain include dairy. It began...
I was restoring a John Deere 4250 tractor, and the original tractor seat had tears in the fabric and the armrests didn't work properly. Rather than replace it with a new identical seat, I decided to use...
Congressman highlights fixes for MPP-Dairy With sign-ups lagging and dairy margins eroding, Congressman Collin Peterson shared potential improvements to the farm bill's Margin Protection Program for Dairy....
The dairy faculty at Penn State launched a dairy MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) this past spring that includes a genetics section. The most frequent topic for the genetic discussion board relates to...
Mexico represents a dairy marketing paradox Without a national milk pricing plan, Mexican dairy farmers remain at the mercy of the marketplace. Meanwhile, the record peso-to-dollar exchange rate makes...
Editorial: Sustainability could reduce food waste The work by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy has placed the dairy sector in the forefront of the sustainability movement. While dairy was an early...
Is your tank half full or running on fumes? Some of us prepare ahead, others act in the moment; both modes of operation can fit certain aspects of a dairy. It never fails; when my wife and I go on a road...
Great silage takes great planning Corn silage harvest is just around the corner and could even be started in some parts of the country. Harvesting corn for silage may be one of the most important activities...
Handy Hint: August 10, 2016 Keep New Calves Close By We only have one calving pen on our farm, so sometimes we have to calve a cow in her stall. We purchased a small 40-gallon water tank that works perfectly...
No surprise pipeline washes For an added layer of protection, I installed a limit switch on my swing pipe in the milk house. I wired the switch into my pipeline washer. The pipeline washer will now only...