Walmart staff were amazed to learn that, at 300 cows, the Anglins' herd size is twice the national average. They had a perception that most dairy farms were much
Handy Hint: April 25, 2014 Hydraulic hose more durable for parlor We were going through two or three conventional rubber hoses a year in our parlor. They just didn't hold up to being drug around on the...
Farm milk prices and margins were surprisingly strong this past winter. As we head into spring, prices may weaken, as they often do, as milk production marches toward its seasonal peak. Even so, prices...
Agronomists say that for all the plant growth you see above ground, there is an equivalent root mass found underneath the soil's surface supplying plants with life-giving nutrients. This living, breathable...
China and India's practices leapfrog a generation Farmers in the world's two most populous countries are updating production practices at a rapid pace. Even so, this modernization effort isn't without...
Recently, there have been a lot of comments, papers and seminars using the general phrase "Precision Farming." We have all marveled at the global positioning satellite (GPS) technology that was introduced...
Genetics, genomics and good cow sense all garnered attention at a recent national genetics workshop. The Genetic Workshop not only included discussions on breeding better cows, but attendees also brainstormed...
The family farm can beat the odds and survive with well-thought-out planning and sound execution. You may have never heard of the family business, Kongo Gumi, but it is in the Guinness Book of World Records
Handy Hint: March 25, 2014 Belt keeps knives out of pockets and within reach After ruining several pairs of overalls during hoof trimming by placing my knives into the pockets, I finally came up with a...
There was generally good news for U.S. dairy producers with the release of USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report on February 10. On the input side, feed costs are going to...
Real dairy history took place when the President signed the new farm bill into law this past February. That momentous shift included the elimination of three underperforming dairy programs. Gone are dairy...
After operating for three decades with quotas, Europe's self-imposed muffler on milk production will expire on March 31, 2015. How might the new dairy landscape affect exports? by Hoard's Dairyman staff...
Handy Hint: March 10, 2014 Barrel gives float protection Our cattle were constantly licking the bottom of our float and getting it out of socket, letting the water free flow and making a big mess. To prevent...
Proper integration of the farm bill's new insurance program will offer dairy producers meaningful options to reduce price riskThe House Ag Committee was instrumental in creating the revamped dairy policy
Dairy once again proved it can be a divisive issue. Reportedly, the farm bill's dairy provisions were still being hammered out just hours before the final bill was filed with the House Rules Committee....
Long-term trade prospects gathered a lion's share of the attention as marketers from across the U.S. and around the world joined in the conversation at IDFA's Dairy Forum. An in-depth discussion took place...
Handy Hint: February 25, 2014 Great replacement for shoelaces My shoelaces always break due to extreme conditions around the farm, so I use weed whacker replacement string instead
Popular opinion is hard to dispel, especially following decades of questionable research and misguided advice repeated all too often by medical professionals and nutritionists alike. Despite the uphill...
This year is shaping up to be a very good one for dairy farmers. The reason, without oversimplifying much at all, is this: The entire planet is short of milk, not so short on feed, and the situation is...
Handy Hint: February 10, 2014 Wrap works better on teat injury We used to use a teat bandage whenever we had a teat injury of any kind, but we could not get those bandages to stay on. Now we use Co-Flex...