The Lifetime Net Merit index (NM$) was introduced in 1994 with revisions made in 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2010. I think we can anticipate another revision to NM$ in the near future and there is some discussion...
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
Here are a few 2013 Handy Hints from fellow readers. Handy Hint January 10 Leg bands track weaning progress Handy Hint January 25 Durable milk room port Handy Hint February 10 Simple pipe protects water...
Handy Hint: January 25, 2014 55-gallon drum makes packing weight A number of years ago, Larry Baer of Marshallville, Ohio, created this weight to help ensure proper packing density in his corn silage bunker....
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...
Here are a few 2012 Handy Hints from fellow readers. Handy Hint January 10 Quick-attach feed pusher Handy Hint January 25 No more spilled milk Handy Hint February 10 Improved whey coverage Handy Hint February...
Handy Hint: January 10, 2014 Gate trains heifers We mounted an 8-foot gate to the main gate on the end of the alley of our freestalls. If fresh heifers don't know how to use the stalls at first, we move...
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
Portable plate cooler a hit Two field representatives from Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers invented this portable plate cooler. With quite a few Amish farms in the area having older milking setups,...
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...
Space-saving palpation rail DeMange Dairy in Versailles, Ohio, needed a place to hold cows to do herd checks, so they built this palpation rail. It folds up and winches to the ceiling when it is not being...
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...