There is an old saying in rural America: Farmers don't want to own all the land in the county, just the land that touches their property. With hot demand for farm commodities and the need for additional...
A crucial goal for dairy nutritionists is to provide as much energy as possible for maximum milk production while maintaining the health of the cow
What we've learned about genomics . . . so far Three years ago, genomic testing became available and changed the genetics industry. Four experts recently shared their experiences in a town hall meeting....
Even at a very early age, Bert Stewart was a consummate student who studied those who did well at their trade . . . be it judging, showing, coaching, farming, or even playing fast-pitch softball. It led...
Homemade Grain Feeder We cut a plastic culvert pipe in half lengthwise and cut half circles of plywood for the ends. Metal hooks, made from rebar attached to the culvert, let it hang from the bars of the...
Some new uses for genomics data were reported at the ADSA meetings in New Orleans, La., this July. Scientists at AIPL searched through genomic databases to find "haplotypes" that existed at relatively...
Automatic teat dipper Richard Doran, Jr., is an engineer by training, but dairy farmer at heart. On his farm, Bush River Jerseys, in Newberry, S.C., he has used this money-saving innovation. In its 24-stall...
Beginning about 10 years ago, considerable field interest surfaced regarding harvesting corn silage at higher chop heights, primarily in an effort to improve neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD)....
To get a better handle on hoof health, researchers at the University of California-Davis partnered with a hoof trimmer who exclusively trimmed feet at three California dairies. In all, 2,247 sire-identified...
With so much uncertainty in the world, the only constant is market volatility. The extreme swings will be too much for some producers to manage; those who prepare for this new world have the potential...
Easier dehorning paste application We've found a better way to apply dehorning paste to calves. Instead of using a wood applicator, wear a disposable nitrile milking glove and spread the paste on with...
Here are a few 2010 Handy Hints from fellow readers. Handy Hint January 10 Handy Hint January 25 Handy Hint February 10 Handy Hint February 25 Handy Hint March 10 Handy Hint March 25 Handy Hint April 10...
Effective communication is the glue that binds members to their organizations. Without proper and timely dissemination of information, you can't have open debate, initiatives get stalled, and organizations...
As we assess the entire Foundation for the Future (FFTF) policy package, among many other things, we wanted to know how it would affect our business and yours. Since we wanted to use actual numbers, we...
Safe way to dispense formaldehyde We like to use formaldehyde in our footbath. We mounted the 275-gallon tank a few feet off the ground to give us enough head pressure to fill the 5-gallon container using...
Of all the valiant efforts of diet and health do-gooders, trying to get flavored milks out of schools ranks among the most misguided. It is a classic example of an idea that glows with good intentions...
Handy Hint: June 2011 No longer need to remove skid loader attachment On our farm, we welded a few pieces of steel pipe to our feed scraper. This way we can push up feed and then later move bales without...