Sept. 1 2023
Several years ago, Tony Louters was on a hunt
Sept. 1 2023
As we walk through the barns and pastures to check our cows throughout the day, it pays to watch the cows’ expressions. In a time where people either tend to stare at their phones while going about...
Aug. 31 2023
Do you ever sit around your farm shop and listen to the old men talk? I have heard many stories from the second and third generations of the farm, discussing the way it use to be, or things that had happened...
Aug. 30 2023
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. My nearly one year old son just began walking. To be fair, he is just taking a few steps and falling on his bottom, but I’m counting it! Watching...
Aug. 29 2023
It’s the last week of summer here in the Pacific Northwest, or so the calendar says. That’s because our kids will return to school after Labor Day
Aug. 28 2023
Artificial intelligence (AI) is now a consumer buzzword that most of us have heard since the release of ChatGPT4. Now, Google, Facebook, and others are trying to catch up with OpenAI and believe it will...
Aug. 25 2023
Apart from visiting a farm, there’s nothing quite like attending a fair for the general public to witness agriculture up close. There are plenty of animals to see, youth and exhibitors to talk with,...
Aug. 24 2023
Dairy-beef crossbreeding can introduce a value-added revenue stream for producers and help meet the needs of a high-demand beef market
Aug. 24 2023
I recently had one of those moments of frustration that turned to humility. As farmers, running 24/7/365 is the life. We have a very high stress job because so many different entities depend on us each...
Aug. 23 2023
Do you ever have to remind yourself that you chose this life? I knew exactly what I was getting into, and I still chose this
Aug. 22 2023
Working in the dairy industry, I have witnessed some moments I will cherish forever. From being able to watch a calf’s first breath to helping a cow recover from illness, there are many things I...
Aug. 21 2023
Summer is coming to an end, and it’s time to go back to school. However, I won’t be going home empty-handed
Aug. 18 2023
As we were moving some cows and heifers to our calving pen today, it hit me that the cattle we were moving all have due dates further out than my own
Aug. 17 2023
Dairy’s data-driven technological revolution opens new and exciting opportunities in cow care and labor efficiency
Aug. 17 2023
In years past, while milking in the parlor, labeling an animal as a cull cow was pretty straightforward
Aug. 15 2023
Are you and your farm ready for a natural disaster or emergency? There is no way you can prepare your farm for every emergency in every way, but a little preparation can go a long way
Aug. 14 2023
While I was searching for information sources to use for a different writing assignment, I came across a Penn State Extension article that discussed managing weeds
Aug. 11 2023
It is Corn Silage Harvest 2023 here at Hillcrest Farms. This year we have been blessed with rain and a good corn crop
Aug. 10 2023
Even on the worst day, a baby calf can make you smile. They only really want one thing, and that’s food. Unlike the cows, our youngest calves can’t graze, nor do they quite understand that...
Aug. 9 2023
Have you ever met one of those people who never seem to have anything going wrong?