Automated milking systems are a substantial investment, but in return, many benefits can be gained from this style of dairy herd management

Benefits of robotic milking systems often include lower labor needs, calmer cows, and greater milking frequency and yield

I know they are a weed, but I still think dandelions are pretty

“Technology is coming for us, whether we like it or not,” said Steph Plaster, a University of Wisconsin Division of Extension farm management outreach specialist, during a “Setting your...

During my time working as a county-based extension educator, one of the questions I was asked most often was the going rate for custom work

Dairy cattle need four sound feet to complete many of their daily tasks

The footbaths in their transition cow barn are a critical component of hoof health at Deluur Dairy near Deckerville, Mich

Each region has its own weather pattern and thus, its own cropping schedule. In late February I was talking to a dairyman down in Louisiana who was gearing up for corn planting the next week

A dedicated team is one major key to success when it comes to raising young stock. During the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association’s annual conference, managers from two calf and heifer ranches shared...

Rather than adding more cows to their Rosenholm Dairy near Cochrane, Wis., John Rosenow was looking for a different challenge and a way to diversify the operation. During a conversation with some friends...

Most would agree that milk is an important part of a child’s diet, but the value of dairy doesn’t diminish as we get older. Recent research conducted at the University of Kansas Medical Center...

A certain amount of stress can be motivating; it can drive us to take action. Unfortunately, too much stress leads to changes that impact our mind, our body, and our relationships with the people around...

One sweltering summer afternoon, dairyman Ken Smith was stopped at an intersection with a truckload of haylage

When Cornell University’s Daryl Nydam’s father was a practicing veterinarian, he was at the forefront of the industry recommendation that farms should dry treat every quarter of every cow

In light of the Food and Drug Administration’s disappointing decision to allow dairy alternative beverages to use the term milk in their names and on their labels, it is refreshing to see solid information...

Recent USDA estimates show a decline in net farm income in the year ahead for most producers, but there is one bright spot. It’s not milk, but it is another commodity that can have an impact on a...

“Roots, roots, roots, and more roots. I want roots.” That was the message soil scientist Jamie Patton shared loud and clear during her presentation at the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin’s...

Most people only think of milkfat when they grab a jug of milk out of the dairy case. For dairy farmers, though, raising milkfat and protein levels is a goal for many, especially as milk components become...

Why do milk components matter? During the March Hoard’s Dairyman webinar, the University of Illinois’ Mike Hutjens reviewed several reasons why it pays to improve component production

Someone must make the first move when it comes to farm transition planning. According to Liz Griffith, a human resource consultant for Encore Consultants, the process would ideally be initiated by the...