Local 4-H youth exhibit Hoard's Dairyman Guernsey cattle. As the number of dairy farms continues to consolidate, the enthusiasm of some young people who want to learn more about dairying does not. The...
It's no easy road, but the Johnsons would rather do nothing else. Ryan and Abby Johnson of Luck, Wis., have shared many nights of little sleep since they started their own dairy in November 2014. They...
Farm wages climb with no end in sight. Labor cost is an important factor in determining dairy farm profitability. In general, it accounts for about 15 percent of total expenses for a typical dairy enterprise
Building an extensive photo library sets us apart. Hundreds of photos appear within the pages of Hoard's Dairyman, as well as on our website, www.hoards.com, and in our weekly electronic newsletter, Hoard's...
Sorting behavior starts with calves. Cows are creatures of habit, and as science is showing, the formation of their behavioral tendencies begins early in their lives. According to Emily Miller-Cushon,...
NDQA seeks to recognize quality milk producers. As producers we can get caught in the rut of the day-to-day grind. We are doing things well, but sometimes it seems no one notices. It is days like that...
As the mom of kids who show dairy cattle, I love helping my kids develop into young showmen. So many important life lessons can be learned in the show ring. But as the mom who does her family’s...
Reader Response: To slow herd growth For around five years in the eastern Wisconsin Dairy Belt that features over 100 cows per square mile, it has been increasingly common to breed the bottom end of the...
Two Dairylands forge a stronger alliance. It's a rare event that two governors get together to discuss agriculture much less dairy issues. However, that is just what happened mid-June 2016 when Wisconsin...
No surprise pipeline washes For an added layer of protection, I installed a limit switch on my swing pipe in the milk house. I wired the switch into my pipeline washer. The pipeline washer will now only...
Harvest season can be one of the most challenging, yet most rewarding, times of the year on a dairy farm. Let me start out by saying that everyone who grows their own corn for silage knows how hectic harvest...
Salmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness in the United States, responsible for an estimated 1 million cases of sickness every year. In people with weakened immune systems, young...
Two options: Reduce milk flow or grow sales. The author is a research assistant extension professor in the department of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Missouri. There are two...
Dairy farmers have lost retail market share. Dairy farmers' share of what consumers pay for dairy products at the grocery store plummeted to a mere 29 percent in 2015 after reaching 38 percent just one...
Silage bag slip-n-slide, backyard camping, cow bedding sand piles, and nature exploring all lead to summer farm fun. Dairy farm kids find lots of ways to make their own summer fun. Once their chores are...
Enrollment doubles for this dairy school. The U.S. Dairy Education and Training Consortium (USDETC) concluded its ninth year of hands-on dairy instruction and graduated 53 students from 23 different universities...
Welfare and economics must both play a role in determining how many cows fill a barn. One size does not fit all. There are many areas on the farm to which this saying readily applies. One of the most pertinent...
Stress builds as profits shrink. Financial stress on dairy farms is expected to rise before the end of 2016. As everyone knows, 2014 was a year of outstanding economic performance for most dairy farms...
As the competition began, door guards checked back tags, known in the dance world as competitor numbers, and made final calls for late entries. Tardiness was rarely accepted as 8,057 entries crossed...
During a 20-year span, the number of small dairy farms in our ranks has dropped dramatically. And with it, where our cows reside has changed, too. That situation was detailed in the April 25 Hoard's Dairyman...
