A survey of Iowa dairy farmers revealed their efforts to enhance fresh cow care. The transition period is fittingly named, as a dairy cow goes through a flood of transitions the 60 days precalving to 30...
Farming isn't easy by any means, but certain moments make all the hard work worthwhile. As many of you know, milk prices as of late have been entirely too low for a dairy farmer's comfort. It has a lot...
Cattle exports are economic treason. Nowhere else in the world may dairy farming be as closely tied to a nation's identity and economy as in New Zealand. Beer in Germany, wine in France, and olive oil...
Let mortality be a reminder to live and love fully. At the urging of a good friend, I started listening to podcasts while traveling. If you're looking for a way to make your next road trip thought-provoking...
I was restoring a John Deere 4250 tractor, and the original tractor seat had tears in the fabric and the armrests didn't work properly. Rather than replace it with a new identical seat, I decided to use...
The dairy faculty at Penn State launched a dairy MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) this past spring that includes a genetics section. The most frequent topic for the genetic discussion board relates to...
4-H livestock projects were blasted at a recent HSUS annual conference. Like many of you in the dairy industry, some of my best memories and closest friends are from my time in 4-H
Social media should not replace face-to-face advocacy. Almost every co-op meeting, checkoff organization conference, or dairy industry event includes a speaker or breakout session about telling our story,...
Top A.I. bulls ranked for a number of traits. While the Hoard's Dairyman Bull List will be available in the August 25 issue, we are making it available to readers here as well. It can be downloaded by...
Cropland value takes uncharacteristic dip The recently released USDA "Land Values 2016 Summary Report" announced an average $40-per-acre decline in cropland values across the nation. That only represents...
Is now the time for price risk management? by Scott Brown, University of Missouri The author is a research assistant extension professor in the department of agricultural and applied economics at the University...
Great silage takes great planning Corn silage harvest is just around the corner and could even be started in some parts of the country. Harvesting corn for silage may be one of the most important activities...
Is your tank half full or running on fumes? Some of us prepare ahead, others act in the moment; both modes of operation can fit certain aspects of a dairy. It never fails; when my wife and I go on a road...
Research shows intense long and short-term effects result from skimping on feed for this group. Sometimes reality is harsh, and that can be the case when dealing with transition cows. Managing this group...
Is pregnant cows' milk really a health threat? A human health concern accuses milk from pregnant cows, which is customarily high in estrogens, of affecting blood estrogen levels in humans. High levels...
Dairy trade: Think beyond the exchange rate by Corey Geiger, Managing Editor The Mexican peso buys less goods and services these days when compared to the U.S. dollar. While that is true, USDA's Gabriel...
It takes careful attention to all details, large and small, to reach the highest levels of milk production. When our milking herd finally broke the 100 pounds of milk per day average, a lot of changes...
