Jack Ross Jack Ross, Lowville, N.Y., won the coveted Klussendorf-MacKenzie Award presented during the 46th World Dairy Expo, in memory of Duncan McKenzie, 1961 Klussendorf winner. On the national level,...
Newest Klussendorf winner, Buddy Fleming with fellow Klussendorf honorees Paul "Buddy" Fleming, Jr., Cortland, N.Y., was named the 71st winner of the Klussendorf Trophy, the highest recognition given to...
As printed in our September 10, 2012 issue... COW NUMBERS WERE DOWN 44,000 HEAD this July when compared to April's nationwide peak of 9.27 million. As a result, milk production grew only 0.7 percent, the...
Handy Hint: September 10, 2012 Move six calves at once This device was built to move calves from the calf barn to the heifer barn safely and easily. The device is built from plywood, 2- by 2-inch tubing,...
As printed in our August 25, 2012 issue... SOME MAY ARGUE the validity of USDA's Milk-Feed Ratio. However, one thing is clear, feed prices are surging and milk checks are not keeping pace. July's 1.29...
Last year was a banner year for U.S. dairy product exports, which accounted for a record 13.3 percent of all milk production in the country on a total solids basis. That's roughly 26 billion pounds of...
Sire summaries are calculated by the United States Department of Agriculture three times each year in April, August and December. Hoard's Dairyman compiled the August data on the seven dairy breeds and...
Handy Hint: August 25, 2012 Jetter cups change bulbs On our farm, safety and time are always concerns. To save time and be safe changing lightbulbs over our straw packs, we took an old jetter cup and taped...
As printed in our August 10, 2012 issue... THE WORST DROUGHT IN OVER 50 YEARS badly damaged the nation's corn and soybean crop as 40 percent is located in severe drought areas. Future contracts traded...
Corn, soybeans and hay aren't the only dairy feed staples expected to have more limited supplies this fall. A slightly smaller U.S. cotton crop is also forecast, which means the amount of cottonseed available...
Handy Hint: August 10, 2012 Counter replaces silage scale We found this manual counter very useful to keep track of loads of silage when a scale is not always en route from field to pile. We weigh a couple...
As printed in our July 2012 issue... A BLISTERING HEAT WAVE and dry conditions pushed corn prices up 28 percent in the last two weeks of June. Indiana, Illinois, eastern Iowa and Missouri have had less...
USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service says 2012 will make it three record almond crop years in a row in California, which produces virtually all of the almonds in the U.S
The 2011 Guernsey Component Queens were compiled from all 305-day DHI and DHIR lactation records received and made official by the American Guernsey Association. To be considered official for production...
Gravity-flow disinfecting hose Buckets with a small amount of disinfectant solution often don't last in narrow chutes. We elevated a 55-gallon drum above the palpation chute. Then, we attach a hose with...
As printed in our June 2012 issue... THE FARM BILL WAS INTRODUCED for consideration on the Senate floor in late May. Debate was expected to begin in early June. It has been reported that Senate Ag Chairman,...
Rotary feed pusher keeps feeding safe This feed pusher makes pushing feed cleaner, faster, safer, and quieter. The materials include some 2- by 2-inch tubing, 4- by 4-inch tubing, a skid-steer adapter...
As printed in our May 25, 2012 issue... THE GENETIC INDUSTRY has released the first of two documents that will transfer evaluations from USDA to the private sector. To review the ground rules and comment...