Brand new food products face stiff competition and must earn a spot on store shelves and in consumers' grocery carts. In 2014, the dairy industry met that challenge and had some of the best-performing...

Due to very favorable margins throughout the U.S. last year, dairy farmers were able to prepay many expenses at year's end for 2015. That situation may have given dairy producers a false sense of security...

New leader has extensive experience with state environmental programs and policies. A six-month search by California's largest dairy producer lobbying and advocacy organization came to fruition last week,...

Ever since the PDCA (Purebred Dairy Cattle Association) unveiled its updated Showmanship Evaluation Scorecard in 2012, questions have abounded

Today's previously unheard of prices . . . in excess of $500 per head for week-old Holstein bull calves in some regions . . . has been great for dairy farm balance sheets. However, one day it could spell...

by Amanda Smith, Associate Editor For cows to thrive, they need to move without impediment. The care, nutrition and environment we provide go a long way toward halting lameness in its tracks. Over an eight-year...

It has been nearly a generation since dairy farmers last formally petitioned the USDA Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO). That fact alone makes the California petition...

It has been decades since a region looked to implement a Federal Milk Marketing Order. Dusting off policy rules reveals a structured, transparent and lengthy process

Unless Congressional action is taken to clarify RCRA, the Washington state ruling on manure and its nutrients could forever change livestock production

Timing could not be worse as the country ramps up its dairy and beef export efforts

If water logged fields have made replanting top of mind, first consider if the effort is worth the reward

Hoard's Dairyman Webinar Archives June 8, 2015: "Feeding calves as groupies: pros, cons and best management practices."

Hoard's Dairyman webinar covers calf care. The basic concepts of raising calves applies to both individually and group-raised animals. The importance of proper nutrition; dry and comfortable bedding; and...

New research reveals the real reason Swiss cheese is full of holes, and why those holes are getting smaller

Cattle don't compete for human food by Amanda Smith, Associate Editor For years, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the dairy industry have been a source of media attention. In the atmosphere, GHGs enhance...

Maybe it is just a coincidence. Or maybe it's not. Years one, two and three of California's continuing historic drought saw new records for low precipitation and high farmer frustration

New and unique flavors of milk could be part of the solution to reversing a slump in fluid milk consumption

Handy Hint: June 2015 Give cows privacy while calving (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3";...

Class 4b hearing next week will see farmers and plants light years apart – as usual