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...
Utilizing a bedded pack, adequate feedbunk space, and careful monitoring, this herd gets their special needs cows back in business quick. Every operation is unique and different, but there are some ideas...
Grocery stores, restaurants, and schools/work places were all popular locations for weekly food purchases. Dairy is what they have in common. Domestic dairy sales are an important part of dairy's business,...
Subclinical ketosis should worry you. Clinical ketosis is a regular problem for all milk producers. It is estimated to affect 7 to 14 percent of all cows within a few weeks of calving
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,...
Editorial: Sustainability could reduce food waste The work by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy has placed the dairy sector in the forefront of the sustainability movement. While dairy was an early...
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...
As summer comes to a close, so does the end of an internship. Just like every good book, the story must come to an end. My story was only 12 chapters long, one for each week during my internship here at...
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 Hoard's Dairyman Farm has provided one such opportunity
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...
