Consumers will not hear what we have to say about the dairy industry unless we take the initiative and find ways to tell them. "To the consumer, our story doesn't exist unless we tell it." Dairy farmers...
Why evaporative cooling methods fit well on our farm. Growing up in the hot Kansas heat made it difficult to keep cows cool during the warmer summer months. When we decided to make modifications to our...
Custom hire is a smart business decision for our farm. While my husband and I milked our cows last night, a swather zipped through our fields, mowing down our first crop of alfalfa, along with the triticale...
Employee recruitment and training is by far one of the most difficult aspects of dairy farming today. "How do I recruit and train good employees?" is an ongoing struggle in many dairy circles. According...
PDCA showmanship guidelines are designed to help showmen prepare for the big dance. Stepping in unison, circling the ring. One partner wears white, while the other wears spots. Heads are up, tails are...
This June Dairy Month, share the steps you take to ensure a delicious and nutritious product. As we say goodbye to May and hello to June, it signals the time to celebrate June Dairy Month. Personally,...
While reading the article "Trust experts - GMOs are safe to eat," this line caught my attention: "This is an emotional issue, though, and one that is not likely to just disappear."
Lameness scoring is important for gauging mobility and animal welfare on farms, but the buck cannot stop at identifying a problem. "All lameness evaluations do is say we have a problem. We must take it...
This item was updated on May 30, 2016, to reflect Celsius as the temperature for pasteurization. Colostrum delivers life-saving immunity and nutrients to newborn calves, but if not careful, it can also...
Don't just stand there Cows that stand too much may be telling you something about cow comfort in your barn. Inadequate flooring can cause lameness and discourage cows from eating, thus impacting milk...
Don't just stand there Cows that stand too much may be telling you something about cow comfort in your barn. Inadequate flooring can cause lameness and discourage cows from eating, thus impacting milk...
Imagine how frustrating it is to aim at a moving target. It can make you feel annoyed, stressed, and even defeated. Unfortunately, this is the very challenge faced by many young dairy exhibitors in showmanship...
The standard of excellence begins with the boss when it comes to animal welfare. What's the hardest part of initiating a training program for animal welfare on today's dairies? If you ask Luís Mendonça,...
Specialty cheese has been a growth category for Wisconsin. There were 83.1 million pounds of specialty cheese produced in the Badger State in 1993. That was the first year the state's division of USDA's...
Trust the experts - GMOs are safe to eat. Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, often get a bad rap. Some consumers are afraid that genetically engineered (GE) foods are unsafe, but once again, science...
Internships provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Summer has officially begun for most college students. For many, it marks the beginning of a summer filled with opportunities, learning experiences,...
Make time to sit down with family and talk succession planning. Raise your hand if you have an up-to-date, written, signed, notarized personal will? Keep your hand raised if that also contains a succession...
The author is an assistant extension professor in the department of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Missouri. The financial stress experienced by dairy farmers continues to mount....
Yakima. The Chesapeake Bay. Lake Champlain. The Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico. Kewaunee County. Whether perceived or real, the aforementioned regions have been epicenters for concerns regarding...
