Based on a record of 91,028 lactations, the Jersey breed set new category records for pounds of milk, fat, and protein. In 2011, the breed averaged 18,633 pounds of milk, 889 pounds of fat, and 676 pounds...
There's a 50-50 chance for a farm bill in 2012 Former Washington legislative staffers told those attending IDFA's Dairy Forum that we may see a new farm bill before the fall election. If not passed before...
Hip, hip hooray! Now let's do it again. Class III producer milk prices set an all-time record average of $18.37 per hundredweight in 2011. The old record was $18.04, set in 2007. Unfortunately, record...
Improved whey coverage We started feeding whey upon the recommendation of our nutritionist. After pumping whey into our TMR mixer and not getting good coverage of the feed, we added this 6-foot horizontal...
As printed in our February 10, 2012 issue... FDA BEGAN ENHANCED ANTIBIOTIC sampling in January. It plans to finish the project by mid-September. Officials expect to release a report by year's end, but...
No more spilled milk We took a 12- by 15-inch piece of plywood and cut four holes in to fit a 3-quart milk replacer bottle. Then we screwed a 12-inch 2 by 6 on both ends. Now the bottles don't tip
As printed in our January 25, 2012 issue... TWO ETHANOL SUBSIDIES EXPIRED at year's end. The 45-cent-per-gallon ethanol blenders' tax credit led to a $6 billion annual incentive to blend ethanol into gasoline,...
Costs may dip a little, but they'll still be painful for buyers. Alfalfa hay probably won't be as expensive in 2012 as it was a year ago, but don't look for anything close to a repeat of the low prices...
Quick-attach feed pusher At Boucher Family Farm, Highgate Center, Vt., Denis Boucher was looking for a way to push up feed using an existing skid-steer loader attachment. Using the bale fork, he made a...
As printed in our January 10, 2012 issue... TWO NEW CAFO RULES are proposed by the EPA. Proposal would step up reporting requirements for all CAFOs and ask for more information in watersheds with water...
For the 82nd Year, readers can test their dairy judging skills Dairy producers, youth, and allied industry have judged our cover cows in our January 10 to March 10 issues for over eight decades. Rotating...
2011 Webinars (Click on the webinar title to see the latest webinar) Jan 10: Living with today's corn costs and milk prices presented by Mike Hutjens, University of Illinois February 14: What lower cell...
Setting goals for your dairy can be done at any time, but take the time this New Year to write them down.Yesterday, I worked with high school students preparing their 2012 livestock project goals. The...
Electric String Winder To solve my problem of used string storage, I took old electrical wire reels and wound the string on them with a drill. I used a 1/2- by 6-inch bolt with a couple of nuts as
As printed in our December 2011 issue... U.S. PRODUCERS AND PROCESSORS must demonstrate they can meet European Union health certificate specs. USDA program begins in January and requires SCCs under 400,000...
As printed in our November 2011 issue... FDA PLANS TO IMPLEMENT enhanced testing of bulk tank milk for antibiotics not typically screened in samples. Targeted operations would include those on USDA's violators'...
Easy system to refill dip cups Everyone knows that postdipping is one of the most critical steps in bolstering milk quality. At the Larry and Brent Simon farm of Westphalia, Mich., they partnered with...
Enjoy the slide show. It includes all the teams, competition photos, and candids from their evening mixer. 2011 National 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest Results 1st: Wisconsin 2nd: New York 3rd: Minnesota...
The All Dairy Antiques and Collectibles Show was held September 16 to 21 at the Farm show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as part of the All-American Dairy Show. A framed history of...
