Severe drought and record high corn prices have made 2011 a nightmare for beef producers in Texas and surrounding states. One result, though, is the value of cull dairy cows has soared to levels milk producers...
While it's not June, it's always in season to promote dairy. The Young Dairy Leaders Institute began in 1994 with its first class of young leaders. Some class participants were dairy producers, while others...
Dairy operations are as varied as the people who own them. Various factors contribute to each herd's success and challenges – financial footing, labor, feedstuff availability, weather, and family...
The Daily Beast (www.thedailybeast.com), an online news site which merged with Newsweek this year, printed their list of the "20 Most Useless College Majors." Let's just say, we don't think they nailed...
The romanticism of farmers and cowboys has been portrayed in movies and on television for decades. The strong jaw lines, those rugged looks, wholesome smile, yet a sweet spot in their hearts for their...
Hoard's Expo Supplement to profile top showman, judge, and educator. The discussion turned to showmanship at the recent Holstein USA's national judges conference in Fond du Lac, Wis. As over 70 national-caliber...
A little bit of dairy pageantry may go a long way with a consumer. For 25 years, the Wisconsin State Fair has been the site of the Wisconsin Holstein Futurity. That, in itself, may seem relatively unremarkable....
USDA expects ethanol to use the biggest share of 2011 crop. For the first time ever, ethanol plants are expected to use more of the nation's corn crop in 2011 than livestock producers do. If that happens,...
Great fun at the Minnesota State Fair! This year is the 58th crowning of Princess Kay. She will take a seat in the "butter booth" during the first day of the fair to have her head carved in butter. After...
Homebred Iowa Holstein herd ranks near top for type Vernice and Dan Moon, Monona, Iowa, have been named the third Robert "Whitey" McKown Master Breeder Award winner which will be presented at the 45th...
With hay to make, machinery to repair, and cows to keep cool, this summer's farm work may seem never ending. What better way to take a break than to head out to the fair. Many fairs may have already occurred,...
We visited several dairy producers in the last few days and, of course, feed prices didn't take long to come up. That's entirely fitting, since all that feed prices seem to do lately is go up. What was...
The National Red & White Dairy Cattle Association's annual convention was held in Sauk Rapids, Minn. from July 20-23 at the Benton County fairgrounds. It included a show, tours, annual meeting, awards...
"I became a believer in genomics when I saw how it consistently predicted how young, nonprogeny-tested bulls would rank to one another," Charlie Will, manager of Select Sires' Holstein sire selection group...
The National Dairy Shrine announces the winners of its scholarships for 2011. The scholarships will be presented at the Awards Banquet at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis., on October 6. For more...
Volunteers are a special gift to many organizations and clubs – especially youth organizations. Not all parents have the time to be a soccer coach, club scout leaders or Sunday school teacher. Parents...
National Dairy Shrine will name our very own Steven Larson the 2011 Guest of Honor. The Guest of Honor is the highest award from the National Dairy Shrine. This award goes to an individual who has had...
Last week, I attended the National Holstein Convention in Virginia, and so did over 1,000 Holstein enthusiasts from across the United States. The four-day event was full of meetings, tours, junior competitions,...
The Foundation for the Future (FFTF) is the most researched and, hence, most debated dairy policy plan being proposed to reform the nation's dairy policy. While other ideas and proposals exist, FFTF has...
