During a trip to Japan this month, visits to food markets were eye-opening. There were both similarities and differences to the United States. First of all, Class 1 fluid milk use in Japan (they call it...
Processing capacity shortage is holding back the country's No. 3 milk state The Idaho dairy industry is busting to break loose. Although it became the third largest milk-producing state in the U.S. last...
It's fall and that means World Dairy Expo! Exhibitors are on the grounds preparing for the show – setting-up displays, shaking straw, and hanging signs. Cattle, too, are settling into their new homes...
If you haven't heard, both HSUS and PETA are emotion-driven organizations with the goal to have animals as equals to humans. Fans flocking to Green Bay will see a billboard placed by one of their front...
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...
WSU student Anna Gibson shares more adventures from working on a dairy in Tasmania.Working in the dairy industry, I have witnessed amazing moments: a calf's first breath, perfect sunrises, cows recovering...
Where dairy farms are plentiful, the tradition continues. Bill Barlass explains some plans for the future to the crowd during last night's twilight meeting at Barlass Jerseys. If you live on a dairy farm,...
More adventures from the student working on a Tasmanian dairy. Here in Tasmania, I have been blessed with one-on-one contact with some of Australia's native wildlife. I was introduced to the wallaby as...
Nine thousand miles, 11 states, 6 weeks and 1 very big idea is going to add up to an extra-busy summer for National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jerry Kozak, who is heading up a cross-country...
Summer always meant fairs and shows as a youngster. As an exhibitor, I looked forward to the shows, especially showmanship – where my ability to work with my heifer or cow as one team could be put...
"Wow, the Holsteins here are smaller than the ones back home!" I said while walking to work with a co-worker. "You must be American. Those black and whites are Friesians, not Holsteins." This was one of...
The Farm Bill needs help. It needs help from both political parties and all regions of our country. But don't panic, this happens quite often – every 5 years or so, in fact. The Farm Bill is said...
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...
We've talked about it before (see our blog, Wars we wage in dairy and agriculture and our editorial from the June 2011 issue, Keep chocolate milk in schools), but, like heat in the summer, the issue of...
The FFA is one of the nation's premier youth organizations and agriculture is blessed to have the organization training future leaders in our industry. The Washington Leadership Conference, one of the...
It's just a tiny trickle so far, but solar power projects are slowly beginning to pop up on Western dairies. The latest one to begin generating electricity for the power grid is a big one, more than 200...
Our well-respected dairy products got special recognition when the USDA released its new, MyPlate nutrition education tool. The MyPlate program replaces the Food Pyramid which had been the government's...
That's how we enthusiastically feel about one of our favorite websites celebrating its first birthday. HumaneWatch.org turned 1 recently, and what a present it has been for everyone who hates deceptive...
Earlier this month, we were introduced to Anna Gibson, a Washington State University student who is working on a dairy in Tasmania, an Australian island. She shares stories from her first week "down under."...