What can you afford to pay for land rent and still be competitive? Margin management has become critical to farm success. "Keeping in mind feed market volatility, it looks like feed will be cheaper based...
Picture-day planning starts far in advance. The Hoard's Dairyman Farm typically pictures cows at the farm once each year for promotion, marketing and advertising purposes. This generally occurs in summer...
Last week, judges sorted through hundreds of entries in this contest co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association and World Dairy Expo.Dairy products from across the globe were shipped to Wisconsin...
Researchers hope to stop infertility losses; producers' survey input is vital. Slowly but surely, dairy cattle around the world are becoming less fertile. As they do, financial losses to dairies grow in...
By utilizing by-products, the dairy industry has the potential to reduce the environmental impact of human food production. A staple in many dairy rations, by-products are seeing increased use as producers...
Hoard's Dairyman webinar discusses considerations when going to robots. Larry Tranel, Iowa State University, spoke on robotic milking during the August 12 Hoard's Dairyman webinar, titled "Is robotic milking...
Chinese consumption and U.S. production are growing at the same rate. Sourcing safe, local raw milk remains expensive in many nations. Countries that are currently in a milk deficit will continue to struggle...
Favorable feed cost outlook sets the stage for herd rebuilding to begin this fall. The fatal production problem that has driven many dairy producers out of business in recent years – sky-high feed...
China isn't the only story. Other export markets are opening up as New Zealand focuses on meeting their import needs. With a focus on the U.S. dairy market and exports today, in the coming year and in...
Creating solutions to forage needs. Mike Hutjens, University of Illinois, presented "Playing the crop-year cards we've been dealt" webinar on Monday, July 8. Labeled the "perfect storm" by Mike Rankin,...
Shade, ventilation and water are critical for them. Record heat across the West in recent weeks has driven home a sad and expensive reminder for some dairies: heat stress can kill calves. For those that...
In late lactation, forage substitute, high byproduct diets can support the milk production in the short term. For anyone who tracks the dairy industry, it's no secret that feed prices have left many producers...
Owning a farm is a dream for many young farmers, but it might not be a reality due to financing that is hard to obtain. Farming may be considered a young man's job in regards to physical demands, long...
High feed costs force heavier culling. Frazer Certified Public Accountants and Consultants, LLP prepare accounting records for dairy operations in seven western states – Washington, Oregon, California...
Dairy feed cost situation is night and day different from a year ago. The West is scorching, yet much of the Midwest and East are soggy. And while crops there generally got a very slow start, high soil...
New dairy farm technologies were center stage at the Precision Dairy Conference last week. Just as cellphones are slowly phasing out landlines, some current mechanics and methods of operation on dairy...
But the latest token increase comes with a stunning admission by the ag secretary. Producer milk prices will go up 12.5 cents per hundredweight for six months in California starting July 1, the result...
In the June Guernsey Breeders' Journal, owners and mangers from the nation's top-producing herds shared insight on their feeding programs. Earlier this spring, the Hoard's Dairyman Farm was contacted by...
4-H clubs work to educate the public about the dairy industry. Known for its delicious custard, Culver's in Johnson Creek, Wis., celebrated June is Dairy Month with its 1st Annual Culver's and Cows Event...
With approval by the Senate, more pressure is now placed on the House to reach an agreement on the farm bill yet this summer. On Monday evening, the farm bill passed through the Senate by a bipartisan...
