We are in full swing corn silage harvesting mode here at Hillcrest Farms. Last week temperatures rose to 100°F and higher and the humidity was right there with it

The breeding age heifer contributes greatly to the future success of a dairy. She can also be the source of lost opportunities. Joe Dalton, University of Idaho, addressed the importance of getting young...

The record cold, all the snow, and now the intense flooding that’s occurred since mid-March really has played havoc on moving forward with field work

I don’t care how I get it, lottery? Rich uncle? Random Nigerian prince that I bail out of jail and is then so thankful he sends me loads of cash? But how would I spend it?

Guernseys were the foundational breed of the Hoard’s Dairyman herd when the farm was started by W.D. Hoard in 1899. More than a century later, in 2009, Jerseys were added to the herd, and they have...

Guernseys were the foundational breed of the Hoard’s Dairyman herd when the farm was started by W.D. Hoard in 1899. More than a century later, in 2009, Jerseys were added to the herd,...

I’m getting old. I used to be able to pull all-nighters with ease, but this past week has proven that those days have seriously passed

I know, possibly more than most farmers, how annoying dealing with the general public can be

We have been taught there are steps to follow when milking a cow. Books have been written about protocols in the parlor . . . but do they always get followed?

As the buzzer went off, I untucked my jersey and looked up from the basketball court to the stands

As humans, we all experience stress from time to time. I would bet nearly everyone utters the words, “I am so stressed out” now and then

Every week, one member of the Hillcrest Farms team will choose a quote to write on the whiteboard in our office for all to see. The quotes can range from Bible verses, inspirational quotes, or even just...

We finally placed two robots in our new main robot barn this week. A little over two years ago at the Western Dairy Management Conference, I was sitting at a table talking to two dairymen from Wisconsin

The Hoard’s Dairyman Cow Judging Contest has roots that run deep for both the magazine and many participants

Involvement in a dairy cattle breed association can build relationships with other breeders both locally and around the country

For many parts of the country, winter teased us with a mild start. Then mid-January hit, and along came snow, frigid cold, record-breaking wind chills, and ice

Have there been times in your life when you felt like you didn’t fit in? My answer would certainly be yes, and I would venture a guess that most of you have felt this way at times, too

Last year I wrote an article on six reasons why you should have a farm website. The main reason is because your farm is a business, and every business can be found on search engines (such as Google) when...

It was supposed to be a routine disbudding for a group of calves, but for one small Jersey, something went wrong

Dairy farming in the northern United States during the winter months is cold, long, and tough. My family jokes around when we say a lot of what you do during the months of December, January, and February...