When the call comes from the popular press, we must be prepared to answer it. by Amanda Smith, Hoard's Dairyman Associate Editor There are a number of people we willingly let on our dairies each day. Most,...
The more a cow produces, the lower its environmental footprint will be. Climate change has always occurred. Yet, the heating trend over the last decade has been outside the normal range. Humans and livestock...
Global exporting giant ramps up its production capacity to serve huge nearby markets.The. U.S. is the hot new star in the global dairy exports game, but New Zealand, the all-time everything, hasn't slowed...
To avoid this, the nation must sustainably grow milk production at a price the consumer can afford. The European Union leads the ranks in world milk production. But, on an individual nation basis, India...
When cows are MP deficient, they will break down muscle and other bodily protein sources. This is most severe in the first 10 days postpartum. Over the years, tremendous attention and research dollars...
U.S. farmers and ranchers aren't the only aging workforce. It's a nation wide trend across all labor sectors. The U.S. farm population is aging. This isn't news to anyone in the agricultural community;...
Here's a hint: it's no one who exports dairy products. Take heart U.S. milk producers, your farms aren't alone in seeing the cost of production soar during the 21st century. All around the world, most...
New York has quadrupled its Greek yogurt production since 2008. Greek yogurt. It's what gave New York the push it needed to pass California as the top yogurt producing state in the nation. Last year, California...
After sluggish production last year, Europe and New Zealand milk production is now expanding. The U.S. is steady. While milk production never really missed a beat in the U.S., even with last year's drought,...
Intensive management nets an extra $35 per heifer, without considering the value of additional milk. Replacement heifers have long been viewed as a two-year economic sinkhole. "While heifer programs usually...
Innovation and choice must be allowed on farm or all hope is lost. In a changing tact from the 50-70-100 message he has spread since 2009, Elanco's Jeff Simmons has three new numbers for us to consider....
We know how to calculate feed shrink. We don't know how to obtain accurate real-time measurements.Every dairy has a vested economic interest in reducing feed shrink. "Feed wastage occurs on-farm in four...
After the first day of World Dairy Expo, the 2013 Ayrshire champions have been determined. With the assistance of associate judge, Keith Topp, Botkins, Ohio, Ayrshire judge Paul Trapp of Taylor, Wis.,...
The top two individuals in the college contest hailed from Virginia Tech. To be a top 10 team in the Intercollegiate Judging Contest at World Dairy Expo, you had to average a 45.8. To be a top individual,...
Geographic neighbors pack a one-two punch. One point. That's all it takes. And last night, at the National 4-H Dairy Judging Contest, that's all it took for first-place Maryland to best their neighbors...
Three local organizations host 200 youth for a day of agricultural tours.For many years it has been the pleasure of the Hoard's Dairyman staff to work with the judging contests and National 4-H Dairy Conference...
From farm to fridge, we all play a role in reducing food waste. We waste 40 percent of all food. Forty percent of the calories we produce in the U.S. are lost across the food chain and go unconsumed,"...
Everyone contributes to the problem . . . the solution must encompass all levels of the retail chain. We have a problem with our food system. "Despite our excesses on U.S. soil, in 2013 we still cannot...
Financial data from 1,500 agriculture students gives you a better feel for that number. It's that time of year. Across the country, millions of students have returned to their chosen institution of higher...
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...