As my daughter, Caitlin, and I have written our blogs for Hoard’s Dairyman, we have tried to emphasize the positives of being dairy farmers even though this past year has been extremely hard financially

Few things in life are free. Unfortunately for dairy farmers, even incidences of unwanted disease, like lameness, come with a price. The most obvious costs of lameness are associated with treatment

The leaves are turning color and starting to fall. The warm temperatures that last into the night have faded away

Mastitis control in any herd begins with good protocols facilitated by informed employees who are cognizant of the importance of identifying and handling mastitis cases early and effectively

It's vital to getting cows bred back on time. How we feed and manage cows during the transition period can minimize illnesses, set them up to get bred back, and boost milk production throughout lactation

Make sure that you have high-quality colostrum in stock. The excitement that a newborn calf brings can be one of the best feelings in the world. Unfortunately, the disappointment you feel when you discover...

Managers of all levels on dairy farms have a tough job. They juggle many schedules and a demanding workload that never takes a day off. Maybe more difficult is dealing with employee disagreement

Among the dozens of tasks I tackle each day, some tasks are certainly less fun than others.And, I’ll be honest, I tend to put off what I don’t enjoy

We can help reduce animal stress when milking by maintaining a calm environment. Amidst the humming of fans and the constant rhythm of the milking machines, I tend to do some of my best thinking while...

Passion is the main driver that shines through all the hard work and stress dairy farming can bring. Today's dairy farmers don't fit into one mold; they come in all shapes and ages, with varying levels...

Utilizing a bedded pack, adequate feedbunk space, and careful monitoring, this herd gets their special needs cows back in business quick. Every operation is unique and different, but there are some ideas...

4-H livestock projects were blasted at a recent HSUS annual conference. Like many of you in the dairy industry, some of my best memories and closest friends are from my time in 4-H

The Guernseys on the Hoard's Dairyman Farm have proven once again that they can compete with the best Guernsey herds in the nation. Each year, the American Guernsey Association recognizes the top

The Hoard's Dairyman Farm earned national recognition from the American Guernsey Association. The Guernseys on the Hoard's Dairyman Farm have proven once again that they can compete with the best Guernsey...

Social media should not replace face-to-face advocacy. Almost every co-op meeting, checkoff organization conference, or dairy industry event includes a speaker or breakout session about telling our story,...

Don't be afraid to answer the call to promote dairy. The dairy industry deserves to be commended for the amazing job it does giving the next generation so many opportunities to grow and learn. From 4-H...

Members of the Hoard's Dairyman staff spent a day on farms to stay in touch with the magazine's roots. By The Hoard's Dairyman editorial team has a long standing tradition of being actively involved in...

It happens; things don’t go always our way. As Chris Koch, Canadian farmer and motivational speaker would say, we each have unique struggles we face

Building an extensive photo library sets us apart. Hundreds of photos appear within the pages of Hoard's Dairyman, as well as on our website, www.hoards.com, and in our weekly electronic newsletter, Hoard's...

When we get out and see other places, we learn more about the industry and pick up new ideas. Sometimes the stars all align, and we find ourselves with some time off of the farm. We always take advantage...