“When you’re in an environment of low margin, high volatility, the reactive manager gets wiped out,” explained Virginia Tech’s David Kohl at the recent Tri-State Dairy Nutrition...

The 10-year challenge that we all really should care about is a far cry from the viral 10-year challenge (#TenYearChallenge) that has taken over social media

This past weekend, I was stunned to hear that a friend of mine had passed away. He was the same age as me, and we had been friends for more than 30 years

Having eyes on your parlor all the time doesn’t sound like a bad thing

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...

I have been out of college now for six years. It definitely doesn’t feel that long, but I guess that’s how life goes

How many times have you heard about a seminar or a class that’s free and helpful, but you can’t seem to find the time to go? It has happened to all of us

My daughter, Caitlin, and I were discussing our switch to robotic milking and our agri-tourism venture

Nearly 100 years ago, my great-grandfather traveled by himself on a cattle boat from the Azores Islands of Portugal in search of a better life

From time to time, we all like to go on a vacation. Dad likes to hike, kayak, and bike, while Uncle Andy enjoys golfing and spending time at the lake

We build dairy barns for cows, but birds are often unwanted guests that also make themselves at home

I recently tuned in to the NFL football game of the Chicago Bears versus the Philadelphia Eagles

While dairy farming is obviously a year-round occupation, things do tend to slow down a bit over the winter. This makes it an ideal time to review records and plan for the new year

Annie smiled, and even laughed a bit when she said “You’re talking to her” to the hoof trimmer who stopped by her dairy looking for business while I was visiting this past week. He was...

Last year, not even one of our employees called in sick because of the flu

We were hard at work this Halloween. Things are looking a lot different around the farm

I had a unique experience the other day. It is interesting how it all started but even more so how it ended

Growing up on my family farm out west in Oregon, my mother never had to make field meals. Despite milking cows, we never raised crops

You can find some pretty neat things by going through the archives of Hoard’s Dairyman

I am sure most of you know that women are starting to take on more responsibility in the agricultural industry. Back in the 1940s and 1950s, you would see a lot of husbands running the farms while the...