Profit Tips
7 tips to be a better boss
(11/16/2009)
The No. 1 reason people leave jobs is poor supervisory behavior — in other words, bad bosses.
Listen closely
(11/16/2009)
Successful interpersonal relationships with clients, partners, colleagues, family and friends start with listening, says Bob Milligan, senior consultant for Dairy Strategies, a dairy-business-consulting service.
Scratch my back
(11/16/2009)
One part of cow comfort at Pagel’s Ponderosa in Kewaunee, Wis., is to provide cows with scratching posts.
Calf illness and death: Do your calves measure up?
(10/5/2009)
The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association has established a set of Gold Performance Standards for calf- and heifer-raisers.
Increase your nutrient use efficiency
(10/5/2009)
The U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center is highlighting a series of tools to help measure and manage feed, manure, and fertilizer nutrients on dairy farms.
Genomic proofs hold up
(10/1/2009)
Dairy farmers face a decision these days about how heavily to use young bulls with exceptional genomic proofs in herd-breeding programs.
Four-step plan for disputes
(8/29/2009)
Although no method is fail-proof when it comes to employee disputes, according to the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, this four-step plan used by family counselors might be helpful when confronting bad behavior.
5 ways to weather the economic crisis
(8/29/2009)
Mary Peabody, University of Vermont extension community resources and economic development specialist, offers these survival strategies that have proven useful during previous periods of economic uncertainty.
Best-management practices
(8/25/2009)
Participants at the recent Dairy Roundtable Discussion Sessions held by the Center for Dairy Excellence looked at five keys to highly profitable dairy operations: volume, capacity, efficiency, cost control, and growth.
Stress and depression in dairy families
(8/25/2009)
Many dairymen are losing $100 to $150 per cow per month — some more, some less.
Be careful when concentrating milk fed to calves
(8/15/2009)
The practice of adding milk replacer powder to whole milk may have some side-effects.
New York Dairy Profit Team Program
(8/10/2009)
The New York Center for Dairy Excellence (NYCDE) would like to bring Dairy Profit Teams to farms throughout the state of New York.
Be kind to your hoof trimmer
(8/5/2009)
A little extra effort goes a long way to make the foot care area on your dairy more comfortable for both animals and trimmers, says Jan Shearer, Iowa State University veterinarian.
Beware of predatory lenders
(8/5/2009)
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection cautions farmers against predatory loan companies that are taking advantage of the current economic situation.
'GPS' calf pneumonia problems
(7/24/2009)
You can’t do it with satellite technology, but the same principles behind global positioning system (GPS) technology can help you better anticipate and manage calf pneumonia problems.
Tires keep calf hutches cool
(7/15/2009)
To keep its calf hutches cool in the summer months, Jones Dairy in Veguita, N.M., uses old tires to lift the back of its calf hutches.
Cover hay for better quality
(7/15/2009)
Storage losses can represent easily 15 percent or more of the dry matter when bales are left uncovered and exposed to rain, says Alvaro Garcia, South Dakota State University extension dairy specialist.
Know your employees’ nationality
(7/15/2009)
It is common to lump all Spanish-speaking employees under the umbrella term “Hispanic.”
No mail thieves here
(6/9/2009)
To prevent the theft of mail, Scott Brothers Dairy in San Jacinto, Calif., installed these anti-theft mailboxes.
Cameras help with animal welfare
(6/8/2009)
Dutch Valley Farms in Clovis, N.M., installed cameras in its milking parlor and cameras in the back of the parlor where cows are pushed up.
Newborn health is high priority
(6/8/2009)
Exceptional calf care keeps death loss low at Ripp’s Dairy Valley in Dane, Wis.
How mineral mishaps occur
(6/1/2009)
It's easy to overfeed certain minerals in dairy diets. bill weiss, of the ohio state University, says mineral overload often comes from these six areas:
Float tanks can give down cows a leg up
(5/26/2009)
Flotation baths can be beneficial in helping down cows recover, says Jim Reynolds, of the Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center in Tulare, Calif.
No credit crunch here
(5/22/2009)
In the midst of disconcerting news about bankruptcies, bailouts and extreme market volatility, there’s good news for dairy producers — there’s money to be had for farm loans.
Check your bill
(5/21/2009)
Look at your electric bills and see where the money is going, says Neal Verfuerth, president of Orion Energy.
Save 50 cents per cow per day
(5/20/2009)
Improvement in your herd’s feed efficiency is one solution for surviving tight profit margins.
Do you Twitter?
(5/20/2009)
Business managers and owners should use social-networking tools like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to communicate with customers and influence consumers, says a recent issue of Forbes.
Set heifer goals
(5/18/2009)
Dave Fischer, University of Illinois extension dairy educator, outlined three goals of a good replacement-heifer program during a heifer-management Webinar hosted by the University of Illinois last month.
Don’t let warm weather spoil your silage
(5/15/2009)
Warm temperatures can create challenges for producers managing silage feed quality.
Aim for zero feed refusal
(5/14/2009)
“We need to do a better job of managing our bunks,” says Greg Bethard, of G&R Dairy Consulting in Wytheville, Va.
How fast is fast?
(5/11/2009)
One of the big advantages to genomic testing is that it significantly speeds up genetic progress.
I-9 or bust
(5/9/2009)
You need to comply and protect yourself from future litigation when it comes to immigration, says attorney Maria Andrade, of Boise, Idaho.
When to address community concerns
(5/5/2009)
Sharing your opinions about a specific event, such as the airing of an animal-abuse documentary or the release of a new film about the food system, may seem proactive.
Cut your hot-water cost
(5/2/2009)
Pastime Lakes Dairy in Lakeview, Calif., has managed to cut its cost of heating water.
Does cow comfort affect reproduction?
(4/27/2009)
The full impact of cow comfort on reproductive performance has not been fully quantified.
Book discusses distillers grains
(4/27/2009)
The Midwest Agribusiness Trade Research and Information Center at Iowa State University has published a book on using distillers grains as a feedstuff for livestock.
Brisket slope design help
(4/27/2009)
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have developed a detailed, step-by-step guide to help you design loose-bedded free-stalls with a brisket slope instead of a brisket board.
Staph mastitis alert
(4/20/2009)
Extreme cold temperatures and windy conditions this winter may have chapped cows’ teats, making them more susceptible to Staph mastitis.
Head off injury lawsuits
(4/20/2009)
A potential employee’s character can be an indication of how much trouble you encounter if that employee experiences a work-related injury.
Tips to prevent rural crime
(4/20/2009)
According to the California Farm Bureau Rural Crime Prevention Task Force, implementing these procedures on your farm or ranch will help prevent rural crime.
How profitable is your alfalfa stand?
(4/13/2009)
Is your alfalfa stand as profitable in the fourth year as it was in the second year? Or vice versa?
Spanish aid: Sulfur in distillers grains
(4/13/2009)
A new publication in Spanish from South Dakota State University gives information about sulfur in distillers grains as a consideration in feeding dairy cattle.
Hints for a more successful family dairy operation
(4/13/2009)
Ron Hanson, professor of agribusiness at the University of Nebraska, offers the following advice to help make your dairy business better.
Carcass shack
(4/6/2009)
Delta View Dairy built a “carcass shack” near the road for biosecurity and easy pickup of its dead animals.
Irrigated alfalfa guide available
(4/6/2009)
Irrigated Alfalfa Management is a 24-chapter publication that is designed to provide detailed, scientifically based comprehensive information about the growth, production, management and utilization of alfalfa grown under irrigation.
3 economic rules-of-thumb
(4/1/2009)
Dairy managers must not make economically “wrong” decisions (saving a dollar today while losing $10 six months later) these days.
Long-day lighting enhances heifer growth
(4/1/2009)
Giving heifers 16 to 18 hours of supplemental lighting in a 24-hour period appears to benefit their performance prior to puberty and later on in their first lactation.
Calves will love you for it!
(3/16/2009)
Here are 10 tips for helping calves get off to a healthy start.
Plug holes in your animal well-being program
(3/16/2009)
It is usually profitable to focus the greatest effort on the animals paying the bills — that fact cannot be overlooked.
Evaluate down cows
(3/16/2009)
The best way to combat the negative publicity associated with down cows is to minimize their occurrence and, if they do occur, tend to them promptly.
