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Oat Shortages May Dictate Starter Grain Alternatives
Oat Shortages May Dictate Starter Grain Alternatives

In these tumultuous times of drought, global unrest, and supply chain disruptions, feed grains may not be as plentiful, available, and affordable as we have traditionally enjoyed.

Buckle Up: Dispute Panel Called to Action by US in Mexico’s GMO Corn Ban
Buckle Up: Dispute Panel Called to Action by US in Mexico’s GMO Corn Ban

“Mexico’s decree, which runs counter to scientific findings and is in direct violation of USMCA, is negatively impacting American corn growers,” said Tom Haag, NCGA president.

Effective Ways to Make Employee Training More Engaging
Effective Ways to Make Employee Training More Engaging

Brett Barlass works hard to set a positive culture on his Hilmar, Calif. dairy. The long-term manager finds unique and fun ways to engage with his employees, making meetings more fun and effective.

'Adopt a Cow' Program Brings Agriculture to the Classroom, Registration Closes Sept. 15
'Adopt a Cow' Program Brings Agriculture to the Classroom, Registration Closes Sept. 15

The free program, which impacted 1.2 million students worldwide last year, is a year-long, interactive learning opportunity that gives students an inside look at a dairy farm in the United States.

Culling Continues, Springer Heifers Remain Steady
Culling Continues, Springer Heifers Remain Steady

Holstein springing heifer values have held together in the past month despite a noteworthy contraction of the national dairy herd.

Tips to Determine the Right Number of Replacement Heifers for Your Dairy
Tips to Determine the Right Number of Replacement Heifers for Your Dairy

Raising too many heifers can be costly for producers, which is why David Erf with Zoetis recommends producers to check their cattle inventory numbers as much as they do milk prices.

Dairy Report: Profit Margins Continue to Look Bleak
Dairy Report: Profit Margins Continue to Look Bleak

Milk prices have improved slightly, but dairy producers continue to face difficult profit margins.

New Bill Excuses Illinois Youth from School Absence to Attend 4-H and FFA Events
New Bill Excuses Illinois Youth from School Absence to Attend 4-H and FFA Events

Just in time for school to start, in the midst of the Illinois State Fair, students across the state will no longer be penalized for participating in a 4-H or FFA event.

Technology: "Let Cows be Cows"
Technology: "Let Cows be Cows"

The best and most effective technologies in dairy production today are not necessarily the ones with the most bells and whistles. Rather, they’re the ones that simply “let cows be cows.”

Market Analyst Offers Insights into Dairy
Market Analyst Offers Insights into Dairy

Alyssa Badger with HighGround Dairy shares that producers have felt the whiplash milk prices have delivered, swinging from record highs last spring to extreme lows this summer which was caused by a combination of events.

Try to Keep Dry to Prevent Crypto
Try to Keep Dry to Prevent Crypto

The Cryptosporidium parasite is endemic to even the tidiest dairy farms, and is especially threatening to calf health. But it can be kept at bay in the calf management system with one simple and consistent approach.

John Phipps: Is There Really a Shortage of Truck Drivers?
John Phipps: Is There Really a Shortage of Truck Drivers?

In early 2022, a possible trucker shortage grabbed headlines, but John Phipps says even today, there isn't much hard data to substantiate that alarm.

Michigan State University Copes with Mass Shooting with Cow Cuddling
Michigan State University Copes with Mass Shooting with Cow Cuddling

In the aftermath of a mass shooting earlier this year on the campus of Michigan State University, the university’s dairy has served as a place for comfort by inviting students to de-stress by petting MSU cows and calves.

It’s Cool to Protect Vaccine Integrity
It’s Cool to Protect Vaccine Integrity

The most precious cargo in a barn fridge is most likely the biologics you purchase to vaccinate your herd to prevent diseases. How are you protecting them?

Managing Pain at All Life Stages is Key to Cow Welfare, Productivity
Managing Pain at All Life Stages is Key to Cow Welfare, Productivity

Pain can impact cow health and productivity at all stages of life. Management practices to avoid or minimize painful experiences can deliver benefits to animal welfare, productivity and consumers’ perceptions.

Want to See Garth Brooks in Concert? Register for the 2023 Milk Business Conference
Want to See Garth Brooks in Concert? Register for the 2023 Milk Business Conference

Dairy producers and industry professionals who register before Sept. 30th for the Milk Business Conference will earn a chance to win three concert tickets to see Garth Brooks live in concert at Caesar’s Palace on Dec. 1.

The proposed Nebraska law would make it easier for farmers to move heavy implements on Nebraska highways.
Smooth Criminal: 3 Targets Thieves Look for on Your Farm

Austin Kings, rural crimes investigator for Missouri Highway Patrol, takes a look at how a criminal might view your farm and home—what they see that producers don’t, and how producers can prevent becoming a target. 

Give Your Farm Employees the Boost They Need
Give Your Farm Employees the Boost They Need

Reshaping how we view training can give employees the boost they need. Producers should take a broader view to reenergize and empower the workforce.

Drought No More, Farmers Watch Western Kansas Corn Fields Get Hammered by Hail
Drought No More, Farmers Watch Western Kansas Corn Fields Get Hammered by Hail

What’s often called the “white combine” is hammering western Kansas this year, an ugly reality for an area that’s finally receiving rain after nearly five years of drought.

IDFA Opens Nominations for Annual Industry Awards
IDFA Opens Nominations for Annual Industry Awards

IDFA is seeking nominations for four top awards presented annually to leaders in the dairy industry, including the 2024 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year Award. Nominations open today and will close on Friday, Oct. 27.

Drought-stressed Corn Silage Produces Nutritional Changes
Drought-stressed Corn Silage Produces Nutritional Changes

With drought bearing down on much of the country this summer, the incoming corn silage crop is going to require some close nutritional evaluation.

Three Famous Athletes Join the Famous Butter Cow at the Iowa State Fair
Three Famous Athletes Join the Famous Butter Cow at the Iowa State Fair

A few things you can count on if you make your way to Des Moines, Iowa for the Iowa State Fair—corn dogs, livestock shows and the iconic Iowa State Fair butter cow. 

John Phipps: Why Water is the New Oil for Landowners
John Phipps: Why Water is the New Oil for Landowners

John Phipps says there are signs that water is the new oil as water rights turn into water fights across the western U.S. He thinks it's a battle that could only heat up in the coming years.

If You Gave a Dairy Farmer a Billion Dollars…
If You Gave a Dairy Farmer a Billion Dollars…

Lottery fever is sweeping across the U.S. as the Mega Millions jackpot has hit a whopping $1.58 billion, the largest drawing in history.

Create a Mentally Sustainable Farm
Create a Mentally Sustainable Farm

What's your 1-, 5- and 10-year plan? Sustainable personal growth comes from an intentional growth plan, yet few farmers have one for themselves.

Pagel’s Herd Manager Shares How Tech Upped Wisconsin’s Largest Family-Owned Dairy Farm’s Game
Pagel’s Herd Manager Shares How Tech Upped Wisconsin’s Largest Family-Owned Dairy Farm’s Game

Technology and efficiency go hand in hand. This is what Chris Szydel says, as he shares how incorporating technology into his role as herd manager has been a game changer at Wisconsin’s largest family-owned dairy.

Checkoff Shifts Schools Strategy To Meet New Demands
Checkoff Shifts Schools Strategy To Meet New Demands

Transition with NFL allows for broader partnership impact.

YouTube Michigan Dairy Farm Star Showcases His Farm Messages to Thousands
YouTube Michigan Dairy Farm Star Showcases His Farm Messages to Thousands

There is a reason why dairy farmer Kip Siegler’s YouTube channel is growing. His upbeat personality and his ability to show viewers firsthand what it is like to farm in fast-paced videos resonates well with his audience.

Redhead Creamery Pushes Sustainability Efforts Forward
Redhead Creamery Pushes Sustainability Efforts Forward

When it comes to sustainability, longevity is certainly part of the equation at Redhead Creamery. This farm proves is investing on both sides of their businesses to drive their dairy forward.

DMC Payments Surpass $611 Million for the First Half of 2023
DMC Payments Surpass $611 Million for the First Half of 2023

For the first half of the year, nearly $612 million in government payments have been issued, a vastly different picture compared to last year.

 The Sustainability Paradox
The Sustainability Paradox

Sustainability is crop farming at the next level. It is not a call to go hug a tree. Instead, sustainability is about turning dirt into soil.

URUS Group LP Acquires Majority Stake in Leachman Cattle of Colorado
URUS Group LP Acquires Majority Stake in Leachman Cattle of Colorado

The URUS Group LP (URUS), based in Madison WI, has announced the purchase of a majority interest in Leachman Cattle of Colorado(Leachman), based in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Align Your Team For Regenerative Ag Changes
Align Your Team For Regenerative Ag Changes

“When you look at the big picture, ultimately regenerative agriculture practices will increase the value of your land over time,” says Jerry Hatfield.

New York Senators Request 2% and Whole Milk Be Allowed Back in Schools
New York Senators Request 2% and Whole Milk Be Allowed Back in Schools

Members of New York’s Senate Agriculture Committee are raising their voices to the state’s members of Congress, asking them to allow 2% and whole milk to be served once again in schools.

Higher Interest Rates Cool Farm Lending
Higher Interest Rates Cool Farm Lending

New operating loans have interest rates double compared to 2021

Better Days are Ahead
Better Days are Ahead

Bad times don’t last forever. Neither do good days. The mood of the industry quickly changed from an upbeat tone in 2022 to a sad melancholy note this summer.

Select Sires Announces Merger, Four Cooperatives Will Now Become One
Select Sires Announces Merger, Four Cooperatives Will Now Become One

Recently, the board of directors from Select Sires four individual cooperatives voted unanimously to merge together as one full-service A.I. cooperative.

Senators Look To Rein-In Abuse Of Farm Payment System
Senators Look To Rein-In Abuse Of Farm Payment System

Sens. Chuck Grassley and Sherrod Brown have introduced the Farm Program Integrity Act. It would create a cap of $250,000 in commodity support for a single farm operation and, potentially, some undesirable side effects.

The Power of You: Telling Someone What They Want to Hear, What They Need to Hear or Just Listen
The Power of You: Telling Someone What They Want to Hear, What They Need to Hear or Just Listen

Hank Wagner, a farmer and a certified leadership training coach, encourages us to lift everyone up around us by telling them not only what they want to hear, but also what they need to hear or just be a good listener.

The Secret to Balancing Kids and Farm: Change Your Perspective
The Secret to Balancing Kids and Farm: Change Your Perspective

Childcare presents a unique challenge for producers looking to balance farm and family. Is there a way to allow children to free-range without compromising safety, mental health and productivity?

Dairy Report: What China’s Slowing Economy Means for Dairy
Dairy Report: What China’s Slowing Economy Means for Dairy

China’s slowing economy is not helping global dairy prices. Here's why.

New Custom Rates For Livestock Services Published
New Custom Rates For Livestock Services Published

What should you expect to pay for custom baling or silage chopping? A new report from the University of Nebraska may offer guidelines. A webinar covering the livestock-specific report will be held at noon on Thursday.

Milk Protein Infused Bandages Shown to Improve Wound Healing
Milk Protein Infused Bandages Shown to Improve Wound Healing

We all know real dairy plays a significant role in a healthy lifestyle. But a new study has found that the power of milk can also speed up wound healing.

Sustainable Then, Sustainable Now
Sustainable Then, Sustainable Now

While a lot has changed for Ballard Family Dairy and Cheese in Gooding, Idaho, in the last ten years, one thing has remained consistent—their drive for sustainability.  

How to Handle and Dispose of Sharps and Unused Vaccine Products
How to Handle and Dispose of Sharps and Unused Vaccine Products

Kansas State University beef cattle veterinarians share tips on disposing products, needles and syringes that are a risk to humans.

Saying Adios to Corporate Career, How Mary Pat Sass' Leap of Faith is Now Inspiring Others Through Social Media
Saying Adios to Corporate Career, How Mary Pat Sass' Leap of Faith is Now Inspiring Others Through Social Media

As Mary Pat Sass’ social media shows glimpses of life from the seat of the tractor, it’s not the view she envisioned for her life even a decade ago. But through humor and candor, she's now an inspiration to others.

June’s Dairy Margin Coverage Payment Sets a New Record
June’s Dairy Margin Coverage Payment Sets a New Record

As predicted, a very large Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) payment is coming to producer’s mailboxes. In fact, June’s DMC income over feed cost calculation set a new record low at just $3.65/cwt.

digester dairy
The Basics of Carbon Credits

Many discussions about becoming carbon neutral have been geared toward carbon credits and markets. Some calling it a potential gold rush for agriculture. However, the carbon market can be very confusing to understand.

The Global Feed Commodity Crystal Ball
The Global Feed Commodity Crystal Ball

By 2031, an estimated additional 71 million tons of animal protein will be needed globally, thus boosting demand for livestock feed commodities – mostly corn and soybeans.

Dairy Report: Low Milk Prices and Higher Beef Prices Take a Hit on Dairy Cow Numbers
Dairy Report: Low Milk Prices and Higher Beef Prices Take a Hit on Dairy Cow Numbers

The USDA failed to deliver good news to dairy producers in it’s recent U.S. Milk Production Report.