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Seven Tips to Help Calves Beat the Heat
Seven Tips to Help Calves Beat the Heat

The heat is on, and calves feel it, too. Here are five strategies to help calves cope as summer sizzles on.

Another Round of DMC Payments Coming: The Lowest Milk Income Margin Ever
Another Round of DMC Payments Coming: The Lowest Milk Income Margin Ever

Another round of Dairy Margin Coverage payments will be coming to producer’s mailboxes, making this the largest payment yet.

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Three ways to tackle inaccurate dairy data
Three ways to tackle inaccurate dairy data

Everything about how you manage your cows circles back to accurate data.

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Texas Farmers Battle Wild Weather at Planting, Prompts USDA to Cut Cotton Acres in June Report
Texas Farmers Battle Wild Weather at Planting, Prompts USDA to Cut Cotton Acres in June Report

Farmers across the Texas High Plains received a deluge of rainfall right at planting, and while the moisture was needed, the sudden switch prevented some farmers from planting their intended cotton acres this year.

Game Changer for Soybeans? USDA Ignites Fireworks in the Markets With Two Major Acreage Surprises
Game Changer for Soybeans? USDA Ignites Fireworks in the Markets With Two Major Acreage Surprises

USDA released a few big surprises in the June acreage report, including a spike in corn acres and a large reduction in soybean acres. The agency also forecasts grain stocks below trade expectations.

Derecho Packs Punch of 100 MPH Winds, Flattens Cornfields and Crushes Grain Bins Across the Midwest
Derecho Packs Punch of 100 MPH Winds, Flattens Cornfields and Crushes Grain Bins Across the Midwest

Hurricane-force winds swept from northern Missouri and Iowa all the way east to Illinois and Indiana. The derecho brought wind gusts up to 100 mph, flattening cornfields, but it also drenched soils with crucial rains.

America's Largest Cattle Emissions Research Facility Unveiled at Colorado State University
America's Largest Cattle Emissions Research Facility Unveiled at Colorado State University

Nestled in a beautiful secluded mountain valley at Colorado State University beef feedlot in Ft. Collins served as the location for AgNext’s climate-smart research facility ribbon cutting ceremony earlier this month.

Growing the Next Generation of Conservationists
Growing the Next Generation of Conservationists

Pheasants Forever partners with local farmers, FFA chapter to create on-farm habitat for pollinators.

Dairy Markets Continue to Be At Risk
Dairy Markets Continue to Be At Risk

Dairy markets continue to be in peril. On the CME Dairy Spot Call, the block-barrel spread shrunk some more as barrels came down over 3 cents while blocks were the same.

EPA to Release More WOTUS Rule Information
EPA to Release More WOTUS Rule Information

EPA plans to revise the "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS) regulation by Sept. 1. Both the EPA and the Corps of Engineers have regulatory duties for federal waterways.

Recent Rains Didn't Put a Dent in the Midwest Drought, 70% of U.S. Corn Crop Now Hit by Drought
Recent Rains Didn't Put a Dent in the Midwest Drought, 70% of U.S. Corn Crop Now Hit by Drought

Even with rains sweeping the Northern Corn Belt last weekend, the latest drought monitor shows drought continues to spread across Illinois with D2 (Severe Drought) taking a 28-point jump in a week.

Two Farmers From Opposite Ends of the Country Discuss Challenges Facing Their Dairies
Two Farmers From Opposite Ends of the Country Discuss Challenges Facing Their Dairies

Two producers on the opposite side of the country: Dwayne Faber of Washington and Val Lavigne of New York joined AgriTalk host Chip Flory and spoke about the challenges facing their dairies.

Minnesota Dairy Plant Announces Big Expansion Plans
Minnesota Dairy Plant Announces Big Expansion Plans

Bongards Creameries, a leading national cheese and whey manufacture recently announced a $125 million expansion project. The project will increase the plant’s capacity to take in 5.5 million lbs. of milk per day.

Commodity Markets Continue to Prove Volatile
Commodity Markets Continue to Prove Volatile

Volatility continues to run rampant through commodity markets. Rains in the Midwest have given dairy producers a breather on the run for higher corn and soybean meal prices, but it also fizzles out the support in milk.

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Poor Air Quality from Wildfire Smoke can put Livestock, Pets at Risk

Areas in the upper Midwest, Mid-South and Mid-Atlantic are being impacted. The American Veterinary Medical Association says to monitor animals as well as people and take precautions to keep everyone safe.

Ghost Manure Digesters Scheme Sends California Man to Prison
Ghost Manure Digesters Scheme Sends California Man to Prison

A California man has shown that ghost cattle are unnecessary to create a Ponzi scheme, just ghost manure. Or, at least, ghost manure digesters.

11 Ways to Practice Random Acts of Kindness on the Farm
11 Ways to Practice Random Acts of Kindness on the Farm

Don’t let day-to-day farm tasks stand in your way of showing some extra gratitude to your hardworking employees.

Top Producer Winner Launches Second Children’s Book
Top Producer Winner Launches Second Children’s Book

Louise Malecha wears her titles as a badge of honor—that of a farm mom, farm wife, nana, businesswoman and entrepreneur. With her newly released second book, Malecha can also add published author to her long resume.

McConnell: Extra funding for farm bill ‘hard to come by'
McConnell: Extra funding for farm bill ‘hard to come by'

While Sen. McConnell says the budget has little give, Sen. Boozeman has consistently said he will not support a farm bill that doesn't provide an increase in the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program's reference prices.

prison at joilet
California Man Sentenced: An Unbelievable Multimillion-Dollar Cow Manure Scheme

According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office, a California man has been sentenced to more than six years in prison due to his involvement in a nearly $9 million cow manure Ponzi scheme.

High Production Costs Could Weigh on the Ag Economy Through 2024, New Survey of Economists Finds
High Production Costs Could Weigh on the Ag Economy Through 2024, New Survey of Economists Finds

The Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor is a new survey of nearly 50 economists. Most ag economists agree the next 12 months could produce more financial pressure for agriculture, but their views vary depending on commodity.

Plan Your Budget-Friendly Cookout: AFBF Reveals Insights on 2023 Independence Day Food Prices
Plan Your Budget-Friendly Cookout: AFBF Reveals Insights on 2023 Independence Day Food Prices

Families can expect to pay $67.73 to host an Independence Day cookout for 10 people, the American Farm Bureau Federation reports, a decrease of 3% year over year, yet 14% higher than two years ago.

USDA Proposes Only Serving Chocolate Milk to High School Students
USDA Proposes Only Serving Chocolate Milk to High School Students

It appears that chocolate milk's days in schools across the country could be numbered. The reason behind the potential ban? A war on added sugars.

Dairy Exports Facing Headwinds in 2023
Dairy Exports Facing Headwinds in 2023

With the U.S. dairy exports documenting their worst year-over-year decline in four years, Ben Laine with Terrain says the headwinds facing dairy exports side of the equation is what concerns him the most right now.

The Road Back Home Began with Leaving for these Young Dairy Producers
The Road Back Home Began with Leaving for these Young Dairy Producers

Recently on a Farm Journal Milk Business webinar, three dairy producers shared their journey back to the farm along with the challenges they’ve faced along the way.

U.S. Senators Call for PFAS Funding in 2023 Farm Bill
U.S. Senators Call for PFAS Funding in 2023 Farm Bill

Bipartisan group calls for Farm Bill to include Healthy H2O Act to help rural communities, farmers struggling with PFAS contamination.

Op-Ed: How Fringe Animal Groups Threaten Food Production
Op-Ed: How Fringe Animal Groups Threaten Food Production

The anti-farmer movement now underway by fringe extremist groups is not pro-animal. It is extremism promoting regressive policies that will chip away at America's historically stable -- and affordable -- food supply.

High Beef Prices to Encourage On-Going Dairy Culling
High Beef Prices to Encourage On-Going Dairy Culling

As beef production falls, meatpackers will be looking to dairy producers for cattle

World’s Largest Dairy Processor, Lactalis, Plans Expansion in Chicago
World’s Largest Dairy Processor, Lactalis, Plans Expansion in Chicago

France’s Groups Lactalis, the world’s largest dairy maker, is expanding in Chicago after a previous $3.2 billion deal made in 2020 with Kraft Heinz Co.

Dairy Gas Safety Video for On-Farm Employees
Dairy Gas Safety Video for On-Farm Employees

Dangerous gases from manure, silage, and equipment pose a hazard – often unseen and potentially deadly – to dairy employees.

Minnesota Dairy Farmer Shares His Experience Representing U.S. Dairy in Southeast Asia
Minnesota Dairy Farmer Shares His Experience Representing U.S. Dairy in Southeast Asia

Dairy farmer Charles Krause traveled to Southeast Asia where he and fellow dairy producers learned more about how the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) mission has helped increase demand for U.S. dairy products.

Stabenow Proposes $20 Billion Farm Bill Solution?
Stabenow Proposes $20 Billion Farm Bill Solution?

Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) opened the door to shifting almost $20 billion from her party’s climate and tax credit law enacted last year to more general spending in the upcoming farm bill.

Ag Labor Working Group Created to Gather Input from Producers
Ag Labor Working Group Created to Gather Input from Producers

The Committee on Ag is looking to solve workforce issues with the formation of the Ag Labor Working Group. "Reforms are desperately needed to address this pressing issue," said Co-Chair Rick Crawford (R-Ar.).

Ag Labor Working Group Created to Gather Input from Producers
Ag Labor Working Group Created to Gather Input from Producers

The Committee on Ag is looking to solve workforce issues with the formation of the Ag Labor Working Group. "Reforms are desperately needed to address this pressing issue," said Co-Chair Rick Crawford (R-Ar.).

Drought Watch: 64% of U.S. Corn Crop Now Covered by Drought
Drought Watch: 64% of U.S. Corn Crop Now Covered by Drought

Drought is deepening across the Midwest with 64% of the corn crop and 57% of the soybean crop across the U.S. now covered in drought, a sizable jump in just a week after NASS showed a historic drop in condition ratings.

Dairyland Labs Offers New Manure Testing Options
Dairyland Labs Offers New Manure Testing Options

Manure analysis can provide telling insights into what nutrients actually are being digested in a ration.

5 Traits All Great Farm Leaders Should Possess
5 Traits All Great Farm Leaders Should Possess

To boost employee retention, farms need leaders who can effectively inspire and guide others. The job often requires its leaders to possess a handful of characteristics not necessarily used on other areas of the farm.

Unimpressive USDA Milk Production Report Spells Surplus in More Ways Than One
Unimpressive USDA Milk Production Report Spells Surplus in More Ways Than One

After hearing reports of milk being dumped due to the surplus of milk on the market, the recent USDA Milk Production report wasn’t surprising. The May report documented a 0.6% increase over a year prior.

Scrutiny of Land Purchases by Foreigners Proposed in New Bill
Scrutiny of Land Purchases by Foreigners Proposed in New Bill

Under the bill, the USDA and the FDA would become members of CFIUS and their powers would be expanded to better consider ag needs when it decides if a purchase would create national security risks.

4 Reasons Why Milk Prices Are Considerably Lower Than 2022
4 Reasons Why Milk Prices Are Considerably Lower Than 2022

Last year’s record milk price year fueled producers to strategically plan how to utilize the extra income from strong milk prices. Now many producers are wondering what has changed to wildly swing milk prices.

New Dairy Products Poised to Boost Consumer Demand
New Dairy Products Poised to Boost Consumer Demand

To address consumers’ desires for convenience, novelty, quality, and nutrition, seven unique new dairy products are hitting the U.S. marketplace.

USDA Allegedly Impacted by Russian-Speaking Hackers
USDA Allegedly Impacted by Russian-Speaking Hackers

According to USDA, Russian-speaking hackers are the likely suspects. The Office of Personnel Management and two organizations within the Department of Energy also were apparently targeted or breached.

2023 Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference Three-Minute Thesis Contest
2023 Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference Three-Minute Thesis Contest

The inaugural edition of the Three-Minute Student Thesis (3MT) contest with a poster component was held in conjunction with the 2023 Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference in Dubuque, Iowa on June 7-8.

Bupleurum Extract – A Heat Stress Antidote?
Bupleurum Extract – A Heat Stress Antidote?

A popular Chinese herbal supplement is being evaluated as a potential feed additive to mitigate the effects of heat stress in dairy cattle.

Largest Dairy Cooperative Withdraws from International Dairy Foods Association
Largest Dairy Cooperative Withdraws from International Dairy Foods Association

DFA decided to withdraw its membership from the IDFA over IDFA’s decision to proceed with its single-issued petition to modify the federal milk marketing order (FMMO) system.

U.S. and China Relationship Status: It's Still Complicated
U.S. and China Relationship Status: It's Still Complicated

The U.S. and China have reportedly made “progress” and agreed to stabilize their relationship, but no major breakthroughs were outlined during the two-day meeting between U.S. and China high-ranking officials.

Production Problems in the Eastern Corn Belt? A Look at NOAA's New Summer Drought Outlook
Production Problems in the Eastern Corn Belt? A Look at NOAA's New Summer Drought Outlook

The updated drought monitor indicates dryness will continue to expand across eastern Missouri, eastern Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Carbon Friendly Can Be Budget Friendly, Too
Carbon Friendly Can Be Budget Friendly, Too

You might say Shawn Saylor was regenerative before regenerative was cool. The Rockwood, Penn. dairy producer has used no-till farming methods for as long as he can remember.

Allflex Reports Ear Tags Are Back in Full Production Mode
Allflex Reports Ear Tags Are Back in Full Production Mode

After a couple of years of shortages spurred by the pandemic, ear tags from Merck Animal Health are in full production and back up to pre-COVID production levels.

US Has Seen Consistent Growth in Ag Exports to Mexico Under NAFTA, USMCA
US Has Seen Consistent Growth in Ag Exports to Mexico Under NAFTA, USMCA

Over the 29 years of free trade, U.S. ag exports to Mexico increased both in terms of volume and value, although there were some years where growth was not positive.