Anna-Lisa Laca

When she’s not helping on the dairy, accomplished agriculture journalist Anna-Lisa Laca reports about all things agriculture—online, in social media and in print as the Online and Business Editor for Dairy Today and Top Producer. Laca, who served as Social Media Editor for Farm Journal early in her career, owns and runs a dairy with her husband, Scott, and grew up on a West Coast cow-calf operation. Follow @AnnaLaca1 Friend Anna-Lisa Laca

Latest Stories

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Dairy Production

Be Mindful of Mycotoxin Risk in New Silage

As dairy producers transition into newly fermented corn silage it’s important they pay attention to the potential for higher-than-average levels of molds and mycotoxins.

October 24, 2023 12:05 PM

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Jersey_Activity Collar_Stall_Taylor Leach

Education

Refine Cow Comfort to Increase Profitability

The focus on cow comfort and what that means for facility design has come a long way in the past 30 years.

March 17, 2023 03:15 PM

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Labor

3 Ways to Boost Team Retention and Success

One of the best ways to retain employees and create the most efficient team possible is to keep team members engaged

March 17, 2023 02:46 PM

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Colostrum

Dairy Production

Five Colostrum Storage Tips

Here are five tips to ensure you’re storing and handling colostrum properly.

October 27, 2022 02:51 PM

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Direct payment assistance to dairy farmers was announced at 20 cents per hundredweight, with total payments capped at $250,000 per farm operation or legal entity.

News

Which States, Counties Will Have the Highest Dairy MFP Payments?

Direct payment assistance to dairy farmers was announced at 20 cents per hundredweight, with total payments capped at $250,000 per farm operation or legal entity.

October 05, 2022 01:44 PM

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Time is running out on 2022, so push pause soon to discuss year-end taxes with your financial team that can help set you up for success later on.

Labor

Employers Qualify for Tax Credit to Offset COVID-19 Paid Time Off

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides that eligible employees are entitled to paid sick time because of COVID-19, and employers are eligible for a tax credit to offset the expense.

September 21, 2022 07:57 PM

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Dairy Calf Facility

Education

How Efficient, Well-Designed Facilities Improve Calf Care

Raising quality heifers is a priority on every farm.

January 07, 2022 01:50 PM

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"We'd like to be able to do it earlier than that," he said. "If we can look and see that we're going to have plenty of dollars yet, of course we haven't even announced the third group of commodities yet and we're still partway through signup."

Milk Prices

USDA Leader Says Farmers Can Expect CFAP Round Two Next Month

USDA’s undersecretary for farm production and conservation, farmers can expect to receive the remaining 20% by the end of August.

November 03, 2021 02:08 PM

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USDA released some clarification as to where cattle fit in each category.

Policy

USDA Clarifies Cattle Categories in CFAP Program

Check out this helpful chart from USDA.

October 28, 2021 02:18 PM

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I’m not sure how a company that sources its coffee from Asia and always has a drive through line 10 cars deep is going to reduce its carbon footprint by cutting milk, which on average travels less than 100 miles from cow to coffee shop.

Opinion

Dear Starbucks, I Think You’re Confused

The coffee giant recently announced they’ll be encouraging customers to turn away from dairy and toward plant-based beverages in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint.

October 28, 2021 01:05 PM

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Productive dairy cows may experience heat stress when the Temperature Humidity Index (THI) is 68 or greater.

Education

Back to Basics: 5 Simple Ways to Abate Heat Stress

Productive dairy cows may experience heat stress when the Temperature Humidity Index (THI) is 68 or greater.

June 11, 2021 01:02 PM

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Dairy Production

How to Keep Milk Production Up in Cold Weather

When it is cold, cows can divert their energy into maintaining body temperature instead of producing milk. What can you do to avoid that?

January 19, 2021 01:28 PM

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Companies are reporting small applicant pools and wait times of six months or longer to fill open positions.

Dairy Production

Here’s the Benefit of Feeding a High Protein Diet During Early Lactation

Researchers at the Ohio State recently completed a study evaluating how dietary protein and amino acid supplementation influenced milk production during the first three to four weeks of lactation.

January 15, 2021 11:47 AM

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While a recession could put a damper on demand, and in turn milk prices, inflation hasn’t taken a large bite out of either yet. However, the true test will be in the months ahead, and it could put any price forecasts on a detour as uncertainty mounts.

Milk Prices

November Dairy Products Report Reveals Demand Issues

This week, USDA released the Dairy Products report for November.

January 08, 2021 11:31 AM

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Labor

Dairy Labor Force Threatened by Overtime Laws

Throughout the country, overtime laws continue to threaten the dairy labor force.

January 07, 2021 09:25 AM

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