Jim Dickrell

Jim Dickrell is the editor Dairy Herd Management and is based in Monticello, Minn. He has 27 years of publication experience, and also operated his family’s Wisconsin family dairy farm for three years following graduation from the University of Wisconsin—River Falls. He also holds a Masters Degree from Hamline University, St. Paul, Minn.

Latest Stories
A global glut of cotton means that far fewer acres of cotton will be planted in 2009, squeezing what is already a tight cottonseed supply.
October dairy cow slaughter slowed up a bit compared to year earlier levels, USDA reported this morning.
Global dairy markets will remain weak through the first half of 2009 due to weak economic conditions worldwide and plentiful dairy supplies, say Rabobank analysts in a report released this morning.
USDA reported this afternoon that U.S. milk production declined 0.6% compared to a year ago. USDA is also reporting 9.085 million cows were on U.S. dairies in January, down 227,000 head from a year ago.
The sixth annual Midwest Dairy Challenge drew 66 dairy and animal science students from 15 universities and colleges to the Shisler Center in Wooster, Ohio, February 11-13.
Bonus content: More on risk management: Lookout Ridge Consulting Valley Futures Trading While it’s not always possible to lock in a margin through hedging, knowing your cost of production and monthly cash flow needs are critical in any risk management plan.
The crew at the Michigan State University (MSU) dairy farm has been able to overcome these obstacles for two consecutive years to be awarded the distinction of being a National Dairy Quality Award (NDQA) Platinum level dairy farm.
People may avoid milk and other dairy products due to concerns about lactose intolerance, but eliminating these nutrient-rich foods may not only be unnecessary to manage the condition – it could impact diet and health, concludes a panel of experts assembled by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
USDA released its January Livestock Slaughter Report this morning, showing 49,000 fewer dairy cows were sent to slaughter this January compared to a year ago. Keep in mind, however, that the last Cooperatives Working Together Round of the 2008 culling program was still being wrapped in January 2009. It likely accounted for many of those extra cull cows last year.
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) applauded yesterday’s introduction of a House bill that would allow for open travel for all Americans to Cuba and further facilitate U.S. agricultural exports to that nation.
Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition had made several upgrades to the business’ Web site, AHDairy.com, to provide the most useful and relevant information for on-farm dairy nutrition solutions.
National Milk’s Fourth Quarter 2009 Import Watch reports that milk protein concentrate (MPC) imports declined 18% in 2009 to 51,775 metric tons. This is also the lowest level of MPC imports in five years.
The charge of the Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) Subcommittee that is part of the overall NMPF Strategic Planning effort has been expanded to include a thorough review of supply-demand approaches, as well as an examination of ways to expand CWT’s programs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued its final decision Friday to limit the unfair pricing exemption enjoyed by large, vertically-integrated farmer-owned bottling plants
USDA reported in last week’s January milk production report that licensed dairy farm numbers dropped from an average of 57,127 in 2008 to 54,942 in 2009, a 3.8% decline.