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Karen Bohnert

Dairy Editorial Director

Karen Bohnert is the Dairy Editorial Director at Farm Journal, overseeing Dairy Herd Management and Milk Business Quarterly since 2021. A lifelong advocate for dairy, Karen draws from both professional expertise and personal experience—she and her husband operate Bohnert Jerseys, a 750-cow dairy in East Moline, Illinois.

Raised on a dairy farm in Oregon, her editorial career spans freelance journalism and roles at organizations like Swiss Valley Farms and the American Jersey Cattle Association. She was named a Distinguished Alumni Leader by the Holstein Foundation.

Latest Stories
Stephanie Nash is loud and boisterous…or as she likes to call it, very passionate about the dairy industry, as she enjoys servings as a front-line advocator to connect with consumers about where their food comes from.
Becky Nyman of Hilmar, Calif., recently visited with AgriTalk host, Chip Flory, about being the next generation dairy farmer. Nyman works alongside her brother on the home farm where they milk 1,200 Jerseys.
Even the most efficient and profitable herds need a transition plan from one generation to the next. Without it, they can disperse and become a statistic.
While many in the agricultural sector wonder who will make up the next generation of farmers, another legitimate question is who will make up the next generation of industry professionals.
Anyone who wants a say in how business assets are handled after they pass on should have some sort of transition plan in place. If not done correctly, then the outcome might be settled at a farm auction.
Many producers across the county have their eyes open to the future and are eagerly embracing opportunities to grow any way they can.
We asked surveyors what avenues they are exploring to generate added profit to help with their farm’s overall profitability, and the results showed that branded beef and agritourism are leading the way.
In the ever-evolving marketplace, innovation remains at the forefront of progress. Betty Berning of HighGround Dairy recently joined AgriTalk to talk about dairy markets and shed light on some developments and trends.
Thirty years ago, I received my high school diploma. As my daughter, Cassie, recently walked across the stage to receive her high school diploma over the weekend, I thought about the advice I had to offer her.
Our herdsman, Julio’s attention to detail and good eye for cattle allows us to put attention into strategically planning the several expansion projects that we’ve taken on over the last 18 years.
More and more dairies are looking to technology to help dial in on efficiencies and help spell future success of their operations.
Hesston Geddes admits the opportunity to live and work in Hawaii’s lush tropical backdrop enticed him to travel to Waipahu, to take on the manager role at Cloverleaf Dairy, the last commercial dairy in Hawaii.
2024 started on a downward slope, as year-over-year milk production continued to drop 1.3% in February. The U.S. milking cowherd dropped below year-ago levels each month since June 2023.
Larson Acres in Evansville, Wis., don’t have much turnover when it comes to the herdsman or herd manager position. The majority of the farm’s 75 employees have been with the Larsons for more than three years.
Farm Journal’s State of the Dairy Industry 2024 Report surveyed 210 dairy producers throughout the U.S. Our forward-thinking survey asked participants about the challenges they face, along with future opportunities.