Karen-Bohnert.jpg

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
The cows are back. Discover how Circle J Dairy is using vertical integration to bulletproof its future, showing that resilience is the secret ingredient in every bottle.
As state mandates dismantle century-old overtime exemptions, dairy producers face a squeeze play between rising labor costs, workforce shortages and the high-stakes push for automation.
The era of the average cow is over. Learn how 2026 genetic innovations are bulletproofing dairy herds against heat stress, rising feed costs and evolving supply chain demands.
For the past five years, I’ve stood in the gap between breaking news and the barn floor — logging thousands of miles to ensure the voices of U.S. dairy farmers reach their destination.
USDEC is marking 30 years in operation and a 1,168% rise in value. Learn why record 2026 export growth is the new foundation for the modern U.S. milk check.
As make allowances surge to $5.04 per cwt., the American Dairy Coalition is demanding USDA transparency to ensure that plant efficiency gains don’t become an invisible tax on the family farm.
Shift from managing tasks to leading people: Experts reveal the blueprint for building an elite dairy team through behavioral science, organizational development and disciplined accountability.
Top Story
As the beef-on-dairy boom matures, genetic verification and carcass consistency are the new keys to capturing $53/head premiums and avoiding leaving $66,000 on the table annually in 2026.
Top Story
From 45% post-expansion equity to elite cost control, discover the financial engineering and risk management strategies required to turn a low-price market into a strategic growth window.
Farmer Mac’s Brad Nordholm explains why data and energy are the new keys to credit, helping producers bridge the land-price gap and build a resilient future beyond the harvest.
Top Story
The goal of shifting to a margin mindset isn’t just about the money — it’s about clarity and control. It’s about ensuring the markets do not determine your legacy.
Top Story
Greg Bethard, TJ Tuls and Hank Hafliger reveal how a CEO mindset focused on culture, critical metrics and hard-earned tuition is redefining success for the modern dairy executive.
With annual returns up to 500% and a massive reduction in lameness costs, discover why AI-powered computer vision is the high-ROI investment redefining modern dairy profitability.
Mississippi has enacted HB 1153 to protect traditional agriculture and prevent the sale of “fake milk” alternatives starting July 2026.
AI is the newest hired hand on the dairy, moving beyond simple fixes to protect farmer intuition through data-driven precision, better cow comfort, and a sustainable legacy for the next generation.