My Account
My Account
Taylor Leach Hildebrandt

Taylor Leach

Assistant Editor of Dairy

Taylor Leach is the Assistant Editor of Dairy Herd Management and Milk Business Quarterly, blending her background in journalism and dairy farming. Raised on a dairy farm in Kansas, she now farms in Wisconsin with her husband. She is actively involved in cattle showing and agricultural advocacy.

Latest Stories
Business Plan
Dairy Business News
Prep Your Farm Business for the Year’s End
With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season hastily approaching, now is the time to look over business details to help make your transition into the new year much smoother.
November 10, 2021 09:34 AM
 · 
Taylor Leach
A190786C-188B-48CE-BD119B3F788064A4.png
Dairy Business News
Dairy Report: Dairy Farmer Pleads Guilty to Nearly $60M in Fraud
The owner of Shuttered Dairy has plead guilt to conducting nearly $60 million in fraud. Meanwhile, farm losses 5,800 farms in 2019 versus 2018. Ag Day’s Clinton Griffiths explains more in this week’s Dairy Report.
November 03, 2021 03:39 PM
 · 
Taylor Leach
Dairy Curtains
Education
Facility Focus: Back to the Curtain Management Basics
While it might be tempting to batten down the hatches to keep cold air from coming in, lowering ventilation and reducing air exchange is one of the worst things a farmer can do for their animals.
November 03, 2021 02:34 PM
 · 
Taylor Leach
Drugs
Education
Here’s What You Need to Document on Drug Treatment Records
If you or an employee treats an animal with a drug, it’s important to keep adequate and updated treatment records.
November 01, 2021 07:27 AM
 · 
Taylor Leach
Holstein Cow
Opinion
Making that Tough Decision
I knew the day would eventually come where I would have to make a hard decision on my own at the farm, but I wasn’t ready for it to be then.
October 28, 2021 02:48 PM
 · 
Taylor Leach
"If you wait and only evaluate this once a year, you may not notice a negative trend that occurred months ago."
Education
Parlor Talk: Why is it Important to Manage Your Farm’s Financial Risk?
Regardless of what type of business you’re running, it’s important to know and manage your financial risk to know exactly where you stand on that net income or net loss spectrum.
October 27, 2021 01:20 PM
 · 
Taylor Leach
Not all buildings are built the same. Therefore, it’s important to know just how much snow your roof can handle.
Education
Keep Your Feeding Program Priorities Straight this Fall/Winter
The busyness of the summer season is finally over, but it has some producers staring out into their fields wondering what they need to do to help stretch their feed inventories throughout the fall and winter.
October 20, 2021 12:00 PM
 · 
Taylor Leach
The dry period is a time to allow a cow to rest and prepare herself for the next lactation. However, the drying off process can be incredibly stressful for the animal.
Dairy Production
Help Reduce Stress at Dry Off
The dry period is a time to allow a cow to rest and prepare herself for the next lactation. However, the drying off process can be incredibly stressful for the animal.
October 12, 2021 12:00 PM
 · 
Taylor Leach
You’ve heard the horror stories. The ones about farm families who spend months in court fighting over assets. The result? A destroyed business and fractured family. Why does this situation play out over and over?
Dairy Business News
Wis. Governor Introduces Five Bills Totaling Nearly $25 Million in Support of Agriculture
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, along with Democratic lawmakers, announced on Tuesday five bills totaling more than $25 million in investments in the state’s agriculture industry.
September 29, 2021 08:47 AM
 · 
Taylor Leach
More and more farms have made the switch from feeding calves individually to group autofed systems. However, disease detection in group-housed calves remains a challenge.
Education
Facility Focus: The Road to Automated Calf Feeders
The Klipp family shares their journey of going all in with calf technology.
September 27, 2021 12:30 PM
 · 
Taylor Leach
A cold, damp fall can cause poor soil conditions, leading to a less than ideal manure application.
Education
Two Things to Consider Before Spreading Manure this Fall
Now that corn silage harvest is finally complete, it’s time to accomplish one of the ‘crappier’ jobs on the farm: spreading manure.
September 27, 2021 11:59 AM
 · 
Taylor Leach
193_Green_Valley_Dairy.JPG
Education
Help High Producing Dairy Cows Get Pregnant
High producing dairy cows are in heat for a shorter period of time, thus increasing the challenges in the timely insemination of cows visually detected in heat.
September 23, 2021 12:00 PM
 · 
Taylor Leach
Butter prices also saw a bit of an increase, jumping 6 cents in 2023 to $2.49 per lb.
Dairy Production
The Nitty Gritty on Hyperkeratosis
More frequently referred to as ‘rough teat ends,’ hyperkeratosis is the production of excess keratin at the end of the teat canal which causes a rough, bacteria-harboring, calloused surface.
August 25, 2021 07:00 AM
 · 
Taylor Leach
If you have an interest in adding a separating system to your dairy, there are several steps you’ll need to take before making any decisions.
Education
Facility Focus: Is a Separating System Right for You?
If you have an interest in adding a separating system to your dairy, there are several steps you’ll need to take before making any decisions.
August 24, 2021 07:00 AM
 · 
Taylor Leach
A well-planned calving pen gives producers the opportunity to provide the best treatment for both the cow and the calf.
Dairy Production
Facility Focus: Managing Maternity Pens
A well-planned calving pen gives producers the opportunity to provide the best treatment for both the cow and the calf. But what goes in to creating the ideal pen? Here are a few things to consider . . .
August 10, 2021 03:29 PM
 · 
Taylor Leach
Load More