Dairy Herd
The October Milk Production report had a surprising change from the September report released earlier this month. Cow numbers declined a shocking 7,000 head. The first time we have seen a pull back in cow numbers since December 2024.
Switching from milk replacer to whole milk can make financial sense, but it requires careful planning and management.
When we focus only on the most obvious clinical sign or lesion, we risk missing the broader forces shaping cattle health. Stepping back reveals patterns we can’t see up close.
Legendary Coach K once advised, “Be as tough as your mothers.” This message resonates deeply with those of us who grew up as farm kids, where our mothers proved to be the unsung heroes of our upbringing.
No one wants their family business to look like the Dutton family’s in Yellowstone. Todd Wiley’s innovative succession planning instrument is designed to avoid unnecessary drama and position his four children for success in the family pork operation.
In an exclusive interview, EPA Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi says EPA’s new WOTUS definition fully reflects the Sackett ruling, simplifies compliance and delivers the certainty farmers have been demanding for years.
The future of the dairy industry is rife with opportunity. Gregg Doud with NMPF highlighted the industry’s strides forward, its present challenges and the promising path ahead.
The change reverses part of a July trade action that had imposed elevated import duties on multiple categories of Brazilian goods and is the latest effort by the Trump administration to bring grocery prices down.
The Senate’s approval of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act could soon give schools the option to serve whole and 2% milk again.
R-CALF USA is asking that bupavaquone be approved for use against theileriosis in cattle, the disease transmitted by the Asian longhorned tick.
Athian has paid dairy farmers $18 million since 2024 for emissions-reducing practices, linking on-farm improvements with food companies to track and reward measurable sustainability.
Long before calving, subtle biological signals can influence the health, growth, and future productivity of a calf. Understanding and utilizing these signals could lead to the next revolution in reproductive management for cattle.
Despite further opening its markets to imports, Canadian output hits record highs.
Ancient Greek philosophers viewed resources as abundant, not scarce, so economic action was judged not by the accumulation of wealth but by whether it enabled and served a praiseworthy end.
Rising prices, stagnant wages and financial pressures are leading many young adults to cut back on eating out.
Annual survey shows a traditional meal with all the fixings will require fewer dollars per person this year. But look to shell out more dollars if turkey isn’t the only meat on your menu.
Reflecting a marked decline in expectations as margins tighten, ag lenders surveyed in mid-2025 report only around 52% of their farm-business borrowers will remain profitable this year.
Culling decisions should be just as important as breeding decisions. Here, two experts explain what to consider when replacing cows in a milking herd.
With India being the largest milk producer globally, this advancement is not just about scale but the social transformation it fosters among women in rural communities across the nation.
Leading ag meteorologists share the weather drivers they are watching.
Strong financial organization and a solid relationship with your lender can make all the difference in getting a loan approved.
Barb O’Brien took to the stage during the dairy joint annual meetings to share a crystal clear message. Transform investments into momentum by building trust, growing demand and ensuring the future of U.S. dairy.
Texas A&M’s David Anderson breaks down the current cull cow market and shares his prediction for future cow prices.
Milk yield, components and udder health metrics can reveal early disease long before clinical signs emerge. Learning to interpret these signals can transform routine milk data into proactive herd health interventions.
It’s easy to chase calf prices or cut costs but not at the expense of creating a replacement shortage in your herd.
Farmers who suffered losses from natural disasters that occurred in calendar years 2023 and 2024 can sign up for the aid. It is also available to farmers participating in the On-Farm Storage Loss Program and the Milk Loss Program.
EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers unveiled a revised rule on Monday aimed at clearer permitting and fewer regulatory surprises, such as narrowing which water features fall under federal oversight and confirming exclusions.
Despite the strong political rhetoric at the center of cattle and beef prices, as well as meatpackers seeing major losses, economists say rebuilding the U.S. cattle herd will be the slowest in history.
How cows are grouped directly influences how smoothly a robotic milking system runs.
When small town businesses grow, it creates a ripple effect that strengthens the whole community, says South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development Commissioner Bill Even.