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Sustainable Teams Linked to Emotional Intelligence
Sustainable Teams Linked to Emotional Intelligence

Regardless of a dairy’s size, a balanced suite of leadership skills is necessary to manage and motivate team members for the sustainability of a dairy’s workforce.

Dairy Farmers Top $1 Billion in Losses from 2018 Farm Bill Change to Class I Pricing System
Dairy Farmers Top $1 Billion in Losses from 2018 Farm Bill Change to Class I Pricing System

The American Dairy Coalition is asking legislators to restore the previous ‘higher of’ pricing method as soon as possible. Here's why.

<p>California dairy cows</p>
June U.S. Milk Production Report Reflects Poor Performance

Phil Plourd with Ever.Ag says that combine miserable weather in key growth areas such as Texas with shrinking farm margins and you get a Milk Production report showing the worst performance that we’ve seen in a while.

Last Call for Milk Business Awards: Application Due Aug. 1
Last Call for Milk Business Awards: Application Due Aug. 1

For the first time ever, three award winners will be recognized at the 2023 Milk Business Conference. Slated for Nov. 28-30 Milk Business Conference offers an enticing lineup of educational panels and networking events.

Animal Rights Extremist Connections and Tactics Updated in New Reports
Animal Rights Extremist Connections and Tactics Updated in New Reports

Do you know what the Top 5 targeted states are for animal rights activists? The answer may surprise you.

Ag Economists Turn More Positive Longer-Term On the Farm Economy
Ag Economists Turn More Positive Longer-Term On the Farm Economy

The July Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor showed several key changes from June including a bigger cut to corn and soybean yields, a drop in corn and soybean prices and more bullish cattle and hog prices.

Money
What to Do and Not to Do to Endure Financial Tough Times

Producers are challenged paying the bills with the lack-lusting prices that have shown up on milk checks this summer. Dairy financial leaders share tips on what to do and not to do to survive tough financial times.

Preliminary Trade Agreement Between U.S., Taiwan Garners Approval from Senate
Preliminary Trade Agreement Between U.S., Taiwan Garners Approval from Senate

The leaders also drafted a proposed legislation earlier this month that promises treaty-like benefits for businesses seeking cross-border investment opportunities via the tax code.

 What in the World is Going On With Glyphosate Prices?
What in the World is Going On With Glyphosate Prices?

Suppliers and retailers continue to cut glyphosate prices in the U.S. as the industry grapples with too much supplies. With no resolve in sight, one inputs analyst thinks glyphosate prices could remain low through 2023.

Farm Bill 2023 Draft is Expected by Mid-September
Farm Bill 2023 Draft is Expected by Mid-September

House Ag Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson, along with other members, is seeking additional funding sources for the bill, but that will likely be the biggest farm bill hurdle that may trip up lawmakers.

5 Questions to Ask Before You Buy a New Feed Additive
5 Questions to Ask Before You Buy a New Feed Additive

Feed costs are at record highs and a new wave of feed additives are on its way into the market. Consider asking your salesperson, advocate, or consultant these five simple questions before purchasing a new feed additive.

Dairy Report: All-Milk Prices Continues its Decent, Dairy Losses Kept to a Minimum During Historic Vermont Flood
Dairy Report: All-Milk Prices Continues its Decent, Dairy Losses Kept to a Minimum During Historic Vermont Flood

New England is a big area for dairy production. And with recent flooding, many producers were concerned they would have to dump milk. Here's how the situation panned out.

Get the Wheels in Motion to Start a Succession Plan Today
Get the Wheels in Motion to Start a Succession Plan Today

Often, dairies have an idea what their operations will look like down the road. But they can’t answer who will be the successor of the operation, as no formal succession plan has been set. 

Dairy Genetic Diversity Concerns Highlighted
Dairy Genetic Diversity Concerns Highlighted

One Holstein sire born in 1962, Pawnee Farm Arlinda Chief, sired 16,000 daughters, 500,000 great-granddaughters, and more than 2 million great-granddaughters.

Most Ag Economists Think It's Unlikely the 2023 Farm Bill Will Be Passed in 2023
Most Ag Economists Think It's Unlikely the 2023 Farm Bill Will Be Passed in 2023

The majority of ag economists don’t expect a farm bill to be written by the upcoming deadline, but a few think it could happen by the end of the year, according to the most recent Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor.

The Countdown is on for EPA to Revise WOTUS
The Countdown is on for EPA to Revise WOTUS

EPA has a deadline from the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals to offer a progress report on the Waters of the U.S. rule by Sept. 15.

How Animal Rights Activists are Eating Away at Consumer Choice
How Animal Rights Activists are Eating Away at Consumer Choice

There’s a brawl at the American dinner table, and consumers need to put up a fight. Animal activist groups are not just impacting the lives and livelihoods of farmers, but are threatening consumer interests as well.

Facility Focus: Is Your Farm Equipped to Raise Beef-on-Dairy?
Facility Focus: Is Your Farm Equipped to Raise Beef-on-Dairy?

If raising your own beef-on-dairy animals pencils out, it’s important to make sure your facilities can handle the load.

Dairy_workers_feeding_calves
Now in Effect: New Permanent Heat Rules for Washington State Outdoor Workers

With the exclusion of firefighters and other personnel responding to emergencies, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is now issuing a permanent heat rule effective July 17 for outdoor workers.

U.S. Committee Proposes New Roadblock for Foreign Land Ownership
U.S. Committee Proposes New Roadblock for Foreign Land Ownership

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) introduced an act to prevent foreign adversaries from exploiting U.S. land near security sites, and would push a review of current ownership in these areas.

In Search of the Maternal “Goldilocks” Diet
In Search of the Maternal “Goldilocks” Diet

What’s the perfect close-up ration to optimize calf health -- something that’s not too much of this or too little of that, but “just right?”

WOTUS Ruling Causing Confusion in Key Ag States
WOTUS Ruling Causing Confusion in Key Ag States

State officials find these states serve as early examples of the challenges other places may face in response to the recent Sackett ruling on WOTUS.

Glamour Magazine’s Dairy Renaissance
Glamour Magazine’s Dairy Renaissance

Sporting a vintage “got milk?” t-shirt while vacationing in Italy, celebrity Hailey Bieber garnished attention by Glamour magazine. This led Glamour to run an entire article talking about dairy’s Gen-Z reawakening.

Troubled Waters: Dairy Producers Look to Alternative Profit Sources to Stay Afloat
Troubled Waters: Dairy Producers Look to Alternative Profit Sources to Stay Afloat

With the milk price not looking promising compared to last year, Ben Laine says that taking advantage of some opportunities elsewhere will help producers push past what we hope is the bottom of the milk market in 2023.

Cattlemen Praise Congressional Resolution Supporting Beef Checkoff
Cattlemen Praise Congressional Resolution Supporting Beef Checkoff

Cattle industry leaders on Thursday (July 13) praised the introduction of a bipartisan congressional resolution recognizing the importance of commodity checkoff programs, including the Beef Checkoff.

U.S. Inflation Continues to Decline, Down from 4% in May
U.S. Inflation Continues to Decline, Down from 4% in May

Meanwhile, service prices and the core index (which excludes food and energy) remain high, with the core CPI descending to 4.8%.

Madison, Wisconsin Will Remain World Dairy Expo’s Home Through 2028
Madison, Wisconsin Will Remain World Dairy Expo’s Home Through 2028

The Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin will remain home to World Dairy Expo through 2028.

Leading Dairy Companies Share the Big Scoop on Ice Cream
Leading Dairy Companies Share the Big Scoop on Ice Cream

Few people will pass up the opportunity to scoop up a refreshing bowl of ice cream. The ice cream industry is worth more than $10 billion and the average American consumer scarfs down 20 pounds of ice cream each year. 

Understand Yourself Better and Be Better on the Job
Understand Yourself Better and Be Better on the Job

Are you interested in being more effective in business and personal interactions? Are you tired of butting heads with that annoying person on your team? JD Fiechtner, DVM, shares tips to “Be Better Than Before.”

China's Exports Decline 12.4% Year-Over-Year
China's Exports Decline 12.4% Year-Over-Year

This slump, deeper than May's 7.5% drop, represents the largest decline since February 2020.

Three Cups of Gratitude
Three Cups of Gratitude

Negativity breeds negativity, right? Remember that. But the same can be said about positivity. Positivity can grow if we choose it too. Flip a switch on your mind, that will turn up cheerfulness on the farm. 

Climate Corp
Ag Climate Data Collection to be Improved with $300 Million Investment

USDA looks to improve the future measure, monitoring, reporting and verification of ag climate emissions via a $300 million investment announced on Wednesday.

What’s Your State’s Favorite Ice Cream Flavor?
What’s Your State’s Favorite Ice Cream Flavor?

Can you guess your state's top five favorite ice cream flavors?

High Beef Prices and Low Milk Prices Entice Dairy Farmers to Ramp Up Culling
High Beef Prices and Low Milk Prices Entice Dairy Farmers to Ramp Up Culling

Lower milk prices and higher beef prices are enticing many farmers to cull more dairy cows. But is it making a dent?

High-Quality Farmland Is Still Inching Up In Price Across 18 States
High-Quality Farmland Is Still Inching Up In Price Across 18 States

A mid-year report from Farmers National shows land values are increasing by single digits instead of the double digits common in 2021-22. But the company says it has a strong roster of listings headed into late summer.

Vilsack and Dairy Leaders Applaud the USDA New Deputy Agriculture Secretary Confirmation
Vilsack and Dairy Leaders Applaud the USDA New Deputy Agriculture Secretary Confirmation

Secretary Tom Vilsack welcomes Xochitl Torres Small on her confirmation as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NMPF and IDFA share the same sentiments, congratulating Torres Small on her confirmation.

Is it Time to Repurpose CRP?
Is it Time to Repurpose CRP?

Dr. Carl Zulauf of Ohio State University, via a FarmDoc Daily article, proposes merging General CRP and Continuous CRP into a Site Specific CRP.

USDA Initiates Aid Program to Address Farm Lending Discrimination
USDA Initiates Aid Program to Address Farm Lending Discrimination

The program targets those who were discriminated against before Jan. 1, 2021, or those still in debt from discriminatory USDA farm loans. 

Hagenow Elated About Her Alice in Dairyland Role and the Opportunities to Promote Dairy
Hagenow Elated About Her Alice in Dairyland Role and the Opportunities to Promote Dairy

Recently, Ashley Hagenow traded in her rubber boots for heels as she was selected to serve as the 76th Alice in Dairyland. She will promote Wisconsin agriculture across the Badger State throughout the next year.

On Strike: New Dairy Select Milk Employees Protesting Over Health Care Plan
On Strike: New Dairy Select Milk Employees Protesting Over Health Care Plan

Workers who help produce sour cream for brands, including Taco Bell, Wendy’s and Hello Fresh, have gone on strike. Teamsters Local 662 members at New Dairy Select Milk, a subsidiary of Borden Dairy are striking.

Springers Stay Strong as National Herd Contracts
Springers Stay Strong as National Herd Contracts

Despite faltering milk prices and an uptick in dairy cow culling nationwide, Holstein springer values stayed relatively steady from May to June 2023.

How to Support Producers During Tough Times
How to Support Producers During Tough Times

Producers feel exhausted dealing with the highs and lows of the industry. Add in the current state of the dairy economy with low milk prices, and it’s not too surprising that mental health is also impacting producers.

USTR Comments on USMCA Meetings
USTR Comments on USMCA Meetings

During a bilateral meeting on Thursday, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai discussed with Mexico's Secretary of Economy Tatiana Clouthier various issues concerning energy and biotech corn.

The Evolution of Dairy Calf Nutrition
The Evolution of Dairy Calf Nutrition

We don’t feed dairy calves the way we used to, and that’s a very good thing, according to calf industry consultant Dave Kuehnel.

USDA Could Use the Farm Bill's Conservation Title for Climate Change
USDA Could Use the Farm Bill's Conservation Title for Climate Change

Erik Lichtenberg, University of Maryland professor, says Congress could reorient farm bill conservation funds for climate change, but it could cut into their support.

The 3 Meetings that Saved a Family and a Farm
The 3 Meetings that Saved a Family and a Farm

Communication. We all know it’s important. Jay Joy from Bridgeforth LLP shared on the Uplevel Dairy Podcast how his family farm all got on the same page.

USMCA Up for Debate in Mexico This Week
USMCA Up for Debate in Mexico This Week

Representatives from the U.S., Mexico and Canada will meet in Cancun, Mexico this week to discuss a series of disputes, including Mexican energy and biotech policies and Canadian dairy barriers.

Midwest Rains Not Enough to Break Long-Term Drought, 67% of Corn Still Rooted in Drought
Midwest Rains Not Enough to Break Long-Term Drought, 67% of Corn Still Rooted in Drought

The National Drought Mitigation Center estimates 67% of corn and 60% of soybeans are still considered to be in drought, a slight improvement from last week when drought covered 70% of corn and 63% of soybeans.

Have We Culled Enough Cows to Perk Up Milk Prices?
Have We Culled Enough Cows to Perk Up Milk Prices?

One by one poor-performing cows are exiting herds as lackluster milk price makes it easier for producers to cull cows. The big question remains - have we culled enough cows to boost milk price?

US and China: A New Trade War?
US and China: A New Trade War?

Beijing on Monday announced export controls on gallium and germanium. Now the Biden administration is set to restrict Chinese companies’ access to U.S. cloud-computing services that use AI chips.