Dairy - General
Water was once taken for granted in western states, like California. But now the tides have changed, and dairy farmers understand all too well the need for water is vital but also one that is not always guaranteed.
After two consecutive months of triggering Dairy Margin Coverage payments, no indemnity payments will be issued for October milk.
Conflict is all around us and it certainly is hard to escape conflict on a family farm. Often conflict is thought of negatively, although leading experts say it doesn’t have to be.
Wide price swings have become more frequent over the past year. These price swings have taken place over short durations as market participants have been quick to enter and exit positions.
One common challenge that pretty much every dairy producer can comment on is labor challenges. While labor shortages are no longer a stark headline, they certainly continue to be a headache dairy farms are faced with.
The clock is ticking down for dairy producers to sign up for Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) for 2023.
A dairy farmer’s worst nightmare is to open an unexpected letter in the mailbox notifying them that they are being dropped by their processor. Solid communication between the processor and the farm is essential.
New York dairy farm families work hard to care for their cows, even when a historic snowstorm dumped three plus feet of snow on their farms.
Focused management, proper nutrition and diligent monitoring can help reduce metabolic disorders.
Dairy is a historical rollercoaster with wild swings in milk prices. Tanner Ehmke says there might be some opportunities on the horizon to expand, as other dairies look to exit through the cycle of the dairy industry.
Both NMPF and IDFA issued a joint statement in response to USDA’s proposed changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
Recently, three dairy producers from coast to coast talked about the biggest, unexpected challenge that faced their dairy this year on a Farm Journal Farm County Update webinar.
With the uncertainty over milk prices and input prices, it becomes necessary to establish price floors for milk and price ceilings for feed. Not doing anything is making the decision to leave your whole farm at risk.
While the challenges ahead for dairy producers are real, the silver lining is that both global consumption for dairy is on the rise and the supply chain headaches have lightened compared to how we started 2022.
When it comes to turnover, leading experts say a producer shouldn’t just chalk it up that an employee left for more money. Pausing to understand your workforce’s needs can help minimize turnover in the long run.
The Oregon Dairy Farmers Association is applauding the Department of Environmental Quality and the Environment Quality Commissions denied votes regarding a petition to regulate air pollution from large dairies in Oregon.
The consumer no longer can absorb higher costs. Tanner Ehmke with CoBank says that lighter foot traffic is seen in some grocery stores, while discount retailers have seen a significant increase in foot traffic.
Dairy farms managers often push staff meetings aside for the sake of “getting things done.” However, sometimes formal meetings with staff are essential to communicate and problem solve.
Dairy financial experts strongly encourage producers to push pause to outline the steps needed to take place in Q4 to wrap up the year on the best foot possible and help position a dairy for a successful start in 2023.
Health records key to estimating costs of BRD in your herd
When cows are forced to compete for feed, they consume fewer, larger meals with reduced feeding time.
Ear tags, a fundamental tool in dairy production, have been in short supply for months on end. Find out why the backlog happened, and the steps being taken to remedy it.
Another story that continues to unfold is the shift of herds inland. Tanner Ehmke with CoBank says this long-term trend of migration from the coastal areas to the central states where costs are lower will continue.
Diving into the international supply and demand picture, Alyssa Badger of HighGround Trading Group explained that every country has its own set of issues that factor into the supply side of things.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 DFA CoLAB Accelerator program. The 2023 program will focus on AgTech and help bring new technologies to DFA’s family farm-owners.
There are two key things you can be prepared with to support someone struggling mentally.
Despite having a current expiration date of Oct. 31, 2022, employers should continue using the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification until further notice.