Dairy - General
Producer group offers a growth management plan, but many are wary
California dairies combine for manure-to-energy benefits
Clear expectations, firsthand knowledge breed success
Harry DeWit rose from immigrant herdsman to Texas dairy leader and innovator
Dairy Today has covered numerous U.S. dairy digester and cap-and-trade projects in recent years. These producers tell what they’ve learned since we first featured them.
High-quality forage allows less corn in diets.
New report shows the worldwide dairy industry’s contribution to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is just 2.7%
Mark Wustenberg suggests simple places to check for a dairy’s source of bacteria problems in milk counts.
Scarred from the volatility that has trampled the world dairy markets in the last three-and-a-half years, traders have grabbed onto Fonterra’s monthly commodity auction as a new global benchmark.
In Florida, the old joke is that farmers measure corn silage yields in tons per acre and forage sorghum yields in board feet. But new, highly digestible brown midrib (BMR) varieties of forage sorghum change all that.
Since Elanco acquired Posilac from Monsanto in 2008, it has made re-education about the dairy production technology a priority. The Indiana-based company has reached out to the entire dairy food chain to promote Posilac’s safety and its role in affordability and sustainability, says Dennis Erpelding, director of corporate affairs for Elanco’s international business division.
Metritis, a common reproductive disease, occurs in 10% to 30% of dairy herds. Typically diagnosed during the first 10 days in milk, metritis is associated with other transition and fresh cow challenges.
Dutch veterinarian Joep Driessen gives producers a pretty straightforward formula for correcting common cow management bottlenecks: •Look at cows closely to detect problems. •Think about what’s causing those problems. •Act to correct them.
After months of depressed milk prices and high feed costs, most dairies have cut costs beyond what they ever thought was possible. Going forward, however, it may be time to re-evaluate some of these changes, or even consider adding some components back to the inputs to improve efficiency.
The dairy industry was addressing global warming long before that was cool. We’re producing 59% more milk with 64% fewer cows than in 1944. We use 77% less feed, 65% less water, 90% less land, produce 76% less manure and have a 63% smaller carbon footprint per gallon of milk produced than we did 66 years ago.
After months of planning, Jerry Kozak, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), has finally started to detail his organization’s proposal to revitalize U.S. dairy policy for the 21st century.
The NMPF plan takes the leap: letting the market set prices, eliminating dairy price supports and make allowances, offering a limited safety net of margin insurance.
Straus Family Creamery emphasizes responsible stewardship
Artisan cheesemakers on the front lines with consumers.
California targets the world’'s biggest dairy market
“Is competition healthy enough to protect farmers, and if not, what do we do about it?”
Can dairy adapt to emerging trends?
Tail docking of dairy cows was already an uncommon and diminishing practice in California when a state legislator introduced a bill in February 2009 to ban the practice.
Large dairy operations, those with 50 or more employees, will now be required to provide health insurance for their employees and possibly for their families as well.
Kevin Van der Poel, a co-owner of Focal Dairy, began an intensive, pasture-grazing business with a new spin on old dairy traditions. The business is not about producing the most milk. The New Zealander’s method is focused on efficiency, management and reduced costs.