Environmental Resource Management

Beyond Buzzwords: Embracing Sustainability in Dairy Farming

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:05:11 GMT

When discussing sustainability with dairy farmers, many express a certain weariness toward the term. Yet, as Mike Rowe from “Dirty Jobs” aptly puts it: “Scrape the dirt off a farmer, and you’ll find one of the greenest people on the planet.” Farmers have long been taking care of their land, cattle and family, well before “sustainability” became the buzzword it is today. Whether incentivized or not, the majority of farmers prioritize what’s best for their farm because they envision a legacy that will continue for generations.

A Candid Conversation on Sustainability
I recently had the privilege of leading the 2025 Dairy Sustainability Spring Meeting Farmer panel in Rosemont, Ill., engaging in an hour-long discussion with four fantastic dairy farmers.

Our candid conversation, though limited by time, could have easily expanded into hours as we unraveled the myriad ways sustainability is integral to farming. Topics such as water quality, community relationships and environmental stewardship were just the tip of the iceberg.

Dairy Farmers’ Relentless Commitment
The dedication of dairy farmers across the U.S. to their agricultural practices is truly remarkable. At the heart of their efforts is a desire to continue meeting consumer demands. Today’s consumers seek products produced sustainably, with an emphasis on animal welfare and environmental responsibility. Acknowledging this shift, dairy farmers are not only adopting sustainable practices but are also becoming more transparent about their efforts in striving for a balance between environmental impact, economic viability and social responsibility.

Achieving Industry Goals
This commitment paves the way toward the dairy industry’s ambitious sustainability goals. As part of this pledge, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy , founded by America’s dairy farmers, has set aggressive environmental sustainability goals to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality, optimize water usage and improve water quality by 2050.

Despite responding about the reasoning behind their sustainability actions with, “It’s just what we do,” dairy farmers are actively engaging in these industrywide initiatives, showcasing their dedication to contributing to a sustainable future.

In adopting sustainable practices, dairy farmers are demonstrating their commitment to a brighter future for their farms, communities and the planet. I urge farmers to reflect on their sustainability contributions. And, like Mike Rowe says, scrape off the cow manure, you all bleed green in your capability to care for and love your land, cattle and employees, ensuring your farms continue to thrive for generations to come.

Your Next Read:
A Surge in U.S. Milk Production: Insights to What States Stood Out

Avoid Confusion: Clear the Air on CAFOs

Tue, 06 May 2025 13:40:19 GMT

Concentrated animal feeding operations have continued to sustain meat and dairy industries since their implementation many decades ago by providing a steady flow of livestock for food chains for home and consumers abroad.

Contrary to popular belief, Kansas State University extension livestock specialist Joel DeRouchey says CAFOs present a more efficient opportunity to raise livestock with less stress on the environment.

“While CAFOs can get a bad rap due to their ability to house many animals in one location, they face some of the most stringent regulations for environmental protection, which is good for surrounding land and water quality,” he points out on Agriculture Today with the K-State Radio Network .

After considering what’s regulated, how CAFOs handle manure, how it’s applied and the regulations and inspections involved from both the state and potentially the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), DeRouchey says these operations are in business for a reason.

“They’re doing a very good stewardship for both for the land and water quality,” he adds.

Feedlot

(Shelby Chesnut)

But Josh McCann, associate professor of animal science at the University of Illinois, says it’s understandable people may have questions about CAFOs.

“I think it’s easy to get nervous or ask questions about things that we’re not exposed to, that we aren’t very familiar with,” McCann says.

CAFOs are highly professional environments led by teams of experts who help those animals remain healthy, grow in a productive way and provide an extremely affordable protein for Americans and people around the world, he adds.

“We have some of the very best nutritionists, the very best veterinarians, the very best management experts working at these facilities to help those animals actually grow and prosper,” McCann says. “I don’t think people truly appreciate the amount of effort, investment of time and people and science that goes into this.”

Is Your Operation a CAFO?
CAFOs include cattle and small ruminant feedlots, confined large indoor and outdoor swine and poultry operations and dairy facilities that meet the criteria as a CAFO. Once a CAFO is designated for a site, it has both state and federal requirements under which it must operate.

The challenge is every state is different when it comes to its respective state regulations, he says.

“Permitting of different livestock species could be different within a state and certainly is across states,” DeRouchey says. “But the bigger pictures items are the same.”

To be a CAFO, EPA explains that farms must first be an Animal Feeding Operation (AFO). If a farm does not meet the definition of an AFO, the EPA rules do not apply to it.

The AFO definition has two parts: Part 1 - A lot or facility where animals have been, are, or will be confined and fed or maintained for a total of 45 days or more in any 12-month period. Part 2 - Where vegetation (crops, forage, post-harvest residues) is not sustained in the normal growing season over any portion of the lot or facility.

“There are many factors to consider when determining if your farm is a CAFO. Bottom line: Manage your farm in a way that ensures no discharges to WOTUS,” the Illinois Pork Producers Association says on its website .

For example, in Kansas, any facility with an animal unit capacity of 300 or greater must register with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). Additionally – regardless of size – any facility that presents a significant water pollution potential must obtain a permit as determined by KDHE.

“Feedlot cattle over 700 pounds would be considered a single animal unit, 700 lb. and less is a half and cattle such as a lactating dairy cow would be considered 1.4,” DeRouchey says. “These figures relate to their feed intakes and the amount of manure produced per body weight.”

Another factor to consider when determining the size of your CAFO is if a farmer has multiple sites where animals are confined, they must determine if those sites are separate AFOs or should be combined. In Illinois, under the IL EPA Livestock Rules, two or more AFOs under common ownership would be a single AFO if the AFOs are adjacent to each other or the AFOs utilize a common area or system for handling or disposing of manure.

“Most situations in which pigs are raised will likely be defined as an AFO,” IPPA says. “If your farm is an AFO, then you must determine if you are a small, medium or large CAFO, which factors in the number of animals that are confined on the farm and whether pollutants are being discharged into Waters of the U.S (WOTUS).”

When determining if the operation has any discharges, a farmer must look at the entire production area including manure storage, feed storage and dead animal composting to determine if there is a discharge.

“CAFOs are strictly permitted to have full containment of all rainwater and runoff that reaches a pen surface, and the same goes for cleaning pen surfaces,” DeRouchey explains. “Manure must be stored in a contained area until it’s moved out to fields for spreading.”

Compliance is Key
Many regulations like these are in place to help keep the environment, water and land safe for multiple generations, McCann says.

Dairy

(Jim Dickrell)

To ensure compliance with these regulations, CAFOs undergo periodic on-site state inspections and a permit renewal where producers update their paperwork and nutrient management plan with any changes to the operation. An essential part of that process is developing a new nutrient management plan that says what’s going to occur with the application of manure to the agronomic crop ground surrounding the facility, DeRouchey says.

“With soil tests and manure samples taken, new projections are completed to ensure that the manure produced on those operations fits all the acreage,” DeRouchey says.

The challenge is those nutrient management plans are pretty region-specific, McCann says.

“Rainfall here in central Illinois is extremely different from rainfall in western Kansas,” he adds. “The appropriate ways you need to manage the nutrients in your animal waste is accordingly also very different. I think that’s one of the reasons why we have a lot of state-by-state regulation within this area.”

Compliance starts before the CAFO is constructed. Assessments, based on the species housed in the CAFO, look at criteria like geography. For example, in feedlots, rainwater drainage containment, manure storage areas, and agronomic manure application plans rank as some of the most crucial considerations.

Be a Good Neighbor
The one thing that’s not regulated directly is odors, DeRouchey says. Owners routinely clean pen surfaces as well on the outdoor facilities because the top layer of manure can turn into dust if it’s there too long, and that can carry odor from the CAFO to surrounding areas.

“We know that large or small operations have odor from livestock,” he adds. “And that doesn’t matter if you only have a couple animals or a lot of animals. What owners often do is look at, where can they potentially put up windbreaks? Where is the prevailing wind coming off of those facilities? How does that impact the surrounding area? How do they minimize potential dust? Because odor really travels a lot on dust.”

Being a good steward and making sure we’re minimizing any potential impact that our livestock farms would have on the surrounding area involves being aware of how it affects our neighbors, DeRouchey says.

“USDA scientists have confirmed that U.S. pork producers’ rigorous biosecurity efforts to keep pigs healthy are working,” says NPPC President Lori Stevermer.

(National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff)

Eldon McAfee , attorney with Brick Gentry P.C. in West Des Moines, Iowa, says operational environmental management extends to neighbor awareness, communication and good relations.

“Don’t ignore neighbors who aren’t happy with your operation. Keep those lines of communication open,” McAfee says. “For example, when you apply manure, try to let everyone know. Attend educational seminars and obtain certifications to show you are being a good neighbor. Make sure employees are up to date on best practices when it comes to being a good neighbor, too.”

Can We Feed the World Without CAFOs?
CAFOs exist for a reason, McCann says. Some of those reasons are economic-related, and some of those are people-related.

“I would make the case that there are not enough people who want to work in the livestock industry and meet our animal protein needs without CAFOs now,” he says. “It’s pretty hard to imagine feeding a world that really craves lean, healthy, wholesome protein from livestock today without CAFOs. That’s difficult to do in my mind.”

Your Next Read: Don’t Let Your Guard Down: How to Avoid an Ag Nuisance Lawsuit

Denmark Will Be First to Impose Carbon Dioxide Tax on Livestock Emissions

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 18:40:06 GMT

Major pork and dairy exporter Denmark plans to introduce a tax on livestock carbon dioxide emissions from 2030. This would make Denmark the first to initiate a CO2 tax on agriculture. Reuters reports the government said it hopes to inspire others to follow.

The tax, first proposed in February by government-commissioned experts, is supposed to help Denmark reach a legally binding 2030 target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 70% from 1990 levels, the article said.

Late on Monday, the government reached a compromise with farmers, industry, labor unions and environmental groups on policy linked to farming, the country’s largest source of CO2 emissions.

Reuters reports that Taxation Minister Jeppe Bruus of the centre-left Social Democrats said, “We will be the first country in the world to introduce a real CO2 tax on agriculture. Other countries will be inspired by this.”

Political experts expect a bill to pass following the broad-based consensus, but it is still subject to approval by parliament.

The deal proposes a tax on farmers of 300 Danish crowns ($43.16) per metric ton of CO2 in 2030, increasing to 750 crowns by 2035.

In return, farmers will be entitled to an income tax deduction of 60%, meaning the actual cost per metric ton will start at 120 crowns and increase to 300 crowns by 2035, Reuters reports. Subsidies will be made available to support adjustments in farm operations.

Danish farmers had expressed concerns that the climate goals could force them to lower production and cut jobs, but Reuters said the farmers said the compromise makes it possible to maintain their business.

Earlier this month, New Zealand dismissed plans to introduce a similar tax after facing pushback from farmers.

Sludge Advice: Basics of Lagoons and Anaerobic Digester Clean Out

Fri, 03 May 2024 12:00:00 GMT

By Sarah Fronczak, Michigan State University Extension

Sampling and cleaning lagoons and anaerobic digesters is a dirty, but important job. Here are a few safety considerations and tips to remember when it comes to dealing with sludge.

What is sludge?
Sludge is the residue of biological manure treatment that accumulates in lagoons and digesters. It is lower in organic matter and higher in solids and minerals because of the longer treatment time in the manure storage structure. This also makes sludge denser than manure. Sludge has a lower odor intensity than manure.

Why clean out the sludge?
Sludge storage in the facility reduces the treatment volume of the structure. When mixed with the liquid portion of manure, sludge can increase the nutrient content of recycled liquid pumped out of the facility. Issues with barn air quality and pathogen issues have also been noted in manure storage facilities. Finally, the high levels of zinc and copper in digester sludge can affect the microbe populations and the treatment performance.

How can you measure sludge volume and nutrients?
Test the depth in multiple locations across the facility as some areas will be deeper than others. To measure sludge depth, use a weighted plate or disc with a rope attached such as a Sludge Judge type of product or an acoustic tool like a fish finder. Sludge sampling can be done with a clamshell sampler, a Sludge Judge, or other custom solutions. Send these samples off to get tested by a lab. Plan to apply the sludge to fields that show a need for the nutrients in the sludge, particularly copper, zinc and phosphorus. Expect the cost of collecting information on sludge depth and nutrients to cost around $325 per million gallon according to a study by the University of Missouri.

How should you clean out the sludge?
In lagoons it is common to use PTO powered pumps and floating pumps or boats. Dredging and dewatering is done less often but can be used if sludge needs to travel a significant distance to be spread.

Covered lagoons and digesters can be more difficult to pump out. Submerged pump-out lines with ports as well as sludge suspension and pumping are usually the best method in this situation. In some cases, partial or complete removal of the cover may be necessary. It is estimated that the cost to agitate and land apply is $151,000 or approximately $0.0188/gallon at a million gallons a day.

Lagoon solids removal can be tricky especially if there is a high level of solids in the sludge. This may result in the need to dilute, agitate and dilute again before pumping and land application.

Finally, train employees to be safe around manure gases that can be released when agitated. Other potential hazards include PTO shafts, confined spaces and pressurized hoses.

Taxing Farming is Vital for Denmark's Climate Target, Government Adviser Says

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 14:23:19 GMT

Denmark should aim to reduce beef and dairy production by levying an emissions tax on farming of 750 Danish crowns ($108) per tonne in order to reach its ambitious climate targets, the government’s independent adviser said on Monday.

Such a tax on farming will increase the incentive for farmers to switch to crops and pork production which emit less greenhouse gases than cattle, according to a report by the Danish Climate Council, which provides recommendations to the government.

The new government said in December it sees an emissions tax on farming as crucial to achieving a binding target of reducing CO2 emissions by 70% of 1990 levels.

Emissions from belching cows are a major component of agricultural methane. If no new policies are introduced, farming in Denmark is expected to account for around 40% of emissions in 2030, the council says. The sector currently accounts for 28% of emissions, according to Statistics Denmark.

A carbon tax of 750 crowns per tonne would be similar to the level for other industries which was agreed by parliament in June last year, though a farming lobby group has warned it would lead to a wave of bankruptcies among farmers.

Such a tax would “move jobs abroad and prevent Denmark from developing the solutions that can really make a difference to the climate”, said Niels Peter Norring, head of climate Danish Agriculture & Food Council.

The industry should look into alternative solutions like cattle feed additives, which could lower the amount of methane released from cows by 25-30%, he said.

Don’t Play Favorites with Your Farm Employees

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:54:57 GMT

Do you have one of those employees who you work with better than others? Maybe it’s their personality, familiarity or even their work ethic that plays to your strengths, and it can be tempting to latch on to what has been successful in the past. But is it possible you’re playing favorites with some of your team members?

According to Joel Garfinkle, author of “How to Be a Great Boss,” playing favorites leads to missed opportunities for you and your team. “You lose out on new perspectives, new ideas and unique problem-solving techniques. The [operation] can hardly benefit from the skills of staff that are never given the chance to shine, and staff that is never given a chance to shine may soon leave,” Garfinkle adds.

If you find yourself favoring some employees more than others, maybe it’s time for a more open-minded approach in order to grow as your farm’s leader. Consider breaking these five bad habits:

Going with who you know

Having familiar faces on the team can certainly feel comforting, but is it causing a rut in your team’s performance? According to Garfinkle, always relying on the same people may be causing your business to miss out on new ideas and fresh perspectives from other people.

“Balance your teams with a mix of old and new to keep both continuity and fresh perspectives flowing,” Garfinkle says.

Picking youth over experience (or vice versa)

“Some of us are drawn to the brightness and vitality of young members on the team. Whether we see a glimpse of our earlier selves in them, or we are simply energized by the vigor they bring to the table, it can seem natural to give extra focus and attention to foster and refine that youthful drive,” Garfinkle notes. “Similarly, it can seem logical to reward knowledge and experience, giving extra weight to the opinions of those who have been at the table the longest. Either way, it’s a missed opportunity to only consider the opinions of one group or the other, especially when neither side will always have the whole answer to a challenge.”

Instead of picking one over the other, Garfinkle recommends bringing everyone to the table and leveraging the power of both perspectives. “A great leader can combine both youth and experience to gain the best advantage,” he adds.

Having one “go-to” person for everything

Some farm employees just have a knack for getting things done the right way each and every time. Their consistent and reliable characteristics make them right for the job. But if the same person is always your “go-to” employee, how much growth is happening in others’ roles?

“Ask yourself if there really is only one right person for the task at hand, or whether there are others on your team who need the mentorship and opportunities you can offer,” Garfinkle notes. Make sure you provide opportunities for all of your team members on the path to greater responsibility.

Creating a hierarchy

Take a look at the structure of your team. Do some employees solely report to different managers, or do they feel comfortable with coming to you? While some hierarchy is helpful, don’t let it prevent you from seeing your team in action on a regular basis, Garfinkle notes.

“If only certain members feel it’s comfortable or appropriate to speak with you, you will be missing out on a lot of great ideas. Broaden the number of team members you interact with regularly – in both formal and informal settings,” he says.

Being stingy with trust

Do you find yourself having a hard time with only trusting a few key farm employees on your team? Maybe some team members have let you down in the past, or perhaps it feels safer to minimize the number of people with critical tasks or key information. According to Garfinkle, the problem with this approach is that those on the outside feel shut out and minimized, even when they’ve done nothing wrong.

“Bring your team together by keeping everyone ‘in the know,’” Garfinkle recommends. “Your team is more likely to trust you if you trust them in turn.”

Is Solar Energy an Option for Your Farm?

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 13:50:48 GMT

Have you ever wondered if your farm would be a candidate for solar energy? If you’ve got a sturdy roof or an open space nearby, then it’s likely it is.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, renewable energy is defined as energy derived from sources that are naturally replenishing. Solar energy falls into the renewable energy category, and its growth has skyrocketed over the last few decades due to lower installation costs and consumer demand for more sustainable energy.

During the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin 2021 Business Conference, Adam Wehling, Dean of Agriculture, Energy and Transportation at Chippewa Valley Technical College, spoke on how to easily incorporate a solar energy system onto your ag operation. According to Wehling, these systems can be easily integrated into your existing facilities, can improve the efficiency of the systems you currently have and can reduce your overall energy cost.

Factors to Consider

“Solar is the king of renewable energy right now,” Wehling says. “The efficiency of these systems has gone up and there’s a lot more production and technology than there was years ago. If your goal is to be viewed as a more environmentally friendly farm, putting renewable energy systems on can be very visually appealing to your community.”

However, before you go installing one of these systems on your operation, there are a few things to consider:

Metering – “The first thing you want to do is to check with your metering company to see what type of net metering you have,” Wehling says.

According to Wehling, net metering is essentially an “energy bank.” If you produce more energy than you can use in a month, the energy will go to the “bank” which can then be stored for a period of time. This allows you to bank kilowatts during high-producing months and utilize those kilowatts during low-production months. Ideally, producers should try to obtain a 6-month to 12-month net metering contract with their energy company.

Grid Tied or Battery Operation

Unless you want to be “off the grid,” there’s really no reason to become a battery operation, Wehling says. It’s just not as cost-effective.

Instead, he recommends going with a grid tied system. This system allows excess energy to flow into the grid, allows you to pull from the grid when needed and ensures you are still able to access energy if for some reason the solar system goes down.

Sizing the System

When it comes to sizing your solar system, Wehling recommends working with your energy company to understand how big your energy system needs to be.

“As an agricultural producer, you may have the opportunity to go larger than residential systems,” Wehling says. “However, you’ll still want to check what your cap will be for energy.”

Before you make any decisions, it’s important to do your homework before committing to a size, Wehling warns.

“Just know that you’ll want to size your system no bigger than your annual energy usage,” he says. “Pull out your previous energy bills, add up all the kilowatts you’re using and then when you’re talking to a solar contractor, let them know what that number is.”

Additionally, if you have the three-year running average of your kilowatt usage, be sure to share that information with your contractor. This can aid in making decisions on if it will be necessary to expand in the future.

Location

“When you’re determining where you want to locate your panels, the roof is a great location if the roof is designed to carry the extra load,” Wehling says. “You’ll want to check with your engineer or whoever designed your structure to see what the weight load rating is on your roof.”

Another thing to consider is the amount of shade your solar system will receive. If you have shade trees or taller structures nearby, this may impede your solar production. Dusty environments also impact solar efficiency, Wehling warns.

If the roof is not an option, you may be able to use a ground-mount system. However, if you decide to utilize a ground-mount system, it’s likely the structure will be there for a long period of time. So, it’s important to take into consideration what your facility design will look like in the future and if this structure will be in the way. Additionally, you don’t want to place ground-mounted systems too far away because you will have to trench lines to your meter, which can become costly.

Cost and Payback

According to Wehling, most solar systems are designed to last 20 to 30 years and will pay for themselves within 10 to 15 years depending on the system. One thing to keep in mind, however, is the amount of incentives and tax rebates offered along with these systems. These programs, accompanied with grants, depreciation and rebates, will help bring the cost of the system down.

The Battle of Burnout on the Farm

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 21:38:04 GMT

No matter the season, there is always some form of stress occurring on the farm. Whether it be planting season, harvest, or simply just your daily list of chores, stress can start to add up. If your workload on the farm is starting to reach its breaking point, you may be experiencing burnout.

Burnout is a result from prolonged exposure to chronic emotional and interpersonal stressors on the job, according to Laura Hamill, Chief People Officer and Chief Science Officer at the Limeade Institute. This differs from disengagement, which is the action of withdrawing from involvement in a particular activity.

According to a U.S. News article from Hamill, research shows that burnout happens when highly engaged employees have an increasingly low well-being. The most common causes of burnout can be sparked from job pressures, role conflict, lack of support from managers, lack of feedback as well as lack of participation in decision making.

If some of these symptoms sound all too familiar, it may be time for an intervention. Hamill provides these four tips when it comes to battling burnout on the job.

1. Have a healthy mindset

In order to boost your morality on the farm, it’s important to first establish a healthy mindset.

“An established attitude about a situation sets the stage for how people handle or recover from certain circumstances,” Hamill says. “With a focus on personal development, growth and communication – it’s crucial to foster a well-being mindset that supports a positive outlook and puts your self-care first.”

2. Adjust workload

While this is easier said than done, it might be time to adjust the workload on the farm to balance some of the stress. This may mean giving other employees more responsibilities, taking a few tasks off of your plate or even adding a new employee to the farm if it is financially feasible.

“Work overload, tight deadlines and running on empty can lead to exhaustion, cynicism and inefficacy – and ultimately cause you to burn out,” Hamill says. “Give yourself some well-deserved time off to recharge.”

3. Get support

No matter what type of occupation you may have, it’s important to have a strong support system in place to get you through some hard times.

“A support system not only takes you far in life, but also at work,” Hamill says. “In fact, social support positively relates to important factors that impact stress, health, well-being and engagement. Social connections can help guard against burnout.”

4. Find your purpose

If stress is adding pressure to your role on the farm, try to find the “why” behind what you do. What motivates you at work? What values are important to you? These are important questions to ask yourself to help rediscover your purpose.

“True engagement comes when people feel good and live with a sense of purpose,” Hamill says. “Helping employees connect to their purpose at work is key for burnout prevention.”

15 Inexpensive Tech Gadgets You Need for the Farm

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 17:09:53 GMT

Looking to invest in some fun technology that won’t break the bank? We asked our readers what their favorite gadgets were and got a variety of results. Whether you are looking to jam out to some of your favorite tunes or be more productive throughout the day, we’ve got you covered. Here are 15 favorite tech tools used by farmers daily:

Wireless Speakers – Who doesn’t enjoy singing at the top of their lungs to a favorite song? Take that fun on the go! Farmers suggest investing in a waterproof wireless speaker device that can easily connect to your phone. Put it on a tailgate, blast it in the barn or even stick it in the tractor if the radio’s busted.

Tracking Tiles – Lose the farm truck keys again? Maybe it’s time to snag a smart tracking tile. These portable devices can be attached easily to your key chain and will send a message to your phone letting you know where you left those dang keys.

Wearable Cell Phone Holder – Phone constantly falling out of your pocket? Several of our readers recommended purchasing an inexpensive wearable cell phone holder to help keep your phone handy at all times. Several farmers suggested buying a fabric belt that not only holds your cell phone, but also any other farm necessities.

Automatic Paper Towel Dispenser – This tech tool may sound silly, but purchasing an automatic paper towel dispenser was “life changing” for several of our readers. This low-cost gadget is easy to install, can be placed over the sink or even used in the shop!

Rechargeable Headlamp – Cows out again? Several farmers purpose buying a rechargeable headlamp to help keep your hands free as you work late into the night. Or, maybe it is just time to fix the fence!

Wireless Headphones – Similar to the wireless speakers, wireless headphones allow you to listen to your favorite tunes, podcasts or audio books on the go without having to worry about ripping your ears out when you snag your traditional headphones on equipment.

Sticky Lights – Need to illuminate a dark space that doesn’t have power? Readers suggest using stick on, battery powered LED lights to help shine some light in that dark cabinet of yours. These gadgets can also come with magnets, allowing you to stick them on tractors, under the hoods of trucks or even on a cattle chute!

Portable Chargers – If your phone battery is constantly dead, one inexpensive solution is a portable charger. This handy tool allows you to charge your phone on the go and can even charge multiple devices at the same time.

Smartphone Camera Lens – Enjoy taking pictures on the farm but want your photos to look a little more professional? Try investing in a smartphone camera lens. This clip-on lens allows you to take higher quality photos and can add some extra pop to your pics.

Dashboard Phone Holder – Chances are that you’ve seen dashboard phone holders in other people’s vehicles. But have you ever thought about using a phone holder in your tractor? This tool helps you keep your phone secure and within reach. Just don’t text and drive!

Digital Notebook – If you are constantly taking notes, our readers recommend using a digital notebook that allows you to upload your notes directly to your phone and even organize them by category. Just scan the notepad with your phone, wipe away the ink and reuse the notepad again and again!

Fitness Tracker – Putting on a lot of miles at the farm? Keep track of your steps with a wearable fitness tracker! Not only does this tool allow you to track your health, but it also gives you the opportunity to brag to your friends about how much you walk on the farm each day.

Wireless Charging Pad – If you need to charge your phone while working in the farm office, several farmers recommended purchasing a wireless charging pad. This piece of technology allows you to keep your phone charged without that annoying cable.

Smart Plug-in – Leave the lights on in the shop again? Try using a smart plug-in. This gadget allows you to turn any outlet into a smart device that will connect to your phone. Just use the app to turn the lights off and you are good to go!

Heated Lunch Box – Nothing is worse than a cold meal after a long day in the tractor. If you are looking to keep your food extra hot while you work, give a heated lunch box a try! This lunchbox of the future comes with a with a cord that plugs in to any 12v auxiliary power outlet and keeps your tater-tot casserole hot as you plant, haul hay or spread manure!

Environmental Resource Management

Beyond Buzzwords: Embracing Sustainability in Dairy Farming

Avoid Confusion: Clear the Air on CAFOs

Denmark Will Be First to Impose Carbon Dioxide Tax on Livestock Emissions

Sludge Advice: Basics of Lagoons and Anaerobic Digester Clean Out

Taxing Farming is Vital for Denmark's Climate Target, Government Adviser Says

Don’t Play Favorites with Your Farm Employees

Going with who you know

Picking youth over experience (or vice versa)

Having one “go-to” person for everything

Creating a hierarchy

Being stingy with trust

Is Solar Energy an Option for Your Farm?

Factors to Consider

The Battle of Burnout on the Farm

15 Inexpensive Tech Gadgets You Need for the Farm