TECHNOLOGY

Separating Signal From Noise in a Data-Heavy Dairy

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:22:54 GMT

The beauty and curse of farming in the technological age comes in the form of 0’s and 1’s. There never seems to be an end to the measurables we collect and breakdown on a farm.

As our capabilities grow in terms of systems and software, this mound of data continues to grow.

But how do we know what is important?

Many seasoned herdsmen that I work with often bemoan just how hard it is to train the next generation of farm workers. “They just don’t have cow sense.” “They’re too deep in the numbers, and not the cows.” “Why can’t they just see it?”

What they are describing is a little-known skill they already possess known as Signal to Noise Positivity (SNP). Our seasoned herdsmen have developed an unconscious skill that allows them to differentiate between meaningful information (signal) and irrelevant information (noise). However, they had a significant advantage of developing this skillset during a time when the “noise” or extra irrelevant data was much less overwhelming.

Our farms are full of positive noise and signals that can be valuable in animal management. Feed intakes, milk production, lbs. of solids, rumination, SCC, milk deviation, etc. etc. all represent measures that indicate if things are headed in the right or wrong direction.

However, each of these factors is not important in each situation. Irrelevant noise from time to time causes new decision makers to make incorrect decisions based upon that noise rather than the more meaningful signals.

Taken together Signal and Noise Ratio (SNR) indicates whether positive noise is more or less likely to stick out. A higher SNR, or more meaningful noise vs irrelevant noise, means the decision maker is more likely to ID the important data whereas a low SNR means more confusion in the data.

But on today’s operations it is extremely difficult to learn how to increase a SNR and use it as our data pool, and subsequent noise grows.

For example, your herdsmen today may work a fresh pen and ID a sick cow with the following information; 7 DIM, rapid breathing, temp is 103 on the parlor meter, milk production is down 30 lbs., her ears are droopy, her rumination is down 40%, her eating time is 2%, and her activity is 50% what it was yesterday. These symptoms when taken together could be indicative of 5+ infectious diseases in a fresh cow and can rapidly confuse new workers.

However, an experienced herdsmen knows the most important part of all this noise is the 7 DIM signal which limits the likely diagnosis to only 2 or 3 possibilities. Their unique SNP ability filters the signal from the noise so no matter how much data we pile on top of the signal they can ignore the unimportant noise.

So how can we improve the SNP for new workers?

First, we need to eliminate multitasking. This only adds noise to the scenario and scatters attention. When working sick cows or doing other health tasks, new employees need to focus upon that singular task until deemed to have developed a sufficient SNP.

Second, we need to encourage monitoring of longer-term trends and react less to the hour to hour or day to day fluctuations. Certainly, there are cases that will change hour to hour but when training we need to help employees understand common cases and that cows generally will trend toward “healthy” or “sick” no matter how complex or simple our data collection system is.

Third, we need to expose these individuals to training from others who have advanced SNP skills. Many times, this involves an outside consultant such as your herd veterinarian who can use hands on training and also create SOP programs to help the individual navigate the noise.

Signals of disease are not always strong. However, by reducing noise for new team members we can increase the correct disease diagnosis while still implementing the latest in smart technology.

How One Mississippi Farmer Turned Data Into $330K in Fertilizer Savings

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:40:20 GMT

As the planter rolls across a Mississippi Delta field, row by row, it’s making split-second decisions on how much fertilizer to apply, where to apply it and where to apply nothing at all — a task that’s doesn’t require any second-guessing.

The decisions aren’t happening by instinct nor by habit. The planting and fertilizer decisions on this farm are all driven by data.

For Adron Belk, who farms in the Delta’s rich soils of Sunflower County, that shift — from gut feel to data-driven execution — isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about survival in a tight-margin environment, and ultimately, about profitability.

“This whole field, see how it’s calling for 8 gallons right there? It tells it the target. We’re looking for 8 gallons of fertilizer, and it’s putting out real close to 8 gallons,” Belk says as he’s making a planting pass through the field. “There’s areas in the field where it calls for none. So where it calls for none, it actually cuts it off on its own.”

On this farm, data doesn’t sit in a spreadsheet. It moves. It acts. It makes decisions in real time as equipment moves across the field.
That level of precision means decisions aren’t just guided by data, but automated with every pass.

“Where our phosphorus and zinc levels are low, the starter system turns on and it applies it. And where the phosphorus and zinc levels are adequate, it cuts it all and don’t put anything,” he says.

A Farm That Functions Like a Test Plot

Every acre Belk farms doubles as a testing ground. Every pass is an experiment. Every season is another opportunity to learn something new.

That mindset even extends to what he plants.

“I have never planted cotton on my own. My dad was a cotton farmer until 2007, when he quit growing cotton. We’re going to plant just a little bit this year though, about 130 acres. We’re going to get it custom picked. We’re just really planting the cotton to get a little bit of experience with it on a very, very small amount of acres. I believe it’s the tool I need to have in my toolbox for the future. And right now, I don’t have that tool,” he says.

At a time when many farmers are moving away from cotton, Belk is moving toward it.

“Some would say I’m just a glutton for punishment, I guess,” Belk says as he laughs.

A First Generation Farmer

Belk’s approach to farming didn’t come from following a playbook. In fact, it started with the opposite.

“I’m a first generation/second generation farmer,” he says. “My dad does farm, but we do not farm together.”

That decision for Belk to farm on his own was intentional from the start.

“My dad came through the 1980s. He just had a passion for it — worked really hard, started off with with almost nothing,” Belk explains. “And he did really well, and he knew all the lessons that he had to learn from being on his own, and mainly from messing stuff up on his own and learning. He knew how valuable that was. And he just really wanted us to always enjoy each other’s company and never have work come in between us or our family.”

So when Belk wanted to farm, his father gave him guidance — but not a safety net.

“He said, ‘I’ll give you all the advice you want,’ but he said it’s going to be beneficial if you do it on your own,” Belk remembers.

Belk took that to heart, starting his own farming operation by renting a few hundred acres while still in college. And like many young farmers, he learned by trial and error.

“I have made a lot of mistakes, and if I would have been farming with my dad, I probably wouldn’t have learned from those mistakes. I probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to make them to learn on my own,” Belk says. “The mistakes I’ve made have taught me more than the things that I’ve done right, for sure.”

No Silver Bullet — Just Small Gains

While Belk admits he’s learned the hard way and made plenty of mistakes, in an industry often searching for big breakthroughs, Belk focuses on incremental wins.

“I think in farming, we’re all looking for that silver bullet that is going to get you 15, 20 bushels more per acre. But most of those big yield gains like that have already been discovered or have already been done, and so it’s very hard to find those silver bullets,” Belk says. “So, we are really tailoring our farm to finding the 2-, the 3-, the 5-bushel [per acre] differences,” he says.

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That mindset is what led him deeper into data.

“We started really trying to look at data. And when we first started, I thought we were doing it right. I thought were interpreting things the right way. And then realized that we really needed to be going a little deeper,” he says.

Data Into Decisions

That realization led Belk to work with Chad Swindoll, founder of J19 Agriculture, to bring a more advanced level of analysis to the farm.

“He is very honed in on how to analyze data. And working with him has really brought a whole new perspective to ‘Not only now that we have this data, how do we analyze it? And then once we analyze, what do we do with it?’” he says.

For Swindoll, that last question — What do you do with it? — is where many farms fall short.

“There’s lack of implementation on the farm,” Swindoll explains. “There’s a lot of technology that’s available. I mean, we’re with the United States. We’re a very sophisticated production agriculture, but the execution and implementation piece on taking the information that the technology will provide — and then using it to really make a decision beyond just something that looks cool or sounds cool — but really driving change on the farm, that’s very lacking,” he says.

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When Swindoll started working with Belk, he quickly realized Belk is different in not only the way he farms, but how he thinks about farming. What sets Belk apart, Swindoll says, is his willingness to act.

“He does a very good job of collecting the things that we need to make those decisions, and then if if the information is telling us we need this or that, he does,” Swindoll says.

Swindoll says Belk is a good executive, and that ability to not only know what needs to be done, but then implement it, is something that’s fueling Belk’s success.

“That’s something that I try to emphasize and talk about a lot in our industry and with my customers and non-customers. The farmer is the CEO, and an executive’s job is to make decisions,” Swindoll says. “And so we can get hung on a fence and make no progress. At some point, you have to move. And to be a good executive, it goes back to having the right pieces of information and the willingness to act.”

Swindoll says it also takes courage to do something different than what everybody else is doing.

“It’s not easy, because some of the things that we’ve found over the years are contrary to what we have been taught or told,” he says.

A $330,000 Turning Point

That willingness to trust the data — and act on it — led to one of the biggest financial shifts on the farm.

“About three or four years ago, we started really letting the data, we started analyzing the data and looking at it. And what we started seeing is, we were spending a lot of this money on fertilizer, and we didn’t really know if we’re getting a return out of it,” Belk says.

The result was a major change in how fertilizer was applied and how much was used.

“Three years ago, we cut about $330,000 out of our fertilizer budget that I would not have done without good sound data that we trusted,” Belk says. “Now, it took me a little while to get to that, to understand it. Then having J19 really run statistical data and showing us what was real and what was not. When you realize you cut $330,000 out of a fertilizer budget, and you still made the equivalent yields, that’s pretty eye-opening,” he says.

Finding Yield in the Details

While something like fertilizer savings have added major cost-savings to their farm, sometimes, the biggest gains come from the smallest adjustments. That includes what the data told them about tire pressure.

“Because we grow everything in the Delta on a raised bed, in between the tires it really pinches that row. We started noticing where we would run 20 lb. of air where the tire would kind of squat, it was pinching the row more, and we were getting more compaction under the tractor,” Belk says. “In some cases, it was costing anywhere from 10 to 17 bushels of yield on the rows just up under the tractor,” he says.

That prompted Belk to boost tire pressure to 30 lb. or air.

Rethinking the Playbook

On Belk’s farm, the field itself has become the ultimate teacher.

“That field is our textbook,” Swindoll says. “That’s kind of how we do this. If you read something in a book and it doesn’t line up, I think it was William Albrecht who said, ‘If you observe nature, and the textbook doesn’t agree, then you throw the textbook away.’ And we’ve had to do that in some cases.”

That philosophy carries through every decision Belk makes.

“Actually, my dad always told me, ‘Never tell somebody who asks you why you’re doing something, to tell them because your daddy did it.’ You know times change. I mean, we’re in a whole different world right now than we were even 5 years ago, especially 10 years ago. And so I feel like agriculture is changing very fast. I feel like we’ve got to learn to adapt and adopt really fast. Doing all this stuff has allowed us to stay kind of current with the changes in agriculture. It’s allowed us stay current with new products, with new things,” he says.

The New Equation for Farming

Farming has always involved risk. Whether it’s weather, markets or input costs, none of it is guaranteed.

But on this Mississippi Delta farm, the approach to risk is changing. It’s no longer just about taking chances. It’s about measuring them. Testing them. Understanding them. And ultimately, deciding which ones are worth it.

Because in today’s agriculture, that difference between guessing and knowing, may be what separates farmers who keep up from those who get ahead.

AI in the Heartland: Why Data-Driven Precision is the Future of Dairy Farming

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:18:50 GMT

Technological advancement used to feel like a steady, manageable climb. Today, it feels like a vertical sprint. For many of us, the pace of change is dizzying. While the world moves at lightning speed, some of us are still operating on a technology resume built entirely on trial and error. We are the “unplug it, count to 10 and plug it back in” generation. It is a reliable method for a frozen router or a stubborn tablet, but the reboot strategy is becoming a bit more complicated as our world — and our farms — undergo a total digital transformation.

AI: The New Hired Hand

We now live in a reality where artificial intelligence isn’t just a buzzword in Silicon Valley. It is a hired hand in the heartland. This shift can be jarring for those of us who prefer the tactile nature of a wrench over the intangible nature of a cloud-based algorithm. Yet, even if we don’t move as fast as the latest software update, the industry we love is moving for us.

Nowhere is this evolution more evident than on the modern dairy farm. The barn, once a place of manual labor and intuitive guesswork, has become a high-tech hub of data and precision. We see it in the wearable collars that track a cow’s every rumination and step, acting as a 24/7 health monitor. We see it in robotic milking systems that allow cows to set their own schedules and in automated feed pushers that ensure a fresh ration is always within reach.

AI is now the silent partner in the parlor, analyzing thousands of data points to predict a health issue before a cow even shows a symptom. It is the vision technology in the barn that can spot a slight change in a cow’s gait — subclinical lameness — weeks before the human eye can detect a limp.

Protect Intuition with Precision

For a farmer who still believes in the power of a ten-second countdown to fix a glitch, this new world can feel overwhelming. However, the beauty of this technological surge is that it isn’t meant to replace the farmer’s intuition. It is meant to protect it. These tools allow us to be proactive rather than reactive.

The transition to a high-tech dairy isn’t about abandoning the values of the past; it is about honoring the legacy by ensuring its survival in a hyper-competitive world. We might still need to occasionally unplug a stubborn monitor and count to 10, but we do so knowing these digital tools are the keys to better cow comfort, higher efficiency and a sustainable future for the next generation.

Could Lasers Help Keep Birds Out of the Feedbunk?

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 21:09:49 GMT

Where there’s feed on the farm, birds usually follow. These nuisance pests aren’t only an eyesore, but they can cause real damage in terms of feed loss and biosecurity risk.

For pigeons, starlings and sparrows, grain piles, commodity bays and feedbunks quickly become an all-you-can-eat buffet. In fact, a flock of 10,000 birds can consume up to 500 lb. of feed daily. While these critters certainly aren’t a new problem for dairies, a newer technology has emerged that may offer another way to manage bird pressure. And the interesting part? It involves laser beams.

A New Approach to Bird Control

The system, developed by iChase, uses cameras to identify birds in the area. Once a bird has been spotted, a green laser beam slowly sweeps across the ground, walls or feedbunk to spook the bird away. Because poultry rely heavily on their eyesight, the moving laser looks to them like something solid getting closer. Their instinct is to fly away from it.

According to the company, the system can be installed above feedbunks or mounted on farm structures to help discourage birds from gathering. As the laser repeatedly moves through the same spaces, birds begin to view the area as unpredictable and uncomfortable. Eventually, many avoid the area altogether.

The idea is similar to other deterrents producers have tried over the years, but the constantly moving light is designed to be harder for birds to get used to. Traditional approaches like predator decoys and reflective tape can work at first, but birds often adapt once they realize the threat isn’t real.

Another feature that helps the technology stand out is coverage. iChase states that a single unit can cover a large area, which may make it useful in places like silage bunkers or commodity barns where birds tend to gather.

Interest in the technology has also grown outside of dairy. Airports and warehouses have also used laser deterrents to reduce birds in sensitive areas. As the equipment becomes more available, agricultre companies are starting to explore how it might fit into other livestock operations as well. As farms continue looking for practical ways to protect feed and maintain cleaner facilities, tools like these are starting to draw interest.

Targeted Reproductive Management: Taking Calf Creation to the Next Level

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:26:36 GMT

Within the lifetimes of many current U.S. dairy producers, artificial insemination (AI), sexed semen, embryo transfer (ETU), ovum pick-up (OPU), and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) all have evolved to enhance dairy cattle reproduction.

Now, individual-cow monitoring technology is being used to drive the next wave of dairy reproductive improvement: Targeted Reproductive Management (TRM).

Dr. Glaucio Lopes, who leads the monitoring success team for Merck Animal Health, USA, , explained that TRM leverages individual-cow data that detects estrus activity to more selectively and effectively implement hormone-driven estrus synchronization protocols.

Using activity monitoring tools like SenseHub® Dairy, one example of TRM stratifies cows into two groups early in lactation: those that expressed a strong, spontaneous estrus cycle before the end of voluntary waiting period (VWP), and those that did not. If they did not, they are enrolled immediately in a fertility program like Double Ovsynch that includes timed artificial insemination at the end. If they did, they are assumed to be more naturally fertile, and are allowed more time to be bred upon observation of another heat cycle. If that doesn’t happen within a prescribed number of days, they too are then enrolled in a synchronization program.

In short, TRM provides more time for cows that expressed early lactation natural estrus before beginning hormone-based synchronization, and less to those that did not – essentially targeted the use of manual synchronization and timed insemination on cows that need it most.

Lopes said one TRM study showed researchers were able to decrease the overall use of reproductive hormones by 57%. At the same time, the likelihood of pregnancy at 305 days in milk was increased in second-lactation and older cows that did not show strong signs of estrus early postpartum.

Enrolling fewer cows in hormone-based breeding programs not only lowers drug costs and saves on labor, but also creates fewer physical disruptions. More cows are allowed to carry out their natural behaviors of eating, drinking, and resting without spending time in headlocks.

Researchers at the University of Florida put the principles of TRM to the test in two north-central Florida Holstein herds, the results of which were recently published in the Journal of Dairy Science . Dr. Ricardo Chebel and his team evaluated 539 first-calf heifers and 941 second-lactation and older cows.

The more mature cows were assigned a VWP of 40-41 days in milk, while the first-calf heifers had a VWP of 54-55 days in milk. Half of the animals in each age group were treated as a control group and enrolled in Double Ovsynch regardless of estrus behavior. This occurred at 68-69 days in milk for the older cows and 82-83 days for the first-calf heifers.

In the TRM group, older cows that had expressed estrus within the VWP were inseminated upon detected estrus starting at 50 days in milk, and first-calf heifers starting at 64 days in milk. If they had not been detected in estrus during the VWP, they were enrolled in Double Ovsynch at the same time as their corresponding parity in the control groups.

Re-insemination of open cows in the control group was based on visual or patch-aided estrus detection, while TRM cows were re-inseminated based on activity monitor feedback for estrus activity. This resulted in the open TRM animals being re-inseminated more quickly.

Among the results: more cows from the TRM group eventually calved and started a new lactation compared to the controls (82.6% versus 77.2%), and fewer of them were sold (15.5% versus 20.8%). The TRM cows also used an average of just 4.5 doses of reproductive hormones, compared to about 10.1 doses for the control cows.

Chebel noted that in this particular experiment, TRM improved gross profit per cow by $108 per head compared to the control animals. He said factors that contributed to that figure included improved pregnancy success – regardless of parity -- that changed culling dynamics; fewer cow sales that led to reduced replacement costs; and increased calf value created by the ability to target strategic semen selection toward the most fertile cycles.

The Top Three Biggest Mistakes When Using Crowd Gates

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Crowd gates are often one of the most used tools on a dairy. Not only do they save significant time for employees, but they also help reduce the stress associated with moving cows.

However, just like any tool, crowd gates can be used incorrectly and can sometimes negatively impact cow comfort and welfare. Carolina Pinzon, a Dairy Outreach Specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, highlights the three most common mistakes she sees in crowd gate usage and provides practical strategies to avoid them.

Overcrowding the Holding Area

Occasionally, overcrowding the holding area happens, but Pinzon warns that prolonged overcrowding can negatively impact cow health, production, and welfare. This is especially concerning during summer when cows generate extra body heat and require sufficient airflow.

“Signs of an overcrowded holding pen include cows with their heads up, unable to plant their four feet on the ground, and looking restless and uncomfortable,” Pinzon says. “Short-term overcrowding can also result from misuse of the crowd gate, by employees pushing it too far forward and smashing the cows.”

To prevent overcrowding, Pinzon recommends balancing parlor and pen sizes, so cows spend no more than one hour away from their pens during each milking. Holding areas should allow at least 20 square feet per cow.

“If needed, a large pen can be divided into smaller groups,” Pinzon suggests. “While this means more trips to the parlor for workers, it significantly reduces the time cows spend in the holding pen. Additionally, short-term overcrowding can be alleviated by moving the crowd gate backward to provide more space for the cows.”

Being Careless

While dairy cows are typically gentle giants, they can be stubborn and slow to move. This, however, doesn’t justify using force. Moving crowd gates too quickly or applying electricity can cause unnecessary stress and fear for the animals.
Instead, Pinzon emphasizes the importance of calm and gentle handling. She advises guiding cows to the parlor without pressure or haste.

“Once the cows on one side of the parlor have exited, the crowd gate can be moved forward,” Pinzon says. “This regular adjustment is crucial to accommodate the changing number of animals and available space in the holding area. Automating crowd gates to move forward every time exit gates are open/lift can help reduce misuse.”

Pinzon recommends keeping crowd gates at least three feet from the cows to avoid pressing against their backs. She suggests using sound cues, like bells or ringing, to train cows to move forward, rather than relying solely on gate movement. If the gate gets too close, pull it back to give the cows more space before resuming forward movement. These practices promote a stress-free and productive environment for both cows and workers.

Workers Entering the Holding Area

Crowd gates are valuable tools for safely and efficiently moving cows toward the parlor entrance. However, when employees enter the holding pen to push cows, it can create unnecessary stress for the animals and put workers at risk of injury.

Pinzon highlights the importance of regularly training employees on proper cow handling and the correct use of crowd gates. She stresses avoiding the practice of entering the holding area to chase cows and instead maintaining a calm and consistent environment for the animals.

“Except for when loading the last cows of a pen and fresh cows, the door from the parlor pit to the holding area should remain closed during most of the milking process,” she adds. “This physical reminder is to discourage workers from entering the holding area. In addition, regular maintenance of crowd gates, prompt reporting of issues, and swift resolution of problems by management are crucial for proper gate function.”

Spotting these three common mistakes in crowd gate use and taking proactive steps to address them can significantly improve cow welfare, employee safety, and your herd’s operational efficiency. Regular maintenance, clear protocols, and proper training go a long way in preventing overcrowding and keeping things calm and stress-free for both cows and workers.

How AI Is Learning to Read Dairy Herd Data

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:24:58 GMT

What if a computer could predict which cows will go lame, how long a cow should stay in the herd or what a cow will be milking 220 days from now? Those possibilities are becoming a reality as artificial intelligence begins to move into everyday dairy management.

During a session at the Professional Dairy Producers conference, Jeffrey Bewley, dairy analytics and innovation scientist at Holstein Association USA , peeled back the curtain on how AI is already being used on farms and where the technology may be headed next. From predicting lameness to analyzing herd records in seconds, AI is revealing both the possibilities and the limits of this rapidly evolving technology.

Turning Farm Data into Predictions

At its core, AI relies on data. This machine learning system analyzes data points to identify patterns that can help predict future outcomes. On dairy operations, that ability to recognize patterns can turn everyday information into real management insights.

Bewley points to lameness detection as one example. The process begins by collecting thousands of videos of cows walking and labeling them according to whether the animal is lame or sound. As the system learns from those examples, it begins to recognize subtle differences in gait that signal lameness.

“It doesn’t know what a lame cow or not lame cow is unless somebody tells it,” Bewley explains.

Because the system has to learn what lameness looks like, extensive training is required before it can be used effectively. Over time, that training allows the system to flag cows that may be developing problems before they are visibly noticeable.

Lactation curves are another example. While the industry often uses a standard curve, every cow produces differently and every herd has its own patterns. Bewley explains how AI can study these differences and use them to predict how much milk each cow is likely to produce in the future.

“We could be able to predict what that animal will be milking 220 days from now,” he says.

That type of forecasting could influence future breeding strategies. If a cow is predicted to maintain high production late into lactation, a producer might hold off on breeding her. If production is expected to drop, then getting the cow pregnant sooner may make more sense. This information could help determine how long a cow should remain in the herd. By evaluating production, reproduction and health trends together, these predictive models could forecast when it makes economic sense to retain or cull a cow.

Experimenting With AI Tools

While there’s plenty of buzz about AI’s future, the technology is already showing up in everyday herd‑data applications. Bewley says it can scan monthly DHI reports and spot trends earlier. When he tried it on a herd summary report, the system kicked out a full KPI dashboard in seconds. While he notes the results aren’t always perfect, he says they offer quick, useful angles for herd management.

“It wasn’t that long ago where probably a quarter of my time was spent pulling up herd records and doing something like this,” Bewley laughs. “AI did it in a matter of seconds.”

He adds AI is not limited to just text-based analysis. Many of the tools farmers use every day actually has AI built into it. Activity monitors are a prime example. When the technology first appeared more than a decade ago, it felt futuristic to many producers, similar to how AI feels today.

“In 2008, wearable sensors looked like science fiction to a lot of people, but it was a new technology that was coming on board,” Bewley says. “Today, that same dairyman would tell you, ‘I don’t know how I ever managed my cows without my wearable technology.’”

Learning to Work With AI

As more AI tools become available, learning how to interact with them effectively will become even more important.

The quality of the output often depends on how questions to the system are asked. Providing detailed information creates more relevant responses.

“Instead of saying, ‘Tell me about mastitis,’ say, ‘I have a 500-cow herd and my somatic cell counts are going up; help me with a mastitis prevention protocol specifically for fresh cows,’” Bewley says.

At the same time, users need to remain cautious. AI can occasionally generate incorrect information while presenting it with confidence.

“It’s like your friend that thinks it knows everything,” Bewley says. “It can make some things up sometimes. Don’t take everything it says as right.”

For that reason, Bewely says AI should be viewed as a tool to assist decision-making rather than as a source for final answers. He adds farmers still need to verify information, question unexpected results and rely on their own management experience.

The Next Phase of Farm Technology

Looking ahead, Bewley expects AI to become easier and more natural for farms to use.

“We’re not going to have to go in and plug in complicated sets of codes,” he says. “We’re just going to say it into our phone, and it’s going to give you the list.”

At the same time, advancements in robotics are accelerating. Together, these technologies could further automate routine work while improving the speed and accuracy of management decisions.

Despite the excitement surrounding AI, Bewley emphasizes the technology will not replace the role of farmers.

“It’s a tool. You still make the decisions,” he says. “Artificial intelligence will never replace good stockmanship. It can’t replace relationships. It can’t be compassionate. It can’t replace your farm knowledge.”

Instead, AI will likely become another tool in the dairy management toolbox, helping producers analyze data faster, identify problems sooner and evaluate management options more efficiently.

Does AI Have a Place on the Dairy Farm?

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:04:00 GMT

If you read the title and thought, of course, Artificial Insemination has a place on the dairy farm, you’re not alone. To me, the acronym AI still means Artificial Insemination. However, for those outside of animal agriculture, AI stands for Artificial Intelligence. With the increasing use of technology on dairy farms, the “new” AI has become more relevant.

The Use of Technologies on Farms

In 2016, the dairy industry hosted one of its first conferences on data management. Since the American Dairy Science Association Discover Conference on Big Data, adoption of technologies in the industry has continued to grow. Data surveys indicate that around 70% of US dairy farmers use some type of precision automated technology on their farms.

With advancements in technology, managing and interpreting data has become more difficult. The increase in data and the technologies’ inability to interact with each other have been major barriers to adoption. Managing data and making more informed decisions are where AI could play a role on the dairy farm.

What is AI?

Artificial intelligence is the ability of computer systems to perform complex tasks. One branch of AI is machine learning. Computer models that use machine learning learn from data and become more accurate as they are exposed to more information. Machine learning models analyze data to identify patterns and make predictions.

How is AI Being Used?

Artificial intelligence is used both within individual technologies and across multiple systems to help develop more user-friendly data reports. One area where machine learning is applied is in creating health alerts. Technologies that measure multiple parameters (e.g., activity and rumination) have been able to detect diseases more quickly. In one case, a system that integrated technology data successfully identified mastitis cases five milkings before the cow showed clinical signs. The ongoing development of these models can allow farms to detect diseases faster, produce more accurate milk quality reports, improve reproductive management, and increase feed efficiency.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Though technology data has proven to be beneficial in the daily operations of the dairy farm, some issues still need to be addressed. One of the top concerns for dairy farmers is data ownership. Stronger, more transparent frameworks are needed for data contracts with technology companies. Another issue is the need for a more educated workforce. The industry requires professionals who understand both animal science and data science skills to maximize the benefits of the technologies available.

Fighting Mastitis with the Help of Robots and Smart Technology

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:20:26 GMT

Mastitis remains one of the most costly and persistent health challenges facing dairy farms today, whether cows are milked in a parlor or by robots. In 2024, mastitis was estimated to cost the U.S. dairy industry more than $13 billion annually through lost milk, treatment costs and discarded milk.

As robotic milking systems become more common, new sensors and monitoring tools are helping detect milk quality problems earlier than ever. Even with these technological advances, the core principles of mastitis control remain the same. According to Douglas Reinemann and Carolina Pinzón-Sánchez of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, good hygiene, careful monitoring and timely intervention still form the foundation of effective mastitis management.

Clean Cows Still Matter Most

No matter where cows are milked, prevention still begins with cleanliness. In automated milking systems, that means ensuring the robot can properly clean and attach to the udder each time a cow enters the box.

“The cleanliness of the udder when the cow enters the robot has a big influence on how well that preparation process works,” Reinemann says.

Milking preparation is a critical step. Proper stimulation helps trigger milk letdown and allows teat cups to attach quickly and correctly. While premilking sanitation steps vary by robot brand, the goal is the same across systems: The robot must attach the milking unit to clean, dry and well-stimulated teats.

Postmilking teat disinfection is equally important. After milking, the teat canal remains temporarily open, leaving the udder more vulnerable to infection. Applying teat disinfectant helps remove bacteria from the teat skin and reduces the risk of new intramammary infections.

Routine equipment maintenance also plays a major role in mastitis prevention. Checking the accuracy of cleaning and sanitation cycles helps ensure the robot is properly preparing teats before milking.

“Equipment maintenance is nonnegotiable,” Pinzón-Sánchez says. “Milking systems must be serviced and tested regularly per manufacturer guidelines. Monitoring the accuracy of pre- and postmilking sanitation cycles ensures effective cleaning and prevents bacterial spread.”

How Robots Detect Mastitis Earlier

While mastitis prevention principles remain largely the same, detection looks different in robotic systems.

In conventional parlors, trained employees serve as the first line of defense. Those hands-on observations allow workers to quickly spot abnormal milk or signs of udder inflammation. But in automated milking systems, technology takes on that monitoring role.

Robots rely on sensors and algorithms to track milk quality and cow behavior. When the system detects patterns that deviate from normal, it generates an alert that a cow may be experiencing mastitis.

Automated milking system sensors commonly monitor:

Electrical conductivity of milk.
Milk color and composition changes.
Somatic cell count (SCC).
Quarter-level milk yield.
Cow visit frequency to the robot.

“These systems are very good at detecting abnormalities,” Reinemann says. “Sensor data can often identify subtle changes before clinical signs become obvious.”

Additional monitoring tools also help catch potential problems earlier. Activity monitors worn on collars, legs or ear tags track how cows move throughout the day. When a cow becomes less active or her behavior starts to change, it can be an early sign that something isn’t right. Often, these shifts show up before obvious symptoms appear, giving producers more time to take a closer look and respond if needed.

How to Interpret Alerts

Even with all the high-tech monitoring tools in an automated milking system, interpreting data the robots provide isn’t always straightforward. To make sense of what the sensors are telling you, Reinemann and Pinzón-Sánchez explain that it helps to understand two key concepts: sensitivity and specificity.

According to the pair, sensitivity refers to the system’s ability to correctly identify cows that truly have mastitis. A highly sensitive system detects most sick animals but may flag more healthy cows as potential cases.

Specificity, on the other hand, reflects how well the system identifies healthy cows. High specificity reduces false alarms but may miss some infected animals.

“No system is perfect,” Pinzón-Sánchez explains. “Increasing sensitivity can increase false positives, while increasing specificity can lead to missed cases.”

Fortunately, many automated systems allow producers to adjust these settings depending on herd conditions. When mastitis risk is elevated, increasing sensitivity may help catch more true cases. During periods of stable milk quality, higher specificity can reduce unnecessary alerts.

What to Do When the Robot Flags a Cow

Despite how capable automated systems have become, Reinemann and Pinzón-Sánchez emphasize that technology should support, not replace, human decision‑making. When the robot flags a cow, producers should:

Review the system alert and cow history.
Visually evaluate milk for abnormalities.
Palpate the udder for swelling or heat.
Take the cow’s temperature if illness is suspected.
Divert abnormal milk from the bulk tank.
Collect aseptic milk samples for culture or PCR testing.
Use cow-side tests such as the California Mastitis Test (CMT).
Consult a veterinarian before initiating treatment.

Blending Management with Technology

Despite the technology, successful mastitis control still comes down to good management. Robots can flag changes and catch potential problems earlier, but producers must still evaluate cows and make treatment decisions.

“These systems are excellent at detecting abnormalities, but they can’t diagnose diseases or recommend treatments,” Reinemann says.

He and Pinzón-Sánchez stress that successful mastitis management still relies on the basics: watching cows closely, keeping consistent routines and working with a veterinarian on prevention and treatment plans. When technology and good herd management work together, mastitis problems can often be addressed before they become serious.

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Innovation in Every Drop: Apple Shamrock Farms Crowned 2026 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 13:55:28 GMT

In the heart of Northwest Pennsylvania lies an exemplary model of dairy innovation: Apple Shamrock Farms, LLC. With their recent accolade of being named the 2026 International Dairy Foods Association’s Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year award winner, the Waddell family showcases what it truly means to be modern dairy producers.

(Apple Shamrock Farms)

Founded in 1976 by Robert and Lorna Waddell, alongside their son Robert J., Apple Shamrock Dairy continues its legacy today under the leadership of seventh-generation farmer Josh Waddell. The dairy remains a true family affair, with Josh’s brother, Joe, as a farm partner (primarily working off-farm), his mother, Christine, managing the books, and his father, Robert J., overseeing the milk hauling side of the business.

Apple Shamrock Farms LLC exemplifies a holistic approach to innovation, integrating advanced solutions across every facet of their expansive 3,500-acre operation, which supports a 1,250-cow milking herd producing an impressive 38 million pounds of milk annually.

“There’s a lot of unique things that I think we do well, but cows are No. 1 around here. That’s what we built our business on and has allowed us to do what we’ve done,” Josh Waddell says. “We are truly honored to receive this recognition.”

(Apple Shamrock Farms)

Maximizing Herd Potential Through Data and Genetics
At the core of Apple Shamrock Farms’ operations in Townville, Pa., is their sophisticated approach to dairy management, primarily driven by data and genetics. The Waddells implement a high-tech Afimilk cow monitoring system that delivers comprehensive data analytics, allowing for precise adjustments in cow care and feeding. This meticulous approach is supported by strategic feed tracking software, which ensures optimal component levels in milk production. This all has helped Apple Shamrock consistently achieve high component levels with 94 lb. of milk, with a 4.35% butterfat, and 3.35% protein, respectively. This translates to 109.8 lb. of energy corrected milk.

“The scale of the business we are in, we need the high output from the cows,” Waddell says.

Beyond daily management, Apple Shamrock Farms is a pioneer in genetic advancement. Through the strategic use of IVF and genomics, they are actively shaping their herd’s future, selecting embryos from their highest-producing, functional cows to enhance genetics and improve herd longevity. This forward-thinking approach ensures they are milking the right cows and maximizing the potential of every animal, even with a significant percentage of 2-year-olds in the herd.

Apple Shamrock has sold a lot of replacement heifers over the years, and Waddell notes the buyers want genomics, but they don’t want to “buy a dented Mustang.”

Their commitment to excellence extends beyond sound genetics to meticulous transition and calving pen all-in, all-out management and with a constant focus on raising the best, healthiest calves they can.

(Apple Shamrock Farms)

Pioneering Environmental Stewardship and Resource Optimization
Innovation at Apple Shamrock Farms isn’t confined to the barn; it extends to robust environmental stewardship. The Waddells have implemented a comprehensive three-cell manure system with a low-maintenance sand separation system. This not only allows them to reclaim sand for bedding but also significantly enhances the potency of their liquid fertilizer. Critically, all liquid manure is injected directly into the ground, a practice that maximizes crop yields while drastically limiting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and preventing runoff.

Apple Shamrock effectively separates sand by mixing two gallons of “tea water” (thinner manure from cell three) with one gallon of sand-laden manure, then employing a large dewatering screen and stacking conveyors to create 35'-high sand piles for reuse after eight months.

“This innovative sand removal process has significantly improved our overall hauling efficiency by 20% to 25% and generated substantial savings on spreading equipment, enough to justify the sand lane’s cost even without sand reuse,” Waddell says.

(Apple Shamrock Farms)

Despite the system being designed for 1,200 cows and currently handling more, leading to some water quality challenges, Waddell says the farm prioritizes a straightforward approach, avoiding complex mechanical separation buildings and planning to expand storage to meet current herd needs.

Their commitment to sustainability is further evident in their extensive satellite cropping operation, encompassing 565 acres of corn and soybeans. At the satellite cropping operation and the home operation, guidance systems and precision planters are used. These practices collectively contribute to energy efficiencies and a notable reduction in GHG emissions, demonstrating a profound dedication to both economic and environmental sustainability.

“I used to call it the four-leaf clover, but our approach to sustainability is really a full circle,” Waddell explains.

A Model for Future Challenges and Industry Leadership
Apple Shamrock Farms is strategically positioned to meet future economic and sustainability challenges head-on. Their philosophy of “structured growth” focuses on maximizing performance and efficiency, driving high output while achieving significant labor savings. By coupling genetic potential with cow comfort, they aim for a more mature, resilient herd, ensuring long-term viability.

“Looking ahead, we first plan to optimize our dairy by first filling the remaining 200 to 400 cow capacity in their parlor to improve cash flow,” Waddell explains, noting a core focus for the next decade is eliminating “Josh spots,” inefficient areas requiring daily attention, and consolidating their dry cow, prefresh and calf operations into a single, highly efficient complex where specialized labor can focus.

Beyond their farm gates, the Waddells are recognized leaders.

“They are truly a testament to what can happen when innovation and creativity meet a strong work ethic and desire to progress,” says Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, in a nomination letter supporting Apple Shamrock.

(Apple Shamrock Farms)

The Waddell family actively participates in benchmarking groups, shares insights with peers and holds numerous leadership roles across the dairy industry and within their local community. Whether housing “foster cows” for a neighboring farm after a devastating fire or hosting school tours, their spirit of cooperation and advocacy for the dairy industry is unwavering.

“This spirit of support in times of crisis is what makes our agriculture industry great, the Waddells are a standout example,” Redding says.

Apple Shamrock Farms embodies what’s achievable when innovation converges with tradition and tenacity. As a paragon of modern dairy farming, they set a dynamic example for the future, proving hard work and creative solutions can propel the industry forward.

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How Victory Farms Uses Smart Tech and Beef-on-Dairy to Boost Profit

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:22:16 GMT

In the heart of Milbank, S.D., Victory Farms stands as a testament to strategic adaptation and unwavering dedication in the U.S. dairy industry. A trifecta of families — Kevin Souza, Dave Nuss, and Peter Orrade — has fostered this flourishing dairy operation. Amid an industry often characterized by fluctuating milk checks and rising costs, Souza and his team are charting a compelling path forward, marked by technological prowess, genetic advancement, a vibrant community spirit and sharp business acumen.

Originally feed consultants hailing from California, these families entered the dairy industry ambitiously and bought an existing farm in 1998. Starting with 1,300 cows, the operation quickly expanded, adapting to the needs and challenges of the evolving dairy landscape. Currently, Victory Farm milks 5,700 mostly straight Jerseys, with plans to expand to 6,200.

Kevin Souza and Greg Bohn

(Victory Farms)

Tech-Driven Efficiency: A Farm Where Every Animal is Monitored

Victory Farms has embraced technology as a cornerstone of its operational philosophy. In 2020, the farm implemented the SenseHub collar system with sort gates for its mature cows, significantly enhancing efficiency in identifying cows for breeding and treatment.

“We wanted to find the cows that needed breeding quicker and the cows that needed treating quicker,” Souza explains.

The positive impact was so profound that a few years later they extended this activity monitoring to their calves, placing tags on every animal from birth to mature cow. Souza says this comprehensive monitoring system has yielded remarkable results.

“We were treating less calves,” he states, noting that they now use preventative measures such as rumen boluses for calves, eliminating the need for antibiotics in their youngest stock. This proactive approach has not only reduced human error and treatment costs but also demonstrated a clear return on investment, particularly in improved animal health outcomes. “Our actual treat treatments went down, and death loss went down.”

(Victory Farms)

Nurturing People and Community: The Heart of Victory Farms

Beyond advanced technology, Victory Farms thrives on a deeply ingrained culture of valuing its 48 full-time employees.

“Our motto is, take care of the cows, and they take care of you. And we’re the same way with employees,” Souza emphasizes. With long-term staff, including a herdsman who has been with them for 27 years, the farm provides housing, generous vacation and regular gestures of appreciation like monthly pizzas and Christmas dinners. Souza’s daily presence, greeting shifts, underscores a commitment to acknowledging and supporting his team, recognizing “there’s no way we could do this without them.”

This community-first approach extends beyond the farm gates through a unique 4-H leasing program. Inspired by his wife, Suzanne, an Extension specialist for Big Stone County, Minn., Victory Farms leases dairy calves to 20 local 4-H kids annually. This initiative not only provides invaluable agricultural experience to youth, including many from non-farm backgrounds, but also fosters a positive image of dairy farming.

“It just turned my whole idea around about agriculture,” one former participant shared, highlighting the program’s profound impact.

Strategic Growth and Diversification: Bright Spots Amid Industry Crossroads

Facing the U.S. dairy industry’s current challenges, Victory Farms is strategically pursuing “bright spots” to ensure long-term profitability. While maximizing milk production and components remains a top priority (with the herd averaging 70 lb. of milk at 5% fat and 4% protein), Souza has keenly embraced the lucrative beef-on-dairy market. Through an extensive embryo program, the farm strategically breeds its crossbred herd to beef semen, generating significant revenue from day-old beef-cross calves.

Souza’s goal is to eventually produce all dairy replacements through embryos, allowing more uteruses to be dedicated to beef-on-dairy. This meticulous management of heifer inventory has allowed Victory Farms to reduce its replacement heifer numbers by 1,000 while maintaining herd size, further optimizing costs. The farm’s commitment to genetics, working closely with Select Sires and genomic testing all Jerseys, ensures that only the healthiest and most productive animals contribute to the herd.

“I make bulls to send to Select Sires, to pay for my IVF program, to make better heifers,” Souza says, highlighting his dedication to genetic advancement.

A Sustainable and Optimistic Future

As Victory Farms expands to 6,200 cows, it does so as a closed herd since 2015, prioritizing sustainable, internal growth. Operating in South Dakota, Souza appreciates the “more self-contained” nature of dairying, with reliable local services and effective manure management, turning a potential challenge into a resource that local farmers eagerly request.

Despite the current volatility in milk prices, Souza remains remarkably optimistic about the future of dairy. His strategic investments in technology, his unwavering commitment to his employees and community, and his innovative approach to genetic and market diversification position Victory Farms as a beacon of adaptability and prosperity, demonstrating how a forward-thinking dairy can thrive at the industry’s crossroads.

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How Top-Deck Holsteins Produces 33,500 Pounds of Milk from 700 Cows

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:49:23 GMT

At Top-Deck Holsteins in Westgate, Iowa, the rhythm of a thriving dairy isn’t just about milking cows; it’s about a symphony of solid management, innovative foresight and an unwavering commitment to excellence that spans five generations. More than 700 Holsteins are milked three times a day, consistently delivering an impressive annual milk production of 33,500 lb. of milk, which translates to more than 123 lb. of energy-corrected milk, a testament to a meticulous approach that turns every detail into a driver of success.

“That’s kind of what we breed for ... having good components of butterfat and protein are just another way to keep us profitable around here,” explains Justin Decker, underscoring a philosophy rooted in precision and genetic excellence.

A Family Driven by Passion and Precision

This finely tuned dairy operation is orchestrated by a dedicated family team. Decker keeps a keen eye for genetics and vigilant herd health. His brother Jason leads the charge on nutrition and finances, ensuring every bite of their high-digestibility ration, rich in BMR corn silage and low-lignin haylage, fuels peak performance. His other brother Derek masterfully oversees herd and calf care and employee scheduling. Nephew Devin spearheads the maintenance and fieldwork, so the farm’s infrastructure and fields are as robust as their herd.

From seasoned full-time milkers to dedicated high schoolers, every team member plays a vital role in their seamless, 24/7 operation.

“Our employees see how we how we handle the cows,” Decker says. “They see how much we care about the animals, and that bleeds into how much they care.”

(Top-Deck Holsteins)

Precision and Innovation in Every Detail

Top-Deck Holsteins leaves no stone unturned in their pursuit of optimal health and productivity. They breed for high milk, fat and protein, alongside crucial traits such as mastitis resistance and fertility. Their double Ovsync program is a cornerstone of their reproductive success, achieving a first-service conception rate in the mid-to-upper 50s. This efficient breeding allows them to maintain an older, more productive herd. Decker says cows not getting bred until later in lactation tend to put on body condition and are at risk of not performing as well in the next lactation.

“Instead of peaking at 130 lb. to 150 lb. of milk at second and third lactations, they may only be topping out at 100 lb. to 110 lb. or so. That’s a lot of milk that you are risking losing,” he says, noting the goal is to breed for trouble-free cows, combined with longevity. “Using elite genetics help us attain this, but we also provide our animals with the environment to maximize production.”

Dry cows transition smoothly from freestalls to comfortable bedded packs; a critical phase managed with precision. This dedication to cow comfort is further amplified by their cutting-edge tunnel-ventilated barns, a game-changing investment in 2020 that stabilized production even through Iowa’s challenging summers, ensuring cows remain cool, comfortable and productive.

“The tunnel ventilated barn was probably one of the quickest paybacks we’ve ever done,” Decker says. “I’m not seeing the production dips in the summer heat like we did years ago, and our cows are just super comfortable, and ultimately, we are gaining an extra lactation or two.”

(Top-Deck Holsteins)

Tech Focus

Technology isn’t just present at Top-Deck Holsteins; it’s integrated intelligence. SCR collars provide real-time heat detection and rumination data, while PCDart meticulously tracks dairy metrics, and EZfeed ensures precise ration delivery. This data-driven approach, coupled with elite genetics from Select Sires, is the bedrock of their impressive 4.7% butterfat and 3.3% protein tests, all while maintaining a low somatic cell count of 130,000.

“We are focused primarily on maximizing income over feed costs with what we have,” Jason shares, noting that the majority of their 1,900 acres are nearby the dairy, allowing them to grow the majority of feed for the cows.

Another profit center for Top-Deck is beef-on-dairy calves. The farm strives for 25 dairy replacement calves a month, allowing them to breed bottom-end genetics to beef and allowing them to sell wet beef calves for $1,500 each. This has been something the farm has been capitalizing on for several years.

“Anything second lactation and beyond gets served to beef,” Decker shares, noting top 2-year-old cows get bred first service to sexed, then after that, they are bred to beef. He also adds that all top-end virgin heifers will receive up to two services to sexed semen.

This dedicated family team, with their deep-rooted commitment and innovative practices, isn’t just milking cows; they’re crafting a legacy. Top-Deck Holsteins is paving the way for a prosperous future, showcasing that with strategic management and a resolute family dedication, the future is not only bright but exceptionally productive.

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4 Bright Spots in the Evolving Dairy Industry

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:47:11 GMT

The dairy industry is at a fascinating crossroads. As consumers increasingly seek diets rich in protein, dairy products are ideally positioned to satisfy this growing need. The beginning of 2025 held promise, but as the year progressed, many producers faced the harsh reality of lackluster milk checks.

Despite the current financial headwinds and lackluster milk checks, the U.S. dairy industry is not without its promising avenues for growth and resilience. Several key areas are emerging as “bright spots,” offering new opportunities and pathways to a more prosperous future.

1. Infrastructure and Market Potential.
Despite challenges, the anticipated milk processing infrastructure signals immense potential for the U.S. dairy sector to expand and innovate. Such developments are essential, not only to meet the growing domestic demand, but also to capture a larger share of the international market.

One of the latest processing investment announced is when Walmart opened its second U.S.-owned milk processing facility in Valdosta, Ga. .

Several processors investments, including Cobani and fairlife are making New York: A Hub for Modern Dairy Processing .

2. Rising Milk Component Levels.
One significant shift in the industry is the change in milk component levels, critical for both producers and processors. More than 80% of the U.S. milk supply is used for manufactured dairy products, which rely heavily on butterfat and protein content. With more than $10 billion worth of new dairy processing capacity expected to be operational by 2027, the demand for these components continues to rise. Butterfat levels have set new records for four consecutive years, with an average of 4.23% nationwide in 2024, and protein content reaching 3.29% based on Federal Milk Marketing Order data. The downfall of high milk fat is that it has come at the cost of milk protein. According to CoBank, butterfat percentages in U.S. milk have been increasing at twice the pace of protein, which has been challenging to cheesemakers.

One shining dairy farm example of high milk components is with McCarty Family Farms in Kan. Genetic Advancements in Dairy Helping Meet the Protein Craze Demand

3. Beef-on-Dairy Possibilities.
Amid financial challenges, beef-on-dairy calves bringing up to $1,500 for day-old calves provide a much-needed revenue stream. Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, says this opportunity underscores the dynamic and evolving economic possibilities available to today’s dairy farmers. The integration of beef and dairy operations showcases the adaptability of the industry.

For example, California dairy producer, Tony Lopes is turning genetics and data into profits by raising higher performing beef-on-dairy calves with its own Angus.

4. Technology Offers Sustainable Future.
Technology is seamlessly integrating into all facets of the dairy industry, becoming essential for modernizing operations and enhancing productivity. This technological transformation aims not only to boost efficiency but also to prioritize animal welfare and create a more sustainable future. The 2025 Farm Journal State of the Dairy Industry report highlights two-thirds of dairies now use at least one form of feeding technology, with health monitoring collars and ear tags being the most prevalent.

One prime example of technology best utilized on farms is unfolding at Alfalawn Dairy , where smart solutions are aiding to the success of this Wisconsin dairy.

Financial Pressures
However, navigating financial hurdles remains a significant concern. Inflation and escalating material costs are major obstacles. Increased operational expenses, including labor, equipment and inputs, along with sharply rising land costs, present barriers to growth and expansion. As producers strive toward future prosperity, these challenges will need to be addressed with strategic planning and adaptation.

The U.S. dairy industry stands at a pivotal juncture, brimming with potential, yet facing undeniable challenges. By leveraging technological advancements, optimizing production processes and exploring new revenue opportunities, the dairy sector can confidently move toward a prosperous future.

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Discover How Lechera Protea in Chile is Shaping the Future of Dairy Farming

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:47:39 GMT

Nestled in the lush Curacavi, Chile, Lechera Protea Dairy stands as a beacon of innovation and tradition in the South America dairy farming industry. This exceptional farm has seamlessly blended pioneering farming techniques to help drive their dairy into the future.

The Roots of Lechera Protea Dairy
Founded in 1975 by Don Guillermo, Lechera Protea Dairy began with modest ambitions. Guillermo took the helm, infusing the family farm with the hardy European breeds that kickstarted its illustrious journey. The 1990s marked a turning point with the construction of the first freestall barns, setting the stage for further advancements. As the 2000s unfurled, U.S. breeds were introduced, and by 2010, new technologies were embraced, such as the usage of sexed semen and genomic testing transforming traditional methods into modern practices.

(Lechera Protea Dairy)

Today, the family breeds their bottom genetics to beef and like the U.S. dairy industry, they have capitalized on a lucrative beef market that has become a solid alternative profit source for their operation. Guillermo says they raise their beef-on-dairy calves to 350 kilos and then send them off to a feedlot.

With their No.1 focus on their home site caring and milking for mature cattle, they send their youngstock to southern Chile. This allows the family to milk more cows and stay within their permit numbers on their home site.

“We utilize the grass in the south to grow our heifers,” Guillermo says, noting the heifers come back bred and ready to calve.

An Era of Growth: Technological Advancements
In 2019, the Lechera Protea Dairy embarked on constructing its first compost barn, a cornerstone of its operational strategy. In 2022, the dairy completed the construction of their eighth compost barn and began construction of their new milk facility. Fast forward to 2025, and the farm exclusively houses their cattle in compost barns and now milks in a DeLaval 600-stall rotary, juxtaposing traditional ways with cutting-edge solutions. The milk production platform encompasses a generous 11.5 hectares, and the crop production spans 650 hectares, accommodating both corn and alfalfa. This resourceful approach allows for sustainable feed production, ensuring a steady nutritional supply for the herd.

Lechera Protea Dairy is one of 16 dairies that ship to their dairy cooperative, and their dairy currently represents 40% of the milk supply for that cooperative.

“We have been growing slowly,” he says. “Currently, our average days in milk is 190 days, and our total number of cattle, dry and lactating are 1,680 head.”

(Lechera Protea Dairy)

Impressive Dairy Output
Today, Lechera Protea Dairy is milking 1,500 head, three times a day, with daily outputs of 43 liters per cow, contributing to an annual production of 23 million liters. Such figures are a testament to the farm’s meticulous care in cow management and the efficacy of their farming operations.

Guillermo points out that 33% of the cows are in their first lactation, 23% are in their second and 44% are in their third-plus lactation.

The strategic focus on natural products has significantly reduced instances of mastitis, illustrating how innovation can enhance herd health without compromising milk quality. This attention to detail ensures a stable yield throughout the year, with enhancements in seasonal milk prices reflecting favorable conditions and stable production systems.

(Lechera Protea Dairy)

The Lechera Protea Dairy Legacy
Lechera Protea Dairy is more than just a working farm; it’s a testament to the willingness to incorporate innovation and technology to drive their dairy forward. As the farm progresses, the focus is committed to delivering high-quality dairy produce while nurturing its historical roots and embracing progressive agricultural practices.

This Chilean dairy farm is a shining example of how tradition and innovation can intertwine, yielding remarkable results not only for the present but for generations to come.

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Cyber Attacks Are the New Threat Creeping Onto Dairy Farms

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:11:14 GMT

Dairy farmers know firsthand just how quickly risks can impact their bottom line. Now, a new kind of risk is quietly moving onto farms: cyberattacks. This shift from physical to digital threats has left many farmers wondering where to turn for protection.

At this year’s MILK Business Conference, Andrew Rose, ag futurist with the Bioeconomy Information Sharing and Analysis Center (BIO-ISAC,) walked producers through what that evolving threat landscape looks like. He’s spent the past decade focused on protecting agriculture from cybercriminals, first as a volunteer, now as a specialist.

“Everything is a battlefield — cybersecurity, intrusions, misinformation campaigns, corporate espionage — this is white hot right now, whether it’s a foreign adversary wanting to acquire our assets or domestic going after another domestic one,” Rose says. “This is something that is not getting the attention I think it really deserves, but something to keep in the back of your mind.”

Awareness, mitigation and response guide how he approaches these threats, and he believes agriculture can strengthen its defenses by understanding the risks, preparing for disruptions before they hit and building a network of people who know how to react when something goes wrong.

The New Face of Threats

Today, threats don’t just come in the form of market swings or equipment failures. Warfare has gone digital and invisible.

“When we think about warfare as Americans, we think about bullets and bombs and boots on the ground,” Rose says.

But who is attacking farmers and what do they want? Why target agriculture at all? According to Rose, it’s nation-states like Russia, North Korea and China. They are actively probing systems for money, information and long-term strategic advantage, and agriculture offers both the data and the leverage they are looking for.

“Russia and North Korea, they want money. North Korea targets a lot of the Bitcoin wallets, but they’re also very good at putting ransomware out there,” he explains. “China has a different motivation. What they want is information. Whether that information is useful today or not is immaterial, but it might be useful in the future.”

Threats Close to Home

Rose also warns that animal activist groups continue to evolve their tactics, moving beyond on-farm trespassing or undercover videos. Some are now probing digital systems, spreading misinformation online or seeking ways to disrupt operations. Their goal might differ from foreign adversaries, but the impact can be just as damaging when they manipulate data or target equipment vulnerabilities.

“A lot of folks don’t really weigh how devastating it can be if you have an employee. That employee may inadvertently do something, or an outsider comes and says: ‘Hey, I will pay you if you just give me this login,’” Rose says.

Animal activism and information campaigns also fall into the “gray zone” of threats. Rose points to raw milk campaigns, noting that “there were certain open doors, open windows in the dairy pasteurization equipment that a bad actor could get into and manipulate temperature controls, but the readout would be fine, and that really got us worried.”

While activists might have ideological goals, the practical impact on farms can be real.

Dairy operations increasingly rely on digital tools like herd management software, milking equipment, feed programs and financial systems, but in the rush for efficiency, security is often an afterthought.

“All we thought about was the flow of information and keeping things as quick as possible,” Rose says. “They’re not thinking about secure by design.”

Practical Steps for Farms

Rose says one of the easiest defenses is right in your pocket.

“Restart your phone every day,” he recommends. “Why? Because your phone has temporary memory, and that’s where that malware sits, because the scans that your software does doesn’t scan the temporary memory. By resetting your phone every day you wipe that out.”

He adds that a daily reboot helps your phone load security patches more quickly.

“There are so many different exploits that happen every day, these zero-day exploits,” Rose adds. “If something happens and your phone company finds it, they’ll put a fix in there, but that fix might not be triggered until you have an automatic restart. If you restart your phone every day, that goes in there.”

Passwords matter too.

“Don’t use your same password twice. And it’s not because someone is going to figure out your password,” he says. “They’re going to hack into the company where your password is stored, and they’re going to take that and cross apply it across platforms.”

Beyond personal devices, Rose encourages farmers to take inventory of what on their operation is connected to the internet.

“You guys have got a lot of tech out there on the farms,” he says. “Know what’s connected to the internet. Know what the passwords are. It’s pretty simple to do an inventory like that.”

He also stresses the importance of protecting backups and insurance documents.

“When a bad guy gets into your system, the first thing they do is they go and they shred your backups, and the second thing they do is look for insurance documents, because they want to know how much your insurance company is going to pay for a ransomware attack,” Rose says.

Keeping those documents offline, he says, can save time and prevent added damage.

Planning ahead is essential as farms adopt more digital tools. Rose urges farmers to ask hard questions before bringing new equipment or software onto the operation.

“What if our computers are bricked? What if we have no access to the internet? What if we no longer have GPS?” he asks.

He recommends involving the entire team in those conversations, not just the manager. That includes the veterinarian, banker, co-op and even local law enforcement.

“I know that sometimes people get a little edgy about bringing law enforcement in,” Rose says. “It’s a lot better to know law enforcement before something happens than after it happens. Make a friend before you need it.”

Preparation is the Best Protection

For dairy farmers, the move from physical to digital risk can feel unfamiliar, but the path forward is not. Rose reminds producers that small habits, thoughtful planning and strong community ties can go a long way in keeping their information and equipment safe.

Cybersecurity does not require fear. It requires awareness. And as farms continue to adopt new tools and technology, the producers who take the time to prepare today will be the ones who stay resilient tomorrow.

Insider Strategy Tips for Top Performing Producers

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:39:52 GMT

Progress on the farm rarely comes from a single breakthrough. It comes from the everyday decisions that make a dairy run smoother, smarter and more sustainably than it did the year before. For three dairymen speaking at this year’s MILK Business Conference, Greg Bethard, TJ Tuls and Hank Hafliger, success isn’t accidental, it’s intentional.

These producers offer practical, hard-earned tips for other producers, sharing the strategies that have helped their dairies stay competitive, efficient and resilient in a fast-changing industry.

Invest In Technology That Pays Its Way
Technology continues to transform how dairies operate by offering tools that streamline processes and boost efficiency. For Tuls, the principle remains clear that every investment must deliver value.

“We’re always looking for ways to make our dairies run better,” Tuls says. “Right now, we’re testing three or four different systems to see what works best.”

Some tools use cameras to monitor cow movement and employee performance. Others combine data with DairyComp to spot trends and guide better decisions. But Tuls reminds farmers technology only works if you use the data.

“At the end of the day, it’s feeding your data back into your operation and doing something with that information. And it takes good people and managers to interpret it and really apply it on your farm,” he says.

For Bethard in Kansas, his perspective comes with decades of hindsight.

“I remember 30 years ago when I started out, a 1,000-cow dairy was huge. Back then, DairyComp and headlocks were your tools to manage that many cows,” Bethard says.

Today, his list of non-negotiables to manage a larger herd has grown. Sort gates, activity collars and meters in the parlor are all essential. The philosophy behind adopting new technology, though, hasn’t changed.

“I can barely use my cell phone, so I’m not really a technology guy,” he jokes. “I’m looking for anything that’s easy to use and lowers my cost to produce milk. The key is evaluating it and embracing what makes sense for us.”

For Bethard, every piece of technology has to prove its worth. When he evaluated activity collars on his dairy, the numbers spoke for themselves. Looking ahead, he plans to follow the same approach by avoiding flashy trends and focusing on tools that truly improve efficiency and animal care.

Measuring What Matters
Across all three dairies, success is powered by key performance indicators.

Tuls’ team in Nebraska leans heavily on people-focused metrics.

“One of the biggest KPIs we track is employee turnover,” he says. “When you have a strong, experienced team, it directly improves profitability, production and cow longevity.”

Feed efficiency is another cornerstone metric for Tuls.

“You can feed a lot of different products and make a lot of milk, but if you’re spending a ton of money doing it, it doesn’t help your bottom line,” he adds. “How cows convert feed into milk, that’s a huge deal.”

Bethard’s dairy approaches metrics through the lens of business sustainability. Their guiding number is their break-even cost with no milk price factored in.

“If we achieve that, really nothing else matters much,” Bethard says.

Operationally, they track a daily static variable margin: income over feed cost minus variable expenses.

“That margin is what pays for all the other fixed costs,” Bethard says.

It’s the heartbeat of the business, and the number he relies on to maintain a healthy, resilient operation.

Winning With People
For all three dairymen, success starts with people. Hafliger says that means creating a family atmosphere on his operation.

“These guys come to work in the middle of the night when it’s snowing outside,” he says. “They’re pulling calves and caring for cows in the toughest conditions. It’s important to treat them like family.”

Tuls agrees. Watching employees grow has become one of his greatest rewards.

“Three of our managers started as cow pushers, and now they’re running dairies,” he says. “That’s fun to watch. They really are family.”

Tuls says leadership means being present, listening, checking in and making sure people know their work matters.

“They’re working at your farm by choice,” he says. “You’ve got to convince them it’s a good place to be,” he adds.

Bethard sees culture as the cornerstone for his operation.

“Culture is what keeps the wheels turning,” Bethard says. “You can have the best systems in the world, but if your team doesn’t feel respected and connected, nothing works.

The Blueprint for Success
Across three states and three management styles, one message is clear. Great dairies do not achieve success by chance. They build it through careful adoption of technology, disciplined measurement and workplaces where people feel valued and motivated.

Innovation, Perseverance and Passion Drive Wybrand Vander Dussen's Dairy Success

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 14:18:04 GMT

In the heart of La Salle, Colo., a remarkable dairy legacy continues to unfold. Wybrand Vander Dussen, the 2025 Milk Business Young Producer Award winner, is not just a testament to the resilience of the dairy industry but a symbol of the perseverance and passion that have defined his family’s legacy for generations.

The story begins in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where Vander Dussen’s great-grandfather was a milk peddler, diligently making and selling milk. Fast forward to 2013, and the Vander Dussen family had relocated from Southern California to Northern Colorado, driven by their deep roots in the dairy industry. The move was more than just geographical; it was a strategic step to create a lasting future for the family amid a mature dairy market.

“At the time, Colorado was advantageous because it was not a mature dairy market,” fellow dairy producer, AJ De Jager shared in a letter of recommendation on behalf of Vander Dussen. “Mark [Vander Dussen] jumped on this endeavor and developed a beautiful and functional dairy that he was operating not much long after.”

Overcoming Early Challenges
Vander Dussen’s journey as a young producer was marked by both challenges and growth. After the unexpected passing of his father, Mark, due to cancer, the family dairy was managed by his uncle Danny while Vander Dussen completed his animal science studies at Kansas State University. The summers spent working in the dairy industry laid a foundation of practical knowledge and experience, preparing him for the responsibilities he would eventually take on.

“A couple years later, Danny moved off to start his own venture in South Dakota,” De Jager says. “While he was only a young man a few years out of college, Wybrand possessed the work ethic and maturity to take over as the leader of the family dairy, and Prado Dairy has done nothing but excel its trajectory ever since.”

KayCee Lytle with Bank of Colorado who works closely with Vander Dussen and Prado Dairy says: “Wybrand came back and took over this operation at a really young age. To have to go through some pretty hard things to get here and being supported by his family in incredible.”

Embracing Leadership and Innovation
Upon returning from college, Vander Dussen assumed leadership of the dairy, bringing with him a vision of growth and innovation. He sought to integrate new technologies to enhance efficiency and cow comfort. This forward-thinking approach included the installation of rubber flooring for cow comfort and the use of collars for health monitoring and management, eliminating the need for headlocks.

“We’re going to be doing most of the the tasks, the breedings, the moves, the trims, all in the milking barn through sort gates, and so we’re not going to have any headlocks in here,” Vander Dussen says.

Vander Dussen’s quiet leadership, characterized by thoughtful inquiry and strategic planning, set him apart. His ability to ask the right questions and seek guidance from family and industry professionals reflects a commitment to continuous learning and improvement. These efforts have not gone unnoticed, as his dedication and innovative spirit have earned him recognition as a leader among young producers.

It’s a task he’s taking on now with help from his family.

“My uncle taught me how to read cash flows and project your herd inventory and all sorts of stuff,” Vander Dussen says. “It’s a lot of moving parts, and these larger operations are really tough to wrap your arms around at times.”

(Photo Provided)

Family and Community: The Heart of the Dairy
The support of Vander Dussen’s family has been pivotal in his journey. His wife, Amber, and their children are integral to the family dairy, embodying the values of hard work and community. The Vander Dussens have made it their mission to not only operate a successful dairy but also provide a nurturing environment for their children, instilling in them the same passion for agriculture that runs through their veins.

Vander Dussen’s journey, from overcoming profound personal loss to strategically relocating and innovating Prado Dairy, perfectly embodies the spirit of the 2025 Milk Business Young Producer Award. His quiet yet determined leadership, marked by a commitment to embracing technology like rubber flooring and health monitoring collars, alongside a deep appreciation for family and community, showcases a model for sustainable growth. As the dairy industry navigates an uncertain future, the Vander Dussen legacy stands as a powerful testament to resilience, forward-thinking management and the enduring passion for agriculture, proving that with leaders like him, the future of dairy remains incredibly bright.

The High-Tech Transformation of a Dairy Visionary

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 20:51:50 GMT

“Growing up as a kid, I always told everyone I was going to be a farmer,” says Paul Windemuller of Coopersville, Mich. “I just didn’t know how it was going to happen, because we didn’t have a farm.”

That was more than 30 years ago in 1990. Today, Windemuller has achieved that dream as a first-generation dairy farmer who wholeheartedly understands how rapidly the dairy industry is changing. We met up with the tech-savvy, charismatic young farmer in Santiago, Chile during the 2025 International Dairy Forum World Dairy Summit to talk about how innovation and data ownership are reshaping traditional agriculture both here in the U.S. and around the world.

From Humble Beginnings to Innovation Leader
Windemuller’s journey into dairy farming began in western Michigan, where his family ran a farm equipment dealership. Despite not growing up on a farm, experiences working on various agricultural operations instilled in him a passion for livestock, particularly dairy. Windemuller’s academic pursuit in agribusiness management at Michigan State University, coupled with a pivotal stint at Lincoln University in New Zealand, laid the foundation for his future endeavors. It was there that he found a mentor who owned multiple dairy farms and also consulted with other dairies. This relationship fueled Windemuller’s ambition and gave him the business acumen necessary for success in the dairy industry.

When Windemuller returned to American soil, he was married with a baby, $2,000 in his bank account and no home. This fueled determination out of the gate, which quickly led to a job with Dairy Farmers of America, where he honed his skills in supply consulting, helping member farms optimize their purchasing practices. This was also the period when Windemuller’s vision for Dream Winds Dairy began to take shape.

Building Dream Winds Dairy
Dream Winds Dairy started on a modest 13-acre farm acquired by Windemuller and his family. With an initial investment of just $20,000, they transformed an old tie-stall barn into a thriving enterprise, starting with 30 cows in 2014 and expanding to 250 by 2018.

“This is where I cut my teeth on technology back when I put the robots in,” he says, noting that SCR collars drastically improved their operational efficiency and cow health. Windemuller says, through adopting technology, he virtually stopped giving breeding shots and began treating cows earlier with more homeopathic methods.

“That made a huge impact there, which also made a huge impact on my cull rate, because if you can breed cows and you can keep them healthy, you don’t need to cull them as much,” he says, noting that this helped him not need to purchase as many replacements.

The Power of Technology and Data
Today, Windemuller’s approach to dairy farming is heavily influenced by technology. He believes AI and automation play crucial roles in enhancing farm productivity and profitability. The introduction of milking robots and other technological advancements allows him to manage farm operations more effectively while maintaining an off-farm job.

Windemuller shares that soon out of the gate, he relied heavily on data, meticulously tracking numbers and tirelessly working to manage his growing farm.

“Every six weeks, I tested my herd,” he says. “I stared at those numbers trying to find patterns to manage them. I struggled, but I slowly learned.”

When he installed robots and sensor collars in 2017, along with it came real-time data on every aspect of his farm operations.

“Suddenly, I had more data than I knew what to do with,” he says, sharing initially it overwhelmed him, but eventually empowered him and turned him into a data-driven farmer obsessed with AI.

Global Insights: A Nuffield Scholar’s Journey
Windemuller says one year later, with the help of real-time data, both his breeding numbers and cull rates went from well below the industry average to well above it.

“That’s when I realized that data really empowered me. It trained me, and it made me a better dairy farmer,” he says.

The power of data led to a Nuffield Scholarship, allowing Windemuller to travel to more than 15 countries. Traveling the globe, he observed the transformative impact of AI and automation in agriculture. Windemuller says he drew inspiration from industry pioneers and recognized parallels between the evolution of electricity and the potential of AI in revolutionizing farming practices.

During this time, Windemuller listened to a Jeff Bezos podcast that he calls a lightening transformation.

“AI is like a horizontal enabling layer, much like electricity in the early 20^th century,” he recalls. “Now, after all my travels and research, I believe AI, as a technology, will be more transformative than even electricity. AI is not a single tool. It’s the foundation for almost every new technology that will power the next generation of agriculture. Whether we like it or not, over time, AI will become the invisible layer that runs through nearly every system we use in this industry.”

While AI presents seemingly endless opportunities, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Windemuller highlights roadblocks like data quality, infrastructural issues, fear of technology by farm workers and governance barriers. His research underscores the importance of accurate data and interoperability in successfully leveraging AI, as well as the need to foster a culture of innovation among farm teams.

A Vision for the Future
Windemuller introduces several frameworks to guide the integration of AI in agriculture. From the AI yield gap, which identifies untapped potential, to the livestock AI readiness index, which helps farms assess their preparedness, he emphasizes the importance of strategic adoption. Moreover, he envisions a future where farmers control their data through cooperatives, ensuring their freedom and leveraging cleaner data for industry-wide benefits.

For those skeptical of AI’s relevance to their farms, Windemuller’s message is clear: farmers should embrace data stewardship and technological experimentation. Simple steps, like using software to manage team schedules or feed prices, can provide a gateway to understanding AI’s potential. Most importantly, fostering a culture where technology is seen as an enabler, rather than a threat, is crucial.

Looking to the future, Windemuller envisions an era where humanoid robots and integrated visual technologies will further revolutionize farm operations. He predicts these advancements will enable farmers to achieve a holistic insight threshold, where comprehensive data points provide an unparalleled understanding of farm dynamics. This shift toward data-driven decision-making promises to distinguish successful farms from those that resist technological change.

“Everyone will have access to the same commercially available AI tools, but AI has a multiplying effect, if a farmer is 10% better than the industry average, and the multiplying effect is 10x, then that farm will be 100% better than the industry average (profit wise). This will have a hockey stick effect on industry consolidation and efficiency,” he says.

Join the Movement
As Windemuller concludes, his vision for the future is an agricultural industry that empowers farmers to lead the digital transformation. By harnessing the power of AI, they can make informed decisions and build resilient businesses prepared for the future.

“We don’t want one company owning all the systems or controlling your data, but we do want our systems to talk to each other,” he says. “Imagine a system where farmers are not just data producers, but are in complete control of their data. A system where we pull our information together through a farmer-led cooperative that governs how the data is shared, monetized and used for farmers. This means access to cleaner, scaled, verifiable data sets. For researchers and innovators, it opens doors to accelerate solutions that serve our entire ecosystem as an industry.

In the end, Windemuller believes AI won’t replace farmers, but it will elevate them, creating sharper managers and better stocked people.

“By leading this transformation, we ensure a robust future for the next generation of farmers,” he says.

Windemuller’s story is a compelling example of how innovation and strategic thinking are redefining modern dairy farming. His insights and initiatives not only promise to drive profitability but also ensure the sustainability of an industry poised for transformative growth. Through collaborations and commitment to leveraging data, the future of dairy is bright.

Paul Windemuller will share his story and present in more detail at the 2025 Milk Business Conference, Dec. 2-3 in Las Vegas. To see the full agenda and register today, go to: MILK Business Conference 2025

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From Risk to Revolution: McCarty Family Farms Named 2025 Leader in Technology Award Winner

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:12:54 GMT

On the open plains of western Kansas, where the horizon stretches wide and the wind almost never stops, sits a dairy operation built on grit, risk and the belief that bold decisions can change everything. Today, McCarty Family Farms is known across the industry for its scale and cutting-edge innovation, but its story starts 1,500 miles away in a tie-stall barn in northeastern Pennsylvania.

“We’re fourth-generation family dairymen, originally born and raised in northeastern Pennsylvania,” says Ken McCarty, one of the four brothers who own and operate McCarty Family Farms.

For more than a century, the family milked cows in the Northeast. But in the late 1990s, their parents made a decision that would redefine the family’s future: sell nearly everything, load what they could haul and move halfway across the country to Kansas.

“All that credit is due to our parents,” Ken says. “They have a big vision, and they have some serious intestinal fortitude. My brothers and I talk about this often, and we’re not sure we would have that faith and that courage at that age — to risk it all, pick our families up, move 1,500 miles and bet it all on us. Thankfully, it works out so far.”

In 1999, the family sold just over 200 cows and their equipment to head West. The brothers say they arrived somewhat naive, and that may have been their saving grace.

“When we left Pennsylvania, we sold 212 milking cows and just our equipment,” says Clay McCarty, one of the brothers who owns and operates the farm today. “We came out here a little naive, which is good. We’re so convinced we succeed that we don’t know how to fail. And that’s good, because the first five to seven years, we’re one mistake away from failure — probably closer to extinction than we ever realize.”

Building a Culture of Commitment

Despite long days, tight margins and constant uncertainty, the McCartys found support in the people who took the leap with them.

“We’re just determined we’re not going to fail,” Clay says. “We’re very fortunate. A lot of our guys who start with us in 2000 are still with us in 2025. We’re able to create a culture early where guys are willing to sacrifice — and they see us sacrificing, working 20-hour days.”

(McCarty Family Farms)

A Second Big Leap: Processing Their Own Milk

In 2012, the McCartys took another bold step and built their own milk processing plant — a move nearly as risky as the family’s relocation.

“In 2012, when we start that, we have no idea how to run a milk processing plant,” Ken says. “But we believe it’s the right thing to do for our partnership with our customer, the right thing for our farm and our family — and thankfully, it works out.”

The plant, built in partnership with Danone North America, allows the family to add value to their milk and reach markets far beyond Kansas. The McCartys have four dairy farms today, and Danone says McCarty Family Farms’ partnership is vital, supplying milk that helps churn out Danone’s yogurts and other products.

The relationship between McCarty’s and Danone is also a model for Danone’s farmer partnerships and involves initiatives to improve sustainability, such as water conservation and soil health projects.

(McCarty Family Farms)

Innovation as a Way of Life

Since establishing their operation in Kansas, McCarty Family Farms has grown to milk around 20,000 cows across multiple states and now employs nearly 250 team members. But what truly sets the operation apart is how deeply the family embraces technology, not as a trend but as a necessity.

“When it comes to technology, we don’t jump into anything lightly,” Ken says. “We spend a lot of time vetting technology, working with industry experts, people smarter than us. And we’re always searching for technologies that can fill a gap in our business.”

Those gaps — labor shortages, market competition, demands for traceability, animal welfare and sustainability — are pushing the family to innovate continually.

“As labor becomes a bigger challenge, as markets become more competitive, as demand for increased traceability or enhanced animal welfare or optimized sustainability grows, all of that forces us to look for innovation,” Ken says. “A lot of that comes through technology, whether it’s genetic evaluations, breeding strategies based on genomics, methane capture or feed additives that reduce enteric emissions and drive down our carbon footprint.”

Ken says the ability to collect granular, cow-specific data and then act on it is fueling the operation today, and the next frontier is already in sight.

“I think a few things are really going to push our farms and our business to the next level,” Ken says. “Machine learning and artificial intelligence — using those tools to create predictive analytics and tell us what’s going to happen to a cow before it happens — and robotics. Our farms run 24/7/365 in a diminishing labor pool. Robotics allow us to keep scaling and run our farms how we want, when we want, and turn labor into a more fixed cost.”

Looking Ahead: Water and Labor Still Loom Large

For all the technological gains, two challenges remain front and center.

“Front of mind in northwest Kansas is water,” Clay says. “It’s Kansas, Nebraska, Texas — this whole Ogallala Aquifer. How we manage that moving forward massively affects how our operations run. And if you look across the nation, the big bear in the room is labor. It’s hard to get, and there’s a lot of noise around immigration.”

A Fifth Generation Steps In

Still, the McCartys remain optimistic in part because the fifth generation is already stepping into the operation, tech-savvy and ready for the challenges ahead.

“We’re trying to bring back the fifth generation,” Clay says. “We’re a pretty young group. Ken’s in his early 40s, so there’s a lot of life left in us. We’re going to have to continue to diversify and be innovative and adopt the technologies that come our way.”

(McCarty Family Farms)

A Family That Redefined What a Dairy Can Be

From a small Pennsylvania barn to a high-tech dairy powerhouse on the High Plains, the McCarty family doesn’t just operate a dairy; they redefine the possibilities of modern milk production. They blend tradition with technology, risk with resilience, and vision with action.

For their continued leadership and groundbreaking commitment to innovation, McCarty Family Farms is the 2025 Milk Business Conference Leader in Technology Award winner.

Bitcoin Set to Revolutionize US Agriculture?

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 15:25:41 GMT

Pebble to landslide, Bitcoin is approaching agriculture and its impact will be seismic, echoing the benchmarks of farming history, including cotton gin, steel plow, mechanization, and biotech crops. Or will it?

Only 10 years back, on the turnrow or at the seed house, the mention of Bitcoin elicited mockery. Five years back, laughter. Now? The derision is replaced by inquiry.

Cryptocurrency, as a store of value to a medium of exchange, is on an economic collision course with agriculture, set to change American farms forever, contends a growing chorus of voices within the ag chain.

“Bitcoin is an absolute agriculture necessity going forward,” says producer Zack Smith. “People just don’t realize it yet. Soon, they will.”

First Bird to Fly
Bitcoin was created in 2009. In the eyes of critics, it was a lie agreed upon, or a pyramid built to topple. However, 16 years beyond Bitcoin’s birth, the online currency, thriving beyond the fat fingers of government, is among the fastest adopted technologies in world history.

In extreme northcentral Iowa’s Winnebago County, a stone’s throw below the Minnesota line, Smith works 1,200 acres of row crops and raises a small amount of livestock. He doesn’t flinch at the “first bird to fly takes all the arrows” maxim, whether innovating via wide-row corn, strip intercropping, stock cropping , or Bitcoin.

“Bitcoin is the currency of the future, and that includes agriculture,” says Iowa grower Zach Smith.

(Photo by Stock Cropper)

“It’s just a matter of time for Bitcoin in agriculture, and I don’t mean far off. In 10 or 15 years, Bitcoin could be a normal part of a farm transaction. It’s a question of when critical inertia hits, but Bitcoin will be utilized by folks in agriculture in the near future.”

“The people at the top of agriculture in power, the CEOs, big-time commodity traders, and agribusiness, are looking at Bitcoin as a hedge against dollar debasement,” he continues. “Again, it’s coming fast.”

Out of the chute, Smith sees Bitcoin as a store of value. “Look what’s happened to land. So many outside investors have entered the market, producing inflated land values that make no financial sense with the value of what is being produced.”

“That’s where I see Bitcoin making its first impact. As investors discover there’s something better than land and just as finite, something you don’t pay property taxes on, something you don’t have to maintain, something that is portable, I think land prices will drop closer to utility value, allowing young farmers better opportunities to compete in the market.”

At present, income surpluses are akin to snowflakes in hell, but Smith urges producers to prepare for change. “For those who put their fiat money into Bitcoin, and are patient, I believe they’ll be able to buy two to three times the land in the near future they would have otherwise.”

“The money printer isn’t stopping,” he adds. “Bitcoin is the offramp to the debasement problem.”

Jumping the Treadmill
A lone voice a decade-plus in the past, Vance Crowe has long been a proponent of Bitcoin in agriculture. Host of Ag Tribes and founder of Legacy Interviews , Crowe is adamant: Bitcoin is transformative for farming.

“Just a few years ago, people reacted negatively when I talked about Bitcoin. That’s been replaced with genuine questions and consideration. Bitcoin is going to become deeply embedded in how the business of agriculture functions, and people who’ve been trying to preserve the value of their dollars are going to move those dollars out of land and into Bitcoin. Guys who’ve gotten a 6-7% return on land are looking over at Bitcoin and seeing a 65 percent return every year for the last 15 years. The wake-up is happening in real time.”

“Five, 10, or 15 years, it’s going to completely change agriculture’s game,” says Vance Crowe, regarding Bitcoin.

(Photo by Legacy Interviews)

In March 2025, President Trump signed an order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve . Three months later, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to develop plans toward the use of cryptocurrency as a mortgage loan asset .

“It’s only a matter of time before ag lending starts realizing it’s a lot better to collateralize loans with Bitcoin, than to do so with cattle or maybe even land,” Crowe projects. “If you collateralize a loan with cattle or land, if that person doesn’t meet their obligations, the lender must assess, load, or sell. Only then does a lender get the money. Bitcoin bundles all of that into a 10-minute fix. Ag lending will become heavily enmeshed in Bitcoin.”

Government maintains the exorbitant privilege of seigniorage, i.e., printing reams of bills with no backing. Need more, print more. Conversely, Bitcoin is limited to a 21-million cap. Finite.

No central issuer; no board of directors; no CEO; and no marketing department. Just a vehicle, according to Crowe, carrying unprecedented opportunity for agriculture. “Farmers have been put in a position where they spend as much of the money they have coming in as possible, both for tax reasons, but also because the value of their dollars always goes down.”

(For a basic primer, see What is Bitcoin? The Explanation That Clicks )

“Bitcoin provides an unprecedented option where a farmer can say, ‘I’ve made this money and I don’t want to risk its value. I’m putting it in Bitcoin.’ That provides a way to jump off the treadmill of constantly buying new tractors, building more sheds, or constantly growing.”

Fundamental change is knocking, Crowe contends: “Five, 10, or 15 years, it’s going to completely change agriculture’s game.”

Proverbial Lightbulb
Raised in hardscrabble 1980s row cropping in southcentral Nebraska’s Adams County, Kevin Kimle watched his father barter. Side of beef for a farm repair; load of pigs for a used semi.

“It’s in our agriculture muscle memory: a means to trade in a different currency,” says Kimle, now an Iowa-based entrepreneur and agriculture economist, and founder of BitCorn . He serves as Rastetter Chair of Agricultural Entrepreneurship and director of agricultural entrepreneurship programs at Iowa State University.

“I view Bitcoin as one of the most important inventions in human history,” says Kevin Kimle.

(Photo by BitCorn)

“We’re at the beginning of a transition to a Bitcoin standard not only in the U.S., but globally, and I think agriculture is a natural first mover on the leading edge of that transition.”

Practically, what does that mean to a farmer? A seventh saved, according to Kimle . As in, annually turning a seventh of a crop to Bitcoin, generating at least two crops worth of Bitcoin by the end of seven years.

He still owns farmland in Nebraska and began researching Bitcoin in 2021. “I’m about four years into this. But my own simulation, if I had sold 10% of my grain for Bitcoin instead of dollars, I’d have four years of crop in Bitcoin today.”

In summer 2025, Kimle set up a business bridge between Bitcoin and traditional agriculture— BitCorn —intent on giving farmers tools, basics, and the means to make transactions.

“The proverbial light bulb went off. At BitCorn, we’re providing a place where a farmer can learn Bitcoin. Agriculture is packed with incredibly innovative entrepreneurs, and their ideas are going to take us down the Bitcoin road.”

Bitcoin trades 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. “I view Bitcoin as one of the most important inventions in human history,” Kimle explains, “in the ballpark with the wheel, plow, printing press, electricity, and anything else.”

Our Children’s Money
Dennis Campbell is at the helm of Crystal Creek Enterprises, in east Iowa’s Clinton County, working with corn, soybeans and some wheat acres. Crystal Creek manages a portfolio of 10,000+ acres of owned, rented and custom farmed land.

“There’s a way to wake up and say, ‘I can buy $500 worth of something that’ll hold value as good as or better than land,’” asserts Dennis Campbell.

(Crystal Creek Enterprises)

Starting in 1854, Campbell’s forefathers scratched dirt outside Grand Mound, within proximity of the Mississippi River. His farming bloodline reaches back to Antebellum America, but although Campbell shepherds past legacy, his eyes are locked on the horizon. Internationally renowned for emerging technology, Crystal Creek is a consistent mecca for visiting ag delegations from Africa, Australia, Europe, and South America since 2013. In 2025, Campbell opened a BitCorn node on his farm. He jumped in the Bitcoin pool in 2023.

At present, Campbell estimates 85% of U.S. farmers take zero notice of Bitcoin. “They are nose to the grindstone, trying to juggle work, debt, equipment, and family, all while things get worse financially. I don’t know any more than anybody else, but I believe Bitcoin, at a minimum, is becoming a major tool in the toolbox to protect ourselves against an out-of-control government.”

“Just look at crop insurance, alone,” he continues. “You can spend $45 to $55 an acre insuring 250-bushel an acre APH corn. That’s crazy. I sure as hell won’t make 50 bucks an acre this year. Even if Bitcoin only gave some independence back on crop insurance, that by itself is enough for me.”

Does Campbell see growers investing a seventh of a crop in Bitcoin?

“We’ve got to put a portion of our proceeds in. If I could do that and have sufficient comfort to lower my 85% revenue harvest priced option insurance policy to 70% and lower my cost from $50 bucks to $20, that’s quite a savings account. Every year, regardless of how tight our belts are, we need to allocate a percentage of proceeds above and beyond our principal payments for land and green or red paint into something that can’t be debased and diluted by runaway government spending by 535 people in Washington, D.C.”

In 2025, Dennis Campbell opened a BitCorn node on his Iowa farm.

(Photo by Crystal Creek Enterprises)

Debt and the next generation loom large in Campbell’s view of Bitcoin.

“We’re spending our children’s money now and that’s what debt is. That’s what debt creates—a burden on future society and on future fruits of labor. It’s madness and we all talk about land as the best store of financial resources, but land is difficult to accumulate at a fractional pace. It’s not easy to wake up and say, ‘I’m gonna go buy 80 acres today,’ but there’s a way to wake up and say, ‘I can buy $500 worth of something that’ll hold value as good as or better than land.’ Bitcoin.”

Adios to the Rulebook
“The smartest thing somebody in agriculture could do is go down and borrow a bunch of money against traditional collateral and use that money to buy Bitcoin.”

Bold words. However, Matt Gilbert maintains Bitcoin future for agriculture is inevitable and backs his contention with receipts. Raised in the vast fields of Texas cotton country, Gilbert is an esteemed entrepreneur with specialization in mergers and acquisitions. He calls balls and strikes.

“Before my lifetime ends, the old playbook will be obsolete, and those prepared today will lead the charge into tomorrow’s agriculture economy,” says Matt Gilbert.

(Photo by Gilbert & Associates)

“Modern farmers invest heavily in equipment, infrastructure, and resources, yet the real paradigm shift lies in leveraging advanced financial tools. Up and down the agriculture supply chain, whether you’re manufacturing machinery or distributing fertilizer, nearly every participant depends on traditional lines of credit,” Gilbert explains.

“Financing in dollars is trapped in a cycle of diminishing returns—a negative loop. But using Bitcoin as a store of value creates an entirely positive feedback loop. If you’ve held Bitcoin during any four-year window since its inception, historically your purchasing power has multiplied, matching up to nearly 12 times what a dollar-based payment could achieve. This shift isn’t incremental—it’s transformational for agricultural economics.”

Adios to land or physical assets as necessary collateral? Yes, Gilbert says. “Choose any era in history: mass-market automobiles, television, the arrival of the Internet. Bitcoin’s adoption curve is exponentially steeper than any previous innovation. It stands alone as an asset that appreciates with unrivaled velocity, fundamentally altering the financial landscape for growers and agribusinesses.”

Agriculture trade is conducted via the U.S. dollar, which loses at least 3-5% per year in value. Tack on the price of inflation, and farmers see 10%-plus of dollar value slip away, annually. “Those numbers are incredibly disheartening,” Gilbert details. “For example, if someone got paid for a crop in 2023, sat on a little of the money, and decided to spend it in 2026, they’re going to have somewhere between 25-40% less purchasing power with the dollars they saved. That’s a giant problem. Bitcoin solves that problem.”

Bitcoin’s adoption rate has been phenomenally steep.

(Graphic by BlackRock)

“The implication for farmers and ag professionals is clear: Understand the currency paradigm shift, because the money you’re using, the dollar, is undermining your business more than you realize,” he says.

“My advice to those in agriculture is to leverage the advantages of both systems; pay expenses in dollars, but demand income in Bitcoin—the most secure and robust cryptocurrency. Weak currencies burden, but robust currencies liberate. It’s time for agriculture to pivot toward strength.”

What about buying farmland? Tokenization, Gilbert posits. “It’s already happening. Commercial real estate has been tokenized in the last couple of years. Agriculture assets are going to follow. Tokenization is the future, not theory. It’s reality. Commercial properties have already been fractionalized on the blockchain (the network Bitcoin runs on), and agriculture is next in line.”

Think apartment complex or condo in New York City. The building can be bought by tokenizing the real estate, meaning multiple people buy a portion. One buyer in Kansas; another in Indiana; more elsewhere, all purchasing 500 square feet apiece via the blockchain.

“Imagine democratizing rural assets. A family in Iowa, an investor in Mississippi, and stakeholders from across the nation jointly tokenizing a farm. The blockchain ledger transparently records every transaction, making ownership, lending, and risk radically clearer and more efficient than ever before. This will overhaul deed registries, middlemen, banking, and title services, drastically cutting costs and speeding processes.”

Markets also benefit, Gilbert believes. A futures contract is typically bundled in lots of 100, whether hedging crops, fuel, or fertilizer. Bitcoin splits the bundle into fractions of 1 million. “Instead of the current way things are primarily done, which is 100 units equals a contract, Bitcoin breaks that into a million pieces instead of 100 pieces, which means a far more level playing field for the person in agriculture versus the person in finance.”

The next 15 years will be telltale, Gilbert predicts. “Having studied the Bitcoin space since 2013, I’ve witnessed digital currency realize in a decade what it took the dollar more than a century to accomplish, without systemic debasement. Within the next fifteen years, financial rules governing agriculture will be rewritten, marking a generational inflection point. Before my lifetime ends, the old playbook will be obsolete, and those prepared today will lead the charge into tomorrow’s agriculture economy.”

What is Money?
Bitcoin naysayers abound. Ponzi party. Bernie Madoff special. Dot.com crash all over again. Sam Bankman-Fried unleashed. Cinderella at midnight .

Pitfalls? Certainly. Black swans. Always.

The Trump administration has generated strong support for Bitcoin, but the perspective of subsequent administrations is unknown. What about the Bitcoin blockchain—how secure will it be in years to come?

However, bolstered by steady gains and landmark promise, the past 16 years of Bitcoin have shown otherwise, contend Crowe, Kimle, Campbell, Gilbert, and Smith.

A handful of years in the past, Smith was a Bitcoin scoffer. Scam. Scheme. Trainwreck.

No more. He now sees Bitcoin as bell cow.

“It’s a question of when critical inertia hits, but Bitcoin will be utilized by folks in agriculture in the near future,” concludes producer Zach Smith.

(Photo by Stock Cropper)

“Whether Bitcoin is a store of value or medium of exchange in farming, it’ll be one or both,” Smith concludes. “Over the last 10 years, I’ve asked myself the hard question, ‘What is money?’ The best answer is to make the effort to find out for yourself. Go to Amazon and buy a copy of The Bitcoin Standard . Might be the most valuable $20 you’ll ever spend. Why? Because Bitcoin is the currency of the future, and that includes agriculture.”

For more from Chris Bennett (@ChrisBennettMS or cbennett@farmjournal.com or 662-592-1106), see:
Corn and Cocaine: Roger Reaves and the Most Incredible Farm Story Never Told

How the Deep State Tried, and Failed, to Crush an American Farmer

Game of Horns: Iowa Poacher’s Antler Addiction Leads to Historic Bust

Ghost Cattle: $650M Ponzi Rocks Livestock Industry, Money Still Missing

Farmer Unearths Lost Treasure, Solves WW2 Mystery

Why More Dairy Farms Are Using Drones to Manage Feed Inventories

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 15:06:47 GMT

In the rapidly evolving world of agriculture, technology continues to play an indispensable role in boosting efficiency and accuracy. One such innovation making significant strides in this industry is drone technology. Derek Wawack, an on-farm specialist with Alltech, has been at the forefront of using drone technology to measure feed inventories, helping farmers streamline operations and optimize resources.

Technology and Feed Inventory Management
Wawack’s journey with Alltech spans nearly 15 years, focusing on forage management and feed quality. From the beginning, accurate feed inventory management has been essential. For the past eight years, Wawack and his team have employed drone technology coupled with cloud computing to accurately measure stored forages and feedstuffs.

“Prior to that, we were using scales, chopper numbers, estimating shrinkages, tape measures, wheel measurers, lasers, footsteps and spray paint — about everything to guess what was in forage piles,” he says.

(Provided Photo)

Though various technologies like GIS, GPS, and satellite imagery were explored, drones emerged as the most successful tool for feed inventory management.

“Our drones have been the most successful,” Wawack says, noting they have been told by many customers how accurate they get to run-out dates year after year.

Drone-Assisted Measurement Process
Wawack explains the process as starting with an application to lay out a flight plan for the drone, ensuring specific parameters are set for optimal accuracy. The drone then autonomously flies the predetermined route, captures images and lands. These images are subsequently stitched together in a cloud application to create a comprehensive 3D map of the feed pad. By annotating pile locations and understanding floor dynamics, they calculate cubic volume, dry matter and density to determine tonnage. Measurements typically occur annually after silage season, but some farms opt for more frequent assessments, especially during challenging years.

“Sizes of farms don’t matter too much. As long as there is a bunker or pile of a feedstuff for us to measure, we are able to work with them,” he says. “The program can’t measure vertical silos or bags necessarily. With bags, though, we can measure the lengths and use the bag calculators to get a close tonnage if needed. The best and most accurate measurements are on drive-over piles, and both open- and closed-ended bunkers.”

Inventory Data in Dairy Farming
The data collected from drones serves various purposes on dairy farms. It aids in planning the necessary tonnage for feeding, assessing harvested tonnage and influencing decisions related to future harvests and crop planning.

“Each farm utilizes the information differently, but many use it to plan for tons needed or tons that can be fed for the year,” he says. “The farms and nutritionists seem to use this information the most for planning, but sometimes bankers and insurance companies like to see how much is there too.”

The Superiority of Drone Technology
Wawack advocates for the widespread adoption of drone technology for feed inventory management. Unlike traditional scales, which are susceptible to human error, drones account for the complex geometries and variations of feed piles, offering a precise measurement every time. This ability to accurately cater to the complexities of piled feed makes drones a preferred method over older techniques.

“By measuring all the feedstuffs at once in a pile, and multiple times throughout the feed out, it allows [the farmer] to better manage and understand shrinkage loses. Scales are great, but how often are trucks missed and calculations done wrong? Guessing on shrinkage once stored is a total guess and every year will be different,” he says.

As drone technology continues to evolve, it’s poised to transform how dairy farms manage their feed inventories, optimizing efficiency and productivity across the industry.

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Genetic Advancements in Dairy Helping Meet the Protein Craze Demand

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:36:26 GMT

The dairy industry is experiencing an exhilarating transformation, driven by an unprecedented demand for protein across the globe. Gregg Doud, president of the National Milk Producers Federation, captures this phenomenon aptly, describing it as a pivotal moment for dairy.

“Everywhere I go, I tell people we’re having a moment here on the dairy-side of the equation,” he says, emphasizing how dairy’s protein-rich offerings, from cheese to whey, are captivating consumers both domestically and internationally.

U.S. dairy producers are determined to capitalize on this opportunity. A standout example of their efforts is the extraordinary advancement in genetic testing, which have contributed to remarkable increases in production. A testament to this evolution is found at McCarty Family Dairy in Rexford, Kan. Their breakthrough in genetic enhancements has propelled an impressive leap in milk production, soaring from 70 lb. to over 100 lb. per cow daily.

“You can’t manage what you can’t measure,” says Ken McCarty, one of the owners of McCarty Family Farms. “In 2011, we were milking about 7,000 cows, and today we’re milking nearly 20,000 cows, and we’ve increased productivity by almost 50%.”

Enhancing Herd Health and Milk Quality

The impact of genetic advancements extends beyond productivity to significantly enhance herd health and milk quality. By leveraging genomic insights, the McCartys have reduced disease rates and improved animal welfare, leading to superior milk quality. The reduction in somatic cell count averages that now hovers around 120,000 to 180,000 is a testament to healthier herds and stringent disease management practices, exceeding customer expectations.

Feed efficiency is crucial, with feed constituting 65% of the overall budget. The McCartys focus intently on indexes such as TPI and DWP, which are critical in informing their mating and breeding strategies.

“We really focus on specific indexes, like TPI and DWP$ (Dairy Wellness Profit Index) with Clarifide Plus, and those are really the kind of driving indexes behind our mating and breeding strategies,” he says.

Dan Weigel, a geneticist at Zoetis, has worked closely with McCarty Family Farms over the years, helping guide their genetic testing program and strategy. Weigel says McCarty’s dedication to improving life for both cows and employees reflects their continuous pursuit of optimization.

Strategic Breeding for a Better Future

Strategic breeding at McCarty Family Dairy not only caters to the global demand for protein-rich diets but also aims at creating an environmentally sustainable future. While butterfat can be nutritionally altered more easily than protein, the dairy focuses on enhancing protein content through genetic selection. This approach is designed to reduce carbon footprints by optimizing feed usage and production.

“Genetically, I think we all can recognize that it’s easier to drive butterfat through diet than it is to drive protein through diet. So, protein is really a major focus in our genetic planning, because it is so much harder to drive from a nutritional perspective,” McCarty says. “And what we’ve poured into our cows, from a genetic perspective, has shown up in the bulk tank.”

The McCartys are consistently hitting nearly 7.5 lb. of components per cow, with their dairies in Kansas and Nebraska averaging 3.35% to 3.4% for protein.

“And that is on high-producing Holstein animals,” McCarty adds. “We have the luxury of having a milk processing plant between us and our customer, so not only do we see the on-farm productivity, but we see the enhancements in terms of efficiency in our processing plant. Higher component levels milk that just drives throughput and efficiency in our processing plant as well.”

Partnership and Collaboration

The McCartys success story is also a narrative of collaboration. Strong outside partnerships, such as Zoetis team support for on-farm data analysis and genetic testing strategy, help drive holistic improvement.

“When our customer wants something, they want it now, and we position our herds to deliver,” McCarty says.

Their ability to transition farms efficiently reflects a deep pool of data and tailored herd profiles.

“We have to position our herds to deliver what our customer wants,” he adds, noting that 88% of their births are A2A2. “We have the ability today to transition farms quickly. We have that data, and we have the herd profile to be able to do that.”

High-productivity breeding strategies directly benefit animal welfare, reducing carbon emissions and aligning with stringent brand ethics.

“Breeding for high health animals has a direct positive benefit, not only on our bottom line and the productivity of our cows, but in terms of brand risk management,” McCarty says. “The single largest thing we can do to drive down our carbon footprint is to increase output. So, all of those things come from a sharper and better breeding strategy.”

Pioneering Toward Tomorrow

A data-driven approach has set an inspiring precedent at McCarty’s Rexford dairy, proving managing dairy farming no longer relies on intuition alone. Data integration empowers farmers to make informed, objective decisions, boosting production and laying the foundation for sustained long-term improvements.

McCarty’s Rexford dairy is proof positive that milking 10,000 cows averaging over 102 lb. of milk a day shows that with the right management and the right facility, along with the right genetics, the future potential is unlimited.

“We’re very emotional guys, but we try to minimize the impact that our emotions have on our farm,” McCarty says. “So, we try to be very data driven. Genomic testing is a prime example of that.”

According to Weigel there is no one-size-fits-all prescription for making improvements on dairies.

“However, data makes a difference and using data that you can glean from your farms or from DHIA or genomic testing and allowing that to help guide you, you can’t go wrong with that,” he says. “As demand grows, so does the value of precision. Data-informed decisions are what drives us forward. That’s been a huge piece to improvements in the dairy industry over the past decade.”

Innovation at farms like McCarty’s proves that data matters, guiding improvements and empowering farmers to drive the dairy industry forward into a new era of excellence.

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3 Ways To Protect Your Ag Business from Cybersecurity Threats

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 14:59:13 GMT

Agriculture is in the bull’s-eye for threat actors trying to access business information. But as Chris Sherman says: “Our keys in the visor mentality” has many farmers trusting too much and putting too much at risk.

Sherman is the founder of Tech Support Farm, an IT and cybersecurity consulting business who works with farmers, co-ops, custom harvesters and more ag businesses to shore up their systems, lock down their sensitive information and stay attuned to emerging risks.

The FBI has listed agriculture as a critical infrastructure for cybersecurity.

So where do most farmers leave themselves vulnerable to hackers? Sherman shares these:

1. Email

Sherman points to email as the No. 1 priority for farmers on where to start in taking cybersecurity seriously.

“The amount of information and data we are sending via email leaves every farmer at risk — from our FSA staff, agronomists, banks and more,” he says. “Emails can be intercepted, all contents can be exposed, and no one is the wiser. It would be like a rural mail carrier, and when he drops the mail someone stands there opening it, reading it and closing the envelope and putting it back in the mailbox. Foolhardy to be using the free email services such as Gmail, Yahoo and others.”

Here are four steps to shore up your email:

Get a domain
Get a commercial email provider
Get a filtration software (which monitors what comes in)
Get a DMARC compliance service (which manages outbound emails, so no one spoofs you and encryption is done properly)

As an example of why this should be prioritized, Sherman tells the story of a farm business working on a land deal.

“A dad and son were just about ready to sign, and the dad got an email from the bank, at least it appeared to be from the bank, but it was a spoof encouraging them to e-sign,” he says. “And everyone signed, and it drained the bank accounts and blew up the deal.”

2. Be aware of your personal information shared, and embrace “herd immunity”

All to often, farmers don’t have passcodes on their phones.

“That’s like leaving your credit card at the bar,” Sherman says. “For some reason in agriculture we are running multimillion dollar businesses on residential-grade infrastructure.”

He says by the nature of the business, enrolling in government programs, immigration workforce programs (such as H-2A) and more, make your address, phone number and email readily accessible.

“It’s a wealth of opportunity for threat actors. We can’t leave our doors and windows open,” Sherman says. “So you have to protect yourself, and encourage your friends, neighbors and business partners to do the same. If we are all reducing our individual risk, we are reducing the overall risk.”

3. Use high-quality passwords

Sherman says good passwords are must-have on all your accounts, including your Wi-Fi.

“Too often, farmers have their password just be a duplicate of the network name. Or if a farmer’s favorite tractor is a John Deere 4450, 4450 is his pin for everything,” he says. “When we are on the internet, it’s like being in the big city, and you have to act accordingly.”

A Glimpse into the Future of Dairy: 5 Key Takeaways From the 2025 IDF World Dairy Summit

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:05:57 GMT

The 2025 IDF World Dairy Summit held in Santiago, Chile, offered a platform for dairy leaders and innovators to explore and discuss emerging trends that are set to shape the future of the dairy industry. Here are five key takeaways from this prestigious event:

1. The Rise of Technology and AI
In today’s rapidly evolving world, technology is becoming an integral part of various industries, and dairy farming is no exception. We are witnessing a technological transformation with advancements such as activity monitoring systems, robotic milking and AI cameras. These innovations are not just about enhancing productivity but also about improving animal welfare and creating a more sustainable future. Experts at the summit emphasized the need for standardized digital tools and collaborative approaches. These efforts aim to not only boost productivity but also ensure farming practices are sustainable, promising a bright future for dairy farming.

2. Global Focus on Sustainability
Sustainability emerged as a dominant theme at the summit. The U.S. dairy industry has set ambitious goals for 2050, including achieving greenhouse gas neutrality, optimizing water use and recycling, and enhancing water quality. To achieve these goals, the industry has formed the Net Zero Initiative, a collaborative effort that focuses on research, technology and on-farm pilots to make sustainable practices more accessible. Katja Seidenschnur of Nestlé highlighted customers are increasingly demanding more sustainable products, which creates opportunities for partnerships across the value chain. By showcasing impact results, businesses can support the transition toward sustainability without overburdening farmers.

3. Overcoming Global Challenges
No country is immune to the challenges facing the dairy industry. Issues such as immigration, labor, rising business costs and the declining number of individuals returning to family farms are challenges dairies around the globe must navigate. These challenges necessitate creative solutions and international collaboration.

4. Similarities Across Borders
Despite geographical and cultural differences, there are more similarities than differences in the challenges and aspirations of dairy industries worldwide. Networking and sharing best practices at events like the IDF World Dairy Summit can help create a unified approach to overcoming these common challenges. Krysta Harden, president and CEO of U.S. Dairy Export Council says it will take a collaborative approach to continue nourishing the world.

5. The World Looks to the U.S.
The U.S. dairy industry’s initiatives and innovations are closely watched by the global community. Whether it’s through pioneering sustainability efforts or leading technological advancements, the global dairy industry looks to the U.S. for leadership and inspiration. At numerous farm visits, I witnessed the impact of U.S. genetics into Chileans dairy herds as well as technology and management insights gained from the U.S. dairy industry.

The 2025 IDF World Dairy Summit underscored that while the industry faces numerous challenges, it is also on the brink of exciting advancements. By embracing technology and prioritizing sustainability, the dairy industry is poised to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future.

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Data: The New Dairy Gold

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:50:14 GMT

When it comes to agriculture, particularly the dairy industry, the importance of data and technology cannot be overstated. Experts and thought leaders in the field are increasingly advocating for standardized digital tools and collaborative approaches that not only enhance productivity but also ensure sustainability in farming practices. This was a topic highlighted at the 2025 IDF World Dairy Summit in Santiago, Chile.

Sustainability Through Data
Katja Seidenschnur, the global head of sustainability nutrition at Nestlé, underscores the importance of data in farming. While it may seem burdensome, adopting standardized data tools can simplify operations for farmers, allowing them to focus more on farming and less on administrative tasks. This collaborative approach, even with competitors, is essential in creating a more sustainable agricultural future.

“It is important we have more standardized tools the farmer can use because they want to farm,” she said in an exclusive interview with Dairy Herd Management.

Seidenschnur suggests farmers start with small, manageable steps.

“Assess your farm by asking critical questions about your practices, like the origin of your feed,” she advises. This foundational assessment can lead to informed decisions, ultimately supporting farmers in their journey toward sustainability.

Nestlé’s customers are calling for more sustainable products, promising more shelf space and listings as incentives. Sharing data and proof points creates opportunities for partnerships across the value chain. By highlighting impact results, businesses can support the transition toward sustainability without placing the entire burden on the farmer.

Empowering the Next Generation
Bridging the gap between generations is another critical aspect of modernizing farming practices. Integrating income streams from innovative technologies, like energy solutions, is vital for attracting the next generation of farmers. Involving youth and women in these efforts brings fresh dynamics to the industry, driving change and demonstrating the tangible benefits of sustainable farming.

Farmers today acknowledge that engaging with new technologies can significantly improve their operations. “I know why I’m doing this,” a farmer might say, reflecting on the positive changes they’ve seen on their farm.

This commitment to sustainable practices is echoed by many in the industry.

The Transformative Power of AI and Automation
Michigan dairy farmer and Nuffield Scholar Paul Windemuller spoke on the future of AI and automation in dairy at the World Dairy Summit. He stressed the necessity of clean, accurate data to train AI technologies, a crucial step for true innovation in the industry.

Windemuller likens the potential impact of AI and technology to the transformation brought about by electricity over a century ago. Today, electricity is indispensable — we hardly think about it despite its foundational role in modern life. In a similar vein, those who remain skeptical of AI and resist its integration may find themselves at a disadvantage.

“I think those farmers who don’t want to embrace AI and technology will struggle, as today you don’t see farms not use electricity, and it is very difficult to scale the farms in the future without that technology and AI,” he says.

AI and technology promise to revolutionize the dairy industry, but success hinges on the quality of data feeding these innovations. Embracing AI is not just an option — it’s a necessity for staying competitive and sustainable in the future.

“The future of AI and technology in the dairy industry will rely on clean and accurate data, and in order to build out true AI technology, it needs to be trained on accurate data,” Windemuller says. “It’s going to be critical to move forward that the data we are feeding into new innovations is accurate and precise.”

Windemuller will talk more about the role of AI and automation at the 2025 Milk Business Conference in Las Vegas, Dec. 2-3. To learn more and register for this conference, go to: MILK Business Conference 2025

The integration of standardized data, technology and a collaborative mindset is fundamental to advancing sustainability and innovation in farming. By embracing these changes, the agricultural industry positions itself for a prosperous future that benefits farmers, businesses, and consumers alike.

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Embracing Innovation in Dairy Farming: The Visionary Journey of Bilow Farms

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 13:50:02 GMT

Dairy farms are continually seeking ways to enhance productivity and efficiency on their farms. This drive for improvement is particularly evident in the dairy sector, where embracing new technology plays a crucial role in advancing operations.

For the family-owned Bilow Farms LLC in Malone, N.Y., this meant making a conscious decision to upgrade their milking parlor, a move that highlights their commitment to innovation and sustainability.

Vision for the Future

Bilow Farms, which now milks 5,100 cows daily, set out with a goal in mind.

“One of the ways I’ve always done business is by having a goal. I asked my GEA rep for a picture of a rotary parlor; we enlarged it and hung it on my office wall so I could study it and make it out goal to build,” says Vincent Bilow, co-owner of Bilow Farms, along with his wife, Trudy; their son, Andrew; and daughter, Jessica Kelley.

The photo allowed owners and employees of Bilow Farms to envision their future. The goal behind a new parlor would lower their carbon footprint, as well as become more cow-friendly and labor efficient.

With that came the decision to build a green site facility that included a new milking center along with two 2,000-cow freestall barns; in July 2023, their vision became reality with the first turn of the farm’s 100-stall GEA DairyRotor T8900 parlor.

“When looking at parlors we visited several farms that had rotary parlors and did research,” Kelley shares. “We not only visited locally but also farms in Wisconsin to prepare for the size and brand of parlor to purchase.”

Bilow Farms has certainly come a long way from milking in a tie-stall barn. In 1999, it added a double-12 parlor and milked 2,150 cows.

Bilow shares that they chose to build a rotary to eliminate cows walking a long distance to get to the parlor.

“Cows seem to be more content on a rotary,” he says. “They seem to enjoy it and it’s a better experience for them.”

Kelley adds that since transitioning to the rotary, their cows are a lot calmer.

“They are also more relaxed when they come off the wheel. Milk production has gone up 10 to 12 pounds per day and our somatic cell is down significantly,” Kelley says. “We have also found we have feet and leg issues have improved with the cows since we are milking more cows per hour, and they are spending less time in the holding area.”

Forward-Looking Partnership

After touring other rotaries and talking with other producers, the family liked the ease and efficiency of GEA rotary. But ultimately installing a rotary parlor helped conquer their biggest challenge: labor.

“Our old parlor was very labor-inefficient,” Bilow says. “With this new parlor, our goal it to have three people in it. We’ve added the FutureCow Prep System, which we believe will greatly increase efficiency. We have also added the Udder Mister automated teat dip spray arm on the back end of the parlor.”

Bilow shares that their employees have adjusted to the new parlor well and seemed less stressed because they don’t have to push the cows to get into the parlor.

Goals are what drives Bilow Farms — and the family share their set goals:

4.5 seconds per cow unit attachment.
Milk 750 cows per hour.
25,000 lbs. to 28,000 lbs. of milk per hour.

Currently, Bilow Farms produces six tanker loads of milk a day. The family shares that they have a strong GEA dealer nearby, and their long-standing relationship with the company is something they value.

“They worked with my dad dating back to the Surge days. He put in the first pipeline in our area in 1966. When we built our previous parlor in 1999, we used a GEA dealer, and I wanted to stick with the brand,” Bilow says.

When it came to making the purchase, longevity played a factor. Bilow wanted the parlor to last for this generation and the next.

“This farm should be efficient for 20-plus years,” he says. “One of our goals is for our employees to have more time with their families. This parlor will allow them to work less.”

Bilow says if he had to describe his new parlor in one word it would be magnificent. The next purchase for this family farm is to build a dairy cow and pre-fresh barn.

“We are currently trucking all of the dry and fresh cows to the original freestall barn,” Kelley shares.

Incorporating innovative technologies, the Bilow family’s journey exemplifies how dairy farming can evolve to meet modern challenges while honoring traditional agricultural values. Through careful planning and execution, they not only boost productivity but also enhance the quality of life on their farm, setting a high standard for efficiency and innovation in the dairy industry.

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FBN Spins Out Its Crop Protection Business, Focuses on Marketplace and Technology

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:03:20 GMT

Last week, just a few hours after Corteva announced its spin out dividing seeds from crop protection, Farmers Business Network (FBN) announced it is separating its businesses. Moving forward FBN will focus on its digital marketplace for farmers, and the newly launched Global Crop Solutions will be an independent supplier of crop protection products.

FBN leaders say the timing is coincidental. Their motive for the timing was brought about by the new fiscal year. But they offer both of the announcements together could be a sign of a trend of vertical integration getting unwound in the name of efficiency and focus.

“We’re doubling down, allotting capital on digital innovation for FBN’s future,” says Diego Casanello, CEO of FBN. “FBN’s core business is a digital commerce and fintech platform. We want farmers to be able to buy, finance, and market everything they need while sitting in their combines. These are technology challenges, so the core competence you need to be successful at FBN is different from managing the supply chain of the crop protection business.”

In the past 14 months, FBN has been refocusing its business. First, it spun off its insurance business, then its Gradable business into a joint-venture with ADM. Now with its crop protection business spin out, Casanello says the FBN marketplace will feature GCS products, such as Willowood USA branded products, via a strategic partnership, and GCS products will explore distribution beyond the FBN marketplace.

“The big unlock for GCS is the opportunity to serve the entire retail and co-op industry,” Casanello says. “It frees GCS of any channel conflicts and hits the ground running with one of the largest portfolios of products in the industry. And it frees FBN from similar constraints as we move to an open marketplace architecture. We are onboarding new sellers and their portfolios every week. We provide them the tools to manage pricing, marketing, and placement. FBN is open for business and we’ve had significant interest from additional partners before and after the announcement.”

FBN’s Marketplace Strategy

Currently, FBN says it has 120,000 farmer members in the U.S. and Canada. The business provides a marketplace with farm inputs and supplies, financial services and data-driven intelligence.

FBN co-founder Charles Baron says the FBN marketplace has expanded its product range to include crop protection, seed (with additional partner news coming soon), fertilizer, livestock products, veterinary pharmaceuticals, farm supplies and more.

“To farmers, there’s no change in their experience. And over time, we’ll bring an even broader assortment of goods,” Baron says. “You’ll be seeing announcements from us every two weeks or so about the suppliers coming on the platform. It’s one of the most exciting times in our history.”

The leaders say farmer use of e-commerce has increased every year since they launched, and in 2025 FBN served a record number of customers. “Farmers are really focusing on value right now and maximizing every dollar,” said Baron. And per their analytics roughly 35% of U.S. farmers visit FBN.com to browse inputs, apply for financing, or look for information.

The Future of GCS

As a newly formed independent crop protection supplier, GCS has a portfolio of 250 registrations on post-patent products. The company will specialize in sourcing, managing first mile logistics, developing new products and regulatory aspects.

To lead the business and its team, Amy Yoder, most recently EVP of FBN’s livestock division, is incoming CEO.

“Global Crop Solutions launches today as an independent powerhouse,” said Yoder, in a press release. “For the first time, our extensive portfolio and efficient global supply chain are fully available to all partners— from retailers, to distributors, to co-ops. Our independence unlocks immense growth potential and allows us to be the most reliable and collaborative partner to the entire agricultural industry.”