From tractors to loaders, to machinery in the milking parlor, dairies depend on equipment to run their operations. The use of equipment allows dairies to operate more efficiently.

There is no magic to getting workers to do exactly what you want. It’s possible by simply executing good management. But you’ll need help from a few key workers who can assist if you’ve put them in the right position within your management scheme.

With an automatic milking system (AMS), producers can work smarter rather than harder.

They might also enjoy a better quality of life with added flexibility in their schedule and activities – a clear advantage of robotic milking over conventional operations.

Although 2012 brought many challenges, some herds saw remarkable improvements compared to 2011. Midwestern states endured record temperatures for a prolonged period of time followed by a drought, impacting feed availability, price and quality.

The price a dairy farm receives for milk is determined by a system that tries to calculate the value of the milk components based on products produced from milk. The prices for the end products of cheese, butter, nonfat dry milk and dry whey are surveyed and averaged each month.