Late changes in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program calculations make the program even more attractive for dairy farmers. DMC sign-up begins June 17 at local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices.

Digest Highlights

• Risk management: Two important dates
• Dairy turns attention to USMCA
• U.S. organic sales topped $50 billion in 2018
• Another try: Proposal opens H-2A visas to dairy
• Hart Dairy gains funding
• Wisconsin Dairy Task Force 2.0 wrapping up work
• University of Minnesota Dairy Education Center renamed
• Missouri law addresses CAFOs

The dairy news was mixed to mostly better in the USDA’s monthly World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, released June 11.

“I installed an automated heat detection system, but it is flagging cows that are not in heat. I’m so frustrated.” This is a very common complaint from dairy farmers. They are told an activity system will find the cows in heat better than their personnel, which is true, but they are never told what to do with the extra cows on the list. 

The changing animal health field presents both challenges and opportunities for producers and those who serve them. While companies are in the process of bringing new technologies forward to improve dairy herd health, they are also thoroughly researching and monitoring potential health threats. 

Raising healthy heifers is a key component to making sure that future herds are high-production. Poor growth in young calves strongly impacts subsequent milk production. As such, even during a busy calving period, calves should not be forgotten. There are four crucial areas to look at when rearing healthy heifers:

• Colostrum
• Early nutrition
• Rumen development
• Environment