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Current Progressive Dairy digital edition

1. What were wages in 2009?: (Industry News); This informal survey is the fourth of its type. Many academics, practitioners and trade journals participated in helping put out the word. Finally, special thanks go to each and every one of the dairy ...; Created on 19 January 2010
2. PD Regional Reports - Southwest: Butter manufacturers build inventories with extra cream: (Industry News); Milk production per cow, according to the NASS Milk Production report released on December 18, for November was 1,679 pounds, up 25 pounds or 1.5 percent from a year earlier. The output per cow percentage ...; Created on 19 January 2010
3. We are almost at 300 members!: (Organizations); Proud to Dairy is very close to awarding its 300th member with a hat. As of January 6, we have 274. In looking at the numbers, I found some information that was interesting. We have a good following ...; Created on 19 January 2010
4. Bruce Rivington: Should any growth management plan include a market access fee on all of the milk produced? What should that price be?: (People in the News); Last issue we discussed two possible plans to tax all the milk or just the new milk. This issue we have asked Bruce Rivington, EFS LLC, to share his thoughts about if there should even be a growth management ...; Created on 19 January 2010
5. Al Schock, producer and cottage cheese king, died of complications from cancer: (People); Al Schock found happiness believing in other people, telling jokes and selling pancake tickets. Born in 1920, he was the middle of nine children in a German-speaking farm family in McPherson County. He ...; Created on 19 January 2010
6. It’s cold outside! Provide additional energy for cows and calves: (Feed & Nutrition); As I listen to seasonal music, I can’t help but wonder how the dairy calves and cows are weathering the cold. When the temperature drops below an animal’s lower critical temperature (i.e., the point ...; Created on 19 January 2010
7. When should you get rid of your moldy, toxic feed?: (Feed & Nutrition); Because of weather conditions during the past growing season, mold and mycotoxin contamination of some crops, particularly corn, is common. Molds are organisms and mycotoxins are chemicals produced by ...; Created on 19 January 2010
8. Managing volatility is not like predicting the weather: (Management); Weathering a strong Minnesota blizzard to attend the Midwest Dairy Expo in December wasn’t any worse than the economic storm dairy producers weathered this past year. While the wind and snow blew hard ...; Created on 19 January 2010
9. The dairy economy – Where do we stand today?: (Management); Every dairy producer knows that 2009 was a tough year for the industry, but 2010 can be a good year for those willing to stay on top of their financial planning and management practices. Gary Sipiorski, ...; Created on 19 January 2010
10. Let’s get control of our business: (Management); Deb Reinhart and Dave Geiser of Gold Star Farms have been business partners and respected dairy managers for 34 years of their married life together. “Nothing fancy, but profitable,” they say. Until ...; Created on 19 January 2010
11. As milk prices increase … who or what needs to be paid first?: (Management); During September, October and November of 2009, we have seen milk prices begin to recover. As we look into the futures market for the first six months of 2010, we see a continued upward trend. Market observers ...; Created on 19 January 2010
12. What to do when a milker wants a higher starting wage: (Management); “What should I do when an applicant tells me he should make more than our dairy’s established starting wage because he has worked at another dairy before?” —Idaho dairy producer When a skilled applicant ...; Created on 19 January 2010
13. Practical concepts for employee training and dairy performance: (Management); Our society is facing fundamental changes in its dynamics, influenced by an economical downturn, change in markets and new demands in family life.Dairy workers have new aspirations – both personal and ...; Created on 19 January 2010
14. Midwest producers share operational strategies from 2009: (Management); This past year was an economic challenge for every dairy producer in the country. Four brave producers shared the operational strategies they employed in 2009 and the lessons they learned during a producer ...; Created on 19 January 2010
15. Effective communication for the progressive dairy producer: (Management); In the spring of 1996 I was attending the University of Delaware while still living at my parents’ home in Sussex County, Delaware. In this area of the U.S. the agricultural economy is based on poultry, ...; Created on 19 January 2010
16. Ready, set ... train: (Management); Ask a group of 50 people to fold a sheet of paper and make an airplane and you will likely get a variety of shapes and styles – from this very simple task. Show them a model, explain the folding steps ...; Created on 19 January 2010
17. Why you need to think like a CFO: (Management); The combination of low milk prices and high feed costs have put the industry under a great deal of stress, making it important for herd managers to begin thinking like a chief financial officer (CFO) – ...; Created on 19 January 2010
18. Evaluating performance and providing feedback to employees: (Management); “How am I doing?” Nearly all employees want an answer to this question. Who in your business now knows how they are doing? Employers or supervisors in small businesses too often answer in one or more of ...; Created on 19 January 2010
19. What is a resilient dairy farm?: (Management); I had the chance to attend the 2009 European Association of Animal Production meeting. It’s always interesting to learn about agriculture in other places. For me, the most insightful presentation was by ...; Created on 19 January 2010
20. The big 12: Are you ready for these challenges?: (Management); Do not let the title of this column fool you into thinking that I am about to address Division 1 college sports.I would like to address twelve issues that you as dairymen or as agribusiness personnel are ...; Created on 19 January 2010
21. Early detection of sick preweaned calves: (Calves & Heifers); Treating preweaned calves soon after they become clinically infected usually results in more rapid recovery than when treatment is delayed.And, usually the number of treatments is lower and expenses are ...; Created on 19 January 2010
22. Mechanics Corner: Operator error could cost you thousands or more: (Barns & Equipment); Is the operator behind the wheel of your $100,000 tractor really qualified or capable of running that piece of machinery? Affordable labor is an important part of running a business, but what is affordable? ...; Created on 19 January 2010
23. A quick check for cow comfort: (Barns & Equipment); Several indices have been used to assess the comfort and well-being of dairy cattle. A successful index provides the consultant or farmer with a tool to quickly assess the comfort of stalls and the ...; Created on 19 January 2010
24. Prepartum cow comfort affects postpartum health events: (Herd Health); Cow comfort is a top priority for most dairy producers and it becomes especially important during the transition period of a cow’s life. Dr. Marina von Keyserlingk of the University of British Columbia ...; Created on 19 January 2010
25. A stimulating story: Harvest milk like a calf: (Herd Health); Since the beginning of time, calves have been efficiently stimulating and harvesting mother’s milk. As dairy operations seek to harvest more quality milk from cows in less time, lessons can be found in ...; Created on 19 January 2010
26. Protect, conserve and advance inputs surrounding animal health: (Herd Health); As veterinarians, “protecting, conserving and advancing inputs surrounding animal health” is our motto. This guideline drives the service our business provides to dairy producers in the fastest-growing ...; Created on 19 January 2010
27. Your questions answered here: (From the Editor); Just before the end of 2009, I received several communications from readers asking specific questions about issues that were important to them. These readers asked for articles to help them find answers ...; Created on 19 January 2010
28. On the Edge of Common Sense: The runaway stage: (Baxter Black); “If ever there was a suspicious story,” thought the insurance adjuster … Walter (an alias) loved his new truck. It was a bright red, half-ton rig. When he drove it down to the Sikeston rodeo grounds, ...; Created on 19 January 2010
29. On the Edge of Common Sense: The Texas thank-you tour: (Baxter Black); I made the trip to Texas this fall and was able to revisit a couple of monumental memories, just to see if they were real.When I was going to veterinary school in Colorado, I worked summers in the feedlots ...; Created on 19 January 2010
30. Just dropping by... There is life after life: (Yevet Tenney); A few months ago, we had a tragedy in our family. My nephew choked on a piece of candy and passed away.He was in the growing time of his life. So much of the road lay before him. Why would the Lord call ...; Created on 19 January 2010
31. The View from Here: An extraordinary visit to a desert vet clinic: (Guest Blog); I recently traveled to a Forward Operating Base in eastern Iraq, very near the Iranian border. There, my colleague, Dr. Jessie McCoy, DVM, and I completed several missions in the vast expanse of the desert. ...; Created on 19 January 2010