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Current Progressive Dairy digital edition

1. Market Watch: Cattle: (Organizations); Click a link below to see updates on Cattle from a specific issue of Progressive Dairyman. 2020 Issue 2, 2020: January 19, 2020 Issue 1, 2020: January 1, 2020 2019 Issue 20, 2019: December 12, ...; Created on 16 October 2019
2. Understanding and mitigating risk for operational success: (Management); The years of 2008 and 2009 are still very vivid in the minds of the dairy farmers who weathered the huge drop in milk prices during those years. This period of time, known as the Great Recession, is also ...; Created on 07 February 2017
3. How involved are you in your employees’ training?: (From the Editor); In December, we published our final stand-alone issue of El Lechero magazine. We wish to thank the thousands of dairies who requested this magazine over its lifetime. It’s been exactly a decade since we ...; Created on 09 February 2016
4. Checkoff Watch: Dairy farmers continue to increase efficiency, communicate stewardship: (Organizations); The Stewardship and Sustainability Guide for U.S. Dairy is one more tool the industry can use to assure the public dairy farmers and companies are doing the right thing. Consumers increasingly want more ...; Created on 09 February 2016
5. Local spotlight: Joan Behr: (Organizations); Senior director of communications and brand management Foremost Farms USA Why is measuring and communicating sustainability important? BEHR: Our members have a history of employing sustainable practices ...; Created on 09 February 2016
6. Export Assistance Watch: Export assistance moves 35 million pounds offshore: (Organizations); While world dairy markets remained highly competitive in 2015, the Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) export assistance program helped its members capture contracts to sell American-type cheeses, butter ...; Created on 08 February 2016
7. Dairy Strong 2016: Laughter, education and conversation: (Event Coverage); The 2016 Dairy Strong event, hosted by the Dairy Business Association, delivered a delightful mix of laughter, education and thought-provoking conversation to the Monona Terrace Community and Convention ...; Created on 08 February 2016
8. Spanish and English dairy map helps producers orient workers - El Lechero: (Training Tools); Click here or on the image above to download a PDF of the map to view it in more detail. (PDF, 6.9 MB) When new employees start their first day of work, it’s important they learn their way around. ...; Created on 08 February 2016
9. Dictionary: Hoof Trimming - Diccionario: Recorte de pezuñas: (Training Tools); Click here or on the image above to download a PDF of the dictionary to view it in more detail. (PDF, 1.7 MB); Created on 08 February 2016
10. The function of role clarity: Survey question highlight: (Management); Role clarity seems fairly self-explanatory, yet is often an issue on-farm. It is imperative dairies get a handle on this concept. Employees need increased role clarity if the operation is to achieve greater ...; Created on 08 February 2016
11. Culture assessments: How to gain an accurate appraisal: (Management); Note: This is the fourth article in a five-part series for Progressive Dairyman about dairy culture. Conducting a meaningful culture assessment takes time, focus and a sincere commitment to learn and ...; Created on 08 February 2016
12. Key operational management factors to become future ready: (Management); The dairy industry continues to see massive changes in areas of financing, financial management, employee retention, compliance and expectations in operating efficiencies. At this juncture we no longer ...; Created on 05 February 2016
13. Why planning should be both important and urgent: (Management); Most readers have likely seen some variation of the urgent vs. important matrix chart accompanying this article. It continues to intrigue me, however, how many dairy producers are never quite able to effectively ...; Created on 05 February 2016
14. Chinese milk quality: A question mark may be appropriate: (Industry News); Editor’s note: The following article is the second in a series of articles from the author after a recent trip to observe China’s dairy industry. Click here to read the first article China's dairy industry: ...; Created on 05 February 2016
15. Top three critical strategies for operational success: (Management); A cousin of mine who’s a retired veterinarian, Fred, recently asked me, “How in the world can dairymen keep track of and manage financial, production and human resources management all at one time?” It ...; Created on 05 February 2016
16. Pennsylvania marks 100th anniversary with plenty of dairy: (Event Coverage); The year 2016 marked the 100th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Farm Show. Though the show covers and celebrates all aspects of Pennsylvania agriculture, dairy had a spotlight throughout the eight-day show. ...; Created on 05 February 2016
17. Better before bigger: (Management); A common leadership philosophy in business is to get better before you get bigger. The same philosophy rings true for dairy farmers. Ask yourself: Is everything on my dairy being done in the best possible ...; Created on 05 February 2016
18. Annual conference looks at exports, volatility in marketplace: (Industry News); There is a lot of volatility in the marketplace right now, according to Chuck Nicholson, who spoke on the cyclical nature of the dairy marketplace at the 2015 Dairy Financial and Risk Management Conference, ...; Created on 05 February 2016
19. The California influence outside the Golden State: (Industry News); The hearing to consider a Federal Milk Marketing Order for California ended on Nov. 18, 2015, after 40 days of various witnesses presenting testimony and exhibits and being cross-examined. Now it is up ...; Created on 05 February 2016
20. Getting started with family governance: (Management); A healthy owning family with strong values may be the greatest resource a business can have. —Aronoff, C., & Ward, J. (2011). Family meetings: How to build a stronger family and a stronger business. New ...; Created on 05 February 2016
21. Navigating the 2016 feed challenge: (Feed & Nutrition); As of this writing (early December 2015), milk prices in the first quarter of 2016 may be dropping as the holiday demand for butter and cheese declines. Current butter and cheese prices are higher in the ...; Created on 05 February 2016
22. Feeding and managing for milk protein production: (Feed & Nutrition); In the approximately 15 years since the conversion of the U.S. milk pricing system to multiple component pricing, dairy farms have made tremendous progress in their production of milkfat and milk protein. ...; Created on 05 February 2016
23. Canola meal edges soybean meal as dairy cow protein source: (Feed & Nutrition); Increasing demand for canola oil has greatly increased canola cultivation. In Canada alone, canola production has grown from about 3 million tons in 1991 to nearly 18 million tons in 2013. This has ...; Created on 05 February 2016
24. More additives, supplements than you can shake a stick at: (Feed & Nutrition); Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part series on feed additives and supplements. Click here to read the second part of series (Additives and supplements: What are they supposed to do for me?) If ...; Created on 05 February 2016
25. uNDFom240: Worth tracking?: (Feed & Nutrition); Through years of neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFd) work, it is clear there are multiple pools within the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of forage fiber. Currently, we are focused on three pools: ...; Created on 05 February 2016
26. 2015 North America harvest analysis: What are you feeding?: (Feed & Nutrition); As we approach the final stretch of winter, this past year’s harvest may seem like an eternity ago. However, as dairy producers begin to feed out the 2015 crop, they may want to consider testing for mold ...; Created on 05 February 2016
27. Reducing gaseous silage losses protects your bottom line: (Feed & Nutrition); California’s San Joaquin Valley is home of both the largest dairy herd and the worst air quality in the U.S. The San Joaquin Valley experiences high levels of ozone and particulate matter pollution ...; Created on 05 February 2016
28. Fiber digestibility and feeding your 2015 corn silage crop: (Feed & Nutrition); When you opened your 2015 silage piles for the first time, were you filled with anticipation and confidence the new crop silage would meet your highest expectations for quality feed? Many factors influence ...; Created on 05 February 2016
29. Challenging feedout of the new corn silage crop: (Feed & Nutrition); For many dairy producers, it will soon be time to feed the newly ensiled corn silage. Working in conjunction with their nutritional consultants, producers should have already sent corn silage samples to ...; Created on 05 February 2016
30. Feeding for milk protein: (Feed & Nutrition); Editor’s note: Balchem Corporation sponsored a post-conference seminar focusing on milk protein production, following the 2015 Penn State Extension Dairy Cattle Nutrition Workshop held recently in Grantville, ...; Created on 05 February 2016
31. Corn silage, feeding management, cash-flow effects: (Feed & Nutrition); Editor’s note: This is the first part of a three-part series. To read the second part of this three-part series, go to (Corn silage, feeding management and economic effects). When discussing dairy cow ...; Created on 05 February 2016
32. Sorghum silage: An alternative to corn: (Feed & Nutrition); Sorghum is making a resurgence in both the grain and forage markets. Farmers have begun switching acres away from corn to sorghum this year because it costs less to produce, pays more at current prices ...; Created on 05 February 2016
33. Lipid analysis: What’s available commercially for animal feed?: (Feed & Nutrition); Dairy nutritionists have three options available for feed fat analysis: total lipid analysis (sometimes referred to as ether extract), acid-ether extract and fatty acids. Each differ in cost and the information ...; Created on 05 February 2016
34. Improve ration performance: Accurate ration peNDF content: (Feed & Nutrition); How important is it to feed rations formulated with an accurate physically effective fiber (peNDF) value? Can we formulate and feed rations using “book” library values for peNDF? Turns out that feeding ...; Created on 05 February 2016
35. Practical applications of feeding forages: (Feed & Nutrition); Alfalfa and corn silage are the most widely used forages for dairy cattle in the Midwest, while grasses and pasture are used more in beef cattle diets. Alfalfa became the forage of choice in dairy cow ...; Created on 05 February 2016
36. Current strategies for increasing nutritive value of corn silage: (Feed & Nutrition); High-quality corn silage contributes greatly to supplying the energy and fiber needs of high-producing dairy cows, reducing purchased feed costs from grain and byproduct supplements and generating milk ...; Created on 05 February 2016
37. Milking forages for all they’re worth: (Feed & Nutrition); High-quality forage makes more milk and milk components, boosts longevity and increases income over feed cost. The well-established relationship between forage digestibility and dairy cow performance is ...; Created on 04 February 2016
38. Grass forages present challenges for Pennsylvania dairy farmers: (People); At the 2015 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit, two dairy farmers shared their experiences in growing grass forages. What follows are the comments from their presentation. Following the presentations, the two farmers ...; Created on 04 February 2016
39. Just dropping by ... Valentines and gratitude: (Yevet Tenney); Cupids are flying in heart-covered windows again, and Valentine’s commercials sing over the airwaves advertising everything from cards and chocolates to footie pajamas and flowers to custom teddy bears. ...; Created on 04 February 2016
40. Mechanics Corner: Moving the old feed bin: (Barns & Equipment); As a boy growing up on the farm, I witnessed my dad build many of our buildings, barns and sheds as he transformed the farm he had purchased into a modern working dairy. We had several smaller (8- to 20-ton) ...; Created on 04 February 2016
41. The Milk House: She gone chicken crazy: (Ryan Dennis); Before, I had thought mid-life crises had to look like this: You get a Mustang or a younger partner, maybe change your job or get a new haircut or hike through a remote mountain chain. Maybe you take up ...; Created on 04 February 2016
42. HERd Management: ‘Trailing the Walker’: (Guest Blog); When caregiving is a woman’s farm life experience “She was a Dust Bowl girl, about 9 or 10. You’d have to sweep the South Dakota dust out of the house three or four times a day. Towels were at the doors ...; Created on 04 February 2016
43. The Manure Spreader: Cupid alert: (Tim Moffett); There are three things every man should never forget: his wife’s birthday, their wedding anniversary or Valentine’s Day. Forget any one of the links in the chain, and no matter what you do for the other ...; Created on 04 February 2016
44. California dairy, alfalfa industries on a similar path: (Industry News); California’s dairy and alfalfa industries are closely linked and face similar challenges, according to Dr. Peter Robinson, department of animal science at the University of California – Davis. Robinson, ...; Created on 04 February 2016
45. On the Edge of Common Sense: Keepin’ busy: (Baxter Black); “Oh, I’m doin’ a little day work for Irsik and ridin’ two green colts for $50 a month. I think I’ve just about sold that load of salvage lumber I traded Mr. Jolly out of. Some guy came by the other day ...; Created on 04 February 2016
46. 3 Open Minutes with Jan Haaken: (People); Portland State University psychology professor & filmmaker Milk Men: The Life and Times of Dairy Farmers, a new feature-length documentary about four Washington State dairies and one Oregon dairy, recently ...; Created on 04 February 2016
47. Heartland Dairy: Where cows and a caring community offer second chances: (People); Almost every seminar you’ve ever listened to on employee management or recruitment probably told you to find the best people for your operation and suggest ways to find them. At Heartland Dairy in ...; Created on 04 February 2016
48. You get what you negotiate: (Management); Anytime you need to communicate with others to get the job done, you risk hurt feelings, anger and misunderstanding. And the results – or lack thereof – from poor communication can have economic consequences ...; Created on 01 December 2015
49. Why is my heifer diet not working?: (Feed & Nutrition); Heifer selection and development has a huge impact on the future profitability of every dairy farm. Pat Hoffman, dairy specialist and former professor at University of Wisconsin, recently hosted a PDPW ...; Created on 30 July 2015