In the next few pages we will share some of the information we have gleaned from the data and results of our most recent poll. The most recent poll asked whether or not (raw) milk should be legalized ...
What’s a building block in the food pyramid that’s important for building and maintaining bone mass? It’s milk.
Whether it’s from cows, goats, sheep or another mammal, milk and milk products are an important ...
In the May 21 issue of Progressive Dairyman, Editor Karen Lee came up with a poll question that sparked much interest: “Should the sale of unpasteurized (raw) milk be legalized in all 50 states?”
“Raw ...
The Southern Great Plains Dairy Consortium (SGPDC) program held in Clovis, New Mexico, recently concluded the fourth year of its summer program. SGPDC was established in the summer of 2008 to address the ...
Age:
Tim: 48, most days I feel older.
Mark: 45, I look younger for age, but I feel older until I’ve had my first Mountain Dew of the day.
Location: Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
Our dairy’s history: Our ...
The Southern Great Plains Dairy Consortium, where students are able to obtain hands-on experiences in large-herd dairy management, recently completed its fourth summer session. The six-week program, ...
Editor's note: This article is the extended version, which contains more content from the interview, of the article that was published in the August 11th issue of Progressive Dairyman.
The National ...
Death rates of adult cows on U.S. dairies have risen steadily over the last couple of decades. When calculating death losses as a percent of rolling herd inventory on an annual basis, it is now typical ...
Long-term business planning is a management function that not many dairy producers seem to enjoy. This is a conclusion I have drawn based on the few comprehensive business plans I have seen over my many ...
Expansion projects can create a great deal of excitement for a company. Whether the project is a new milk parlor, a hay barn, a silage pit or waste disposal system, these projects typically signify growth. ...
Bad memories are deeply embedded in the human mind and will be carried with us for the rest of our lives. Most of us remember 2003 and 2006 because of low milk prices and the accompanying financial ...
This article was conceived to be business tips to implement during the economic recovery. Unfortunately, the word “recovery” appears to be misplaced and too optimistic. Recent economic news on the national ...
With milk prices higher than they have been since 2008, many producers are finding they have more money left over each month after paying operating expenses and normal principal and interest payments. ...
Minnesota dairy farms made a significant comeback in 2010 after a very challenging 2009. With 557 dairies participating in Farm Business Management (FBM) programs, Minnesota dairy operators are in a unique ...
Most dairy producers would agree that the adoption and use of technology increases operational efficiencies and, in return, lowers the cost of producing milk. Clear examples include the move from stanchion ...
It’s a soggy day in late spring and four dairy producers from different parts of the U.S. check their positions in the trading simulator, then connect with each other via phone. As is typical, they begin ...
Are you a “people” person? No, not that kind. I mean ... are you a person who focuses a lot of time and energy on finding good people and helping them succeed? Basically, are you a good talent scout?
In ...
In a recent edition of El Lechero, I wrote an article for your herdsmen clarifying that following treatment protocols is not only a guideline, it is the law about treating sick cows on your dairy. I ...
Editor’s note: The following article is the second in a series discussing electrolyte formulation and function in calves. Click here to read the first article in the series.
A curious thing about electrolyte ...
Well, summer is quickly flying by, which means that harvest season for some crops is just around the corner. It also means cooler temperatures are in store. How did your air conditioning system hold up ...
Whether it’s natural or mechanical, barn ventilation is imperative when it comes to the welfare of dairy cattle. However, ventilation alone does not always provide the necessary air movement for cooling ...
Note: This article was adapted from Dairy Practices Council (DPC) Guideline 54S “Construction Materials for Milking Parlors.” More about the Dairy Practices Council guidelines and other guidelines can ...
Dairy producers considering new or upgraded milking facilities have a lot to think about. Cow comfort, ergonomics, productivity, efficiency – all these things are top-of-mind when designing. After all, ...
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Summary: The August 11th issue, with a topic of facilities and business planning, highlighted a bedded-pack barn in western Ohio that's providing optimal cow comfort. Producer ...
According to the current USDA data available in 2008, cull dairy cows accounted for just over 7 percent of all cattle slaughtered in the U.S., but were responsible for approximately 90 percent of carcasses ...
Dear editor,
Just read your article on “Why is fluid milk consumption declining?” The one thing that you missed and the most important reason is – taste. Milk distributors have thinned it down until it ...
Dear Editor,
I could not help but respond to your article about why fluid milk consumption is falling in America. Here is an alternative and objective view of your milk market. As much as this might hurt ...
This issue we close out our poll about a contentious topic – legalizing retail raw milk sales nationwide. (Click here to learn more.) One reader recently sent me an interesting letter questioning whether ...
My grandfather grew up in Germany during the second war. The eldest of a poor family, he was sent to work in other farmers’ fields in exchange for being fed that day. Many German farmers, including my ...
It’s 6 ½ hours from Sierraville to Modesto and the packing house. Karl had put together a load of cull cows. While unloading, a bony gummer mama cow, who looked like a ragged shag carpet hangin’ over a ...
Common language on fauna betrays an anthropocentric bias … “Words such as ‘pets,’ ‘wildlife,’ and ‘vermin’ are derogatory … ” says the director of the Oxford Center for Animal Ethics.
I imagine there ...
(Click here to listen to a podcast of this column.)
The other evening, I taught a lesson to my son, Craig, and Andrew, my grandson. They were staying with me while all the young women in the family had ...
I have come home. From the East Coast to the Pacific Northwest, from Washington D.C. to Washington State, and from the nation’s capital to the evergreen states of the Pacific, my journey is a pilgrimage ...
In the closing days of the 111th Congress, the DREAM Act passed the House with bipartisan support and fell just a few votes short in the Senate despite receiving support from both Democrats and Republicans. ...
The traditional Fourth of July celebration on the National Mall reaches a climax when the National Symphony Orchestra, accompanied by 16 cannons and city church bells, plays Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.” ...