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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. Feeding and managing Holstein steers: (Feed & Nutrition); Dairy steers are an important source of beef production in the U.S. Since Holstein is the dominant dairy breed, emphasis is placed on finishing Holstein steers. “Dairy beef” refers to any dairy herd progeny ...; Created on 29 September 2017
3. What to do with that circle driveway: (From the Editor); When I meet readers in person, they often ask me: “What are you seeing out there? What’s new?” One of the things I’m seeing frequently is an emphasis on training and employee development. For example, ...; Created on 28 September 2017
4. Checkoff Watch: National Dairy Council partners help spread dairy’s great nutrition message: (Organizations); For more than a century, on behalf of dairy farmers and the dairy community, the National Dairy Council (NDC) has been committed to nutrition research and education. It has supported groundbreaking scientific ...; Created on 28 September 2017
5. Local Spotlight: American Dairy Association Indiana: (Organizations); Your local dairy promotion organizations also develop important partnerships that advance dairy farmers’ interests and help consumers live healthier lives: American Dairy Association Indiana The ...; Created on 28 September 2017
6. Progressive Events: North American Manure Expo takes three-pronged approach to collaboration: (Event Coverage); Back where it all began, the 2017 North American Manure Expo was held Aug. 22-23 at the University of Wisconsin Agricultural Research Station in Arlington, Wisconsin. This unique event for farmers, ...; Created on 27 September 2017
7. InFocus: How much is cropland worth in your state this year?: (Industry News); Click here or on the image above to view it at full size in a new window. Stable U.S. cropland values reflected continued pressure from lower commodity prices in 2016-17. Cropland rental rates ...; Created on 27 September 2017
8. Legal avenues to secure visas for dairy workers: (Management); Ask any dairy producer about their greatest concerns for the future and, within minutes, the topic of labor will be mentioned. For U.S. dairymen, the issue of immigration will likely come within the same ...; Created on 27 September 2017
9. How to keep and then build your star dairy employees: (Management); The world of business continues to change and evolve at a tremendous pace. The workplace and workforce has changed significantly, especially in the last 10 years. The practice of management, however, has ...; Created on 27 September 2017
10. Does a manager manage?: (Management); Does a manager manage? You are probably thinking, “Bob, what a stupid question. Of course that is what a manager does.” Actually, I will argue in this article that the answer is “yes and no.” Let’s ...; Created on 27 September 2017
11. Want success? Take care of your people: (Management); You can know cows. You can know crops. You can know the markets. But experience has shown me a dairy owner’s real success is rooted in his or her ability to manage people. As farm numbers decrease ...; Created on 27 September 2017
12. Survey: Dairy workers appreciate supervisors who prioritize both productivity and safety: (Management); The U.S. dairy industry relies heavily on an immigrant workforce, originating primarily from Latin American countries, with diverse backgrounds and various degrees of dairy work experience. Serious gaps ...; Created on 27 September 2017
13. What should be on your dairy’s financial dashboard?: (Management); The first dash-mounted fuel gauge was introduced in 1914 by Studebaker. Today, we wouldn’t purchase a vehicle without this primary performance indicator of our vehicle’s ability to deliver us to our destination. ...; Created on 27 September 2017
14. What’s new with the IRS for 2017?: (Management); It’s that time of the year to start thinking about taxes for 2017. So what’s new for 2017? The short answer is: nothing much – still waiting. However, I’m sure you have heard about President Trump’s proposed ...; Created on 27 September 2017
15. Dairies challenged to join 7-pound club: (Management); It’s an elite club, but there is no membership list. According to Cornell Cooperative Extension dairy specialist Dave Balbian, the 7-pound “club” isn’t really a club at all. Rather, it is a benchmark ...; Created on 27 September 2017
16. How to fuel an ‘ownership attitude’: (Management); Any one of these close or far-flung family members could be an owner of your business: Cousin Earl, 88, who inherited 15 shares from Uncle Don. Your sister, who lives and works in Denver with her insurance ...; Created on 27 September 2017
17. Land use law and zoning: Vested rights: (Management); Editor’s note: This is the first in a three-part series of articles. Agricultural operations are increasingly subject to local land use regulations. In the past, agriculture operated in rural areas where ...; Created on 27 September 2017
18. ‘You must be this tall ...’: (Management); I do believe that the period of time to make a farm successful is when the son or daughter is between the ages of 20 and 35. That is when they have the extra energy to make a farm go. However, before making ...; Created on 27 September 2017
19. Idaho dairy strives for somatic cell count under 100,000: (Herd Health); Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect the correct number of cows milked per hour in the rotary parlor. The original version stated 24 to 30 cows could be milked per hour. The correct ...; Created on 27 September 2017
20. The big picture: Mastitis, milk quality and product quality: (Herd Health); Mastitis is most often associated with disease of the udder recognized as either subclinical or clinical disease resulting in reduced milk production and potentially a sick cow. We previously defined ...; Created on 27 September 2017
21. The link between bedding and udder health: (Herd Health); A two-year study focusing on bedding types and SCC in 325 herds in Wisconsin had a clear result: Herds using sand had less mastitis. “Different pathogens thrive in different bedding types, and we need ...; Created on 27 September 2017
22. Improving milk quality through genetics: (Herd Health); The old adage that more milk equals more money is quickly becoming a thing of the past. The flood of fluid milk in the market has wreaked havoc on milk prices over the last couple of years and has caused ...; Created on 27 September 2017
23. Teat skin condition matters: (Herd Health); Sometimes it is amazing to think about how much hinges on the four teats of the dairy cow. If a teat is damaged or destroyed, we potentially lose the milk from that quarter or, worse yet, with a severe ...; Created on 27 September 2017
24. Living with a 400,000 SCC limit: A panel discussion: (Herd Health); Representatives from across the dairy industry spectrum discussed the impacts of Idaho’s 400,000 cells per milliliter somatic cell count (SCC) limit at the 2017 National Mastitis Council Regional Meeting ...; Created on 27 September 2017
25. The six-month golden rule for milk cooling systems: (Barns & Equipment); Six months. 182 days. Seasons change. Holidays happen. You might exchange shorts for insulated coveralls and endure daylight saving time. A lot happens in six months. And every six months, a specialist ...; Created on 26 September 2017
26. Milking parlor or milking robots? Consider the differences: (Barns & Equipment); Since I sell milking robots as well as parlors, I often have the opportunity to discuss the differences with dairies considering a change. The motivation to upgrade milking equipment or facilities can ...; Created on 26 September 2017
27. Choose the robot that’s right for you: (Barns & Equipment); More and more farms are transitioning to the world of robotic milking. During the preparation for this transition, farm visits will be made, drawings will be looked at and questions will be asked regarding ...; Created on 26 September 2017
28. Site of starch digestion – Does it matter and why?: (Feed & Nutrition); Meeting the nutrient requirements of a high-producing dairy cow without disrupting the rumen environment can be challenging. Starch is a key energy source but can also lead to acidosis if it is overfed. ...; Created on 26 September 2017
29. Supplemental amino acids? Why not ask the cows?: (Feed & Nutrition); It is widely acknowledged dairy cattle must be fed nutritionally balanced rations to deliver absorbable protein with appropriate balances of specific amino acids (AAs) to the small intestine. However, ...; Created on 26 September 2017
30. Testing one–two–three: Check the quality of 2017 corn silage: (Feed & Nutrition); Get ready: corn silage in 2017 is not going to be typical corn silage. Illinois growing and harvesting conditions may reflect your situation and corn silage quality. Test, test and retest will be a common ...; Created on 26 September 2017
31. Drought-stressed forage? Here’s what you need to know: (Feed & Nutrition); One of the most frequent questions I hear regarding drought-stressed forages is in reference to harvest time. When should I harvest? This is good because it’s probably the most important question you should ...; Created on 26 September 2017
32. Consistency is just the tip of the iceberg for feed and nutrition programs: (Feed & Nutrition); On any given day, the typical dairyman loses count of the challenges he deals with. From labor, to mechanical issues, to sick or downed cows and paying the feed bill, the list goes on, seemingly forever. ...; Created on 26 September 2017
33. Water: A nutritional secret: (Feed & Nutrition); Water adds zero energy to a high-producing cow’s diet, yet it is a critical nutrient for survival and capturing said energy and nutritional value from the dairy cattle diet. Water doesn’t provide protein, ...; Created on 26 September 2017
34. New products, technologies to be introduced at World Dairy Expo: (Event Coverage); Looking for the latest products and technologies to manage your dairy? Get a sneak peek at the innovations on display at World Dairy Expo here. Key EH - Exhibition Hall MC - Coliseum, Main Concourse ...; Created on 26 September 2017
35. Mapping out the keys to better efficiency: (Management); The search for efficiency is a journey. As margins tighten, many dairy farmers are taking a magnifying glass to their herds to find cost-saving opportunities. Focusing on efficiency can help your cows ...; Created on 26 September 2017
36. Beyond the expo show ring: The best things to do when you’re not ringside: (Event Coverage); Every year, World Dairy Expo attracts over 70,000 visitors, but there’s more than the international showcase of the industry’s best animals and heart-pounding competition that keep dairy lovers flocking ...; Created on 26 September 2017
37. Setting sail for WDE: Owners of MD-Hillbrook credit success to show crew: (Event Coverage); Much like embarking on a long sea voyage, setting off with a large group of cattle on a cross-country journey to World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, takes a great deal of forethought and organization ...; Created on 26 September 2017
38. A World Dairy Expo goldmine: The legacy of Springhill Guernseys: (Event Coverage); Anyone who goes to World Dairy Expo hoping to strike gold need not look very far. A nationally recognized string showcasing a collage of fawn and white coats, rich as the gold-tinted milk they produce, ...; Created on 26 September 2017
39. NDFd in dried distillers grains with solubles: Should we care?: (Feed & Nutrition); Most livestock nutritionists recognize dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) as a source of fat and protein. As a result, researchers have devoted a significant amount of time and resources to better ...; Created on 26 September 2017
40. Target ration DCAD levels, not urine pH results: (Feed & Nutrition); Balancing rations for dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) prepartum is a valuable nutrition strategy in pursuit of reducing costly metabolic challenges like hypocalcemia, metritis and ketosis during ...; Created on 26 September 2017
41. Feed efficiency is a moving target for selection decisions: (Feed & Nutrition); As producers walk the profitability tightrope, efficiency is the most important tool to make progress in the balancing act of improving income over feed cost. Lou Armentano, a professor emeritus at the ...; Created on 26 September 2017
42. The case for silage inoculants: (Feed & Nutrition); When I was a young animal scientist growing up on the dairy farm, we would routinely use a silage inoculant when ensiling alfalfa haylage – but not very often for corn silage. Even during my graduate ...; Created on 26 September 2017
43. Forage digestibility – NDFd and uNDF – with corn silage hybrids: (Feed & Nutrition); When selecting corn hybrids, dairy farmers often consider a variety of factors that play a role in the nutritional quality for dairy rations. Today’s corn silage hybrids offer high yield potential but ...; Created on 25 September 2017
44. First look at the latest silage innovation: (Feed & Nutrition); Being a producer in today’s market means constantly seeking ways to move your herd’s production to the next level. When it comes to nutrition, it’s all about making the ration as productive and efficient ...; Created on 25 September 2017
45. Mechanics Corner: Maintaining your milking vacuum system: (Barns & Equipment); Understanding the many components that make up a milking vacuum system and recognizing how vacuum function integrates with the entire milking system is key to achieving an optimal milk harvest. Subtle ...; Created on 25 September 2017
46. The Milk House: Man vs. Beefst: (Ryan Dennis); The beef calf is like the troublemaker in class. The look in their eyes is not one of intelligence but defiance. They’ll cut in the lunch line if they want to. The other kids shake their heads – but also ...; Created on 25 September 2017
47. Life on the family farm under an open heaven: Henry and the rattlesnakes: (Guest Blog); Henry Hemminghaus, my great-grandfather, was born in Germany in May of 1858. Born to parents who made their living in agricultural work, Henry worked alongside them, learning all he could. He was a hard-working, ...; Created on 25 September 2017
48. World Dairy Expo to honor annual recognition award winners: (Event Coverage); Once again, World Dairy Expo has announced its recipients of the Expo Recognition Awards. Industry peers nominated the individuals selected. All awards, while having different criteria, are based on involvement ...; Created on 25 September 2017
49. Wendon Holsteins named McKown Master Breeder: (People); The ninth annual Robert “Whitey” McKown Master Breeder Award will be awarded to Wendon Holsteins of Innisfail, Alberta, Canada. This honor will be presented at the 51st World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. ...; Created on 25 September 2017
50. Featured World Dairy Expo volunteer: Marjorie Stieve: (Event Coverage); Starting out as a show intern during her college years, Marjorie Stieve has been lending a hand at World Dairy Expo ever since. Most of her work is behind the scenes, at one time as a staff member ...; Created on 25 September 2017
51. Around the world: Meet this year’s Australian judge, Corey Couch: (Event Coverage); From childhood, Corey Couch always knew he wanted to be a dairy farmer, a dream which has led him further than he could have imagined. Thus far, he has accepted the nomination for associate judge to ...; Created on 25 September 2017
52. Featured World Dairy Expo board member: Al Deming, President, Board of Directors, World Dairy Expo: (People); Al Deming attended his first World Dairy Expo in 1972, and he has only missed one show since. The recently retired general manager of East Central/Select Sires is currently serving his second two-year ...; Created on 25 September 2017
53. Milk fat recovery rate after ration-related changes: (Feed & Nutrition); Milk fat represents a large part of the economic and nutritional value of milk; therefore, decreases in milk fat concentration have serious consequences for a dairy’s bottom line. With that said, researchers ...; Created on 25 September 2017
54. There can be issues with corn silage replacements: (Feed & Nutrition); What makes modern corn silage such a great lactation cow forage? This feed is incredibly consistent, taking some of the variability out of the daily ration, and cows respond favorably to boredom in the ...; Created on 25 September 2017
55. Give cows the time they need to eat and ruminate: (Feed & Nutrition); Optimizing the health and production of dairy cows is largely achieved by ensuring cows maintain sufficient nutrient intakes to meet their requirements. For that reason, high-quality diets need to ...; Created on 25 September 2017
56. Alfalfa hay: The dairy ration’s secret weapon: (Feed & Nutrition); Alfalfa hay is traditionally a staple in dairy rations. Common knowledge dictates it is included for the protein, structural fiber and palatability it brings to the dairy ration. For dairy farmers ...; Created on 25 September 2017
57. Debunk myths that keep leaders from becoming strong managers: (Management); After conducting research and in-depth interviews with people in leadership and management roles for more than 20 years, Bruce Tulgan, founder and CEO of RainmakerThinking Inc., has become a leading expert ...; Created on 25 September 2017
58. On the Edge of Common Sense: Standard size: (Baxter Black); Mac told me a harrowing tale about losing a loaded six-horse trailer off the back of his pickup. He admitted he knew the ball was too small – but it wasn’t far to go; it was gettin’ dark; the kids were ...; Created on 25 September 2017
59. Plugging in: How you can connect to the expo in 2017: (Event Coverage); World Dairy Expo (WDE) makes an effort to reach as many dairy enthusiasts as possible. Providing up-to-date, reliable information is just as important to those who can’t be physically present as to exhibitors. ...; Created on 25 September 2017
60. Speed without sacrificing quality: Wisconsin dairy achieves impressive milking time: (Barns & Equipment); With an average milking time of 3.9 minutes per cow, 87,000 somatic cell count (SCC) and 89-pound herd average, Tom McClellan of McClellan Farms Inc. has found a successful formula to producing extremely ...; Created on 25 September 2017
61. New Mexico dairy’s feed center generates 17 loads of feed in 2.5 hours: (Feed & Nutrition); Downsizing from four mixers and four tractors to one mixer, one loader and a consistent product that has produced beneficial results in a tight dairy economy are the big reasons Cheyenne Dairy of Dexter, ...; Created on 21 September 2017
62. Why J&K Dairy chose not to invest in technology: (Management); Rumination and activity monitors now enable dairy farmers to track the health of individual cows on the farm. But are they worth their cost? Not in all cases, dairy owner and herd manager Kyle Van Dyk ...; Created on 21 September 2017
63. Shoe designers find a win with show cows and dairy processing: (People); From thousand-dollar stilettos to million-dollar cows, George Malkemus and Anthony Yurgaitis have built an empire in the busy streets of New York City and the quaint town of Litchfield, Connecticut. Arethusa ...; Created on 19 September 2017
64. Indoor feed mixing: A new trend?: (Barns & Equipment); Dairyman Terry Ketterling wanted to lower breakeven costs for his 10,500-cow dairy. He could have built another milk barn, filled it with cows and stretched his fixed costs over more animal units. He’d ...; Created on 19 September 2017
65. Rural firefighters delivering agricultural safety and health: (Management); Editor’s note: National Farm Safety Week is Sept. 17-23. Progressive Dairyman highlights how the National Farm Medicine Center is helping local volunteer fire departments and first responders use new technology ...; Created on 19 September 2017
66. My advice to our future calf feeder: (Guest Blog); Starting next week, I begin training a new calf feeder at Cedar-Pine Farm. The title of calf feeder has been mine for six years, and believe me – I am ready to give it up! With all of the responsibilities ...; Created on 11 August 2017
67. Avoid accidents, government oversight with proper farm equipment safety: (Guest Blog); Here in Wisconsin, some farms are now falling under the jurisdiction of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in regards to workplace safety, and I hear a large amount of pushback from ...; Created on 18 July 2017
68. Precision Dairy Conference panelists share benefits, shortcomings of robotic milkers: (Management); Precision agriculture innovation continues to provide farmers with improved technologies that are becoming more affordable. Precision dairy management provides a way to gather data that enables farmers ...; Created on 20 June 2017
69. Vet detective: Solving the case of declining conception rates: (A.I. & Breeding); I’m a cop show fanatic – NCIS, NCIS: LA, NCIS: NOLA, Castle, Hawaii 5-0, CSI. You name it, I watch it. When I was recently asked to write in Progressive Dairyman’s “I Belong To” segment, one of the questions ...; Created on 14 October 2016
70. Just dropping by.... Traditions of God: (Yevet Tenney); Family traditions have always been an integral part of my life. We celebrate holidays and have family reunions, like many other families, but we have other traditions that fill our daily lives. Like ...; Created on 12 July 2012