Management

Buyers continue to see value in dairy-beef animals at sale barns but are becoming more discerning as more crossbreds enter the marketplace.

Imagine how much better life would be on your farm if trust was not an issue. When a farm founder trusts the next generation, it is a beautiful thing to behold.

For years, consumers have been told to avoid full-fat dairy products. Guidelines from the USDA, the American Heart Association (AHA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and more have warned against consumption of saturated fats.

My colleague has likened the ride our dairy industry has been taking to an out-of-control car. One moment we are panicked by nearly plowing into the ditch from low prices, the next we are overcorrecting too hard on the wheel and veering into the ditch on the other side.

Natural rendering or composting is growing in prevalence as a way to dispose of livestock carcasses on the farm. Following methods defined by universities and state conservation departments protects the environment and makes the process as efficient as possible.

Dairy farmers are essential, and we knew this before any health crisis arrived. Even with COVID-19, many farms are carrying on with daily work, and not much has changed.