Latest From News

Analyze Your Feed to Manage Your Dairy Ration Risks

The tighter we program herd diets, the more important is the information on which feed programs are based.

Get What You Pay For in Your Herd’s Feed

It’s essential to make sure the rations you receive include the feed ingredients you purchased.

Vermont’s Dairy Digester Efforts Featured in “Cow Power” Documentary

Documentary shows how sustainable energy program is saving Vermont’s farms and environment.

Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company Named California Leopold Conservation Award Recipient

Bob Giacomini and his four daughters are recognized for their commitment to conservation at their Northern California dairy and cheese-making operation.

hands
Increase Farm Performance and Productivity

Increase farm performance and productivity with engaged employees.

Set Employee Expectations

An important component of management is keeping employees informed about farm practices, expectations and policies, but these can easily get overlooked with the day-to-day operations of the farm.

EC Iowa Corn 9 12 13
Industry Fires Back at AP Ethanol Story

A major point of contention is The Associated Press' estimates of new land used to grow corn for ethanol.

Farm Help

Farmers are self-employed by nature, yet many rely on a team on a daily basis.

MachineryJournal: More Power in Side-by-Side and ATV Design
MachineryJournal: More Power in Side-by-Side and ATV Design

For their 2014 lineup, Polaris Industries strategically repositioned the engine on their machines for a quieter ride, improved serviceability and added larger stators for more power.

Serious About Seafood

Mark and Jeff Nelson have reeled in and landed an unlikely new opportunity on their grain and hog operation in Webster City, Iowa: fish farming.

New York Giving $4.6M to Protect Farmland

New York officials say they're granting $4.6 million to finish projects permanently protecting 2,200 acres of farmland in five counties.

Classify Farm Workers

Farmers can run into trouble by improperly classifying workers, which might lead to additional scrutiny by auditors and then fines.

Savoring Sustainability

Grazing and an on-farm cheese factory positions this California dairy for long-term sustainability.

Policy: Food vs. Feed
Policy: Food vs. Feed

Animal agriculture critics say dairy cows eat feed that could be fed to starving people. This CAST study debunks these myths.

D13169  Prairieland group edit
U.S. Sustainability Awards: Neighbors, Partners, Entrepreneurs

Four multi-generational families run three separate enterprises – a 1,600-cow dairy, a bottling plant and composting business.

Opportunity or Pipe Dream?
Opportunity or Pipe Dream?

The net return from an integrated energy approach could be $50 to $200 per cow per year.

U.S. Sustainability Awards: Small Steps, Big Results

Dan DeGroot’s guiding principles are his cows, employees and sustainability of the family farm business.

hospital health care
New Healthcare Law Leaves Unanswered Questions

The new health care law leaves many unanswered questions.

Dairy Talk: Get Energy Smart

The driving force behind Farm Smart is to develop an easy-to-use tool that gives an accurate estimate of a farm’s carbon footprint.

U.S. Sustainability Awards: Better Before Bigger

Green Valley Dairy is known for its green practices of recycling water, repurposing manure nutrients, conserving energy and producing electricity with its three anaerobic digesters.

Habitat for Honeybees

The pollinator project is an initiative in functional biodiversity—the idea that best management practices can support commercial agricultural practices and the environment at the same time.

Can You Lower Prepartum DCAD Levels Longer?

Recent research reinforced what was already known about lowering DCAD levels in prefresh diets, but also added some practical applications to producers’ toolboxes.

Application Deadline for NRCS Conservation Programs Fast Approaching

Eligible producers are encouraged to apply for assistance by Nov. 15, 2013.

Southern Calif
Climate Changing in California Farm Regions

While agriculture’s part in driving the state’s climate change is only 7%, the state’s agricultural industries will be heavily affected by climate changes.

Glanbia Foods Recognized by Idaho Power as a Leader in Energy-Efficiency Efforts

Because of extensive energy upgrades Glanbia made at its Twin Falls and Gooding processing plants, Idaho Power paid the dairy manufacturer more than $235,000 in incentives.

Shredlage sample
Shredlage: What We Learned

The suggested roll settings on shredlage units are only starting points, says dairy nutritionist Rick Lundquist.

AMP Americas to Haul Milk With Compressed Natural Gas

AMP-Trillium to build seven CNG fueling stations in Texas.

Waterway Funding Bill May Pass This Year

Despite the government shutdown, proponents of legislation authorizing new waterway projects and improvements on the existing lock and dam system, believe the bill could pass.

Hire to Fit the Farm

Make employee choices that fit your farm values. Here are six tips for best hiring practices.

A Tale of Two Soils

Despite heavy spring rains, crop residue will remain in place thanks to the healthy soil structure. However, unhealthy soil will give way to washing and erosion.

More Evidence that Feeding Supplemental Potassium Boosts Milk Fat Production

Increasing milk fat production through improved nutrition may boost your milk check, but too many dairies still leave this opportunity on the table.

Nutrition: Plan for a Challenging Year

Forage testing and inventory control will be critical with this year’s variable forages.

USDA Announces Support for Producers of Advanced Biofuel

Recipients include a Minnesota dairy company that will receive $8,040 to help offset the cost of producing electricity from two anaerobic digesters.

Sustainability Equals Profitability

Panel discusses how environmental sustainability leads to profit.

Webinar will Help You Cope With Labor Pains

The Executive Women in Agriculture team will host a free webinar Sept. 13 to help farm owners and operators reduce their legal risks and improve their culture.

2014 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards Program Announced

The awards recognize outstanding dairy farms, businesses and collaborative partnerships that are good for the community, the planet, and for business.

Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy Supports ‘Cow Power’ Film

The focus is on how dairy producers from this state transform cow manure into electricity to power their farms and hundreds of local homes and businesses.

Cuomo in Billion-Pound Manure Fight as New York Promotes Yogurt

The lawsuit protests the governor's recent permit allowing more dairy cows in the wake of growing yogurt demand.

Nutrition: Fall Forage Checklist

Poor growing condition this past spring, winterkill and last year’s drought all lead to huge forage challenges for dairies.

Keep Expenses in the Context of Profitability

It’s easy for dairy producers to hone in on expenses during tough economic times and overlook the larger profitability picture.

USDA Announces REAP Awards for Farm Digesters

USDA is making investments of more than $21 million in energy projects nationwide.

Muck Spreading
New Farm Forecast Tool Cuts Pollution Risk

The Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast tool is designed to assist producers that are applying animal waste to fields and reduce their risk of that material or that waste running off into surface waters.

Good Husbandry Grants Available for Farmers

Grants up to $5,000 are available to farmers in the Animal Welfare Approved program.

New York Dairy Wins 2013 Agricultural Environmental Management Award

Family has farmed the land for 100 years, and today its thriving dairy farm uses cutting-edge technology to increase profits and protect the environment.

Mississippi River barge
Exports at Stake Without WRDA Passage

The Water Resources Development Act provides funding for U.S. waterways, including locks, dams and dredging.

train tracks elevator
Record Crop Could Mean Train Troubles This Fall

Rail companies got a late start on routine maintenance this year, which could create a back-up of trains and long lines at grain elevators.

iStock 000001551804Medium
Golden State Sorrows

Immigration reform threatens California agriculture and leaves farmers with an uncertain future.

Is Your Nutrition Professional ARPAS-Certified?

What this certification tells you about your dairy nutritionist.

Evaluate Fat Sources Carefully

Your cows need it. But what type of fat and how much should your herd's rations include?

Minnesota Study Finds Inconsistency Among Dairy Environmental Regulators

Report recommends dairy-specific training for regulatory staff.