The case for finding open cows with a touch of technologyPublished: Oct. 19, 2016 print issue Brandt Kreuscher, dairy business manager with Allflex USA – SCR Dairy, encouraged dairy producers to think about the opportunity costs of extended days open and increased culling because of poor reproductive performance. Animal monitoring technologies and early pregnancy diagnosis tools could be the solution to open cows. “I am a big proponent of having the herdsman operating ultrasound on an almost daily basis: heartbeat, then a sex check at 60 days.”—Arthur Welser, New York farmer

Dairy farmers often squeezed by consumer, food company pressures
Published: Nov. 7, 2016 Extra e-newsletter

Progressive Dairyman Editor Dave Natzke attended PDPW’s Food and Policy Summit in October and wrote an article from a presentation featuring representatives from JBS USA (beef and leather supplier), Grassland Dairy Products Inc. and The Hershey Company.

“The problem is: The dairy farmer has no way to recoup the costs associated with what the processors are demanding. Until this is addressed in a serious way, I for one will continue to criticize the leadership for failing the farmers.”
—guedo

HERd management: Three phrases that frustrate me from fellow farmers about agvocating
Published: Oct. 19, 2016 print issue

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Washington dairy farmer and popular blogger Krista Stauffer shared three phrases she finds frustrating from fellow farmers. They were: “Someone has to do it; I’m glad it is you,” “I don’t have time for that,” and “People will always have to eat.”

“I totally agree, Krista. I love agvocating through presentations, publications and social media, but it is every farmer’s responsibility, not just a few. I think what many farmers don’t realize is that it doesn’t have to be a grandiose deal.

Serve cookies with milk after church service, say thanks to the shopper reaching for that gallon of milk from the dairy case, or serve a cheese tray after the next meeting you host. It doesn’t take much to get a dairy conversation started. Sometimes the little things make the biggest impact.”
—Janet Bremer, Minnesota dairy farmer

“Exactly. Not everyone is going to post daily on social media or start a blog. So many ways to make a difference and shine a positive light on agriculture.”
—Krista Stauffer  end mark