From helping one dairy farmer kickstart a wholesale ice cream business and helping legislators connect with a progressive dairy farm to refreshing the conversation about risk management and helping two farms find a workforce through our apprenticeship program, the Center for Dairy Excellence is grounded in real stories, real possibilities and real results.

We hear it over and over again: The dairy industry is changing faster than ever. And it’s true. We’re all living it every day.

In today’s dairy industry, producers are constantly evaluating new technologies, equipment and management practices to improve the productivity, efficiency and profitability of our businesses.

How about encouraging a classroom in your community to adopt a 1,500-pound dairy cow as their mascot this school year? The Discover Dairy Adopt a Cow program is an exciting, year-long experience for classrooms across the nation.

I’ve worked with dairies across the country, and one truth keeps surfacing: Motivated teams have healthier cows, solve more problems and stick around longer. Let's look at the 5 C’s of motivation: control, certainty, connection, clout and consistency – with examples straight from the barn.

It’s easy in today’s dairy industry to feel like you’re falling behind. Keeping up with new advancements, practices and technologies could be a full-time job, not to mention training team members upon making a purchase decision and implementing the new system.