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By the time this article is published, Congress might have passed a Farm Bill. As this article is being written, few have any real inkling about whether this lame duck session will result in a new bill, an extension of the old bill or nothing at all. What will likely be lacking in the dairy title of the farm bill, whenever it gets passed and in whatever form that legislation might ultimately take, is substantive direction on the federal milk marketing orders.

When it comes to delegating your work, what’s the main reason you hesitate handing it over to somebody else? If you’re like most people, you’ll probably agree that it’s usually just easier doing the work yourself than having someone else do it for you. And if you’ve been doing the work for a long time, that makes perfect sense. With a lot of first-hand experience, you’re probably pretty good at what you do and most people don’t measure up. But that’s the simple answer.

As 2012 winds down, many will be doing the traditional year-end paperwork … taxes and tax planning, operating loans, financial reporting, etc. While we work to close out the year, it is imperative that we give proper time to planning the year ahead. We have talked in previous issues about the opportunities and risks that lie ahead as well as a few things that you can do to manage those situations.

The National Mastitis Council Annual Meeting will be held January 27-29, 2013 in San Diego, California. Early registration is open until January 4, 2013. The program will feature a number of leading experts in udder health. Progressive Dairyman asked a few presenters to discuss their plans for the meeting.

Progressive Dairyman Editor Fredric Ridenour recently spoke with photographer Helen Thomas Robson about her artwork and the creation of this issue’s cover photo.

Colorful infrared images of bunk faces have become all the rage with consultants and sales people wanting to promote forage quality and silage additives. One company claims that infrared cameras can show the value of inoculants. Another may state that an infrared image can reveal how well a bunker is packed and covered. Someone else may suggest that infrared images tell only a fraction of the silage quality story.

Farmers’ behavioral health affects the animals they raise. Just ask a dog owner. They are well aware their pets sense how they feel. Practitioners of artificial insemination of livestock have long known their stress levels affect the conception rate of the animals they are breeding. Animals detect the tension of the people working with them. Reproductive success diminishes when the A.I. technician is stressed out.