Keeping accurate health and production records is an important practice that can help producers make meaningful decisions while troubleshooting transition cow issues in their operations.

Since its 2015 U.S. debut, A2 milk has been a hot topic among dairy producers. Now the latest A2 buzz comes from consumers, following the launch of the a2 Milk Company’s national television advertising campaign.

After a heated debate, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the second version of the 2018 Farm Bill with a final vote of 213-211. The passage of the bill is a tentative victory for Republicans, but the battle will not be over till the Senate passes its version of the farm bill, which is expected to happen this week.

More than 60 companies and organizations representing American dairy farmers and cheesemakers commended President Donald Trump today for his efforts on equitable trade and for insisting that Canada halt its market-distorting dairy practices. At the same time, the companies urged the administration to reconsider its imposition of new tariffs on Mexico in light of that country’s constructive engagement in North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations and the harm that Mexico’s retaliatory tariffs will have on U.S. dairy’s trade with its largest and most reliable market.

The summer heat is upon us, and we all know we should be cooling our cows.

The average Class III milk price for January to April of 2018 was slightly above $14 per hundredweight, well under the cost of production. That has forced dairy farmers to seek management strategies to increase income, cut costs or both.

The health and productivity of any tracked machine starts with its undercarriage. Representing a significant portion of a piece of equipment’s purchase price, the undercarriage also represents a high percentage of a machine’s lifetime operating costs, so proper maintenance and operation practices are critical for protecting your equipment investment.

Digest Highlights • Milk marketings through California and Federal Milk Marketing Orders highly concentrated • July Class I base gets a small nudge • Spring flush slows cow slaughter pace • Dairy Business Innovation Act proposed • GAIN report: China dairy

The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) presented Van Newkirk Herefords of Oshkosh, Nebraska, the BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year Award on June 22 during the group’s annual meeting and symposium in Loveland, Colorado. This national award is presented annually to a producer to recognize their dedication to improving the beef industry at the seedstock level.

The plot is thickening in regard to foreign trade policy in the U.S., and farmers and ranchers have already had their fill of tension.