The Progressive Publishing team is pleased to once again bring you the Top 25 most well-read articles of the year. This list reflects content published from Oct. 1, 2016, through Oct. 1, 2017, and is based on Google Analytics.

Lighting often represents one of the best opportunities to reduce electricity use on dairy farms, and lighting retrofits typically have shorter paybacks than other energy-efficiency upgrades.

It is well-known digital dermatitis is the most widespread infectious disease causing lameness in our herds. The infection sets in as a result of weakening of the skin, an injury for example. The main agent responsible for digital dermatitis appears to have been isolated: Treponema SP.

As the tinsel and the garlands begin to grace the trees and the glitter of Christmas fills the stores, I remember Christmases past when the children were home. It was never the perfect Hallmark Christmas where smells of cinnamon and spice permeate a spotless kitchen, and the pies and decorative breads line the counters.

If you go tractor shopping, you soon find out there are a bunch of choices to make. Even among tractors of the same manufacturer, you need to know what your present needs are and what your future needs might be to select the best tractor for your operation.

Even though it happened many years ago, lots of Americans remember Dec. 7, 1941, as Pearl Harbor Day. It was the day Japan attacked the U.S., without a declaration of war, and killed thousands of Americans and destroyed so much of our naval force and air force at Pearl Harbor.

In an age of alternative facts, spin doctors and stilted media outlets, it is up to the individual to question the information he or she is given. It is no longer enough to be told something or to see it on the television.

I used to be organized. I was the Type A person who carried their Franklin Covey planner around like a baby. Then I married a dairy farmer, started farming with him, had kids, started homeschooling and ran a business out of our home. Things got crazy and unorganized fast.

On the first day of Christmas, my milk check was sent to me. That’s all it was. An official check – with no commas.

The typical dairy farm uses a large amount of energy during milking activities. This is due to the frequency of milking and the energy-intensive nature of harvesting milk, keeping it cool and cleaning the equipment with hot water.