A provision to provide dairy farmers with increased access to foreign-born workers has been included in a bill to fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in fiscal year (FY) 2018. The amendment, offered by U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Washington), expands the federal H-2A farm worker visa program to include year-round employees on dairy farms.

Going back to the family farm may be a dream for some, but that doesn’t make it a reality. When Sally, Drake and Corbin Yon decided to return to their family’s reputable seedstock and row-crop business in Ridge Spring, South Carolina, the legwork had already been done.

Sally: We are all working on the same farm, but we don’t really see a lot of each other. Even though the meetings take longer than needed some days, they are good because they help everyone know what’s going on.

Cattle, goats, sheep and even llamas have been raised for 1000’s of years to use the forage that could not be used for food by man. They have been selected to provide meat, milk, clothing and years ago … these animals were used as a power source. Today, there are new, better and different ways to deliver forage and other nutritious ingredients to our animals. How can I Do More with Less … NOW?

One of the most valuable pieces of advice cattle producer Nick Trainor has to offer young cattlemen is: Learning never stops. This young cattle producer makes it his goal to surround himself with positive-thinking ranchers who want to see him succeed.

The obvious answer to the title question is: Poor-temperament cattle are hard to handle and for safety reasons need to be culled. But that’s not the only reason.

Several serious livestock diseases are caused by bacteria called clostridia. They form a protective covering in a dormant stage when exposed to heat or drying. The spores can survive almost indefinitely.

The key to success in a rapidly changing world boils down to two basic components: open minds and new ideas. Theo Scholze brings both to his farm and uses producer blogging to encourage fellow dairymen to do the same.

For some, it’s the scent of sunscreen, barbecue or citronella – but to me, nothing says summertime like the sweet smell of fresh-cut hay.

See a need: 2016 consumer trust research by the Center for Food Integrity states that a majority of consumers know little about dairy farming, yet they have a very strong desire to learn more about how their food is produced and where it comes from.