Hay cutting is upon us, and some have been wrapping ryegrass and other cool-season forages since the end of January. How much hay will each mature cow need? The quick answer is: at least 1.5 tons per head.

Dairy Marketing Services (DMS), the marketing arm of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), has given about 225 independent milk producers in the Mideast federal milk marketing order (FMMO) until Nov. 30, 2017 to decide on their future milk marketing options.

Milk may no longer be an item customers will go out of the way to purchase, even when it is being bottled right at the farm, as it is at Way-Har Farms in Bernville, Pennsylvania. The dairy, run today by William and Lolly Lesher, began bottling its own milk on-farm in the 1970s, utilizing 60 percent of their production.

Most Progressive Cattleman readers prefer to use eartags to ID their cattle.

This month’s VAS DC305 tip of the month is on replacement management. On many dairies, improvement in replacement management offers significant opportunity for economic gains.

I’m just leaving the YMCA. That’s where I go for physical therapy to recover from my darn knee surgery. The therapist calls it PT: I call it torture. I leave with tired eyes, messy hair and an exhausted look on my face, but that’s not what the woman in the waiting area sees. She notices the cow and “Bremer Farms” printed on my jacket.

From exports and fluid milk sales to income margins, dairy farmers received some good news as 2017 moved in May.

Editor's note: CEO Corners are editors' compilations of business news from top publications, which they have tailored for the dairy industry. Authors in our publication write about the difficulty of succession from a second- to third-generation business. (You can read about this topic here and here.)

With all the noise surrounding production practices and alternative beverages, dairy industry leaders are launching a campaign to elevate consumer trust in all that is good about dairy. The multi-faceted, multi-year “Undeniably Dairy” campaign was introduced during a media conference on May 15, and will be officially rolled out on June 1, in conjunction with World Milk Day and the 80th annual celebration of ”National Dairy Month.”

What are the most important aspects to keeping cows comfortable? How can dairy farmers realistically improve cow comfort? Why is comfort such a focus today?