The U.S. average all-milk price rose $1.30 per hundredweight (cwt) in July, equalling the 2016 high set in January, according to the USDA NASS Ag Prices report, released Aug. 31.

Dairy producers enrolled in the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) will have to wait another month to get the second half of the July-August pay period calculations. However, the July milk-income-over-feed-cost margin jumped more than $1.80 per hundredweight (cwt) from the May-June average, all but assuring any indemnity payment will be minimal, at best.

I have a love-hate relationship with autumn. I love the beautiful fall colors, the cooler nights, the warm days, football and the anticipation of farm life slowing down just a little bit.

On the exceptionally hot days of summer, I often was tasked with giving our not-so-well calves an extra dose of electrolytes over the lunch hour in order to keep them hydrated through the heat. The downfall of our group-housing barn design is that when you go in the pen to treat one calf, more are sure to stop over to see what is happening.

I’ve consumed a bit too much chocolate in my adventures at the Hershey Lodge in Pennsylvania. You are given a large Hershey bar at check-in, a bag full (more than 10 chocolate pieces with room service breakfast) and chocolate butter at the banquet table.

A farm is great place to raise a family with progressive technology, business practices and the opportunity to develop and pass on the farm to future generations. A farm is also a workplace.A workplace with heavy equipment that is bigger and faster, livestock, high voltage that fuels the farm, exposed mechanics, confined spaces such as silos, chemicals and endless other possible hazards.

When was the last time you proactively considered, planned and communicated with your employees and partners about your expectations for today and the future? Have you sat down with your employees recently and discussed what is going well and listened to their ideas?