It’s no secret that a healthy machine translates to increased uptime and efficiency on your farm. Therefore, implementing a strong maintenance strategy and preserving the machine’s hydraulic system are critical. However, it’s easy to overlook the hydraulic system when completing machine walk-arounds, as it’s not always visible from checkpoint areas.

Working in silos. No, not the kind that hold feed – the metaphoric kind we do unconsciously where we stay in our comfort zone, in our own little area of the world, doing the daily grind in the same place and surrounding ourselves with the same people, day in and day out.

In laymen’s terms, what does MUN stand for? MUN stands for milk urea nitrogen and is commonly found on every farmer’s bulk tank readings. MUNs of 5 or lower should be of concern, as the protein being fed may not be enough to meet the needs of rumen bacteria.

The American Rabbit Breeder’s Association or, more commonly, ARBA. If you say ARBA out loud enough, you realize it sounds like a sect. Little did I know – it was an even more dangerous organization.

Rodeos are a showcase for cowboy abilities. Everyday work on the ranch is put on display, including the new guy they dressed up in a clown suit and put in a barrel for his initiation. However, people are not showing up by the busloads purchasing tickets to see farmers’ abilities.

Each day, folks across the country head to the grocery store to purchase food to feed their families. A look in the shopping carts will show Americans love their dairy products, which they should. Study after study has shown these tasty products deliver serious health benefits, yet the industry is at the brink of collapse from a lack of secure, reliable labor.

The effects of heat stress on dry cows are profound. There are significant carryover effects into lactation with substantial economic implications. The deleterious effects of heat stress in the dry period cannot be corrected by improving the environment (cooling) for cows once they start milking. By any measure, the production and physiological effects on cows and the effects on the calf from heat stress on dry cows are significant contributors to lower overall milk potential, productivity and profitability.

Water is one of the most important resources on a dairy farm, not only because it is essential for cow consumption, but also because it is heavily used to wash, clean and cool the dairy facility.

Faced with the challenge of balancing cow productivity with economics, feeding efficiency has gained increased status as a tool to guide dairy herd managers and their nutritionists. With today’s tighter income margins, monitoring dairy feeding efficiency is more important than ever.