Tubing helps clear the air The calf hutches at Emmerich Dairy in Wheeler, Illinois, had a ventilation problem. A machine shed and a freestall barn upwind of the hutches prevented them from getting the breezes needed to keep the calves cool and the hutches ventilated on the 70-cow dairy.

When it comes to raising calves, Meadow Brook Dairy Farms is known as one of the best, and with the recent addition of a new calf barn and automated feeding, the best just got better.

How milk and dairy products are made is an important topic for consumers today. More and more, they are taking their questions directly to the stores and restaurants. They want to know: Are your ingredients locally produced? Do you recycle? How are the animals treated? Do the farmers use sustainable practices to grow their crops?

The majority of milk produced in the U.S. is paid for based on the Federal Milk Marketing Order formulas. Within the federal order system, there are four classes of milk – defined below – and two payment systems: the “Advanced” system and the “Class and Component” system.

From within our dairy community come stories that touch our lives and warm our hearts. This holiday season, we are pleased to share with you a few examples of the generosity and kindness of fellow dairymen and dairywomen who have unselfishly dedicated their time and talents to causes greater than themselves, their families and their farms.

At Horizon Organic, philanthropic giving focuses on sustainable agriculture, responsible resource use and promoting healthy communities. The company’s family of nearly 700 organic dairy farmers share the value of the importance of giving back to their local communities throughout the year.

It was December of 1987, the same year that Progressive Dairyman made its debut as a viable dairy publication (in March). My 82-year-old dad was gradually losing his strength as the effects of cancer were completing their merciless attacks upon his once-healthy body.