The aim of a properly managed and nutritionally sound dry cow and early lactation program is to prepare the cow for a profitable lactation. Maximizing dry matter intakes, minimizing negative energy and protein balance, maintaining calcium homeostasis and minimizing immune dysfunction are critical points to a smooth transition into lactation.

Methionine, a required nutrient for cows, has been principally used in dairy rations with the goal of improving milk production or composition. When cows are fed diets enriched with methionine, they respond with an increase in milk volume, an increase in the percentage of protein in the milk, or by a combination of both. Further, it is not uncommon to see an increase in milk fat percentage.

A recent article states: “The message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 48th World Communications Day announced that the Internet is a gift from God”. The Pope’s announcement caused quite a stir. People seemed to rejoice and were gleefully suggesting that now we can do anything we want.

The more one reads about agriculture in other parts of the world, the more it seems like the story of farming changes little country to country. From Australia to Belgium, farmers lament the volatile prices and narrow margins.

How does it strike you that the more concentrated agriculture becomes, the more rural/ag media is available? Regional farm, ranch and equine-oriented publications are still a very strong part of our print media. Many of them have been around for more than 50 years.

As America continues to become tangled in the web of domesticated animal welfare, we continue to exacerbate the inhumane results of our efforts. The closing of horse slaughter plants has backfired.

On March 15, 2014, women across Washington, Oregon and Idaho gathered for Washington State University’s third annual Women in Agriculture Conference. The live feed reached more than 500 women in 28 locations. The primary focus was how to manage change in your operations.

In late March, the White House announced a Biogas and Energy Roadmap to reduce methane emissions from agriculture.