Heat stress not only affects people; it’s hard on cattle too, said a dairy industry expert. The Dairy Heat Stress Road Show, a multi-institutional effort, will hit the road this spring to help producers cope with the problem. Dr. Todd Bilby, associate professor and Texas AgriLife Extension Service dairy specialist at Stephenville, said heat stress on dairies not only affects cow comfort, but also lowers milk production and fertility, which costs the dairy industry millions of dollars annually.

Effective managers have a variety of ways of making good things happen through people. The specific style may vary by individual, but in general, there are a few important characteristics of successful dairy management. First, successful dairy management should be based on biologically and economically sound principles that will take advantage of proven strategies.

Galveston’s Lone Star Flight Museum was the scene for a night no one in attendance will ever forget. That’s where Mahindra USA, the number one selling tractor brand in the world based on volume, announced a partnership with Operation Finally Home in front of more than 600 Mahindra Tractor dealers, partners and staff gathered amongst World War II airplanes at a special event during the company’s recent National Dealer Meeting.

As planting for the 2012 season approaches, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) notes that newly revamped on-farm refuge assessments are part of the enhanced Compliance Assurance Program (CAP) implemented last year, which is designed to improve compliance with Insect Resistance Management (IRM) requirements. Corn growers found to be out of compliance with refuge requirements will be checked more frequently by the Bt corn registrants and have a higher probability of losing access to Bt corn if compliance is not established and maintained.  

University of Guelph plans new dairy research facility A new livestock research centre intended to model sustainable animal agriculture systems is being planned by the University of Guelph, the provincial government and the Ontario dairy industry. The Research and Innovation Centre, Dairy Phase, will be built at the current site of Elora Research Station in Elora, Ontario, one of the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO) facilities operated by U of G under its partnership agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

One of the tricks of a great farm succession is the ability of the founder to let go of management and, ultimately, ownership. There are many 60-something and 70-something farm dads on the bald prairie that just don’t know how to change from being the main manager to “the hired man.” I know hired man is not the politically correct term, I should say “employee.” Employees make a wage, and I don’t know if dad is getting a paycheque!

In a news release, Canadian Dairy Network (CDN) Chairman Grant Roy and Holstein Canada President Paul MacLeod (pictured on the right) announced that following in-depth discussion and with the total support of their board members, their organizations will discontinue the current amalgamation plans. Progressive Dairyman Editor Karen Lee spoke with each of them to learn more about the situation and discover what the future holds for each organization.

According to year-end statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), exports of U.S. pork, beef and lamb set new records across the board in 2011, reaching all-time highs in both volume and value and exceeding $11.5 billion in total value. Pork exports totaled 2.255 million metric tons valued at $6.11 billion, breaking the previous volume record of 2.052 million metric tons and shattering the value record of $4.88 billion, which were both established in 2008. Year-over-year, pork exports were up 18 percent in volume and 28 percent in value.