Since the first of the year, more than 180 dairy producers across the Midwest have gone to Midwest Dairy Association’s Producer Service Center for help with their promotion needs. More importantly, the materials and services they received helped them reach more than 70,000 consumers. With June Dairy Month approaching, access to what the Center offers becomes even more important. Dairy farm families hosting events or helping industry partners honor the industry have a direct line to free items that range from “I Met a Dairy Farmer” stickers to plastic sheeting for parade floats, fact sheets about farm practices, and camera-ready graphics and copy for advertisements. Other free items include recipe brochures, videos, exhibit booths and a coloring pad for kids.

Since its introduction in 2008, genomics has significantly changed how dairy cattle breeders choose sires and make matings for the next generation. In fact, genomics has likely made the biggest impact on dairy cattle selection in Holsteins, Jerseys and Brown Swiss since the introduction of genetic evaluations nearly five decades ago. With any new science, there are opportunities and concerns as it is incorporated into the dairy operation. To help breeders better understand the impact of genomics and how the technology may fit into their breeding program, the Wisconsin Holstein Association will be hosting a forum to discuss this pressing matter. The town hall meeting will take place on Thursday, July 21, at 1 p.m. at the Rib River Ballroom located at 3237 State Highway 29, Marathon, Wisconsin. The four genomic specialists will provide the opportunity for dairy producers throughout the Midwest to ask questions and get answers regarding genomics. All interested in dairy genetics are welcome to attend the afternoon event.

BouMatic, a global dairy equipment manufacturer, launched BouMatic University, a new training organization with a global mission to use the industry’s latest technology and time-tested BouMatic milking principles for the education of its dealers, employees and key industry influencers.

Kimmi Devaney Indianapolis, Indiana Producer Relations Program Coordinator Milk Promotion Services of Indiana

I was in North Dakota in early spring. The night before, the temperature was 3º. That morning it had warmed up to 4º. I walked into the giant Ag Expo building and made a circle of the trade show; just visiting. I stopped at the booth of a man selling wood stoves. “How are things goin’?” I asked, “Well, “ he said, shaking his head, “You know how things are.”

June was taking a renegade bull with a tendency to “wander” to the sale barn in Dodge City. Her son helped her load the beast into their stock trailer. It was an authentic ranch trailer with lights that worked intermittently, gates that swung almost even, tires that didn’t match and compressed rubber floor-planks whose 99-year warranty had expired! A few miles outside of Dodge, June heard and felt a thump, crack and crunch loud enough to be heard above George Strait on KBUF. In her rear-view mirror she watched a dark object helicopter out from under the second axle!

At a recent workshop here in Washington D.C., our group had as many answers to this question as there were participants. So in this article, let me explain.

Reproductive failure is the number one reason for involuntary culling, which contributes to the economic importance of getting cows pregnant in a timely manner. Fertility results from a combination of many factors, including increase in milk production per cow, management and environmental factors such as heat stress.

Central Valley dairymen and two dairy nutrition companies recently gave a helping hand to a Visalia soup kitchen and Christian social service organization. The Visalia Rescue Mission held its second annual Empty Bowls fundraiser dinner in Tulare County, California, in March. Diamond V and Nutrius sponsored the event and invited their local dairy clients to buy a ticket and attend. A minimum donation of $25 was required for a ticket. Jessica Van Ginkel, community development director for the Visalia Rescue Mission, says ticket sales and donations helped raise more than $12,000 for the center. Some gave more than the requested $25 ticket price.