It didn't take long for Erin Reynoldson to realize that her flip-flops were not suited for a proper tour of Prairieland Dairy. Luckily, Prairieland Dairy co-owner, Dan Rice, and Jeff Keown, Extension Dairy Specialist from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, who lined up the trip, had plenty of plastic, knee-high foot coverings handy.

In Progressive Forage Grower's first-ever hay bale decorating contest, Jan Ahrendsen of Clutier, Iowa, was voted the winner with her family's submission of Santa Claus and a giant Christmas tree.

The Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council (PFGC) celebrated its 50th birthday recently at the Shady Maple Banquet and Conference Center near New Holland, Pennsylvania.

Finding a solution for working with sand bedding was the focus of McLanahan’s Sand Solutions Conference this November. More that 120 people attended the event held in Wisconsin. These dairy producers, engineers and consultants not only hailed from the Northeast and Midwest, but also from Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

As the days get shorter and the temperatures begin to flirt with freezing, it is time to start thinking about proper teat dip management for cold weather. In fact, any dairyman who faces cold, wet and windy conditions, whether in New Mexico or Wisconsin, needs to address general teat condition when temperatures fall. It is important to continue an efficient teat dip program on the farm to aid in mastitis control during cold weather, but you also need to take precautions to avoid cold weather effects on the dairy cow’s mammary system.

The Southern Regional Dairy Challenge was held November 18-20 at Mississippi State University in Tupelo, Mississippi. MSU hosted 70 students from 15 universities.