The EPA’s first comprehensive national system for mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in the U.S. requires reporting by 25 industrial categories of direct emitting sources – and dairy farms of certain sizes will most likely fall under this regulatory umbrella.

Cargill, a company well known for the inputs it can provide to a dairy, is now turning its focus to outputs. By installing three anaerobic digesters on dairy farms in southern Idaho, Cargill looks to gain insight into renewable energy and grow its trading business.

As we hit a time in the growing season where things typically slow down a little, now may be the best time to take a few hours to plan your fall and winter manure applications. Although spring is the best time to apply manure, few of us have the storage capabilities to apply all our manure in the spring. This article is for those who will need to apply manure this fall and possibly this winter.

The Old Testament fascinates me. There is so much that applies to our modern times. Of course, it is difficult for me to imagine what it was like centuries ago. There when the world was new, and history was not scribbled on the pages of time.

Pinkeye can negatively impact the production and overall health of dairy animals. Norm Stewart, manager of dairy technical services for Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal health, offers best management practices for preventing pinkeye. “Taking a stand against pinkeye requires a three-pronged approach that includes vaccination, fly control and environmental management,” Stewart says. “Like a three-legged stool, leaving out any of these key elements can bring down your entire control program.”

About 10 years ago in a research trial, calves were fed a 29 percent CP, 19 percent fat milk replacer powder at different rates. Calves were not fed starter. The trial ended when calves reached 230 pounds of bodyweight and the researchers observed that the calves responded to feeding rate with rather dramatic weight gains and efficiency of gain. This research from Cornell University challenged the way that calves had been fed in the U.S. for decades. Subsequent research from the University of Illinois showed that calves fed milk replacer (again no starter was fed) respond to protein in the diet but that the response is also dependent upon the amount of energy consumed by the calves.