Much research has examined the effect of different environments on milk production and dry matter intake (DMI) of small groups of cattle over relatively short periods of time. It is our view that many of these studies have inadequately demonstrated the true impact of environmental factors on cow health by failing to monitor low rank sub-groups of the population.

The main goal of dairy nutrition is to match the nutrient requirements of the cows with nutrients provided by feed ingredients. However, in addition, a quality dairy cow ration should optimize cow health and production, maximize forage feeding, minimize the excretion of nutrients and be cost-efficient. This [article] will outline current trends in feeding dairy cows and highlight some of the challenges we may face in the future when formulating dairy cow rations.

To ethanol, or not to ethanol, that is the question. Whether it’s better to pay less for a gallon of gas and get less miles per gallon, or to pay more and go further on the same gallon? This is the question that motorized man has passed down through the ages. Is the perception of being “green” more important than keeping the price of corn down? It depends on the size of your tank, your tolerance for frequent stops, the coffee at your convenience store, your stock in Chevron or your job at the feedlot.

I am nearly 55 years old. My career with the USDA-NRCS enters its fifth year as of late July 2007. At my age, many of my colleagues in the NRCS came through the federal system three decades ago and now have 30 years done. Many of them are near or at retirement. In many federal agencies, managers are thinking about the retirement of those in the federal system with 30 years of experience. Our managers do here in Michigan. On our ecological sciences staff, nearly two-thirds of our group of 15 is eligible for retirement. In fact, we have one resource conservationist with more than 43 years of federal service. That’s a long career.

Editor’s note: The following article submission may help growers market their alfalfa hay to the horse industry.

Twenty-two and one-half percent was once the minimum cost of preserving the top and bottom of haystacks from the elements.

When you pull up to the Petersen residence in Knoxville, Iowa, you won’t see anything that would lead you to believe that inside this home lives a family that has taken on three types of farming and have found a way to make it all work.

The pie
We got started later than planned, which was not unusual for my household. The outing site this year was the Ensign Ranch, west of Cle Elem, Washington, just a few miles off of the freeway and yet right beside the freeway.

I took a trip back in time.

First of all, I would like to welcome to our publication 8,000 additional readers since we decided to include Ag Nutrient Management inside Progressive Dairyman magazine. With the continual changes and challenges that come with animal production, we felt it was best to get this tool in the hands of everyone we know who deal with livestock.