The single-most important metric for formulating dairy cow diets is knowing how much a cow eats each day. However, the consistent and accurate measuring of dry matter intakes is probably the most elusive component of nutrition management on the dairy farm.

Probiotics have been gaining attention in all segments of animal agriculture in the last several years. Although this has been influenced by several factors, the biggest overall driver has been the goal of reducing antibiotic usage due to government regulations and consumer demand.

When we think of palm trees, we usually think of sandy beaches and coconuts. Though fig- or coconut-bearing palm trees are generally the most recognizable, I am talking about the African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), one of the most important commodity crops in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Growing up on a cattle ranch, I have spent many hours in the saddle on cattle drives. The cattle needed to be moved to greener pastures, no matter what the weather. Some days were bright and shiny and a pleasure to saddle up and ride out on the range. Some days, the wind was blowing dust in billows to where you almost couldn’t breathe.

Recently, the news came out evangelist Billy Graham had died. Although he was 99 years old, when I heard of his passing, I had to stop and do a lot of remembering. I, along with a lot of other Americans and people from around the world, owe a lot to this man. It certainly can be said Billy Graham impacted the world for God.

Farmers elected Donald Trump as the 45th president of the U.S., granting him 75 percent of the votes in the Farm Belt and heavy margins of victory in other rural areas. Those in agriculture are largely responsible for his success in key swing states needed to win the election.

Performing stand-up comedy, I’ve had the opportunity to meet farmers from all over the U.S. and Canada. We all have three things in common. We’re broke, we love to laugh, and we never turn down a meal.

If you haven’t already planned for managing heat stress in calves this summer, there’s no time to waste. Just like cows, calves are susceptible to heat stress at higher temperatures, which can affect both health and performance.

Note: This is the seventh and final article in a series about dairy culture. Since 2015, we have offered the Organizational Culture Inventory (OCI) test to document cultures on dairies.

With turmoil brewing between Canada and the U.S. in ongoing trade talks, it is important to remember the foundation of each industry: dairy producers. Here, Progressive Dairyman takes a look at two young couples, one from Canada and one from the U.S., to find their commonalities as well as differences in their dairy environments.