Agricultural land prices remain remarkably healthy and growing, despite repeated downturns in commodity prices and a dismal 2018 outlook on farm incomes from the USDA. Most ag experts scratch their heads at the buoyant land values. Some believe the year-to-year gains in land values will soon disappear.

In March, Dairy Farmers of Ontario Chairman Ralph Dietrich and Vice Chairman Murray Sherk traveled to Wisconsin at the invitation of Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden. The Wisconsin group set up a handful of meetings across the state as a forum for farmers to gather and learn more about Canada’s supply management system from producers with firsthand experience.

Earlier this year, Dairy Farmers of Canada participated in the International Dairy Federation’s symposium on the role of dairy in sustainable diets in Seville, Spain.

Water is an essential aspect for the dairy sector. It has many on-farm uses, including drinking water for cows, cleaning, irrigation, crop transpiration and electricity (water use to produce it), to list a few.

Canadian breed associations recently recognized some of Canada’s top herds with the prestigious Master Breeder award. Presented by Holstein Canada, Jersey Canada, Ayrshire Canada and the Canadian Brown Swiss and Braunvieh Association, the 2017 recipients are highlighted below.

Antibiotic dosages are determined by individual cattle bodyweight.

Significant advances in dry cow nutrition have been made in the last 20 years. Most recently, interest has shifted to the protein needs of transition cows.

When milk prices and dairy profit margins are good, such as 2014, we sometimes get comfortable with production and on-farm efficiency. With today’s low milk prices and rising feed protein prices, now is the time to fine-tune rations to enhance microbial growth in the rumen.