In the novel Anne of Green Gables, the heroine proclaims her favorite month of the year by saying, “I am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” While October is not my favorite month, I understand Anne’s partiality for a specific month. I love June.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today kicked off a media campaign aimed at spotlighting and correcting a recent court decision that will require livestock producers to comply with laws that are only meant to apply to highly toxic Superfund sites.

In the rolling wooded hills of Starr, South Carolina, sits Weems Creek Cattle Company’s 2,400 acres – home to 365 head of mama cows.

It is generally accepted that adequate supervision at calving has a significant impact on reducing calf mortality. Adequate supervision has been of increasing importance with the higher price of live calves at sale time.

Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy was released from custody after U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro declared the federal case against him and his sons a mistrial in December. Another hearing held on Jan. 8 finally dismissed the case “with prejudice,” after which Bundy was released.

Over the last several years working as an environmental consultant on dairies, I have heard one question from my clients over and over again: How do we remove solids from our synthetically lined lagoons? Unfortunately, I have learned that removing manure solids once they have accumulated in a lagoon is easier said than done.

Digest Highlights: The latest Global Dairy Trade auction provided some good news. Pacific Northwest dairy profitability faces large challenges in 2018, although there is slight optimism for the second half of the year. U.S. packaged fluid milk sales were down in November. Find a summary of this and other news here.

This month’s VAS tip is on feed management. Feed accounts for more than 50 percent of the cost of milk production – even the slightest variation in the process can swing milk production if inconsistencies and inefficiencies are not addressed.

Dairy farmers may find glimmers of sunshine in an otherwise dreary outlook, but they’ll have to weather the storm before seeing much price recovery.

Pre-hydrating calves is not a regular farm management practice; however, it is commonly known among many athletes. An athlete’s main goal is to avoid dehydration during a sporting event because dehydration has been proven to negatively impact performance.