It is very likely that you will not be using your sprayer again until next spring. To avoid potential problems and save yourself from frustration and major headaches in the spring, it would be wise to give your sprayer a little bit of TLC (tender, loving care) this fall.

I spent a few days around Springfield, Missouri, this fall, and although I was a couple weeks too early to take in the spectacular scenery of the beautiful autumn colors the Ozarks annually offer up, I was somehow caught up in the spirit of the Shepherd of the Hills.

This month’s VAS DC305 tip is on how somatic cell count can affect production. Everyone is conscious of what their bulk tank somatic cell count is because in many cases, it affects the milk check received. But somatic cell counts also affect the level of production that an animal will have, which also affects the milk check but not in an as-obvious way.

Dairy farming is hard. Farming solo is even harder. But farming on your own after you’ve lost your soul mate? That takes a special kind of strength. In 2015, Amanda Peckins Leik learned how strong she really was.

As much as we may not want to admit it, we rely on our smartphones for almost everything – depositing checks, getting alerts when someone enters our home and much more. There are many benefits to having a smartphone, especially as a farmer or someone involved in agriculture today.

Ever wondered what the inside of an udder looks like? Watch as Penn State’s Dr. Robert VanSaun dissects an udder to explain the anatomy of the mammary gland and the causes of mastitis.

Feed is the single largest cost on a dairy. So why, then, do we settle for such low levels of accuracy when loading feed ingredients into the TMR mixer?

A while back the light bulb burned out in our master closet. It is one of those big fluorescent fixtures that puts out an obnoxious amount of light for its size. Like most dairy farmers, we were too busy (or tired) to make the time to go to the store to buy a bulb.

Update Highlights: Eli Lilly is reviewing ‘strategic alternatives’ for Elanco. Cargill to purchase Diamond V. Find a summary of these and other dairy industry-related news here.

Milk prices have always fluctuated and recently have stayed in a near break-even range. Dairy producers are almost always interested in cost cutting strategies to improve profitability.