Ranchers from a traditional cow-calf operation are familiar with swinging gates, people running up and down alleyways, flailing arms and the occasional cuss word.

Whole milk sales continue to boost fluid category. First quarter U.S. dairy exports were weaker. Price swings may be changing the U.S. herd. This and other U.S. dairy economic news can be found here.

While others breed for bigger cows and push for 2 pounds of average daily gain (ADG) for pre-weaned calves, Rosy-Lane Holsteins is sticking by what they believe in – healthy, productive cows regardless of how quickly they get there.

Zoetis and Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) announced the completion of the world’s largest and most comprehensive genomic calibration for beef cattle and associated integration into genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPDs).

With profit margins squeezed due to lower milk prices, dairy farmers are examining ways to reduce their cost of producing milk. Feed cost is at the top as dairy farmers control this expense compared to fuel, fertilizer, labor and health costs, and represents 50 percent of costs of production.

As the general public outcries against applying manure products via irrigation methods grew louder, a unique work group formed to review related issues, discuss the technical details and develop guidance on the practice that is also growing in interest among dairy producers.

A first-of-its-kind field study was recently completed to estimate the risk of acute gastrointestinal illness from airborne pathogens during manure irrigation and to identify the other variables, such as distance and weather conditions that affect airborne pathogen transport. It coincided with a larger effort, known as the Manure Irrigation Workgroup, to explore benefits, concerns and remaining questions associated with manure irrigation.

If you’re facing lower land values and tightening credit conditions due to low agricultural commodity prices, you’re not alone. Quarterly surveys of lenders in numerous regional agricultural banking and credit districts show the impacts are widespread.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is moving to define "natural" on food labels, and announced rules adding to antimicrobial sales reporting. Three U.S. dairy organizations urged the White House to challenge a World Health Organization proposal that would discourage the consumption of dairy products by young children. This and other U.S. dairy policy news can be found here.

This Dairy Regional Recap includes information on a North Dakota ballot initiative to allow limited corporate ownership of dairy farms. A Washington state farmers’ inquiry seeks the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s role in an anti-farm campaign. A California dairy methane emission reduction plan comes up short on funding. This and other U.S. region-by-region dairy news can be found here.