Costs of production are a common theme of farm profitability. However, it is also often confusing, elusive and changing.

To capture the full potential of genetics, facilities, feed and precision technology, dairies need to establish and maintain a strong culture of goal-driven management and human accountability.

How to make sense of massive amounts of data generated on farms to help inform decisions, track progress and improve profitability.  

There is a saying in the information technology industry: If you need to perform a task more than twice, you should automate it. Dairy producers who have adopted automated milking systems have taken this to heart.

Your total cost to raise calves is an important metric, but it's especially important when profit margins are tight. Total feed costs or feed cost per pound of gain are common metrics; however, those figures may be misleading because they don't include the full picture.