Here’s an update on risk management tools available through the USDA and/or USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), as well as information impacting your milk check.

What causes the highest number of human injuries on dairies? Most of us think of machinery or confined spaces, but cattle actually hold the No. 1 position. Now, if I asked what causes the second-highest number of injuries, what would be your response?

Precision technology is involved in everything from cow management to feeding and cropping. Read how three Pennsylvania dairy producers have put it to use on their farms.

Utilizing beef sires on high-producing but lower genetic-quality females has been a game changer for the industry, as you know. However, this means the beef supply chain sees more and more beef cross calves enter the market every day. How can you separate your animals from others?

Unmet expectations for performance and behavior are likely the greatest stressor for most, if not all, supervisors. A failure to meet animal or crop goals, arriving late for work and skipping an assigned task are all examples of unmet expectations.

The American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) provides certification of animal scientists through examination, continuing education and a commitment to a code of ethics. Progressive Dairy Editor Kimmi Devaney spoke with Al Kertz, the organization’s executive vice president, about the certification process and the value ARPAS brings to the dairy industry. 

The main objective of developing this model is bringing to farmers, consultants (veterinarians, nutritionists, etc.), researchers and agricultural students a high-level, simple, minimalistic, user-friendly, still powerful and scientifically sound whole-farm decision support model to assess economic and environmental tradeoffs of dairy farming for strategic nutrient management decisions.

Succession planning is about owning your future and controlling your farm’s destiny. In a recent panel discussion at the “Own Your Future Forum” hosted by the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania (PDMP) and Center for Dairy Excellence, five panelists from all sectors of the industry had a candid conversation about taking control of the future.

When we get into the weeds of all this technology, it becomes very difficult to decide which technology is right for our business. Even more, it is difficult to decide when to implement it.