Although 2012 brought many challenges, some herds saw remarkable improvements compared to 2011. Midwestern states endured record temperatures for a prolonged period of time followed by a drought, impacting feed availability, price and quality.

The price a dairy farm receives for milk is determined by a system that tries to calculate the value of the milk components based on products produced from milk. The prices for the end products of cheese, butter, nonfat dry milk and dry whey are surveyed and averaged each month.

In order to achieve any goal in life, the first step is to believe it is possible. Perhaps your herd is averaging 26,000 or 28,000 pounds of milk. That’s nothing to shake your head at.

As the demand for milk increases, so does the demand to be more efficient. Today’s market volatility requires dairies to pay attention to the details – and most importantly – their costs. Simply put, milk is what pays the bills and if you aren’t paying attention to your source of income, then you might be missing some profitable opportunities.

Whether you’re making toast or milking cows, applying the principles of LEAN Manufacturing can enhance your operational efficiency. Learn how the principles of LEAN Manufacturing can be applied to the dairy business in John Frey’s latest column from the Center for Dairy Excellence. PD Click here to access the full column.

The leading cause of death for farmworkers between 1992 and 2009 was tractor overturns, accounting for more than 90 deaths annually. A roll bar or roll-over protective structure and seat belt usage could have prevented these deaths. However, in 2006 only 59 percent of tractors used on farms in the U.S. were equipped with these devices. Other tractor-related fatalities involve falls, run-overs, crushes and PTO entanglement.

Since November 7, 1986, employers have been required by law to examine documents and complete the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form to verify that all new employees are authorized to work in the U.S. On March 8, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a new Form I-9. This article discusses changes in the new form and general employer obligations related to the I-9.

Estate planning is the process of deciding what should happen to your assets if you should die or become incapacitated – and taking the steps to ensure your decisions will be carried out the way you want them to be. Not just for the wealthy any more, having an estate plan is an essential part of responsible financial planning for anyone who wants to meet financial goals and provide for loved ones.

The dairy markets are no stranger to price volatility. Since as far back as the late 1980s, when the U.S. government lowered price supports on milk, dairy producers have dealt with mushrooming price uncertainty. Over the past five years in particular, producers are getting a crash course in that sometimes fleeting fundamental issue of their business: producing milk for a profit.