Bull safety should never be an afterthought on your farm. If there is a bull on the premises, use the practices outlined here. Exercising caution with bulls reduces risk for everyone on the farm.

The USDA released a report in early August that forecast record corn yields this fall – production surpassing 16 billion bushels with a record-high yield of 188.8 bushels per acre. The announcement created buzz in the markets, which only further aided dairy producers’ income over feed cost (IOFC) outlook for the remainder of the year.

Transitioning a dairy operation through lease, sale or partnership involves more complexity than many other farm enterprises. This article discusses some key areas that require careful attention.

While there are significant risks that dairy farmers take every day, employee health and safety should not be one of them. Injury prevention is important, but being prepared to take care of the employee when an injury happens is paramount.

Lender surveys from Chicago, Dallas and Kansas City Federal Reserve districts demonstrated another weak quarter as interest rates on agricultural loans declined in the second quarter of 2025.

Keep the long-term view in focus and make lifetime productivity a part of your management strategy. Don’t forget to go see those older, high lifetime-production cows in your herd today. With a focus on lifetime productivity, you will likely see more of them in the coming years.

Interacting directly with cows is a necessary part of dairy farming but leads to the risk of human injuries, which can be severe or even fatal. When cows are handled inappropriately, this decreases both their welfare and milk production and can also hurt public perception of dairy farming.

All livestock managers must also have a plan to manage deadstock. In most states, carcasses must be disposed of within 48 to 72 hours, and a good plan is essential to ensure timely management.