From hot and muggy summer nights to frosty winter mornings, Minnesota is known for weather extremes. But at Johnson’s Rolling Acres near Rushford, the cows can’t tell the difference.

Farm show season is here, signaling a glorious time to be dreaming of new equipment for your operation. As fun as looking at new machinery and gadgets can be, it is also a stressful time due to the decision-making process.

Compost-bedded pack barns have become an increasingly popular alternative housing system for the lactating herds of many dairy farmers in Kentucky and around the world.

In the last few years, a number of teat-scrubbing technologies have been released in the marketplace. Progressive Dairyman reached out to several manufacturers or marketers of this equipment to learn what is attracting the initial purchasers as well as what might be holding some interested parties back.

Robots are more and more popular in today’s dairy operations. Producers are looking for ways to increase the size of their herd, increase milk production per cow and improve the quality of life.

When you hear about milking automation, you likely think of robots. But the reality is: The dairy industry has more choices than ever when it comes to milking automation.

You know how irritating it is to get a pebble in your boot. Each step reminds you there is something down there. Maybe you are like me, and you think at first it will go away, or at least find a place in your boot that is less irritating.

Producing high-quality milk and milking more cows in the same amount of time, or milking the same amount of cows in less time, are on top of a manager’s mind when discussing the milking center.

Seems like there is always a project or 12 around the farm that requires removal of soil a round, pointed shovel just isn’t up to – or (maybe more accurately) your back isn’t up to. What’s more, these tasks usually call for a piece of machinery the average farm operator neither possesses nor has the expertise to operate.

To improve cow comfort, health and milk production in the following lactation, dry cow management needs to include truly short day length as well as effective heat stress prevention. Done right, this approach allows cows and heifers to more fully express their genetic capacity to produce milk.