Operating a loader, or any other type of machine, can be a dangerous activity if certain guidelines are not followed. A good understanding of working environments and machine capabilities is critical to safe operation. The following are guidelines to follow before, during and after operating a loader (not all-inclusive; always refer to your operation and maintenance manual for complete instructions).

World Ag Expo wasn't the only event happening in Tulare, California, on Feb. 18. SPG Solar teamed up with Curtimade Dairy, a 3,000-cow dairy, to provide nearly 30 dairy producers and local farmers with information and a tour of their recently installed solar power system. “This was a good opportunity for producers to see a large-scale system up close and personal,” says SPG Solar Business Development Director Dylan Dupre. “The open house allowed them to get comfortable with the technology.”

How to effectively cool cows is an ongoing conversation. One option gaining interest is evaporative cooling with the use of cooling cells. We know cows are most comfortable at temperatures in the range of -5°C to 15°C. However, in summer, it is impossible to get temperatures to this optimum range. What could we gain if we could get it much closer? “I believe the biggest benefit is any time you can drop the temperature in the barn during the warmer months, let’s say when temps reach above 20°C outside, the cows’ dry matter intake will not drop as much,” says Terry Lebold, Lebold Farms LTD.

This article was #15 of the Top 25 most well-read articles on www.progressivedairy.com in 2012. to jump to the article. It was published in the January 21, 2012 issue. Click here for the full list of the Top 25. In the fall of 2010, the University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Veterinary Medicine launched The Dairyland Initiative program. This article discussed the information that producers could expect to find on the program’s website. Whether producers are looking to build new or remodel existing facilities, they are able to access a variety of useful tools and resources on the website.

When winter strikes in the northern climate, barn doors are pulled shut and curtain sidewalls are rolled up. The chill in the air keeps most people from thinking of cooling strategies in place on the dairy, such as misting lines and fans. Yet, one dairy producer in Michigan has found value in running fans year-round.

Have you been thinking about cow comfort within your freestall barns? One dairyman’s idea could help you cut down fan usage, your electric bill and keep air flowing at a high rate for cow comfort. Kevin Hoover, a Pennsylvania dairyman and owner of AutoVent LLC, has been using an idea he came up with for two years to improve cow comfort.

Most equipment used in dairy production – including milking and feeding machines, tractors, skid loaders, tillers, bale choppers and even manure digesters – contains several hydraulic hose and fitting components. While most pay little attention to the hoses of a hydraulic system until after a failure occurs, being proactive about proper safety and maintenance precautions can ultimately save dairy producers costly equipment downtime and the obvious effects – and legalities – of potentially lethal injection injuries.