Where did I put that thing? The old saying, “A place for everything and everything in its place,” is important to me. It grows more important each day. The reason it grows in importance is: As I get older, it gets harder and harder for me to recall exactly where I left whatever it is I currently need. Nowhere is this more evident than in the farm shop.

The characterization of farmers is that they are stubbornly independent. Of course, characterizations are built upon some truth, but the reality is that farmers can’t afford to be totally independent. Farmers need each other.

For three years running, I’ve had the honor of sharing with the readers of Progressive Dairy, both in Canada and the U.S., what I believe are cutting-edge robot dairy facilities. These designs are the culmination of decades of combined experience from dairy producers, veterinarians, nutritionists, builders, equipment manufacturers and architects/engineers like myself.

We’re finding more dairy farmers are looking for experts in specific areas of barn design rather than accepting a “one-size-fits-all” approach. The best builders coordinate these experts, ensuring the new building will not just look good in the photo taken on day one but will continue to provide a return on investment 30 years later.

Is your dairy farm ready to take the next step to grow in size, but you aren’t quite ready to grow with today’s robotic technology? There are a multitude of robotic options available today, and many more to come.

Solar power generation has grown dramatically in recent years, with the cost of solar installations falling by 70 percent since 2010. Many dairies are finding solar provides significant cost savings well worth the initial investment, especially when incentives, tax credits, rising electricity costs and financing are factored in.

When it comes to making milk, cows need one thing more than anything else: water. Milk is mostly water, so it goes without saying it is a vital element in terms of a cow’s nutrient needs.

Preparing for a National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) program evaluation can be beneficial in many ways, like getting records and protocols up-to-date and tracking the prevalence of lameness in the herd.

Quality milk starts with quality bedding. Bedding is a point of exposure for vulnerable teat ends and a reservoir of growth for the bacteria that cause intramammary infections and subsequent spike in somatic cells.