When a short, wet 2019 wheat harvest left dairies struggling with expensive and moldy straw, one farm decided there had to be a better way to feed dry cows than their Goldilocks diet. That challenge sparked an idea that would ultimately set the operation apart by separating corn silage into fodder and fines.

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For nearly 18 months, Alberto Dairy has used worm beds to appropriately manage their manure, retain nutrients and reuse wastewater.

Dairyman Greg Nye knew his dairy was handling its feedstuffs too much. He didn’t like what that was costing his dairy in shrink. Given that his farm also feeds pricier non-GMO ingredients as part of its milk shipping agreement, he started looking at alternatives to how he was handling feed ingredients to save money.

How can farms rise above financial risks and a volatile market to eventually move toward growth? Three dairy producers opened up about their journeys and offered honest insight during a recent panel discussion.

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“Building a better herd gives you more options,” says Dean Meinholz, herdsman at Blue Star Dairy Farms in DeForest and Arlington, Wisconsin. Dean is referring to the decision made eight years ago to genomic test the Holstein herd – creating more flexibility with incoming heifers and additional revenue with beef-on-dairy calves.

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In 2014, a bold vision took shape in Blairstown, Iowa, to build a dairy farm with the goal of creating a modern, efficient cow capable of excelling in freestall environments with few health issues and high feed efficiency. That idea became GenoSource LLC, which stands as a testament to vision, persistence and the power of collaboration.