New natural disinfectant product treats digital dermatitis topically or in footbaths A new product made with natural oils derived from thyme can replace the formaldehyde or copper sulfate used in footbaths without affecting treatment rates for digital dermatitis. That’s what Environmental Technologies Inc. suggests is possible with its new product, Thymox, introduced to the market last year.

“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” This was the saying on our first show camp T-shirts, and it’s an excellent motto to start off a new dairy cattle show season.

Walt Coleman knows what it takes to lead through hostile environments. As a NFL referee with 26 years of experience, he has had to make decisions and lead with authority even when the coaches, team members and fans disagreed.

California Dairies Inc. (CDI) announced on Jan. 16, 2018, it will cease operations at its Los Banos, California, manufacturing facility on March 17, 2018. The entire facility will close, affecting approximately 63 employees.

Digest Highlights: The latest Global Dairy Trade auction provided some good news. Pacific Northwest dairy profitability faces large challenges in 2018, although there is slight optimism for the second half of the year. U.S. packaged fluid milk sales were down in November. Find a summary of this and other news here.

This month’s VAS tip is on feed management. Feed accounts for more than 50 percent of the cost of milk production – even the slightest variation in the process can swing milk production if inconsistencies and inefficiencies are not addressed.

Dairy farmers may find glimmers of sunshine in an otherwise dreary outlook, but they’ll have to weather the storm before seeing much price recovery.

November 2017 U.S. dairy exports were the highest monthly total in more than a year, paced by record shipments of whey products, strong sales of cheese and milk powder, and improved volumes of butterfat, according to Alan Levitt, USDEC vice president of communications and market analysis.

With the U.S. dairy herd stubbornly near a two-decade high, cow numbers are frequently cited as a reason for excess milk production stretching processing capacity. While latest information from the USDA shows dairy cow slaughter is outpacing year-ago levels and stabilizing cow numbers, there’s also been renewed demand for dairy replacement heifers in foreign markets.

Digest Highlights: California producers approve quota plan. NMPF targets "almond milk yogurt" as doubly deceptive. Holstein Association USA had a record year. December margins weaken as milk class prices decline. Find a summary of this and other news here.