High-quality corn silage contributes greatly to supplying the energy and fiber needs of high-producing dairy cows, reducing purchased feed costs from grain and byproduct supplements and generating milk revenues for dairy producers.

As a boy growing up on the farm, I witnessed my dad build many of our buildings, barns and sheds as he transformed the farm he had purchased into a modern working dairy. We had several smaller (8- to 20-ton) feed bins that were erected on the farm, and I recall the “fun” of piecing them together a bolt at a time along with the roll of sealer/caulk to make the bin watertight as we went.

Before, I had thought mid-life crises had to look like this: You get a Mustang or a younger partner, maybe change your job or get a new haircut or hike through a remote mountain chain. Maybe you take up tango or change your name to Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of love and beauty, and then force everyone to call you that. My mother, however, did none of that in her middle years.

When caregiving is a woman’s farm life experience “She was a Dust Bowl girl, about 9 or 10. You’d have to sweep the South Dakota dust out of the house three or four times a day. Towels were at the doors and windows, with a wet one over the crock so the drinking water wouldn’t get dirty.

There are three things every man should never forget: his wife’s birthday, their wedding anniversary or Valentine’s Day. Forget any one of the links in the chain, and no matter what you do for the other two, you’re toast. Sure, she might tell you it’s not important, and don’t bother to get her anything.

California’s dairy and alfalfa industries are closely linked and face similar challenges, according to Dr. Peter Robinson, department of animal science at the University of California – Davis.

“Oh, I’m doin’ a little day work for Irsik and ridin’ two green colts for $50 a month. I think I’ve just about sold that load of salvage lumber I traded Mr. Jolly out of. Some guy came by the other day and wants me to audition for the Marlboro Man. Said they pay pretty good even if they don’t pick me.

Portland State University psychology professor & filmmaker  Milk Men: The Life and Times of Dairy Farmers, a new feature-length documentary about four Washington State dairies and one Oregon dairy, recently premiered in the Northwest. 

Almost every seminar you’ve ever listened to on employee management or recruitment probably told you to find the best people for your operation and suggest ways to find them.

Producers attending World Ag Expo may be interested in one or more of 19 dairy seminars to be held during the show Feb. 9-11. Dairy seminars will be held in Trailer 1 at the show’s seminar center, which will be located near the southeast corner of the grounds at Gate 16.