Lincoln Hill FarmEagle Bridge, New York Adam Austin of Lincoln Hill Farm in Eagle Bridge, New York, was featured in a Nov. 30 Washington Post article for his purchase of Curr-Vale Delicacy P-Red Delicacy. He made the purchase based on the heifer’s GTPI.

United Dairymen of Idaho focus on education, collaboration and innovation “Tell your story or someone else will tell it for you.”

“Farming is a way of life.” “I love the animals.” “I can’t imagine doing anything else but being a farmer.” “We are stewards of the land.”

Note: This is the third article in a five-part series for Progressive Dairyman about dairy culture. Enhancing your operation’s “constructive” culture is the most sought-after transition on dairy farms – and most organizations.

Progressive Dairyman contributor Mark Junkin recently completed his second book, Tough Times Never Last, Tough Farmers Do. 

Editor’s note: The following column is a quarterly update from Global Dairy Farmers, a network of farmers, companies and universities. Contributors from this global network of experts will begin with this issue to provide Progressive Dairyman readers with a quarterly update about events affecting dairymen around the world.

There’s no doubt about it, winter weather can wreak havoc on the day-to-day operations of the farm. Ice and snow can make the simple task of walking 5 feet a treacherous one.

Winter can be challenging for any livestock operation and, without proper attention, can lead to problems. Dairies with robotic milking systems are no exception.

The balers were in a row, and the chambers had been cleared of all the hay. The mobile welder truck was in position, and the welder was working on the innards of the first baler in line.

Winter weather will affect feed preparation and delivery, manure handling, barn and parlor ventilation, and the movement of people, equipment and trucks.