Progressive Dairy

Shop-built welding skid streamlines field repairs

March 31, 2015

Joel Harman took some welding classes at his local community college because when he’s not farming, he likes to build things. As with most farms, there’s quite a bit of repair work to do in the field with a portable welder – fixing grain bins, augers and such.

‘The cows are out!’

March 31, 2015

Peggy Coffeen

“The cows are out!” Growing up on our family farm, there was no more effective way to catch my parents’ attention than by crying out this panic-striking phrase. These four powerful words could stop my mom in the middle of cracking an egg and make my dad spring from his easy chair as if the house were on fire.

Names in the News: Rick Steger

March 31, 2015

Rick Steger of Steger Farms in Theresa, Wisconsin, was recently interviewed for an article that ran in a variety of publications including Daily Finance and International Business Times. The article detailed the reasons and reach of the drop in milk prices, as well as the impact such drops may continue to have on the dairy industry.

Industry Watch List: ‘Get Real’ effort prevails over activist-driven response

March 31, 2015

The “Get Real” social media initiative rallied and unified the entire industry – and especially dairy farmers – to help raise awareness and interest in the story of “real” milk. The effort, launched by the Milk Processor Education Program with support from national and local dairy checkoff organizations, used Jan. 27 to play some offense, break through the clutter and capture consumer attention through social media channels using the #milktruth hashtag.

Tours add farm atmosphere to Midwest Manure Summit

March 31, 2015

Karen Lee

Nearly 200 people from 31 states and two provinces attended the Midwest Manure Summit in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the end of February. Hosted by the University of Wisconsin Extension, the summit covered all things manure, from application and regulations to processing and odor. Various separation and nutrient recovery technologies were discussed.

Pauly Paul: The dairy ‘fix-it’ man

March 31, 2015

Peggy Coffeen

Who do dairies call when their management is in need of repair? The fix-it man. With a little ingenuity and some elbow grease, Pauly Paul turns downtrodden dairies into fine-tuned machines. Paul’s business card says “Dairy Management Consultant.” However, he is not the kind that comes out in khaki pants for a day to tell you how to run your dairy from a boardroom table. Instead, he shows you.

Should employee management be part of heat abatement?

March 31, 2015

Pauly Paul

When it comes to maintaining milk production during times of heat stress, we often look for the mechanical fix. Fans, sprinklers, misters and other heat abatement systems can certainly be effective tools in minimizing the negative effects of hot temperatures and humid conditions, but the root of the problem is not always something adding another fan is going to solve. Sometimes, a few employee management tweaks are just what you need.

‘Large-herd’ conference remembers two of its founders

March 31, 2015

Walt Cooley

Two founding members of the Western Dairy Management Conference were honored in March with memorial lectures during the 12th biennial gathering of the conference in Reno, Nevada. More than 1,600 researchers, educators, allied industry and dairy producers from across the country participated in the three-day educational event for large-herd dairies.

Much-anticipated FDA sampling results validate milk safety

March 31, 2015

Emily Caldwell Gwin

In a survey five years in the making, the FDA found that more than 99 percent of bulk tank milk samples tested were free of drug residues of concern. The report was released March 5, 2015.

Banker leaves his mark on the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association

March 31, 2015

Peggy Coffeen

Jack Banker has spent the past two years leading the Dairy Calf & Heifer Association the same way he runs his own heifer-raising operation: with passion and dedication.