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A new report from the University of California – Davis (UC Davis) shows that California agriculture is weathering its worst drought in decades due to groundwater reserves, but the nation’s produce basket may come up dry in the future if it continues to treat those reserves like an unlimited savings account.
I have a confession to make. I love pretty cows.
It’s true. They are my guilty pleasure. There is something beautiful and majestic about a cow that stands 65 inches tall at the hip, with her long, lean neck stretched out as she glides around a show ring. Silky, shiny and ultra-dairy, with ribs wide enough to fit a fist between and an out-of-this-world udder glossed up and bagged tight with milk.
Most of today’s cow-cooling technologies rely on water to effectively relieve cows during periods of heat stress. Especially in the West, this water usage would likely come from groundwater. Dairies often use groundwater for other necessary production activities such as crop irrigation and livestock drinking water.
After seven hours of eager anticipation, the moment had at last come. Smartphone cameras snapped and gasps erupted from onlookers as small hooves and a wet nose emerged from a laboring cow.
With a series of forceful shoves and some helpful human hands, the entire 90-pound calf was expelled, encased in a slimy membrane.
The following are statements from the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy and Forestry public hearing held on June 19.The committee took testimony on the EPA’s proposed interpretive rule to further define “waters of the U.S.” and how it would impact agricultural exemptions to the Clean Water Act.
Both dairymen who are test-driving a new handheld feedstuff moisture monitor say it’s still too early to tell if the unit will be of long-term use to their dairies.
Since this spring, Cottonwood Dairy in South Wayne, Wisconsin, and P7 Dairy in Roswell, New Mexico, have been using Digi-Star’s Moisture Tracker, a NIR-enabled unit that provides moisture readings on forage and feed within a minute or two.
The 27th American Dairy Science Association Discover Conference, held the last week in May, focused on strategies for improving dairy cattle welfare.
The objective of the conference was to engage the dairy industry in a conversation of the growing importance of addressing key welfare concerns industry-wide.
Just like in the U.S., the 1980s was a decade of unrest for New Zealand agriculture. It was during this time the New Zealand government decided to change the way the state interacted with industry, agriculture and services, and made the dramatic switch toward a free-market approach.
In a free-market system, government involvement with production, distribution and consumption is strongly discouraged. Australia and New Zealand are commonly seen as the most pure free-market systems in the world, particularly in regards to agriculture. This means there are no subsidies, tariffs or production quotas, and most research comes from non-governmental groups.
Mastitis prevention is contingent upon having operational protocols in place that reduce the likelihood of developing infections or of transmitting the disease. But having the right procedures in place isn’t enough if your employees don’t follow them.
Perhaps the employees aren’t trained effectively, don’t fully understand the training they received or aren’t providing feedback on what is or is not working in the day-to-day operations.
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