Progressive Dairy

Rabobank: weaker China demand will contribute to declining dairy prices

May 1, 2014

Rabobank International predicts dairy prices will drop over the next year amid increased supplies from exporting countries and weaker demand from China.

Gov. Brownback signs tax bill that benefits Kansas agriculture businesses

May 1, 2014

On April 17, Governor Sam Brownback signed into law a bill containing two measures important to Kansas agriculture, including the dairy industry.

New bill proposes to repeal ban of raw milk sales between states

April 30, 2014

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has introduced two new bills in Congress that relate to raw milk. The “Milk Freedom Act of 2014” would overturn the interstate ban on raw milk.

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab in Amarillo now offers T4 testing in-house

April 30, 2014

The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in Amarillo now offers T4 testing by homogenous thyroxine immunoassay. Previously, when Amarillo clients submitted a sample for T4 testing, it was forwarded to College Station.

DFA CEO lends perspective on product partnership and supply chain sustainability

April 30, 2014

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) has been recognized as a leader in sustainability efforts at Walmart’s first Sustainability Product Expo in Rogers, Arkansas. During the event, Rick Smith, DFA’s president and chief executive officer, participated in a panel discussing sustainable agriculture and building more efficient supply chains. Executives from Cargill and Monsanto joined Smith on the panel.

Web tool: Calf Math calculates herd's heifer needs

April 28, 2014

Peggy Coffeen

How many replacement heifers does your dairy really need? Do the math with Calf Math. This free-to-use web tool from Genex Cooperative calculates heifer needs based on a herd’s targeted cull rate and growth rate, with adjustable parameters to fit the individual dairy. Genex’s Kristi Fiedler, associate vice president of U.S. technical services, discusses how and why to use this online estimator.

Top 3 tips: Breeding and reproduction

April 28, 2014

Glaucio Lopes

This article was #8 of the Top 25 most well-read articles on www.progressivedairy.com in 2014. It was published in the April 30, 2014 Extra e-newsletter. Accelerated Genetics’ Glaucio Lopes offered his top tips for improving reproductive success, starting with monitoring transition cows. He notes that a severe negative energy balance in post-fresh cows can negatively affect fertility, thus resulting in lower pregnancy rates.

Cornell University: Banning chocolate milk at elementary schools backfires

April 21, 2014

To some, banning chocolate milk from elementary schools seemed like a good idea, but new Cornell University research shows that removing chocolate milk from school menus has negative consequences.

Proposed Hawaiian dairy meets opposition

April 21, 2014

A proposed dairy farm on Kauai is finding out just how tough it can be to start a new milk-producing facility.

Workplace violence on dairy farms

April 18, 2014

David Douphrate and Lisa Pompeii

Workplace violence is a significant occupational health and safety issue and occurs when workers experience verbal abuse, verbal/physical threat of assault or physical assault, which includes fatal and non-fatal injury, as well as adverse emotional consequences in the absence of a physical injury.