Great strides have been made recently in improving the fertility of dairy cows, with significant focus on genomics and improvements in sync programs. As the genetic potential of our herds continues to accelerate, how we feed these genetics to meet the needs of high-performing dairy cows becomes that much more critical.

Mold and mycotoxin development in corn ears and stalks, and the resulting corn silage, continues to be a major concern for dairy producers. Mycotoxins can result in a range of problems for livestock throughout the year as they are ingested with the feed.

BMR sorghum has been increasing in acres across the region north of the Mason-Dixon line. Most farmers, agronomists and seed sales professionals use harvest and feeding information from years of experience in Texas and across the South.

As farmers, it’s inevitable we will all one day retire. With that comes the emotional aspect of leaving the lifestyle, people, equipment and community that have supported you.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic disease of cattle caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium bovis. In its early stages, infected cattle do not show clinical signs, which makes it difficult to diagnose.

As more dairy farms adopt electronic monitoring technologies, managers find sensor-driven data goes well beyond activity monitoring, rumination monitoring, health status and milk measurement.

Milking with single-box automated (robotic) milking systems (AMS) has revolutionized the way we can manage and milk dairy cows. Adoption of this technology continues at an exponential rate here in North America.

Lately, I have been studying the book of Isaiah. I love that book because every time I read it, poetic treasures spring from its pages and I understand their significance for our day. This time was no different. I found a treasure in Isaiah’s account of King Hezekiah.

The year was 1990. The task: coloring a beaver. It was my first day of kindergarten, and there was a lot on the line as we sat on miniature chairs and looked each other over, trying to figure out where we were going to fit into society.

There’s no doubt the dairy industry is in challenging times. Low milk prices, changing consumer preferences, devastating weather conditions and an ever-changing political environment has resulted in much uncertainty throughout the industry.