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Despite challenges with late spring planting and hay harvest, dairy producers are signing up for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program in high numbers, according to Bill Northey, USDA undersecretary for farm production and conservation. DMC enrollment began at local USDA Farm Service Agency offices on June 17.
“What is my manure worth?” This is a common question I get once a producer understands what I do and my role with Nutrient Advisors. As any good consultant would answer, I say, “It depends.”
With replacement heifer-raising costs often exceeding cash value, a growing number of dairy owners are recognizing the need to limit investing in excess replacement heifers and have developed a strategic breeding approach using a mix of conventional semen, sexed semen and beef semen.
There are so many factors that affect how efficiently you can get cows pregnant. Cow comfort. Cow cooling. Nutrition. Herd health. Genetics. Dry cow, transition and fresh cow management. And the list goes on.
With forage supplies generally tight, dairy and other livestock farmers may be looking for late planting options with the hopes of building feed inventories before next winter. Recent federal policy changes make planting harvestable cover crops – including corn silage – on prevented plant acreage possible, but producers should review crop insurance policies and deadlines to maximize economic returns. States and geographies have different late planting and prevent plant deadlines under the federal crop insurance program.
Members of St. Albans Cooperative Creamery will meet in late July to vote on a possible merger with Dairy Farmers of America (DFA). St. Albans’ board of directors voted unanimously to recommend the merger, providing some details at an informational meeting on June 24.
After years of frustration over declining milk prices and what he felt was lack of promotion and education about whole milk, Richland, Pennsylvania, dairy farmer Nelson Troutman decided it was time he take the initiative to inform consumers himself.
The Progressive Publishing team is pleased to welcome Courtney Moser as this year’s editorial intern. Moser joins the team with a strong farm background and knowledge of the dairy industry. Having been born and raised on her family’s dairy farm, Dream Prairie Holsteins, in southwest Wisconsin, she understands and has first-hand experience of working with various aspects of the dairy industry.
Reproductive management of dairy cows has advanced significantly in the past two decades with the advent of ovulation synchronization protocols, improvements in nutrition and cow comfort, and the incorporation of female fertility and longevity traits into selection programs.
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