The number of U.S. farms restructuring debt by filing Chapter 12 bankruptcy in the past year was lower than a year earlier. However, filings were higher in regions most heavily dependent on dairy and row crops for income.

When dairy producers have valuable genetic and management information but fail to take advantage of it, it might be termed unfortunate. However, think of all the potential information that could be provided but isn’t (yet); these absences are preventing real progress and can be called “missed opportunities.” Obviously, similar situations are pervasive everywhere in life, but fortunately U.S. dairy producers can avoid a few of these missed opportunities, which we’ll detail in this article.

Through the art of lace-making, Dagmar Beckel Machyckova is encouraging an unfamiliar audience to find the common thread between modern calf housing and urban human housing with her hand-spun masterpiece.

It’s open hunting season, and you’re hunting for a buyer. You have some used farm equipment to sell (join the club). Is it as easy as throwing up a message on Facebook or Twitter, or posting on Craigslist? Ha. If only. …

The Reynolds family has decorated the property of their Reynolds Farm Equipment John Deere dealership in Fishers, Indiana, since 1992 with an array of farm and traditional nativity scenes, all lit up in Christmas lights for visitors to drive through during the Christmas season.

Sometimes we limit ourselves because we don’t know our options – or have heard misrepresentations about what is possible. Many past unachievable efficiencies or techniques are now a standard part of everyday life, on and off the farm.

Improved heifer raising and reproduction results in fewer total days on feed, earlier return on investment, improved cash flow by having fewer heifers on feed and more milking cows, increased first-lactation milk and more lifetime milk.

Nestled in the northeast corner of Indianapolis is a Christmas light display like no other.

Digest Highlights Dairy-RP activity tops 2.6 billion pounds of milk INDUSTRY: FDA approves Experior for reduction of ammonia gas released from beef cattle manure Chobani launches campaign to benefit military veterans Prairie Farms to add baghouse to Iowa plant, pays penalty Saputo enters ultrafiltered milk market with JOYYA Kraft Heinz Canada selling natural cheese business to Parmalat Darigold names Garth to financial post Dean Foods holds quarterly investor call POLICY: FarmFirst asks USDA to increase trade mitigation payments for dairy Groups endorse agribusiness merger moratorium bills STATES: WSDA awards dairy nutrient management grants Michigan dairy promotion award nominees sought CDE offers dairy advisory team grants Minnesota Milk hosting annual Dairy Conference and Expo

Dairy promotion and industry officials say they are exploring all innovation and marketing efforts to build dairy demand in attempt to help dairy farmers through tough economic times.