A decline in cow numbers was offset by stronger milk output per cow, pushing August 2018 milk production up 1.4 compared to a year earlier. However, cow numbers were up from July 2018, reversing course from last month’s 9,000-cow drop.

Digest Highlights Dairy Revenue Protection webinars scheduled Federal order BTSCC improved in 2017 Americans drank less milk but ate more dairy in July Cattle hide values falling DFA Kansas plant suffers fire FDA unveils five-year antimicrobial plan UW – Madison Dairy Science Department sets fall visit date CDI appoints Anderson as COO

With milk prices low and margins tight, dairy farmers seeking a quick infusion of some cash may want to get to the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to apply for payments under the Market Facilitation Program (MFP).

New Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) regulations were implemented on Jan. 1, 2017, by the FDA and required producers to get authorization from a veterinarian before purchasing and administering antibiotics that can also be used to treat human diseases for livestock.

I am writing today with a slighter different tone and feel than posts of the past. We are finishing off one of our more challenging summers here on our farm – a “lost summer” in the words of my brother and farm partner. Let me provide some background to bring us to Sept. 1, 2018, and the feeling of a lost summer.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article was first published in the Delmarva Farmer. Breaking out of our “silos” or “dairy bubbles” is a topic I’ve written about before. It’s crucial to explore other things than just what we do on a day-to-day basis on our farms.

When it comes to colostrum, its value to the calf cannot be overstated. Most dairymen are well aware that colostrum contains high levels of immunoglobulins that protect calves against diseases present on the farm.

Building a new calf barn and completely rethinking how to raise calves effectively and efficiently can be a daunting task. At the 2018 Vita Plus Calf Summit, June 20-21, three Wisconsin dairywomen shared their experiences as they tackled this challenge on their farms.

The threat of Hurricane Florence is raising concerns regarding North Carolina’s cotton crop. For dairy farmers, that translates into what impact the storm will have on cottonseed supplies and prices.

After Sept. 14, the full House is scheduled to be in session just 12 days prior to elections in early November. With limited days and a full slate of issues to tackle, dairy organization leaders continue to push Congress for a bill to address the industry’s growing labor needs.