One of the things I’m known for in my family is my love of the Harry Potter book series. From the movies to the books, and even the books on CDs, I’m amazed at the brilliance that is J.K. Rowling, formerly a struggling single mother who had a vision of a boy with a scar on his forehead and turned it into a multibillion-dollar enterprise with fans clamoring for more, even more than a decade after the last book was published.

USDA officials have provided a broad overview of Trump administration efforts to lessen the negative impact of ongoing tariff wars on the nation’s agricultural producers. Details and implementation, however, aren’t expected until September.

Reason 1: Cows are naturally adapted to high-sugar diets. High-starch diets (greater than 28 percent) or high starch fermentability may depress ruminal fiber digestion, but high-sugar diets (6.5 to 8.5 percent) do not.

Digest Highlights: • Ag groups push for House action on labor bill • Michigan dairy community hosts Great Dairy Adventure • DFA closing plant at Hughson, California • Wisconsin farmers to travel to New York seeking dairy solutions • North Dakota offers cost-share assistance for dairy improvements • Dairy farmers share stories at FUTP 60 Student Ambassador Summit • Hilmar Cheese Company unveils dairy mural

There are implementation challenges, but individual dairy cooperatives can manage milk supplies through the establishment of base/excess milk programs, according to participants in a Wisconsin Farmers Union (WFU) webinar, July 19.

• U.S. milk production up 1.2 percent in June • January-June cow slaughter total up • Semi-annual cow/heifer survey • August Class I base price falls • Trade tensions hurt early July dairy margins • Drought, transportation cloud cottonseed outlook

As an industry there has rightly been a tremendous focus on the pre-fresh, post-fresh and on the first 90 days of lactation. This critical time period sets the pace for the whole lactation, and as a result, we’ve made significant improvements in fresh cow management, welfare, nutrition and performance, all of which combined have pushed peak milk to new heights.

Opportunities for improvement exists on many dairies in second and subsequent insemination (2nd+) efficiency for lactating cows and age at first calving (AFC) for heifers.

Significant increases in dry matter intake and milk production with increased digestibility were reported in animal trials where forages of higher in vitro digestibility and similar Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) concentration were fed.

As demand for low-spore raw milk increases, and with it prospects for premiums, the dairy industry needs evidence-based recommendations to give producers the tools to take advantage of this opportunity.