It’s kind of an old hat to constantly dwell on getting the next 5 pounds of milk per cow. It’s easy to talk about, but how do you actually achieve it? Not very many people are brave enough to take you by the hand and show you exactly what it will take to get that next 5 pounds. That’s especially true if you are already making quite a bit of milk per cow.

Fly control in concentrated animal feeding operations such as dairies is a challenge, especially as the weather heats up and there is abundant moisture and organic matter available.

The Progressive Publishing team is pleased to welcome two new faces to their staff this summer. Audrey Schmitz, a 2016 editorial intern, has been hired as a new editor with Progressive Dairyman. Schmitz began work in June and is responsible for writing feature stories and beat coverage for the publication. Jaclyn Krymowski will serve as this year’s editorial intern.

Technology has changed the way dairies do business—from the apps that show market prices, to the automated technologies in the milking parlor – progressive farmers are always looking for new ways to advance their operations. And when it comes to analyzing forage, U.S. dairy farmers face a unique challenge. 

Authors in our publication write about the difficulty of succession in business. (See this issue’s article about the challenges of succession when siblings are involved, Sibling partners: a special family business stage.) Recently, the Wall Street Journal captured J.W. Marriott’s thoughts on succession.

The U.S. dairy industry is evolving, progressing from a commodity-driven producer of domestic products to a top three exporter of dairy ingredients. More attention is being placed on creation of value-added consumer goods and the proliferation of innovative, direct-sourcing models throughout the supply chain.

Benchmarking – comparing your operation against the performance of your peers and yourself over time – can identify ways to create dairy farm business efficiencies and increase profitability.

For dairy producers across the U.S., 2017 has the potential to be a year of growth and opportunity – but financial success hinges upon four key factors. “The best time to grow is when everybody else is hunkered down,” Mike Boehlje, Purdue agriculture economics professor, told dairy producers at the 2017 PDPW Manager’s Academy held in San Diego, California, earlier this year.

Scott and Steve have been partners for 24 years. They have worked together for 38. And they have been brothers for 50. They know each other like the back of their hands. Each brother’s relationship with his sibling is likely to be the longest of his life.

Form I-9 is required for all new hires in the U.S. – both citizens and non-citizens – and the federal government has the authority to audit, or check the accuracy, of an employer’s Form I-9 paperwork. Think of it this way: The government requires citizens to pay taxes and submit tax returns annually.