It takes at least three years for a farm to transition from conventional practices to organic, but that transition time can be an important period to gain knowledge and build relationships, said Julia Barton, sustainable agriculture educator with Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA).

The key to a successful dairy farm always starts with creating a positive environment for your cows. With new advancements in technology and efficiency available each day, it is important to be aware of the cows’ needs before making monumental changes to an operation.

Northeast Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) Market Administrator Erik Rasmussen has authorized the temporary pooling of milk disposed or “dumped” at the farm or other non-plant locations during March 1–May 31, 2017.

National Farmers Union (NFU) delegates identified federal policy priorities – including a stronger dairy safety net – during the organization’s 115th Anniversary Convention. Nearly 500 family farmers and ranchers convened for the event in early March in San Diego, California.

Leaders of three major U.S. dairy organizations promised to continue a strong commitment to their time-tested partnership with Mexico’s dairy industry and consumers.

America’s farmers and ranchers will soon have the opportunity to take part in the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Conducted every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the census, to be mailed at the end of this year, is a complete count of all U.S. farms, ranches, and those who operate them.

Trade has garnered a lot of attention from the Trump administration and in recent political discussions as of late, but trade has always been an important issue for the U.S. dairy industry. Jaime Castaneda, senior vice president of strategic initiatives and trade policy with the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council, explained the value international trade has for dairy farmers and their bottom line during his presentation at FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative’s annual meeting on Feb. 10.

Getting more involved on social media provides the dairy community with numerous benefits but can be daunting at first. There are over a billion people around the world consumed by social media every day. One post could create millions of lasting impressions. It all starts with baby steps to reach your goals and reap the rewards.

Technology, among other things, has changed the dairy landscape, and as dairy numbers continue to decline and farm sizes increase, it’s important to tell the story of how we progressed to where we are today.

Leaks of pictures and videos depicting poor animal handling practices in the dairy industry in recent years have led to growing consumer distrust with the treatment of livestock. Training on proper cattle moving and handling techniques is essential to ensure instances like that do not happen on your farm.