Immigration reform will be among priority issues during the first 100 days of President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. However, most of the initial focus will be on border security and enforcement, and not developing pathways for U.S. dairy and other agricultural industries to access a reliable agricultural workforce.

Parade goers can expect a real treat anytime Tom Konz and his “candy combine” come to town.

Short of a “world economic event” or trade war, dairy farmers looking to manage milk income risks in 2017 may be best served by taking catastrophic coverage under the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) and using other risk management options to protect higher margins, according to Alan Zepp, risk management program manager at Pennsylvania's Center for Dairy Excellence (CDE).

Holsteins, Jerseys and Milking Shorthorns? When Don Crawley came back to Crawley’s Valley View Farms after World War II, the farm had mostly Jerseys, which were great as milk cows. However, he wanted a milk cow where the bull calf and cull cow were worth more, so he became interested in Milking Shorthorns.

Dr. Ellen Jordan grew up working with Holstein heifers, beef cattle, poultry and horses, as well as showing Guernsey dairy cattle and purebred swine. But it still took two years of convincing before her high school would allow her to take FFA classes.

It used to be that the best and easiest way to communicate was face-to-face conversations. People would stop and chat over backyard fences, at the grocery store or stop on the side of the road and chat before continuing on to their destination.

You continually measure and review the performance of your lactating cow herd, but are you doing the same for your calves and heifers?

As we wrap up the fall harvest and start to prepare for next year here on our dairy farm, I have been doing some reflecting. There are a couple of practices rather common in agriculture we as farmers should maybe push back against. These practices are:

President-elect Donald Trump has already toned down some of the campaign rhetoric that propelled him to a surprise victory over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. With agricultural issues playing virtually no role in election debates, Trump’s election as the 45th U.S. President has the food and agriculture sector awaiting further clarification on his policies and positions.

California Class 1 price jumps $3. Fluid milk sales improve. Dean Foods reports better dairy quarter. Canada announces dairy support programs. Find those articles and other dairy economic news updates here.