It’s safe to assume that most dairy farmers prefer to focus on the day-to-day management of their operations rather than their financial records. But, unglamorous as it is, maintaining detailed financial reports is critical for making sound business decisions and for managing your operation’s strategy in the near and long term.

Surrendering to a European Union (EU) seizure of common food names would cost the U.S. dairy industry billions of dollars, slash domestic cheese consumption and increase prices for consumers, according to an analysis released by Informa Economics IEG (a summary of the report can be found here).

USDA will offer to purchase another $20 million in cheese early next year after the first offer fell far short of its target.

USDA’s October World Ag Supply & Demand Estimates (WASDE) report forsees a lot more milk coming in 2016 and 2017, along with a weakening in projected milk prices. Rapidly growing cow numbers were cited for the milk production gains.

From a rational standpoint, comparing farming to a Disney movie might seem to be a little counterintuitive. How could something as difficult and demanding as farming in any way resemble the bright and airy world of a Disney fairy tale? Here are a few striking similarities that you might appreciate.

The 50th edition of World Dairy Expo did not disappoint. In addition to reliving history, the show continued to highlight the industry’s potential in the future.

Friday and Saturday nights just got freaky at Trillium Hill Dairy in Berlin, Wisconsin.  During the month of October, the Jones family is hosting a haunted barn at their 900-cow dairy farm, and they have carefully planned out every terrifying detail. 

It was time for a change. After the passing of my grandfather in the fall of 2013, it became clear to my uncle, Marty Costello, the 70-cow dairy needed a major update from the facilities that had been built before he was born – or he would have to stop dairying altogether.

Any trip to a supermarket or restaurant these days would suggest that many safe, effective, science-based and common practices in agriculture are on a collective collision course with expectations down the food chain about how food “ought” to be produced.

The world’s first floating dairy farm will be built and housed in a harbor near Rotterdam City in the Netherlands.