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This spring, cattle genetics organization Genex Cooperative, Inc., retired equity from 1988, 1989 and 1990 to member patrons throughout the contiguous U.S.
“The cooperative’s board of directors, supported by producer delegates, authorized the retirement of this patronage originally issued for $4,798,178,” explains Larry Romuald, Genex treasurer.
“The benefits are being distributed to our member-owners on the basis of the amount of business they conducted with the cooperative during each of those years.”
The following excerpt is from Janeal Yancey’s blog, “Mom at the Meat Counter.” Yancey is a program technician and meat scientist at the University of Arkansas. She’s also a mom. Click here to visit her blog.
As you may already know, a dairy cow in California was diagnosed with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as Mad Cow Disease. The 10-year-old cow died at an undisclosed dairy farm, and the disease was found when her body was sent to a rendering facility.
Why am I not worried about this?
First, the cow was not destined for our food supply. She was at a rendering facility. These are companies that dispose of dead animals and produce inedible products. There is a testing system set in place by the USDA to test the bodies of a certain number of the cows for BSE before they go through their process.
On April 20, Chairman Frank Lucas wrapped up the House Agriculture Committee's field hearing series in Dodge City, Kansas. It was the final hearing that was held across the country to listen directly to producers on the ground and gather input in advance of writing the 2012 Farm Bill.
Members heard from producers of a variety of commodities and beef about the tools they need to continue to produce a safe and affordable food and fiber supply. Witnesses explained that one of the goals of the Farm Bill should be to provide opportunities for effective risk management for all of agriculture.
“As the witnesses explained today, agriculture is one of the few bright spots in America’s economy and yet still has room to grow. However, agricultural prosperity faces dangers that are both real and present. Overregulation from Washington directly threatens not only the continuity of our family farms, but also the existence of our way of life in rural America. Our farmers need to be freed from the regulatory grips of eager bureaucrats.”
This article was #23 of the Top 25 most well-read articles on www.progressivedairy.com in 2012. to jump to the article. It was published in the May 20, 2012 Extra. Click here for the full list of the Top 25.
Because of concerns with allergic reactions and potential toxicity, dairy producers had started to rethink their iodine protocol in navel dipping, says Innovacyn’s technical manager Scott Hand. But it was two events unrelated to the dairy industry that forced many to pursue other options.
In this issue, we publish a popular article that first appeared in our electronic newsletter. The article describes a group of producers who are early-adopters of robotic milking technology who meet regularly – both in person and online –to share ideas about how to improve their automated operations.
California milk production usually takes a dip in the wet, cold months of December through February. That didn’t happen this year – and now dairy producers will have to make amends.
Penalties for more than assigned baseline have been levied as processors try to convince dairy producers to cut back. But a rollback in the tide of milk might be tough.
History becomes reality as one walks among the markers in Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Among the final resting places of Halifax notables lie the remains of some of the victims of the SS Titanic.
Walking among the several rows of markers, one comes to understand that real, living human beings were brought to a sudden and unexpected end in one of the greatest sea-borne disasters.
The nearly identical stones are universal in one thing – one after another states as the date of death, “April 15, 1912.” After seeing 121 of these, the enormity of the loss overwhelms.
It’s fitting that Progressive Dairyman include a marketing article in the issue focused on peak milk production and quality. After all, these days, dairy producers need to have as much confidence in handling markets as they do handling their high-producing cows.
To gain that confidence, it’s best to examine what success looks like. Much like dairy producers group cows to manage their care, we could group our clients according to the characteristics they have as marketers – from the high-confidence group that has been through many market cycles on through to the newest clients who are still learning.
When was the last time you stopped to think about your personal “business philosophy?” In other words ... when it comes to work, what do you value and focus on the most?
Regardless of how often your day-to-day challenges change, your “business compass” should remain pretty constant as you navigate through these ups and downs.
So what’s at the center of the way you make decisions and prioritize your time?
Low milk price, high costs of feed, an employee with a really bad attitude – now SCC has spiked for the week – can you take all the pressure? All of a sudden, someone comes and adds to the bad news; you react and you unleash a reaction all human beings have been dealing with since humankind has been around.
Even though the thinking human brain has somewhat evolved over thousands of years, there are parts of the human brain that haven’t had a hardware upgrade in about 100,000 years.
According to world-renowned emotional intelligence expert Daniel Goleman, most of us are still acting out of the ancient fight-freeze-or-flight response, and an upgrade is long overdue.
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