As a full-time trimmer since September 1973, I believed the popular theory in the school of trimming in which we did not block nor wrap – but rather we trimmed so we did not have to block or wrap. I did not get serious about either blocking or wrapping until the second Hoof Trimmers’ Conference in Batavia, New York, in 1997. By then I’d been trimming for 24 years. It was also my introduction to hoof anatomy and hoof mechanics. I bought a kit from Hoof-it and went back to trimming without blocking or wrapping. My greatest problem, besides knowing how to wrap or block, was knowing when to wrap or block.

As the plastic Easter eggs, the cellophane grass, the Easter baskets and bunnies start to fill the shelves, I see the commercial wheels begin to turn and the world’s thoughts turn to another day of buying and selling – His sacred day. Santa takes precedence on Christmas, and the Easter Bunny takes center stage on Easter.

Unknown to most of the world, Israeli dairy farmers have developed one of the most advanced dairy industries in existence. This small country with a turbulent political history, scarce resources and one of the worst climates in which to milk cows has pioneered impressive innovations in the field.

Dear Editor, Taxpayers on the hook for $3 billion to push small dairy farms out of business? The proposed cure is worse than the disease. The disease is farm milk price volatility and ongoing narrow to negative milk-to-feed margins that have crippled many dairy farm businesses. The proposed cure is the Dairy Security Act which was introduced by Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN).

Picture this. You’ve decided to take a quick mental break from your work day by logging on to Facebook. You’re minding your own business, just scrolling through your news feed, when – BAM – it hits you. Your second cousin from the big city has posted the latest anti-animal agriculture video to hit YouTube, courtesy of an animal rights group.

Here are some of the new products or updates to previous products that have been announced as of February 27, 2012. Return to this section of the Progressive Dairyman website periodically to find out what new products will be impacting the dairy industry.

Emily Zweber Elko, Minnesota
 Executive Director AgChat Foundation

Activists say a bill requiring people who file frivolous lawsuits against Indiana livestock farms to pay the farms' legal fees would make people reluctant to take action, even when they have legitimate complaints about smells or waste. The measure, which supporters call a right-to-farm bill, passed the House on a 57-39 vote and goes before the Senate judiciary committee for a hearing. It has strong support from the Indiana Farm Bureau and Indiana Pork Producers, but environmental groups are opposed.