Progressive Dairy

Update on dairy air quality emissions

July 20, 2011

This spring the Western States Dairy Producer Trade Association held the Western Dairy Air Quality Symposium in Sacramento, California. Researchers from across the country presented the latest information about dairy farm air emissions. The data was informative and overwhelming, but key take-home messages from the symposium were: 1. The dairy industry has increased its understanding of on-farm air emissions, but there is still more to learn. 2. Regulations are likely to occur but hopefully not to the extent the industry expected. 3. There will always be concern from the public about dairy farms impacting the environment.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus: Is my herd at risk?

July 20, 2011

Michelle Arnold

BVD disease is one of the most complicated viral diseases in dairy cattle worldwide. Terms associated with BVD such as “cytopathic” vs. “noncytopathic,” “persistent infection” vs. “transient infection,” “types I and II” and “immunosuppression” make understanding this virus a difficult task. However, the results of this disease are very clear – economic losses due to poor performance, loss of milk production, open cows, abortions, calf sickness and death. In order to control this problem, producers must first know if the virus is circulating in their herd.

Forage particle size and saliva production in lactating cows

July 20, 2011

Daryl Maulfair

Saliva production is very important to high-producing dairy cows because it provides a means to buffer the rumen. High-producing cows generally need to be fed a diet with low forage-to-concentrate ratio and high levels of fermentable carbohydrates in order to meet their tremendous energy demand.

The View from Here: Consider the price

July 20, 2011

Mike Gangwer

On a hot and humid Memorial Day weekend, I visited the Arlington National Cemetery. There, on the green hills and beneath the frequent shade trees, the white stone markers jut up so we may read the attributes of our fellow soldiers and civilians.

Issue 11 2011 (July 21): Export watch

July 19, 2011

Click here to download a pdf of the latest Export Watch update, provided by the U.S. Dairy Export Council. PD

New Products for July 19

July 19, 2011

Here are some of the new products or updates to previous products that have been announced as of July 19, 2011. Return to this section of the Progressive Dairyman website periodically to find out what new products will be impacting the dairy industry.

Milk producers continue to enroll in new National Dairy FARM Program

July 19, 2011

Today’s consumers want to know that the food they purchase is safe, wholesome, nutritious and produced with integrity. U.S. milk producers are demonstrating that commitment by enrolling at a rapid pace in the National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM). In fact, since enrollment began in September 2010, 45 percent of the nation’s milk supply now comes from farmers, cooperatives and proprietary processors implementing the FARM program.

Hollermann honored with Kevin Boyle Memorial Award

July 19, 2011

Genex Cooperative, Inc. has awarded Dustin Hollermann for excellence in service to Genex members and customers. Hollermann, an employee within the cooperative’s National Account Profit Center, earned the Kevin Boyle Outstanding National Account Specialist Award. As a national account specialist, Hollermann provides consulting services in dairy herd management, agriculture operations management, applied genetics, on-farm trouble shooting, customized breeding programs, reproductive physiology and dairy record management systems on dairy farms across the U.S. He has 11 years of experience with the cooperative and currently resides in Upsala, Minnesota.

Sign up now for Central Plains golf tourney

July 19, 2011

The Central Plains Dairy’s Golf Classic will be Wednesday, Aug. 3 at the Rocky Run Golf Course, Dell Rapids, South Dakota. Cost is $80 per person. The price includes lunch, dinner, golf cart, green fees and drinks on the course. There will be two flights with place winners in each flight. There’s a cash prize of $5,000 to the first hole-in-one on hole #6. There is also the chance to win a Carnival Cruise on #11, a Hawaiian vacation on #17 and the U.S. Open vacation on #11. Pin prizes can be won on every hole, too. Mulligans will be sold at $20 per foursome and a tree tax will be collected.

Midwest Dairy awards Kansas City Division scholarships

July 19, 2011

Midwest Dairy Association has announced the nine Kansas City Division winners of the Midwest Dairy Educational Award, a $500 scholarship for college expenses. “On behalf of the Kansas City Division board, I want to congratulate each award winner. Midwest Dairy offers this educational award as a way to thank farmers for their hard work and help their children pay for school,” said Byron Lehman, Newton, Kansas, who chairs the board.