Fluctuating milk prices, long hours, last-minute emergencies, unpredictable weather – these are just a few of the many challenges dairy farmers face every single day. When you grow up in the industry, these are part of normal life, but for people joining the dairy industry, they can be a huge learning experience and adjustment.

When was the last time you laughed? Was it within the last 24 hours? Do you consider yourself happy? Why or why not? Society teaches us to look elsewhere for happiness, but according to Marci Shimoff, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author and transformational leader, this is a myth.

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.

In the past several years, there’s been an increasing push for better animal welfare on dairies. Various organizations and companies have written guidelines for producers and given them criteria to follow, but how that’s carried out varies based on several factors, including the dairy’s size, location, management and resources.

It’s an exciting time for women in agriculture. More and more women are graduating with agriculture-related degrees and joining the workforce. They will be assuming leadership positions in what has historically been a male-dominated industry, but are they prepared for that challenge?

The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) released the updated version of the association’s Gold Standards for raising quality heifers on the first day of World Dairy Expo 2016. Dr. Bob James, DCHA academia-at-large director, says he’s excited about the new standards and feels this version is much more science-based than the original standards, which were released in 2009.

When Brian and Bill Rowell built Green Mountain Dairy in 1999, they focused on cow comfort and efficiency. Since then, these brothers have won numerous awards for milk quality and reproduction, as well as Vermont Dairy of the Year in 2008.

When Jackson Williams left for New Zealand after college, his parents Darryl and Lucinda were a little worried he might never come back to their dairy. After all, if he came back, he’d be the thirteenth generation to farm that land.