With the objective to develop novel waste-to-resource technologies capable of converting organic wastes into value-added fuel and chemical products, Dr. Dana Kirk, Ph.D., P.E. in biosystems and agricultural engineering at Michigan State University, had his work cut out for him.

Just a short drive from downtown Chicago and nestled between Lake Michigan and the vineyards that consume the southwest corner of the state is a five-star hotel for cows that is Shuler Farms in Baroda, Michigan.

Management of any farm is crucial for long-term success. Swiss Lane Farm of Alto, Michigan, may not have found the special sauce yet, but they are striving to “successfully and happily redeem the equity of the three senior partners”.

How are genomics working on your farm? That was the topic of a panel discussion at the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference held in February in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

Reproductive management and genetic advancement are at top speed in the dairy industry, accelerated by the reproductive tools available to dairy producers. Since 1980, Trans Ova Genetics has been leading the way, offering embryo transfer and advanced reproductive technologies. John Metzger of the Iowa division of Trans Ova was at the 2016 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, to help dairy producers discover what role embryo transfer, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and genomics play in their dairy operations.

Dairy farm management reaches across several areas on the farm, leaving dairy producers to manage not only cows, crops and markets but also quite possibly the greatest asset on the farm: people.

Dairying in the West has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and Steve Maddox shared those as he spoke to more than 450 dairy industry enthusiasts at the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference held in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, earlier this year.

The 2016 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference attracted more than 450 dairy industry enthusiasts to Mount Pleasant, Michigan, on Feb. 4-6 to hear about the global dairy market and learn from other dairy producers on various topics vital to production and profitability.

Dairy producers from New York to Wisconsin met in central Michigan recently at the Car-Min-Vu Dairy Farm to check out the latest technology in manure management.Owner Chad Minnis, the next generation of the family, adopted a new generation of manure handling with the McLanahan Nutrient Separation System.