This year, Managers Academy, hosted by PDPW, was located in Orlando, Florida, home to Walt Disney World and the magic that surrounds these world-renowned theme parks.

Since the introduction of the Babcock butterfat tester almost 130 years ago, dairy producers and milk processors have been analyzing the content of milk to improve quality and profitability. More recently, tools have been developed to monitor pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and milk urea nitrogen (MUN) to better manage the health status and nutrition of dairy cows.

Not a single speaker at the University of Wisconsin Discovery Farms Conference claimed to be in possession of a crystal ball, but that didn’t stop them from hypothesizing about what might be next in terms of nutrient applications. Looking to the future is important because today’s best still isn’t good enough.

Our beautiful cover illustration was commissioned from our own in-house designer, Corey Lewis. He lends his talents to this magazine on a regular basis, and this cover is a shining example of his vision and ability as an artist.

Adaptive management is similar to nutrient trading, wherein point sources and non-point sources can team up to cost-effectively trade to achieve pollution reduction goals. In Wisconsin, adaptive management is a phosphorus compliance option offered by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to improve water quality.

The involvement of women in agriculture isn’t new. It has probably occurred since the beginning of food cultivation. “What is new, though, is how we recognize and appreciate women’s contributions,” Krysta Harden said at the Advancing Women Conference West in Calgary, Alberta, in March.

As a principal in the Agri-Food Management Excellence program and owner of his own consulting business, Dr. Larry Martin has worked with a lot of farmers across Canada to analyze and improve their businesses.

In early October, I was sitting in a meeting at World Dairy Expo with an organization our publication works closely with as partners in this great industry.