Today, a grazing dairy operation is not just a small farm with a handful of cows on a hillside. In fact, the definition of grazing has evolved – and all grass-based operations can fall under different categories.

It was time for a change. After the passing of my grandfather in the fall of 2013, it became clear to my uncle, Marty Costello, the 70-cow dairy needed a major update from the facilities that had been built before he was born – or he would have to stop dairying altogether.

As automated milking gains traction across the country, dairy producers are learning that some cows are just better suited than their herdmates to thrive in these systems. By breeding for specific robot-friendly traits, you can genetically build cows that are set up to succeed.

Until April 2015, European dairy farmers were producing milk under a quota system, with Dutch dairy farmers being no exception.

The dairy world, both the production industry and the commodity market sides, is at a pivotal moment. No longer is fluid milk the leading driver of milk prices; now, the solids within milk have the power. Sure, a producer can make a little more money by shipping more hundredweights, but at the cost of the efficiency of the dairy. The good news for the dairy producer is that boosting the premium dollars on their milk check can be as simple as choosing the right bulls.