Editors reviewed a year’s worth of issues from November 1, 2011 to November 1, 2012, and each selected 10 favorite articles. Of each of those lists, we’ve compiled the Top 10 Editors’ Picks. Read on for a summary of each article and commentary from an editor. or scroll down for each editor's individual top 10 picks.
1. Ten things I learned from working with Ben Yale
Author: Ryan Miltner
Published: July 21, 2012 issue
From the editor:
The dairy industry lost a great leader with the passing of Ben Yale in June. A close associate, Ryan Miltner, wrote this tribute article in honor of his mentor.
Miltner shared 10 valuable life lessons that Yale provided him with, including this: “Make family and friends your priority.”
This was a fitting way to honor Yale, whose presence and knowledge we miss with each issue.
Yale’s last column, titled “A nation in need of good and virtuous farmers” was also on my Top 10 list.
—Progressive Dairyman Editor Walt Cooley
2. Digital infrared thermography: An early warning system
Author: Dave Wilkins
Published: September 21, 2012 issue
From the editor:
With a word like “Progressive” in the title of our publication, we pride ourselves on showcasing the newest technology making waves in the dairy industry.
As freelancer Dave Wilkins outlined in this article, thermography could have applications on the dairy, not only in herd health and monitoring body temperature but also with hoof trimming and mastitis detection.
It may be a while before this technology is available, but rest assured, we’ll be the first to let you know.
—Progressive Dairyman Southwest Editor Dario Martinez
Author: Jeff Churchwell
Published: June 11, 2012 issue
From the editor:
If you were to pin me down on the article I most enjoyed, it would be this article by new-to-us writer Jeff Churchwell.
It was a good blend of humor and true-to-life recollections of small-town USA.
An obvious fit for our “June Dairy Month” issue, this article also brought back fond memories for two online commenters.
—Progressive Dairyman Publisher Alan Leavitt
Author: PD staff
Began publishing: January 1, 2012 issue
From the editor:
Our staff began publishing these features early in 2012.
While it may push us out of our comfort zone of talking with those only in the industry, I think it’s one of the best things we can be doing.
Dairy producers need to be paying attention to the questions consumers want to ask of producers and what images they associate with the dairy industry.
We encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and have these conversations with dairy consumers in your area.
—Progressive Dairyman Midwest Editor Karen Lee
5. Roundtable: How do you use activity monitoring?
Author: Dario Martinez
Published: January 1, 2012 issue
From the editor:
The magazine has featured several roundtable-format articles on various topics, including activity monitoring, automatic calf feeding and rumination monitoring.
Our November 21, 2012 issue featured a similar “producer panel” article, and those operations will return with additional comments in 2013.
These articles are a great way to provide many voices and perspectives on a single topic.
In the case of this specific article, you can read about how managing activity monitoring data may change for each operation depending on the individual system, herd size and the manager itself.
—Progressive Dairyman Editor Walt Cooley
6. Hiring exceptional employees needs exceptional recruitment
Author: Robert Milligan
Published: February 11, 2012 issue
From the editor:
Employee management is an area that should never be overlooked on dairies. As this article highlights, having a successful operation goes further than just having the best equipment – you must also select the best candidates for the many different jobs on the dairy.
I enjoyed the way Bob outlined how dairy owners can build a team of great employees, a process which begins with improving recruitment efforts.
—Progressive Dairyman Southwest Editor Dario Martinez
7. Collins’ new ‘great’ book a good choice for dairy producers
Author: Walt Cooley
Published: June 11, 2012 issue
From the editor:
PD Editor Walt Cooley highlighted several passages from this management book that dairy producers should be paying attention to.
He even offered some potential principles producers could implement in their operation, including “Maintain an employee-to-cow ratio of Y to X” and “Achieve an X percent pregnancy rate or better at all times of the year.”
With Cooley’s encouragement, this book has also helped Progressive Publishing. We’ve had several company-wide meetings and exercises based on Great by Choice.
If you haven’t yet, I strongly advise you to consider adding this book to your reading list.
—Progressive Dairyman Publisher Alan Leavitt
8. Three technologies turn into profits for Heller Farm
Author: Karen Lee
Published: February 11, 2012 issue
From the editor:
This article is a culmination of three of our main focus areas – technology, business and young producers.
It details Heller’s decision to enhance his family’s dairy by implementing AFI Farm, Feed Watch and remote access.
Heller was also willing to share the financials, demonstrating a clear thought process for each management purchase.
While these results may not be replicable in other operations, the article was a nice showcase of how new people and new technologies can better our industry one farm at a time.
—Progressive Dairyman Editor Karen Lee
9. Drought lessons learned the hard way
Author: Bill Mahanna
Published: September 21, 2012 issue
From the editor:
Pioneer’s Bill Mahanna provided an interesting look at 2012 drought conditions compared to similar devastating years throughout U.S. history.
Mahanna detailed how new technologies and management strategies helped today’s producers survive the drought much better than they would have decades ago.
—Progressive Dairyman Editor Walt Cooley
10. If you could change one thing about the U.S. dairy industry…
Author: Gerwin Kerkdijk
Published: March 21, 2012 issue
From the editor:
In this article, CRV’s Gerwin Kerkdijk provides observations on how the dairy industry is set up in four different countries, including the U.S.
I like how he uses his firsthand experience in working with these countries to provide our readers with a quick glimpse of the dairy industry on a global level.
He summarizes each country’s dairy industry, pointing out the factors that either contribute to or inhibit growth within each country’s dairy sector.
—Progressive Dairyman Southwest Editor Dario Martinez
Editors' picks: Individual Top 10
Select a link below to see that editor's 10 top selections of 2012 articles.
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Walt Cooley
1. How do you use activity monitoring?
2. Fair Oaks pioneers model for expansion of biomethane use
3. Selling the curds and whey
4. Iodine levels in teat dip a matter of debate
5. Consultant trains dairy producers to let robots do the work
6. Collins' new 'great' book a good choice for dairy producers
7. A nation in need of good and virtuous farmers
8. Who can legally preg check cows in your state?
9. Drought lessons learned the hard way
10. Digital infrared thermography: An early warning system?
Alan Leavitt
1. June was Dairy Month
2. Chasing a dream: One woman’s fight for a dairy farm life
3. 5 Things I Can't Do Without. 2012 features have included World Ag Expo Chairwoman Patty Colson, Indiana dairyman Mark Thomas and Idaho calf raiser Arie Roeloffs
4. One dairyman’s opinion: Hope is not a strategy
5. Heifer breeding protocol at Diamond H Dairy
6. Anything written by Tom Wall. Click here to search for his most recent articles, including those published in El Lechero.
7. Dairyman pursues a more consistent, ‘unsortable’ ration
8. Ten things I learned from working with Ben Yale
9. U.S. dairy farmers must become world supplier of choice
10. Tony DeGroot, Sr.: ‘I’m a guy that likes to try things’
Karen Lee
1. All of our "Meet your dairy consumer" articles
2. Three technologies turn into profits for Heller Farm
3. Endoscopy in cattle with left abomasal displacement
4. Relying on too small a lifeboat
5. Ten things I learned from working with Ben Yale
6. A common theme: ‘I culled cows and production increased’
7. Roundtable on automatic calf feeding: What we still need to know
8. What separates the most and least profitable dairies9. Digital infrared thermography: An early warning system?
10. A dairy view across the world
Dario Martinez
1. Chasing a dream: One woman’s fight for a dairy farm life
2. Hiring exceptional employees needs exceptional recruitment
3. If you could change one thing about the U.S. dairy industry …
4. Consider a composted bedded pack for cow comfort
5. June was Dairy Month
6. Ten things I learned from working with Ben Yale
7. The realities of robotic milking technology today
8. Activity monitors for estrus detection: Right for your dairy?
9. Digital infrared thermography: An early warning system?
10. Crucial conversations on your dairy
