August 1, 2024

August 1, 2024 Progressive Dairy-Canada digital magazine

July 31, 2024

Progressive Events: Third annual Dairywomen’s Summit encouraged attendees to persevere

July 5, 2024

The third annual Dairywomen’s Summit was held in March by West Coast Robotics, a Lely dealership in Agassiz, British Columbia. Around 125 women participated in the event this year, which is the largest turnout thus far.

Progressive Events: Net-zero and protein substitutes hot topics at this year’s Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada

Specialists in livestock feed and nutrition gathered at the Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada to discuss strategies for net-zero emissions, sustainable dairy practices, trace mineral additives, and the competition between traditional and alternative proteins.

July 4, 2024

Emma Ohirko

At the annual Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada, conference speakers shared diverse perspectives on some of the most pressing issues facing the livestock feed industry, ranging from the emergence of lab-grown proteins to the quest for net zero and the role of trace mineral additives in sustainability.

Research Review: IRCs in dairy science – what we’ve accomplished and what’s coming next

July 8, 2024

One of DFC's research investments is Industrial Research Chairs (IRCs), which coordinate multiple research projects under one initiative to find solutions for industry-wide priorities. DFC, along with the NSERC and multiple sector partners, helps to fund IRCs on high-priority issues for Canada’s dairy industry.

Helping dairy farmers navigate carbon markets

Implementing carbon offset or inset programs can increase on-farm revenue.

July 31, 2024

In early 2022, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) announced our sector’s commitment to reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from dairy production by the year 2050.

The business of agriculture: Are you the CEO?

Farming demands both technical and financial skills; Canadian dairy producers excel in production but often lack financial knowledge, highlighting the need for better management training and adviser collaboration for success.

July 8, 2024

Chris Church

The average farm size in Canada is now 100 cows. Many companies of this size would have a team of executives to run the company – someone for finance, another for human resources and operations, and a chief executive officer (CEO) who oversees the whole operation.

Dairy farming 2.0: Milking the potential of artificial intelligence

The integration of AI into dairy farming offers significant opportunities for improved efficiency and early disease detection, though it requires careful consideration of factors like learning curves, sustainability, data privacy and dealing with false-positive alerts.

July 11, 2024

Diego B. Nobrega

We are now seeing another revolution, fuelled by the rapid development and increasing popularity of artificial intelligence (AI). AI tools are becoming more popular among farmers because they behave like high-tech helpers who assist with daily activities on farms.

Three ratios to improve your dairy’s financial fitness

As we age, health principles like stability, cardio and strength are vital, just as key financial ratios like working capital, debt-to-equity and debt service are essential for assessing and improving the financial health of dairy operations.

July 16, 2024

Mark Verwey

We spend a lot of time talking about properly saving and investing money to ensure a happy retirement, but if you are not investing in your own health, what good is monetary wealth?

You can be an emotionally strong farm parent

Overlooking emotions may hinder clarity and happiness; embracing emotional awareness and fostering emotional support networks are essential for effective farm management and family dynamics.

July 30, 2024

Elaine Froese

Do you have a clear picture of who you are and how you lead on your farm and in your family?

Effective employee training

Effective training tailored to each position's specific needs, incorporating job hazard analysis, safe operating procedures and maintaining detailed training records are all crucial for enhancing productivity, safety and workplace culture on farms.

July 10, 2024

Cheryl DeCooman

The key to good training is to first determine what type of training each position requires. A herdsperson will not need the same type of training as a manager.

Differentiating mastitis from teat sealant residue at freshening

Correctly differentiating mastitis from teat sealant residue is important to minimize unnecessary interventions and to make sure we’re using antibiotics judiciously on farms.

May 1, 2024

Audrey Schmitz

Correctly differentiating mastitis from teat sealant residue is important to minimize unnecessary interventions and to make sure we’re using antibiotics judiciously on farms.

How biochar can be used as a manure storage cover

Biochar may serve as an effective liquid manure storage cover application to control the outgassing of ammonia and greenhouse gases.

October 12, 2023

Joseph Sanford

Biomass covers are often overlooked as an option for addressing ammonia losses due to poor long-term performance and maintenance. Converting biomasses to biochar and applying it as a cover has the potential to address this issue.

Barn planning: Decisions, decisions

Identifying your priorities early on when building new facilities will make the process easier.

July 2, 2024

Brian Rodenburg

There are many things to consider before we even start to design a facility layout. First, we need to focus on priorities, long-term goals and education. Secondly, we need to make general systems decisions, and finally, we can begin focusing on layout and planning.

Creating the ideal cow for your herd

Understanding your milk market, your herd and how to utilize modern selection tools can aid you in creating the ideal cow for your operation.

May 21, 2024

Adrianne Trennepohl

Every cow you create might not be right for your market. To withstand market ebbs and flows, you need to create cows that meet the needs of your operation.

How different rumen environments can affect health in dairy calves

Starter intake is often a major focus in young calves; however, high starter intake is often associated with acidosis. While rumen acidosis in cows is detrimental, research shows that calves don’t share that issue.

June 20, 2024

Anne H. Laarman

Young calves are the future of most dairy herds, and their future production potential is directly tied to their growth and development pre-weaning. At birth, the rumen is non-functional, leaving the calf reliant on a liquid, milk-based diet.

Calves under the sun: Navigating heat stress challenges

Heat stress can have lifelong negative impacts on calf health and performance. Shade, air flow, the THI chart and electrolytes are all essential tools for mitigating this issue.

May 1, 2024

Rodrigo Garcia

As the temperatures soar, managing heat stress in dairy and beef calves becomes key for ensuring the health and future productivity of the herd. Heat stress not only affects the immediate well-being of the animals but can also have long-term implications for their growth and development.

On-farm training to treat lame cows: Identifying lameness on the modern dairy farm

Paying close attention to cows’ behavioral patterns and keeping track of cows that had mastitis are ways to find cows in the early stages of lameness.

June 4, 2024

Lee Erickson

All lactating cows should be locomotion scored on a weekly basis. This is a great start in identifying cows that could benefit from a trip through the trimming chute. In addition to locomotion scoring, what other techniques can we implement on a daily basis that could help us catch the cows with an early onset of lameness?

Focusing on corn silage makes cents

High-quality corn silage significantly boosts milk production and dairy profitability by enhancing nutrient availability and reducing feed costs.

July 22, 2024

Matt Groen

The economic impact of high-quality corn silage is often underestimated. A corn silage harvest with excellent starch availability, exceptional fibre digestibility and ideal fermentation profiles can mean milk production and components come easily while maximizing forage in the diet.

What do the new Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle tell us?

Understanding rumen microbial function and nutrition has come a long way, and research continues to refine our ability to model and predict rumen fermentation outflow to support the cow’s needs.

May 29, 2024

Robert Van Saun

Feed costs account for more than 45% of production costs and approach nearly 60% with high feed costs. Obviously, dairy income is directly proportional to milk volume, composition and quality produced on the farm.

Maximizing corn silage quality: Key decisions for a successful harvest

As corn silage season approaches, crucial decisions must be made to ensure a high-quality crop, including cutting height, late-season plant health, hybrid genetics and kernel processing, all aimed at providing consistent forage for dairy herds.

July 18, 2024

Ashley Knapton

The growing season has a large impact on our corn silage, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have options to manage the variables.

What do dairy consumers really think?

Consumers trust Canadian farmers, but they lack knowledge of farming systems, making them more susceptible to marketing, viral trends and general misunderstandings.

July 25, 2024

Emma Ohirko

Instead of focusing on strengthening consumer trust, emphasis should be placed on consumer education in agricultural production practices.

Changes to business risk management programs under Sustainable CAP

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's BRM programs, updated under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, help producers manage risks with enhanced features, simplified processes and integrated climate risk management.

July 24, 2024

AgriStability is one of the mainstays of BRM programs. Under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) – a five-year agreement and multibillion-dollar pledge among the federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation and resiliency of Canada’s agri‐food sector – some changes have been introduced to enhance the program.

Coast-to-coast investment in dairy processing

Significant investments in Canadian dairy processing are creating job opportunities, facilitating industry growth and contributing to sustainability goals, all while addressing concerns around capacity limitations.

July 23, 2024

Emma Ohirko

Excitingly, the past several months have brought announcements of significant dairy processing investment across the country, offering some level of relief to dairy processing concerns.

5 things we can’t do without with Glenn and Ashley Beckett of Beckridge Holsteins

July 3, 2024

Emma Ohirko

Glenn and Ashley Beckett, owners and operators of Beckridge Holsteins, share the five indispensable components they rely on for their success in and out of the barn.

Inside Brilman Dairy: How a first-gen dairy producer’s fieldwork expertise drives revenue diversification

Photos tell the story of southern Alberta's Brilman Dairy – showcasing the farm's automation and efforts to increase non-dairy revenue.

July 17, 2024

Emma Ohirko

Brilman Dairy welcomed Progressive Dairy into his facility to share some of its inner workings and the keys to his farm’s productivity.

Faber's Food for Thought: Memento mori

February 25, 2024

Dwayne Faber

There was a recent video that went viral on TikTok of a two-headed calf. This video has been viewed more than 30 million times. For better or worse, this is one way the dairy industry can engage with consumers.

The Milk House: Why we tell stories

July 1, 2024

Ryan Dennis

My father asked for help in cleaning out my grandfather’s shed. He and my grandfather had separate farms but shared the land and equipment. My grandfather had just retired, and we were there to sort through what was left.

Just Dropping By: Charity is looking at the world through the eyes of a child

May 24, 2024

Yevet Crandell Tenney

Several years ago when I was teaching, I was right in the middle of my lesson. I was going great guns making sure everyone was understanding, in no uncertain terms, what they needed to know. Suddenly, I felt two little arms go around my waist.

Quarter-life crisis

June 12, 2024

Matti McBride

My family decided to sell our cows a few months ago, and I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t rocked my world.

Our Publications

Progressive Dairy Canada

Digital edition

News & business

Management

Topic articles

Departments

FREE NEWSLETTERS

SUBSCRIBE to Leading Industry Magazines

I'm looking for ________