We are getting close to Christmas, and I have yet to get an answer from my kids about what we can get for them. They are all on their own, with their own homes, and they say they don’t need …
In the December U.S. Department of Agriculture’s supply/demand report, 2023 milk production was estimated at 226.9 billion pounds. That’s down 200 million pounds from the previous …
Many of us have already pulled out our family’s favorite Christmas recipes in anticipation of holiday baking. These recipes anchor family traditions through the generations and keep missing …
Financial relief is coming slowly to U.S. dairy farms. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the November federal order Class III milk price at $17.15 per hundredweight, up just 31 cents from …
The dispute panel established under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement ruled against the U.S. in a disagreement with Canada on dairy market access. Two of the three panelists ruled in favor of …
Having a smartphone has allowed me to take hundreds of photos of our experience raising kids on the farm over the past decade. The only problem is, I never did anything with the photos. I would …
It is officially winter. A good marker of when it’s winter on a dairy farm is when you break out the heavy jacket for the first time and when you start putting on the calf jackets. While I was …
The pleasant autumn that we’ve had so far has caused me to recall the truism, “No nice weather goes unpunished.” This, in turn, made me think of the coming winter and the unpleasant …
Every December, it’s time to send the books off to our accountant and find out whether we need to make some investments in feed, facilities or equipment to avoid giving the government more …
Busy, busy, busy. This seems to be the current theme on our dairy and in our lives as of late. Looking around, it also seems to be the current theme in our society. There is more to do, …
There have been a lot of studies regarding colostrum in dairy calves. By now, everyone knows that quantity, quality and timeliness of delivery are critically important for proper absorption of …
This weekend, I witnessed two children in their snow boots, snow pants, warm jackets and mittens making a snowman in our front yard. There was just a dusting of snow as they rolled the balls, …
Aug. 19, 1932 Dear Annie, “Got yous letter tuuday and we also send that darn bead away am glad it is gone surely we done fine packing dont let them tell you that it wasent pack …
Dairy product prices were mixed the week before Thanksgiving. CME cheddar block cheese closed Friday at $1.60 per pound, unchanged on the week but 63.25 cents below a year ago. The barrels climbed to …
Name the item, the product or the government term for what it is so people understand. The perfect example is milk. Oh my, that isn’t so perfect. We have had the label washed out and debated. …
Lately I ponder how it would be If each child had come with a handbook It could be delivered after their birth I would surely take more than a quick look It would tell …
I can remember sitting at the counter in Grandma and Grandpa Kroning’s kitchen when I was a little girl, talking with my grandpa. Those days are some of my earliest memories, and, for certain, …
The farm bill has been extended through Sept. 30, 2024. President Joe Biden signed a continuing resolution, which included the farm bill extension. With this action, the Dairy Margin Coverage program …
A few of you might remember that, six years ago, I wrote a monthly column for Dairy Star. That ended about two years ago because I ran out of things to write about. Much of my family’s life is …
As dairy farm profit margins tighten, it is critical to evaluate on-farm nutrition strategies to determine if any potential changes can improve the dairy’s cash flow. Feed efficiency is an …