As we move into winter, I like to review colostrum practices on farms to help producers prepare for cold weather challenges that can exacerbate neonatal calf health challenges. Thanks to Dr. Sandra …
We all have ancestors. They may not be the ones we might have chosen, but there they are, and there’s nothing we can do about it. Used to be that having a notorious forebear was the sort …
As we step into the holiday season and I wrap up a month of fun and engaging Princess Kay appearances, I am reminded of the countless blessings in life. Coming home for Thanksgiving to join the …
Nothing wakes a person up faster in the middle of the night than hearing the words, “The cows are out.” One night earlier this fall, just after midnight, our 5-month-old daughter …
During the cooler months, sewing is my favorite stress reliever. I got hooked on making bags a couple of months ago and really cannot stop myself from sewing them for everyone. I wrote up this …
In addition to China, President-elect Donald Trump is now calling for tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports. Trump said he would impose a 25% tariff on all products coming into the U.S. from Canada …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued its Federal Order reform final decision this week outlining changes in U.S. dairy pricing. A producer referendum will be held in December or January after …
Whenever things are floating along nice and smooth, it is a sure bet that something is about to go haywire. That’s just one lesson I learned from revivifying our 1949 John Deere A tractor. …
Milk components have been high the past couple of months — higher than normal seasonal values — yet many herds continue to search for additional pounds of milk. Producers may focus on the …
It feels like we have been running against the wind these past few weeks trying to complete the harvest marathon. The fall season has lingered a bit longer than expected, creating opportunities and …
“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” – Zig Ziglar Back in August before the start of the Minnesota State Fair, …
I have been sharing my life story with the readers of Dairy Star for many years. I remember when Mark Klaphake, the general manager, asked me to write and share my stories with farmers at World Dairy …
Last week during guidance class in Cora’s second grade, they discussed gratitude. She came home, and being her mother’s daughter, grabbed a pencil and paper and began writing. She begged …
There is a fairy tale that comes to life in Louisville, Kentucky, the first Sunday of November each year. The lights over Freedom Hall dim, and then, that year’s class of the National Jersey …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a final decision in its proposal to amend the uniform pricing formulas in all 11 Federal Milk Marketing Orders. The final decision puts forth a package …
The October Federal Order Class III milk price headed down. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the benchmark price at $22.85 per hundredweight, down 49 cents from September but $6.01 above …
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. There are the standard fares of turkey and pumpkin pie, but it is also a chance to incorporate cranberries into the menu. Once the cranberries arrive in …
School milk dispensers have piqued my interest the past several years. The concept seemed quite simple. If we provide kids with a great milk-drinking experience now, maybe we can make them …
While October was a quieter month for Princess Kay appearances and events, this allowed me to focus on academics and the opportunities I have here at school. My experiences here give me more …
Some years ago, my wife and I were driving toward Illinois, which is how we ended up in Quasqueton. Quasqueton, located in eastern Iowa, is a small town that sits astride the Wapsipinicon River. …