As temperatures and humidity rise across the region, heat stress becomes one of the costliest challenges dairy producers face. Lost milk production, reduced reproductive performance, increased …
Starting around May 25 until sometime mid-June, I fall into a parallel universe where my general sense of time ceases to line up with everyone else’s. We’ll call it the haying season universe. I …
On days when there is a lot to do, nothing seems to go as planned. We had hay lying in the field, some of which needed to be baled, and some still needed to be chopped. We were battling the clock and …
My third stop on my spring tour of the eastern U.S. was the George and Christina Hunt dairy in Orange, Massachusetts. Driving through northeastern New York just below the Catskill mountains and …
Farm milk prices continue to rebound slowly. The May Federal Order Class III benchmark was announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture at $16.92 per hundredweight, up 10 cents from April but …
I have discovered the deep secret of grandma cooks who can “whip up” anything — or else I have reached “that” age. I was somewhere in the middle of Iowa on my way back to Illinois for …
Collin Kipp 12 years old Seventh grade When do you do chores? At night and sometimes in the mornings. What is your favorite chore and least favorite chore? My favorite …
We have had over two weeks of April weather with rain almost every other day. Water was standing in fields on our ridges. Grasses and alfalfa were growing by leaps and bounds. We don’t like to …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture raised its 2026 milk production estimate for the fourth consecutive month in this week’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates and gave us our first look …
The Minnesota legislative session is history for another year. Ag commissioner Thom Petersen said it was a mixed bag for agriculture; “We did pass the DAIRI bill, and the governor signed that, and …
A new U.S. Department of Agriculture interim rule expands the milk options available in child nutrition programs, including schools. It allows schools to offer whole and 2% milk. This rule …
Warmer temperatures are finally here. The forecast for farming activities continues to look better as we work through the month. This is great news. Combined with a dry forecast, lots of progress can …
Today’s retailers aren’t guessing when it comes to what earns space on shelves; they are relying on data they trust. That’s where dairy farmers’ investment in research through Midwest Dairy …
June is almost upon us, which means it will soon be dairy month. During June Dairy Month, we celebrate the grand tradition of enjoying dairy products, a custom that was established by Christopher …
The transition period — before and after calving — is the most critical phase in a dairy cow’s life. During this period, a cow’s nutritional requirements change rapidly, creating a metabolic …
I’ve been waiting for this month to finally arrive, anticipating the moment I could share what I learned, why the fifth month is called May. It May have a heat warning. It May have frost …
When most people think of peroxide, they envision the square brown bottle of hydrogen peroxide tucked away in the medicine cabinet. Dairy farmers might think of the industrial-strength hydrogen …
With a 224-200 vote, the House farm bill has passed. Dairy groups have praised the House vote and urged the Senate to act. “The House-passed 2026 farm bill supports the farm safety net, preserves …
With a 224-200 vote, the House farm bill has passed. Dairy groups have praised the House vote and urged the Senate to act. “The House-passed 2026 farm bill supports the farm safety net, preserves …
Emily and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary in January. We love traveling, as you probably know if you’ve been reading my columns for a while. Our honeymoon was spent traveling to …