The AgChat Foundation just held it’s second annual Agvocacy 2.0 Conference. This is a full program of social media training for farmers to learn how to use social networking to reach out to consumers. At the conference I met Twitter follower and now friend in person. Here’s @DairyCarrie Mess and her husband. You’ll notice that Carrie is wearing a New … Read More
Conservation Tour Features Ohio Dairy
One of the stops on the 2011 CTIC Conservation In Action Tour in northwest Ohio last week was Bridgewater Dairy in Montpelier, where tour participants heard from owner Dr. Leon Weaver about the conservation practices they use to protect water quality in this area so close to Lake Erie. “We explained the operation of our large dairy farm where we … Read More
Dairy Farm Conservation
Last week the Conservation Technology Information Center conducted a field tour as part of their Indian Creek Watershed Project in Livingston County, IL. This project is funded in part by the Illinois EPA and other stakeholders. I participated and was pleasantly surprised to find a dairy farm on the tour! We visited Kilgus Dairy. The family dairy farm is the … Read More
Modern Dairy Carbon Footprint Keeps Shrinking
Dr. Jude Capper, Washington State University, Assistant Professor of Dairy Sciences (pictured on the left) is a myth buster. At the Alltech International Symposium she took on the myths about the carbon footprint of modern dairy production. Her presentation was titled, “Managing the media myth: What is the truth behind the carbon footprint of modern dairy production? Things you should … Read More
Disruptive Change Impact On New Zealand Dairy Industry
Last week I attended the Alltech International Symposium. Of course dairy is a big part of the educational topics offered at this annual event. I’ve got a couple of interviews to share with you starting with this one. Disruptive change sounds disturbing. However, perhaps it’s more of a challenge. Mandi McLeod, System Insights, Ltd., New Zealand, talked about it and … Read More
Forage Forum on Spring Alfalfa Challenges
Planting delays seem to be consuming the thoughts and energy of most growers this spring. But with the alfalfa crop maturing, don’t be tempted to delay that important first crop cutting. Hear what Alan Patterson, dairy specialist with Pioneer Hi-Bred, says about spring alfalfa challenges in this edition of Pioneer’s Forage Forum. Listen to the podcast here: To see all … Read More
Milking Parlor: Dairy Price Support Without Tax Dollars
A report out of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri shows that a federal Dairy Market Support Program (DMSP) could help keep up prices without using any tax dollars to do so. FAPRI Associate Director and dairy & livestock analyst Scott Brown says they looked at how the National Milk Producers Federation used … Read More
Vilsack: Time to Act on Dairy Industry Committee Report
The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture says now is the time to act on the recommendations to dairy policy submitted by the Dairy Industry Advisory Committee. “If we don’t act, if we simply put all of this on the shelf and say ‘dairy prices are better now, so happy days are here again,’ this is one area for us to act … Read More
Pioneer Forage Forum Discusses Roundup Ready Alfalfa
Roundup Ready® alfalfa is back on the market again. Robin Newell, Pioneer senior forage business manager, discusses this recent decision and Pioneer® brand alfalfa offerings in this edition of Pioneer’s Forage Forum. Listen to the podcast here: To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here. Subscribe to Forage Forum here.
Milking Parlor: Profits Tighter But Dairy Herd Expanding
Prospects for dairy farmers are mixed for this year, with milk prices going up but profits being a bit lower… that’s the word out of the recent USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum. In this edition of the Milking Parlor, we hear from Ag Department dairy analyst Roger Hoskins, who told the group gathered for the forum that feed prices have gone … Read More