Understanding the Margin Protection Program for Dairy
MPP-Dairy is more a partial protection against catastrophic losses than an effective risk management tool.
Don’t let mastitis rob you: Fight it with better herd management
Economic losses related to mastitis is estimated to be around $2 billion each year in the U.S.
Can you find a new farm owner who is not a family member?
For many, it’s ‘out of the box’ thinking to consider having someone outside the family assume the ownership and management of a farm, but it may be a viable option to consider.
It’s time for dairymen to get serious about tracking dollars
Milk producers are facing tight margins with today's low milk prices. Feed costs are certainly in the crosshairs, but all of the dollars are not disappearing into the feed mixer.
Understanding capricious milk prices: How to make the most of your next milk check
The USDA might be the entity that calculates component prices, but you are the one who determines how much of each component your cows are producing.
Consider your costs of milk production
2014's milk prices were really nice. 2015's not so much.
Watch your herd’s fuel (feed) economy
Milk prices are lower than they were a year ago, so marginal income over feed costs are going to be lower this year compared to last year. We really need to be managing input costs and feed efficiency on dairy farms.
Hairy toads and dairy genetics
Top sellers and solid, reliable milkers don’t just happen after a random mating between a great bull and cow, they require carefully planned genetic pairings and a lot of trial and error.
It’s getting hot in here: Paying attention to temperatures on dairy
In some cases, we are collecting more information electronically on dairy farms than we know how to effectively use.
Look beyond your neighbor’s fence
Too cold, too hot, too dry, too wet. Had I looked over my neighbor’s fence this last spring and early summer, I would have concluded that we had received way too much rain.
