Latest News From DAIRY

6 Megatrends Will Shape the Food Industry of 2050
6 Megatrends Will Shape the Food Industry of 2050

It’s not easy to be a successful food company. According to a recent research study, major food companies are experiencing a drop in sales and intensified competition from smaller players.

Ask the Quality Silage Experts: Packing Dry Forage

I’m worried the corn I’ve chopped for silage is too dry. What should I do?

Pros and Cons of Harvesting Snaplage

Snaplage might be an option for your operation. Learn the pros and cons of harvesting and feeding snaplage to your herd.

High-Cut Versus Traditional Cut Silage – Which Is Right for You?

Considered harvesting high-cut silage, but never tried it? Learn if this is the right year to try it on your operation.

3 Tips for Staying Safe on Top of a Pile

There are necessary reasons to climb on the top of a silage pile or bunker. Before climbing to the peak, keep these safety tips in mind to help prevent falls.

#FarmON Concert featuring Lee Brice, Justin Moore, Martina McBride, Rodney Atkins and more.
#FarmON Concert is Tonight: Watch Live at 7 Central

Watch the #FarmON Concert benefiting the 4-H Fourward Fund with Lee Brice, Martina McBride, Justin Moore, Rodney Atkins and more. Watch a replay of the concert below.

Congressmen Introduce Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act 
Congressmen Introduce Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act 

Rep. Jimmy Panetta and Rep. Billy Long introduced the Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act to help preserve agricultural fairs across the country and offset the devastating financial losses they have experienced.

Greg Henderson
Burger King Tells A Whopper!

Burger King does not care about the prosperity of your farm or ranch. Oh, BK would never admit to as much, but that’s the only conclusion one can draw from its latest drivel disguised as an advertising campaign.

USDA Clarifies Cattle Categories in CFAP Program
USDA Clarifies Cattle Categories in CFAP Program

Check out this helpful chart from USDA.

Is the Food Supply Chain Actually Breaking?
Is the Food Supply Chain Actually Breaking?

A full-page ad in the New York Times this week sparked a nationwide question: Is the food supply chain actually breaking? Agricultural economists disagree.

About 20 rural hospitals are seeing a surge in cases now, and their in-patient beds are full.
Rural Communities See Surge In COVID-19 Cases

Three trends are currently underway in the countryside.

What We Know About USDA’s COVID-19 Aid Package
What We Know About USDA’s COVID-19 Aid Package

President Donald Trump several times over the past week has indicated some $16 billion of COVID-19 farmer aid would be announced soon.

With the direct contact method, a susceptible animal becomes exposed through physical contact when the agent from an infected animal or the environment enters open wounds, mucous membranes, or the skin through blood, saliva, nose-to-nose, rubbing, or biting another animal.
Clinical Refresher: The Five Routes of Disease Transmission

Concerns about COVID-19 have people worried about the health and safety of their families, businesses and livestock. Here’s a recap of the methods in which disease is spread.

Beef-on-Dairy Decisions, Opportunities
Beef-on-Dairy Decisions, Opportunities

Breeding a subset of the dairy herd to beef sires is a growing trend in the U.S. dairy business.

Anna-Lisa Laca
Dear Starbucks, I Think You’re Confused

The coffee giant recently announced they’ll be encouraging customers to turn away from dairy and toward plant-based beverages in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint.

“Black” is Not the Only Goal in Beef-on-dairy Breeding
“Black” is Not the Only Goal in Beef-on-dairy Breeding

Simply producing a black calf if not enough if the dairy industry wants to make permanent inroads into successful crossbreeding.

Conservation Agriculture Gains National Momentum
Conservation Agriculture Gains National Momentum

Farm Journal and foundational partners introduce America’s Conservation Ag Movement special edition of the magazine.

Presidential Candidate Wants To Ban Feedlots
Presidential Candidate Wants To Ban Feedlots

New Jersey senator and Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker has proposed legislation that would ban new CAFOs (controlled animal feeding operations) and require existing ones to close by January 2040.

USDA Abruptly Halts Animal ID Plan
USDA Abruptly Halts Animal ID Plan

APHIS announced it has withdrawn its plan to phase-in mandatory RFID tags for cattle and bison in response to executive orders calling for "transparency."

Jennifer Shike
5 Things No One Tells You About 4-H

There are so many reasons why kids should say yes to 4-H. But here are five reasons to say yes that don't get as much attention.

The rapidly evolving beef-on-dairy segment has an opportunity to quickly accelerate beef production.
Jared Wareham: The Rapidly Evolving Beef-On-Dairy Segment

The rapidly evolving beef-on-dairy segment has an opportunity to quickly accelerate beef production.

Greg Henderson
Beyond Meat ‘Tastes Like Overpriced Falafel'

The speed fake meat products capture market share from the real stuff is dependent on money from investors. So what advice does an investment pro offer?

Greg Henderson
Fake Meat, Real Men, Happy July 4th

I love the 4th of July because it’s an annual reminder of the sacrifices made by the founding fathers – and all past and current service men and women – that we may live free, eat bacon, and sue our neighbors.

Impossible Foods' stated mission is to put beef out of business by 2035.
Beef: ‘A Destructive And Unnecessary Technology’

The founder of Impossible Foods says "cows aren't getting any better at making meat." He needs to take a closer look at his competition.

When the Title Match is Big Ag vs. Hobby Farms, PETA Wins, Page 2

Fair Oaks Farms, a progressive dairy, pork and crop farm in northwest Indiana, was recently the subject of some less than savory media attention.

Greg Henderson
Short-Selling Beyond Meat Was a Bad Bet

Traders who bet against Beyond Meat in its IPO have lost $150 million. Analysts now think a partnership with a big American burger chain is looming.

Greg Henderson
A Vegan Clash With The Queen?

Will Royal baby Archie be raised vegan? Reports say the British Queen - Archie's great-grandmother, "won't have it."

Weed Control in Pastures and Hayfields
Weed Control in Pastures and Hayfields

Weeds can reduce the quantity and the stand life of desirable forage plants in pastures and hayfields.

The latest edition of Farmer Mac's "The Feed" paints a more optimistic picture for 2019, based on better livestock prices and other factors; however, headwinds will persist.
No Home Runs For Ag In 2019, But A Better Outlook Than 2018

Debt-to-asset ratios are on the rise, working capital is eroding and farmers’ sentiments are on the decline. Despite the negativity surrounding prices and outlooks, Famer Mac is providing a voice of optimism.

The 2017 Census of Agriculture found a 3% decline in the total number of farms in the U.S., and that since the 1997 Ag Census the decline has been 7.8%.
2017 Ag Census: Total Number Of U.S. Farms Declines 3%

The 2017 Census of Agriculture found a 3% decline in the total number of farms in the U.S., and that since the 1997 Ag Census the decline has been 7.8%.

2020 Election
US--Election 2020-Rural Democrats

2020 Democrats try to make inroads in rural America 2020 Democrats try to mak

Kate Miller
Kate Miller: I Will Not Thank a Farmer

The agriculture community often tells consumers to "thank a farmer" but we should be thankful for consumers, writes Kate Miller.

Launch of the Green New Deal was derailed by "farting cows" headlines, which may have created more long-term damage to your business than the proposed environmental plan.
Udder Nonsense

Launch of the Green New Deal was derailed by "farting cows" headlines, which may have created more long-term damage to your business than the proposed environmental plan.

Democrat's Green New Deal Wants to Eliminate "Farting Cows"
Democrat's Green New Deal Wants to Eliminate "Farting Cows"

The Green New Deal is sending mixed messages to agriculture as it seeks to work with farmers and ranchers, but also mentions getting rid of “farting cows.”

Facts and Fiction About Hemp in Animal Feed
Facts and Fiction About Hemp in Animal Feed

Here's what you need to know about hemp as a feed ingredient for cattle.

Farmers Beat Steady Drum Of Support For Trump
Farmers Beat Steady Drum Of Support For Trump

Farmer support for President Donald Trump is holding steady to nudging slightly higher than it was a month ago, according to the latest Farm Journal Pulse.

Greg Henderson
A Giant And An Oil Co. Ask Us To Stop Eating Meat

A 7-footer you’ve never heard of has joined with an oil company in a campaign to tell the Twitter world not to eat meat in order to save the planet. You can’t make this up!

The Secret to Raising Dairy Beef Profitably
The Secret to Raising Dairy Beef Profitably

One of the first lessons Penn State's Tara Felix tries to teach newbie dairy beef feeders is that cattle raised for beef need grain, not forage.

Greg Henderson
Rest Easy. A Known Carcinogen Is Now GMO-Free

Is there any marketing scheme more dishonest than the promotion of an alcoholic beverage as non-GMO?

What's in your evacuation toolkit?
Evacuation Toolkit for Small Farms

From health certificates to emergency contact lists, find out what you need in your evacuation kit.

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McCartney’s Album Scores High On Hypocrisy

Paul McCartney's new album includes a song about climate change deniers, which he unabashedly sings while trotting the globe in private jets and driving sports cars.

How Can I Improve Labor Productivity?
How Can I Improve Labor Productivity?

How efficiently are you using your current work force? Here's how to measure where your employee investments need attention.

Greg Henderson
PETA Wants Aretha’s Furs

PETA shows disrespect to the Queen of Soul's family in seeking to acquire her trademark fur collection.

Greg Henderson
Montana Politics – 'All Hat No Cattle'

Montana remains one of the few places in America where a smidgen of cowboy-cred is advantageous if you are running for political office. John Tester has it. Matt Rosendale wants it.

Greg Henderson
BSE Crisis Averted - Thanks, Beef Checkoff

Successfully communicating factual information about BSE and the firewalls in place to protect the food supply has now made BSE announcements ho-hum events.

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Study: Shift to Grass-fed Requires Larger Cattle Herd. Cowboys: Duh!

A new study attacks the beef industry for its environmental footprint, but it's laden with alternative facts, myths and falsehoods.

<p>Neither plastic net wrap nor biodegradable twine get digested by rumen microbes.</p>
Harvesting and Feeding Corn Stalks

The person who originated the adage, “It beats a snowbank” may have been thinking about feeding corn stalk bales. However, like most forages there can be quite a bit of variability in nutritional value.

<p>While Johnsongrass is a good quality forage, it can be challenging to control in pastures where the perennial, warm-season grass is not desired. Prussic acid production under stress can pose a risk to livestock when grazing Johnsongrass, especially during prolonged droughts or after a frost.</p>
Is That Weed Poisonous? What You Don’t Want Your Cattle to Eat

Poisonous plants are responsible for considerable losses in livestock although many cases go unrecognized and undiagnosed due to a lack of knowledge of which plants could be responsible.

<p>While Johnsongrass is a good quality forage, it can be challenging to control in pastures where the perennial, warm-season grass is not desired. Prussic acid production under stress can pose a risk to livestock when grazing Johnsongrass, especially during prolonged droughts or after a frost.</p>
Knowing Symptoms of Prussic Acid, Nitrates Key to Johnsongrass Care

Prussic acid and nitrates affect cattle differently.

Emergency Forages: Sudangrass, Sorghum and Hybrids
Emergency Forages: Sudangrass, Sorghum and Hybrids

Several options exist for producers to make up for forage lost to severe spring weather.