Part 2: Clean colostrum and feeding goals The long-term goal of a colostrum management program on any farm should be raising healthy and well-grown heifers that calve between 22 and 24 months of age and at 85% of mature body weight. Achieving that goal begins with colostrum, but more importantly, th...

“I like to think of it as ‘the smell of the flower will draw in the bee,’” said Matt LeRoux, describing the importance of creating an identity for your farm business. “We’re not going to survive, especially small farms, if we don’t have an identity. This identity will draw in your target customer.” ...

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, dairy farmers are facing the hardship and heartbreak of seeing their milk dumped into manure pits and onto fields as processors are caught with excess supplies. Food service demand for fluid milk and milk products has plummeted amid mass closures of schools, restaurants...

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) hosted a short webinar on May 14 for farmers, ranchers and other producers interested in applying for direct payments through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue announced CFAP on Apri...

Feed contamination such as molds and mycotoxins can impact animal health and productivity for livestock and poultry. Given that feed costs account for nearly 70% of production costs, maintaining quality in total mixed rations (TMR) should be a priority. “If you assume one pound of dry matter intact ...

As if farmers don’t have enough stress, numerous current events in world and in the ag community have led to additional stress and insecurity about the future. Ted Matthews, psychologist and director of Minnesota Rural Mental Health, said when he worked for FEMA, he never received any calls from far...

Raising calves in single hutches has become standard on dairy farms across the United States for both reducing the spread of disease and ease of handling. However, an increasing number of dairy producers and calf raisers are transitioning to pair or group housing for improved calf development, growt...

As many farms are encountering labor shortages, the farm’s recruiting and hiring practice should receive closer scrutiny. Stan Moore, Michigan State University extension agent presented “Recruiting and Hiring Employees” as a recent webinar. Moore said whether a farm is large or small, following recr...

The sheep industry has an excess of wool. Larger farms – and some smaller ones, particularly if they aggregate their wool via a wool pool – sell on the commodity market, directly to a wool mill or warehouse. Smaller farms often sell specialty fiber and wool products directly to the consumer, as a va...