The somatic cell count (SCC) of milk increases if there is mammary gland inflammation in the cow. SCC is a “good marker of mastitis,” Susan Schexnayder, University of Tennessee, said in a recent DaireXNet presentation, “New Insight Into the People Side of Milk Quality.” “Mastitis is directly related...

LATHAM, NY — Conservation, quality soils, cool season pastures and human health are uniquely intertwined in the northeast pasture belt for the benefit of all. The Northeast Pasture Consortium continues to advocate for these coveted grasslands and grazing’s importance with an alliance of graziers, ex...

For many consumers, that question is never really answered. But Pine View Dairy, a popular stop for cyclists, tourists and locals in Lancaster, PA, draws customers who are interested in both the animals and the dairy products they produce. Rhoda Shirk, marketing manager, explains the background of P...

NASHVILLE, TN — Aldo Leopold said, “Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land.” This harmonious relationship was very evident at the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) 72nd Annual Meeting held in Nashville, TN, when over a dozen Northeast conservation professionals a...

Should you tighten your belt when milk prices decline? It is no secret that we are in the midst of a dairy recession. Producers are trying to find ways to tighten their belts and weather the storm of low milk prices. An evaluation of the components of the farm budget should be evaluated. There may b...

Two of the major diseases that prompted the industry and public health officials to develop standards for the sale of milk many years ago are still with us. Brucellosis and tuberculosis have yet to be completely eradicated from this country, although they are found at increasingly lower levels. Past...

Pennsylvania state beef extension specialist Dr. Tara Felix says dairy steers contribute to approximately 15 to 20 percent of the nation’s beef supply, and that numerous packers are interested in receiving a steady supply of them. “Holstein calves have the genetics and the propensity to marble and c...

Aldo Leopold (1887-1949) is regarded as one of the first of the true ecologists in the United States. In a chapter titled “The Land Ethic” in one of his several books, he popularized the idea of ecological thinking — that animals, plants, soil, geology, water and climate all come together to form a ...

On a recent December day, as the Thomas fire poured through California’s Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, already larger in area than all of New York City, the USDA Forest Service hosted a webinar on “Climate, Megafires, and Conservation Financing.” “Hotter, drier conditions are fundamentally cha...