In 2024, dairy farmers may be looking to stabilize their income and navigate the unpredictable market by enrolling in the Dairy Revenue Protection (Dairy-RP) program. One of the distinguishing features of the Dairy-RP program is its adaptability to the specific needs of each dairy operation. This program takes into account regional pay structures and the operation’s environment.

As a dairy producer, I thought it would be interesting to see how different consumers view the dairy industry. For this session, I have interviewed one person with no dairy experience, two with family backgrounds in dairy but no regular experience, and one with heavy farming involvement but not a dairy farmer specifically.

Five companies recently showcased the latest and most innovative advancements available in 2024 for dairy farmers.

A cutting-edge new feed additive from Quality Technology International is the only feed additive currently patented for inhibition of salmonella colonization in livestock and poultry.

A new computer vision skill from developer Ever.Ag aims to give more dairy producers a way to get their feet wet with computer vision technology. The company’s new product, Maternity Warden, watches cows in the maternity pen for signs of calving and sends alerts when it detects them so employees can move the cow to a calving pen for just-in-time calving.

Is a $15 breakeven possible for a dairy farming business in 2024, given increases in input costs and inflation? Others may have their doubts, but I am a firm “yes.”

Robots or a rotary parlor? As this question continues to be debated nationwide, Progressive Dairy Podcast host Matti McBride sits down with Torie Little of TDSG and Stephanie Schroeder of Boumatic to identify key points that dairy producers need to understand when investing in an automated milking system. Listen to learn about attributes of successful transitions, questions asked during the process and how certain management styles fit different technologies.

A new seed treatment for use when planting corn for silage promises to increase total silage tonnage, with more of it being digestible, and decrease enteric methane emissions when the silage is fed.