Digging the first shovel of dirt is a rite of passage for farmers – a mark of progress, action and the exciting beginning of a long-awaited project coming to fruition.

I am not so far removed from my high school days – 11 years – that I cannot remember what was not taught to me and my classmates: ag education.

As a dairy geneticist, I am trained to preach precision breeding for high genetic gain. Therefore, mixing multiple bulls in one semen straw felt counterintuitive. But the dairy industry is not what it was 50, 30 or even 15 years ago.

Knowing the numbers and best practices for corn silage harvest can maximize your income over feed cost.

When dairyman Ralph Keel was asked to lend one of his cows for the launch of the educational program in Oklahoma, he was skeptical. However, as he witnessed a presentation by the mobile unit, he quickly began to love it.

Due to improvements in reproductive efficiencies, dairies can now be more selective in raising future herd replacements. This elevates the importance of reducing preventable diseases such as scours or diarrhea in newborn calves.