Having the peace of mind that your dairy facility is properly designed and engineered should be a priority to anyone in the industry. After the April 2018 snowstorm the Midwest endured, engineering of dairy housing structures has been a hot topic.

Trying to figure out how to make the numbers work on a new-construction barn can be a bit challenging when you know exactly what you want, but the price exceeds your budget allowance. Cow comfort is not an area to skimp, but there are other things a dairy owner can do to be more cost-effective with a project.

Whether planning to build new or working on a master plan, it can be overwhelming. Each farm sits in a different situation whether it be financial, age, land base, future goals or geographic regions.

When building a new freestall barn, what seems like a small decision in the designing phase can make or break efficiency later on. On the other hand, a few simple tweaks can save time and stress after the barn is built.

Is your dairy farm ready to take the next step to grow in size, but you aren’t quite ready to grow with today’s robotic technology? There are a multitude of robotic options available today, and many more to come.

Building a new freestall barn on your dairy is a major investment that requires careful planning and decision-making. One of those decisions is whether to move forward with a steel-frame or wood-frame barn.

Great attention is focused on how to build calf barns to get babies off to the right start, as well as facilities for adult cows to maximize health and production, but let’s not forget that critical phase in between.

How to determine your goals to make the best building decision for your situation Do I bulldoze my building and build new, or is there a way to make do with what I have?

Winter is here, whether we are ready for it or not. This time of year is hands-down not my favorite season. My idea of winter is keeping the thermostat set at 70ºF or more so my house is toasty warm.