The buzz around sustainability continues to grow. And while there is an end goal of creating a more viable dairy sector for years to come, reaching that point looks different for every producer.

In today’s industry, dairy producers are faced with a multitude of change. While these changes are difficult to navigate, understanding the process of change and how one can respond provides opportunity to flourish in the trenches of a transformation.

Transition talks can be dreadful and pit parties against each other in an effort to find a long-term plan for the farm, but with the right approach, these talks can have an entirely different successful outcome.

Political advocacy has never been more relevant for the future of farming than in today’s climate. 

There are several factors to consider when upgrading a milking system, particularly if that upgrade goes from a traditional parlor to robots – including cost, feasibility, labor and herd adaptation among others. 

The milking herd at NexGen Dairy is a mature group of cows who have proven themselves in milk production and in overall cow health. Achieving such a distinct herd begins with the calves and the farm’s protocols – starting at birth.

Palmer amaranth is a prolific seed producer that competes with growing space for corn, soybeans and other commodities important to the dairy industry. An unlikely risk management tool to reduce this weed’s presence in fields is proper manure handling.

After nearly 20 years being a member of a nationwide organic cooperative and selling his milk on store shelves across the country, Malone became an owner and general manager of a local creamery in southern Minnesota. 

There was something for everyone at Central Plains Dairy Expo March 28-30 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. More than 4,000 dairy producers and industry allies attended the event, representing 32 states and four countries, including Canada, France and Ireland.