Latest News From Dairy - General

BREAKING: Mystery Illness Impacting Texas, Kansas Dairy Cattle is Confirmed as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Strain
BREAKING: Mystery Illness Impacting Texas, Kansas Dairy Cattle is Confirmed as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Strain

USDA says genetic sequencing revealed the mystery illness impacting Texas dairies is the same strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) that's been in the U.S. The virus is carried by wild waterfowl.

Mystery Illness is Now Affecting Dairy Cows in Texas, New Mexico As Industry Searches for Answers
Mystery Illness is Now Affecting Dairy Cows in Texas, New Mexico As Industry Searches for Answers

In affected cowherds, the illness impacts nearly 10% of the animals, causing reduced feed consumption and a 10% to 20% decline in milk production. 

Know Your Business Pressures, Trends And Actions For Big Breakthroughs
Know Your Business Pressures, Trends And Actions For Big Breakthroughs

Mark Faust outlines a simple formula to improve profitability and create more value for you and the customer.

Walmart Makes Plans to Build Third New Milk Processing Plant, This Time in Texas
Walmart Makes Plans to Build Third New Milk Processing Plant, This Time in Texas

America’s largest retail store has announced its plans to build a third milk processing plant, this time in Robinson, Texas.

Georgia Dairy Farmer Teaches NBA Superstars, Including Charles Barkley, How to Milk a Cow by Hand
Georgia Dairy Farmer Teaches NBA Superstars, Including Charles Barkley, How to Milk a Cow by Hand

NBA superstars Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith learned how to hand milk a cow on live television thanks to a Madison, Georgia dairy farm, Big Sandy Creek Farm.

2024 Ag Economy: What's Causing Rural Bankers To Be Pessimistic
2024 Ag Economy: What's Causing Rural Bankers To Be Pessimistic

This month’s Rural Mainstreet Index marks the fifth-straight month where the index has been below the growth neutral mark.

Winter Storm Survival: A Nightmare for Livestock Producers in Western Illinois
Winter Storm Survival: A Nightmare for Livestock Producers in Western Illinois

Despite nearly 24 inches of snow, below-zero temperatures and raging winds that some people are affectionately calling “Death Storm #2,” Illinois livestock producers are finding ways to overcome the horrific conditions.

Now Is the Time to Pay Attention to the Weather Forecast: Severe Snowstorm Forecasted to Dump Multiple Feet of Snow
Now Is the Time to Pay Attention to the Weather Forecast: Severe Snowstorm Forecasted to Dump Multiple Feet of Snow

Major winter storms are on the way early next week. With the possibility of blizzard conditions to flooding in the southeast, the impact on agriculture could be two-fold: good news for drought but stress to livestock.

3 Leadership Trends You Need to Adopt in 2024
3 Leadership Trends You Need to Adopt in 2024

For long-term success, farm leaders should regularly assess the landscape of their operation and adjust their strategies accordingly.

8 Factors Shaping the Rural Economy in 2024
8 Factors Shaping the Rural Economy in 2024

CoBank has released their 2024 outlook report, which takes a look at the key themes the organization expects to shape agricultural and the rural economy in the coming year.

Fed Eyes Interest-Rate Cuts for 2024 as U.S. Economy Slows
Fed Eyes Interest-Rate Cuts for 2024 as U.S. Economy Slows

Analysts say an initial cut could be made as early as first quarter 2024. One of the key factors the central banking system will consider is whether its inflation rate target of 2% has been achieved.

John Phipps
How Accurate is the Farmers' Almanac in Forecasting Winter Weather?

While the Farmers' Almanac and Old Farmer's Almanac are both backward looking – derived from past data that come close to current conditions. Weather agencies are tending more toward predictive computer models.

4 Tips to Grow as a Leader
4 Tips to Grow as a Leader

Sarah Beth Aubrey shares tips for effective communication and building influence before stepping into a leadership role.

Harvesting the Good Life: Pennsylvania Farmer Continues to Run Silage Chopper at 96 Years Old
Harvesting the Good Life: Pennsylvania Farmer Continues to Run Silage Chopper at 96 Years Old

At 96 years young, Paul Dotterer still runs the chopper during harvest season on his family's dairy farm - and he enjoys every minute of it.

Walmart Announces Plans to Build $350 Million Milk Processing Plant in Southern Georgia
Walmart Announces Plans to Build $350 Million Milk Processing Plant in Southern Georgia

America’s largest retail store has announced its plans to build a $350 million milk processing plant in Valdosta, Ga.

The One Factor That Could Make Or Break the Farm Economy Over the Next 12 Months
The One Factor That Could Make Or Break the Farm Economy Over the Next 12 Months

Ag economists’ view on the ag economy is starting to erode. The September Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor shows lower commodity prices, concerns about demand and a negative outlook for China’s economy.

SOLD! 115 Acres of Missouri Farmland Just Sold For $34,800 Per Acre, Smashing the Previous Record
SOLD! 115 Acres of Missouri Farmland Just Sold For $34,800 Per Acre, Smashing the Previous Record

There’s a new record farmland sale on the books. After a 15-min. bidding war between two area farmers, the gavel fell at $34,800 per acre, which is $4,800 more than the previous record set in November 2022 in Iowa.

EPA and Hershey together commit $2 Million to Land O’Lakes Member Dairy Farms in PA
EPA and Hershey together commit $2 Million to Land O’Lakes Member Dairy Farms in PA

The EPA and Hershey announced that $2 million will go towards supporting local dairy farmers. The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, in collaboration with Land O’Lakes will use funds to promote environmental goals.

New Bill Excuses Illinois Youth from School Absence to Attend 4-H and FFA Events
New Bill Excuses Illinois Youth from School Absence to Attend 4-H and FFA Events

Just in time for school to start, in the midst of the Illinois State Fair, students across the state will no longer be penalized for participating in a 4-H or FFA event.

Three Famous Athletes Join the Famous Butter Cow at the Iowa State Fair
Three Famous Athletes Join the Famous Butter Cow at the Iowa State Fair

A few things you can count on if you make your way to Des Moines, Iowa for the Iowa State Fair—corn dogs, livestock shows and the iconic Iowa State Fair butter cow. 

John Phipps: Why Water is the New Oil for Landowners
John Phipps: Why Water is the New Oil for Landowners

John Phipps says there are signs that water is the new oil as water rights turn into water fights across the western U.S. He thinks it's a battle that could only heat up in the coming years.

Ghost Manure Digesters Scheme Sends California Man to Prison
Ghost Manure Digesters Scheme Sends California Man to Prison

A California man has shown that ghost cattle are unnecessary to create a Ponzi scheme, just ghost manure. Or, at least, ghost manure digesters.

prison at joilet
California Man Sentenced: An Unbelievable Multimillion-Dollar Cow Manure Scheme

According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office, a California man has been sentenced to more than six years in prison due to his involvement in a nearly $9 million cow manure Ponzi scheme.

High Production Costs Could Weigh on the Ag Economy Through 2024, New Survey of Economists Finds
High Production Costs Could Weigh on the Ag Economy Through 2024, New Survey of Economists Finds

The Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor is a new survey of nearly 50 economists. Most ag economists agree the next 12 months could produce more financial pressure for agriculture, but their views vary depending on commodity.

Why Employees Are in the Driver's Seat
Why Employees Are in the Driver's Seat

It's hard to stay competitive in today's job market. Here are four reasons why employees are in the driver's seat in 2023.

Ireland Proposes Culling 200,000 Cows to Help Meet Climate Goals, Farmers Push Back
Ireland Proposes Culling 200,000 Cows to Help Meet Climate Goals, Farmers Push Back

Ireland's Agriculture Minister has been looking into various ways to reduce methane emissions, including culling 200,000 cows over the next three years.

Midwest Dairy Producers Forced to Dump Milk
Midwest Dairy Producers Forced to Dump Milk

With much of the Upper Midwest processing capacity maxed out in terms of milk production, finding a new home for milk is not an easy task. This is causing dairy farms to dump milk due to the oversupply. 

Indiana Dairy Farmers Excited to Be Part of the Indy 500 Winner Circle
Indiana Dairy Farmers Excited to Be Part of the Indy 500 Winner Circle

A winning tradition unfolds in the midsection of the country each Memorial Day weekend for the biggest motorsports event in the world. The Indy 500 is a tradition that Indiana dairy farmers get to help orchestrate.

The U.S. Now Has a Nearly 90% Chance of Seeing El Niño This Summer
The U.S. Now Has a Nearly 90% Chance of Seeing El Niño This Summer

The signs of El Niño grew even strong this month, and as the weather event looks to make its grand return, significant weather changes could be on deck for U.S. farmers this year. 

Food Inflation To Return to Pre-COVID Levels
Food Inflation To Return to Pre-COVID Levels

Michael Swanson says we’ve likely seen the peak for food inflation last summer. What drove the 14% food inflation since the COVID pandemic has been four factors: transportation, labor, shipping and packaging. 

Wood Milk—Calling Attention to What People Are Drinking
Wood Milk—Calling Attention to What People Are Drinking

The “Wood Milk” ad— funded through MilkPEP —goal is to make people pause and question what they are consuming and the nutritional value of their choices.

Accidental and No Foul Play, Investigation Reveals Cause of Explosion, Massive Fire at Texas Dairy
Accidental and No Foul Play, Investigation Reveals Cause of Explosion, Massive Fire at Texas Dairy

The Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office released a report from its investigation of the large fire at South Fork Dairy located outside Dimmitt, ruling the fire as accidental with no reported evidence of foul play.

Punishing Drought Now Expected to Persist Through July Across Texas, Plains
Punishing Drought Now Expected to Persist Through July Across Texas, Plains

The updated Seasonal Drought Outlook for the U.S. is painting a grim picture for many drought-plagued areas of the Plains, but forecasters also expect drought to improve in parts of Nebraska and Iowa.

Livestock and mRNA Vaccines: What You Need To Know
Livestock and mRNA Vaccines: What You Need To Know

As misinformation regarding the use of mRNA vaccines in livestock filter through social media, there are facts begging to be set straight.

What We Now Know About What Caused the Large Fire at a Texas Dairy Farm
What We Now Know About What Caused the Large Fire at a Texas Dairy Farm

According to Castro County Sheriff Sal Rivera, officials believe a honey vac machine, which sucks the manure out of cow lanes, may have been the initial source of the fire. Questions remain on why it spread so quickly.

Food Prices Lower in March, but Still 8.5% Higher Than a Year Ago
Food Prices Lower in March, but Still 8.5% Higher Than a Year Ago

Lower grocery prices highlighted the March Consumer Price Index, but the annual food inflation rate remains well above the all-items index.

Crashing Dirt Bikes to Chasing Cows: Scott Irwin Releases New Book on Futures Market
Crashing Dirt Bikes to Chasing Cows: Scott Irwin Releases New Book on Futures Market

Futures markets are a mystery, says Scott Irwin, author of the new book, Back to the Futures, is now available for pre-order and is scheduled to be released on April 19 on Amazon.

5 Business Principles That Define Success
5 Business Principles That Define Success

Rich Redmond has created a no-nonsense system to supercharge your personal and professional life, whether you are a farmer or the drummer for Jason Aldean.

How Important is U.S. Ag and Food to the Economy?
How Important is U.S. Ag and Food to the Economy?

In celebration of National Ag Day and National Ag Week, the 2023 Feeding the Economy report shows just how vital the industry is to U.S. families, communities and the world.

U.S. Milk Production and Cow Numbers Both Rise
U.S. Milk Production and Cow Numbers Both Rise

The February 2023 USDA Milk Production report showed an 0.8% increase in year-over-year milk production with a total of 17.7 billion lbs. of milk. Also following suit, U.S. cow numbers also documented growth.

How Many Farms Are in the U.S.?
How Many Farms Are in the U.S.?

Total land in farms decreased 1.9 million acres to 893,400,000 acres in 2022 versus 2021. Here is other noteworthy farmland data, courtesy of USDA’s Farms and Land in Farms 2022 Summary. 

10 Ways FFA Made Us Better
10 Ways FFA Made Us Better

FFA is a nearly limitless opportunity for young people to figure out who they are and what they want to do in life. Here are 10 lessons Farm Journal employees learned through FFA that they use every day. 

Commodity Programs Might See a 12% Cut in the Proposed $1 Trillion Farm Bill
Commodity Programs Might See a 12% Cut in the Proposed $1 Trillion Farm Bill

SNAP, which historically receives the greatest amount of farm bill funding, will see an 82% increase of a quarter-trillion-dollars.

RedRiverValleySoil
Is $620 Per Acre Cash Rent an Anomaly or the New Norm?

If cash rent leases are negotiated via auction, Jim Rothermich is seeing prices drawing double – even triple digit gains. In Illinois, prices are up 90% to 120% compared to the previous year.

Bomb Cyclone: Not Helpful in Ending California's Drought
Bomb Cyclone: Not Helpful in Ending California's Drought

The bomb cyclone has sucker punched California. While farmers have prayed for rain to end the drought plaguing the state, a leading expert says that the bomb cyclone will not end California’s persistent drought.

3 Consumer Trends Farmers Can’t Afford to Ignore
3 Consumer Trends Farmers Can’t Afford to Ignore

Consumer preferences can totter between fads and trends. For farmers to capitalize on consumer demands, they must be able to sort out which market opportunities to pursue, says Rob Dongoski with Ernst & Young.

Major Flooding: Bomb Cyclone Storm Causing Havoc to California Dairy Farmers
Major Flooding: Bomb Cyclone Storm Causing Havoc to California Dairy Farmers

While normally any moisture to the Golden State would be welcomed, the massive “Bomb Cyclone” storm hitting California is far from normal. High winds, heavy rain and power outages have impacted California farmers.

2023 Weather Outlook: Ready the Snowplow
2023 Weather Outlook: Ready the Snowplow

Be ready for a colder and snowier winter versus recent years.

Inflation Report Signals a Smaller Rate Increase likely in December
Inflation Report Signals a Smaller Rate Increase likely in December

Experts say the Fed is looking for signs of weakness in the economy before deciding interest rates have been raised sufficiently to curb inflation. Some signs are available now, says Vince Malanga, LaSalle Economics.

Recession or Not: The Consumer Has Reached Their Breaking Point
Recession or Not: The Consumer Has Reached Their Breaking Point

The consumer no longer can absorb higher costs. Tanner Ehmke with CoBank says that lighter foot traffic is seen in some grocery stores, while discount retailers have seen a significant increase in foot traffic.