GLOBAL FARMING DIGEST

“Hiding Her Milk”?

For more than a century, one management practice has remained virtually unchanged in modern dairy farming: separating the cow and calf shortly after birth. This approach allows producers to control colostrum intake, monitor calf health, reduce disease transmission, and maximize the amount of milk available for sale.

Improving Carcass Value of Beef x Dairy Crosses

The integration of beef genetics into dairy production systems has become one of the most significant developments in modern cattle production. Beef-on-dairy programs provide dairy producers with an opportunity to increase the value of surplus calves while maintaining a primary focus on milk production. However, the success of these systems depends on producing animals that meet the requirements of the wider beef industry, including consistent growth performance, efficient feed conversion, and desirable carcass characteristics.

Beyond the Commodity

As global markets become more complex, buyers increasingly evaluate more than the quality and price of agricultural commodities. Distillers dried grains with solubles illustrate how integrated production systems are becoming an important source of long-term competitive advantage.

What Can a Pair of Cotton Underwear Tell You About Your Soil?

Bury a brand-new pair of 100% cotton underwear (“Tighty Whities”) in your field, dig it up six to eight weeks later, and see what remains.