The more comfortable a cow's bed, the more likely she'll spend her day laying about making milk instead of standing or walking. A well supported, comfortable, resting cow is less likely to end up lame as well, and the link between lameness and reduced production and decreased fertility is real. Nearly all bedding options —... Read More

We use our phones for so much more than talking and texting — from tracking markets and weather, to finding and sharing information, to just killing time with some entertainment. There are a seemingly infinite number of apps out there, and more are developed each week. How do you decide which are worth it? This... Read More

Perspective is the lens that will focus your decision making process. Whether it's big picture "industry as a whole" type thinking or an individual "I'm really happy to have running water" type of gratitude, an understanding of perspective is important. When you're bringing two different cultures together, that understanding can help avoid some unintended disasters.... Read More

Milk volume is only one aspect of dairy production — the level of individual components in the milk matter just as much. Managing butterfat is often a challenge, as high producing genetic lines tend to have lower butterfat milk. RealAgriculture.com asked Adam Lock, assistant professor, dairy cattle nutrition with Michigan State University, for his perspective... Read More

If you envision GPS-guided cows when you hear "precision dairy," you might be a grain farmer. If, instead, you envision a way to measure and monitor several aspects of dairy production no matter what time it is or where you are, you're much closer to reality.From heat detection, to mastitis management, and even lameness monitoring,... Read More

As farmers scratch out last minute changes to seeding plans, economic factors always weigh in. Pulses, like red and green lentils or peas, all have the advantage of nitrogen fixation, making them an attractive crop rotation choice. But pulses are also smaller acreage crops and the marketing dynamics of each crop type can cause some... Read More