The Latest News from Nobis Agri Science

The crew at T.C. Jacoby & Co. comes back to the mic to predict how demand will respond to milk prices approaching record highs across the market.

There are two ways producers can manage feed efficiency. The first is to increase milk production at the same rate of feed. The other is to decrease feed intake and keep milk production at the same level. However, it’s important for producers to understand: While feed efficiency is an important metric to measure and monitor regularly, profitability should also be considered. High feed efficiency does not always equal high profitability. If you’re spending more on feed to increase milk production, you may not see profit.

Employee onboarding, specifically on dairy operations, can help reduce employee turnover, increase employee satisfaction and commitment, increase employee safety and increase farm productivity. However, onboarding is more than a quick orientation; it should be an in-depth overview of the entire business process.

When starting the audit, take each ingredient and look at it through a magnifying glass. Be careful not to forget that many feed additives have become key to maintaining profitability on the dairy, so these audits are not just about lowering costs. Auditing a ration is more about ensuring a balance between price and performance. Here is the step-by-step audit process.

Nobis Agri Science is pleased to welcome Logan Zanzalari as a Dairy Nutrition and Management Consultant. Logan joins the team with a background in dairy nutrition and forage management (field to feed bunk).

While the market outlook for U.S. dairy prices looks promising, American Farm Bureau Chief Economist Roger Cryan says higher milk prices won’t look as good as they have in the past, as rising costs and difficulties in processing and marketing continue through the new year.

Running a dairy farm means there is a lot to think about… animal health and welfare, nutrition and production, labor, finances, operation efficiency and crop programs and rotations.

We’ve reached the time of year when weather conditions once again become cool and damp, causing dairy producers to run toward their facility’s curtains and close buildings up tight. While it might be tempting to batten down the hatches to keep cold air from coming in, lowering ventilation and reducing air exchange is one of the worst things a farmer can do for their animals.

With livestock feed prices on the rise, many farmers will be looking for ways to reduce input costs. While there may be opportunities to trim unnecessary spending, University of Illinois’ Mike Hutjens cautioned farms against making cuts that will impact milk production.

The cooler days and nights are here, and a good reminder of taking steps to winterize the things in our lives: vehicles, homes, and wardrobes. Winterizing is a proactive solution that helps us avoid problems associated with dropping temperatures and is a tactic that can also be applied to your calves.

Imagine that your car will go 60 miles per hour in the summer but only 30 mph when the temperature is freezing, and it will not run at all when the temperature falls to 0ºF. This is an accurate illustration of how cold temperature adversely affects rate of gain in calves.

When many first hear the term “positive leadership” they assume that I’m just talking about a nice ideal way to lead that sounds great in theory but doesn’t address reality. I assure you this couldn’t be further from the truth. Positive leadership is not pollyana, impractical or theoretical. Positive leadership is powerful, real and practical. In this spirit I want to share 3 ways positive leaders lead: