MSU Extension Dairy

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  Labor efficiency on dairies: how to get more done by the people you rely on

  Published on February 4, 2020
  There is an old joke about inefficiency that goes something like this: How many employees does it take to screw in a lightbulb? MSU Extension plans to help dairy farmers understand how to measure and improve labor efficiency on their farms.

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  Initiative driving support of Michigan's animal agriculture industries

  Published on February 1, 2020
  MSU and animal agriculture commodity organizations partner to address industry’s most pressing challenges.

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  Tim Hood named 2020 Dairy Farmer of the Year

  Published on January 30, 2020
  Tim Hood of Hood Farms Family Dairy in Van Buren County is the 2020 Dairy Farmer of the Year.

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  Critical state funding for animal agriculture remains in jeopardy

  Published on January 30, 2020
  Through M-AAA, MSU scientists have conducted relevant, timely research on behalf of the animal agriculture industry. Regrettably, state support is currently not appropriated for 2020, leaving critical research and outreach programs in jeopardy.

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  MSU dairy cattle judging team performs well in 1st contest of the season

  Published on January 21, 2020
  The team placed third overall and fourth in oral reasons out of 11 teams.

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  Cover crops can be used to prevent nitrogen loss

  Published on January 20, 2020
  Cover crop research shows that winter cereal rye may reduce nitrate leaching

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  Three Michigan teams compete in final dairy judging contest of 2019 season

  Published on January 7, 2020
  Michigan 4-H members and Michigan State University students competed at the North American International Livestock Exposition dairy cattle judging contest.

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  Michigan 4-H members and alumni earn high marks at World Dairy Expo dairy cattle judging contest

  Published on January 7, 2020
  Three teams from Michigan competed at the 2019 World Dairy Expo, representing Michigan 4-H and Michigan State University.

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  Get RUP credits and ideas for the growing season with educational meetings in east Michigan

  Published on January 3, 2020
  Michigan State University Extension’s 2020 winter meetings offer updates on pest and crop management as well necessary information on new regulations.

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  Enterprise budget tool available for feedlot producers

  Published on December 23, 2019
  Enterprise budgets are an economic tool used to forecast profitability. The Excel tool presents budgets for both beef and Holstein cattle at different placement weights.

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  Michigan youth attend National 4-H Dairy Conference

  Published on December 20, 2019
  Nine 4-H members from across Michigan traveled to Madison, Wisconsin, to learn about the national and global dairy industries.

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  Clinton County 4-H members compete at 2019 North American Invitational 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl

  Published on December 20, 2019
  Youth traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, to represent Michigan at the 40th annual national dairy quiz bowl contest.

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  Feed sampling will help with beef cow energy and protein supplementation

  Published on December 19, 2019
  Feed sampling and analysis can pay huge dividends.

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  Pest Control

  Published on December 3, 2019
  With the fall and winter season coming to fruition, an increase of rodents and pests make their way into livestock facilities. Learn how to look for evidence of rodents and pests in your facilities and how they may affect your livestock.

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  What is going on in dairy?

  Published on November 20, 2019
  Many people will have heard that Dean Foods declared bankruptcy recently and thought about the gallon jug in their refrigerator and wondered what is going on. This is an on-going story and we don’t know everything, but let’s review some things we do know.

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  Should producers chase after yield?

  Published on November 13, 2019
  American farmers continually strive for higher yields. Something encouraged by the current pricing structure of raw agricultural products, but is chasing yield necessarily a good thing?

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  Recommendations for selecting hay and pasture forages for Michigan

  Published on November 12, 2019
  Selecting forage species and mixtures for hayfields and pastures may seem overwhelming. Let this new bulletin help you make decisions.

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  Clay soil moisture monitoring project explores farmer’s efforts to improve drainage

  Published on November 5, 2019
  This season-long demonstration project compared results of surface drains, deep tillage and field tile on Michigan’s eastern Upper Peninsula farms.

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  Frosted sorghum and sudangrass pasture poses prussic acid poisoning risk

  Published on October 29, 2019
  Sorghum-family plants can contain prussic acid that is potentially lethal to livestock.

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  Benchmarking and financial comparisons of Michigan farms participating in Telfarm

  Published on October 14, 2019
  Recent years have shown financial struggles for Michigan Dairy Farms. This article details the numbers behind these for Michigan farms participating in TelFarm.