MANAGEMENT

I find myself writing this article in a place no one wants to be – by my dear 90-year-old mom’s hospital bed. It is Saturday, and the last time she recognized me was Thursday morning.

It’s not uncommon for purchased feed costs to equal 50% of a dairy farm’s budget. Nearly 20 years ago, Jon Bansen of Double J Jerseys near Monmouth, Oregon, was in the same boat.

Winter is a good time for reflection. The year 2020 has given us quite a bit to reflect on. As we think about the year and try to learn from it, resist the urge to look over the fence and be jealous of your neighbor who is doing “better than you.”

Every day, it seems, we hear about a new idea, concept, program or way of thinking that will dramatically improve our lives. Agriculture is a particular target of these new ideas and emerging technologies.

Forages have always been an integral part of the feeding program for dairy cows. As a ruminant, the dairy cow needs forage in her diet. Whether forages are grazed or fed as preserved feeds, they are critical to the success of the dairy cow and the dairy farm.

When it comes to efficiency, it’s tough to beat soil testing. What else can you do for less than a dollar an acre that has such a large potential impact on crop yield, quality and farm profitability?