My American heroes? Farmers!
In the first week of May, American farmers seeded over 35 percent of this year’s projected corn acreage — in one week! That’s quite a few acres! And a bit of arithmetic will put this feat in an even...
View ArticleDairymen are American heroes
Last month, I shared with readers of this column my deep admiration for the American farmer. This month, coincidentally the national dairy month, I need to disclose to you my other American heroes:...
View ArticleLook beyond your neighbor’s fence
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, the saying goes. It refers to the way that most people tend to look at what other people have through rose-colored glasses. Unfortunately, we...
View ArticleUnderstanding capricious milk prices: How to make the most of your next milk...
By the time you read this column, the Federal Milk Marketing Order prices for August will have been announced. But as of this writing, I do not know what they will be — although I have a pretty good...
View ArticleUnderstanding the Margin Protection Program for Dairy
Imagine that you bought a brand new car using mostly borrowed money. Because of the financial risk involved you buy insurance from the ACME Insurance Company. One month later, you get a check for $15...
View ArticleEven with technology and so much food, most are ‘food ignorant’
I do many things in my work at Ohio State University; one of them is teaching. We have talented students coming from many states throughout the United States and also from many foreign countries. Most...
View ArticleFood fads and wrong advice
For many years now, the general health guidelines have been to stay away from whole milk and saturated fats. This has been a factor in the substantial decline of whole milk consumption in the U.S. The...
View ArticleWhere to find a pound of milk components in your herd?
2015 came to a close pretty much the same way it started: disappointing milk prices and negative margins. December Class III prices came out at $14.44/cwt, which translates to an average mailbox price...
View ArticleManaged dairy news: Not fixed anytime soon
I once was told that if your wife waits until you’ve eaten a well-prepared meal to tell you about a dented fender — that’s “managed news.” Well, I hope that you just had a good meal because I am about...
View ArticleRetiring dairy scientist ponders pseudo-science, fear marketers
At the end of the month, I will be retiring from Ohio State University. After nearly 20 years spent in the classroom, in the dairy barn, in the lab, and traveling throughout the state, the nation and...
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