Dairy Diary

There was a time, not so long ago, when the widespread use of tractors transformed how farmers worked the land and the crops they grew, increasing productivity and efficiency. Now, robotic harvesting systems and machines using artificial intelligence to scan fields for weeds and diseases are the innovations transforming the sector. Biotechnology, precision agriculture and communication, and information technologies hold the promise to enhance global food security, improve sustainability and tackle the impact of agriculture on the environment, increase the efficiency and competitiveness of farming operations, and enhance resilience to manage risks like climate change.

How much time do you think about the care of your cows? Research has found that the health and happiness of your cows are connected to the quality and quantity of milk production. The technology you use, the bedding, the grooming, the feeding, the comfort of the barn, and even the naming of your cows influences their well-being. Now, how often do you think about caring for yourself? Finding the right strategies and supports for your wellness will improve your moo-d, health, and productivity.

The carols. The lights. The department store advertising. The television specials. During this time of year, messages of festivities, food, and family are everywhere. But there’s still plenty to do on the farm – the chores won’t do themselves.

Most conversations about multigenerational farming tend to also lead to conversations related to succession planning. Fortunately, a multitude of resources is available to support sound succession planning: this article is meant, instead, to bring focus to some of the day-to-day joys and challenges of having multiple generations working together to steward the land — and feed the nation.

Dairy production has evolved over the last century, heck it’s evolved a lot over the last five years! Automatic milking systems (AMS), also called voluntary milking systems (VMS), are monitored by herd management software. This system has many parts and can measure milk quality, cow health, and much more. 

Racing (tumbling?) down a hill chasing after a wheel of cheese is an activity everyone has done at some point in their lives, right?

Around the old barns on the dairy farm I grew up on, we used to find the odd old milk can, you know the ones, with the lid and the handles. A reminder of the “good old days” where our forefathers used to milk the cows by hand and deliver cream to the factory on the back of the truck.  They never would have believed us if we told them robots would be milking cows in a mere five decades…

Introducing technology through Agriculture in the Classroom - Canada.

This week we speak with Matt Pacyga, Digital Product Lead at Focus Brands LLC. Matt shares details about his career, designing products for diverse users, and the impact of COVID-19 on customer experience.

This week we interviewed Michael Schatzberg (aka Schatzy). Schatzy is the Managing Director of Branded Restaurants and the Founder / Managing Partner of Branded Strategic Hospitality.