Stories about animal welfare
Wet and hot conditions in northern Illinois are impacting crop growth, as well as providing an opportunity for increased disease pressure this year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture began accepting applications to provide financial assistance to eligible dairy producers who incur milk losses due to highly pathogenic avian influenza.
The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management Program released new versions of the Animal Care and Workforce Development programs, benchmarks for best practices.
In the last two years, bird flu has been blamed for the deaths of millions of wild and domestic birds worldwide. But it seems to have hardly touched people.
As the Fourth of July celebrations come to a close, it’s a good idea to look out for your pets and livestock.
Berkeley Boehne and his brother, Vaughn, raise corn, soybeans and wheat on their DeKalb County farm, where they also feed pigs and operate a custom manure application business.
Teens from around the state gathered for the 95th Indiana FFA State Convention, where they took part in workshops, volunteered and were honored for their accomplishments.
Indiana Pork and Legacy Farms hosted two pork buyers from McDonald’s Japan on their recent visit to Fair Oaks Farms and Belstra Milling.
Five new officers elected by the delegates during the 96th Illinois FFA State Convention will be traveling throughout the state during the upcoming year engaging with members to inspire them to achieve their goals.
Last month I mentioned the long list of jobs and projects that needed to be done here at the farm. That list hasn’t gotten any shorter. Even though we have been able to cross off some of those tasks, we seem to keep adding to it.
Two years ago, the Masters of Beef Advocacy program managed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, hit 20,000 graduates. This year, the program celebrates an additional 5,000 graduates.
Kipster egg farm announced it will be one of the first U.S. egg brands to adopt in-ovo egg sexing this fall to end male chick culling.
Five district winners for the Star in Agribusiness award will be honored on the stage of the Illinois FFA State Convention.
The winner of the Star in Agricultural Placement award will be announced during the Wednesday afternoon session of the Illinois FFA State Convention starting at 2 p.m.
An excellent feed management program is one of the keys to success for dairy operations with a robotic milking system.
Nutrition as well as a clean, comfortable environment impact the average daily gain of dairy calves.
Brooding is the foundation for the life of chickens, ducks and turkeys.
Increasing profitability of sheep operations starts at conception.
One thing about having livestock on your farm, you always have job security. By that I mean there is never an end of something needing to be done.
April was an extremely busy time, mostly because we welcomed a new granddaughter. Her name is Brynlee and she is doing well. We were lucky to spend more time in Georgia in April than Illinois.
Many factors impact fertility and reproduction of dairy cows, including the nutrition of their rations.
Indiana Farm Bureau awarded scholarships to three young women pursuing careers in agriculture.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that samples of pasteurized milk had tested positive for remnants of the bird flu virus that has infected dairy cows.
Sheep producers can reduce the amount of labor needed to work with their animals with a Te Pari handling system.
Dairy cows that experience heat stress during the dry period have lower milk production in their next lactation.
I have the tremendous opportunity to work with some of the greatest employees in government and we have the pleasure to work for the American farmer — the original environmentalist, who cares for the land like no other.
We have some water standing on pastures and fields. I had almost given up seeing that this spring. Looks like some other events may follow. Ponds aren’t full, but have been improved.
Spring has arrived and it is good to see grass growing and greening up. I won’t say that grass growth is exploding, because over the last few weeks, winter has tried to hang on.
When word came out of Texas on April 1 that avian flu had made another unwelcome hop — this one from a dairy cow to a human — the news seemed like an April Fool’s joke. It wasn’t.
A poultry facility in Michigan and egg producer in Texas both recently reported outbreaks of avian flu.
I recently upgraded my phone with a newer model, and I didn’t realize how much the technology has improved. While I’m catching up with the latest innovations, pig farmers have already embraced it.
A total solar eclipse will travel through Indiana on April 8, providing a spectacular show for sky watchers. “On April 8, Indiana will be center stage for a once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse experience,” said Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Milk from dairy cows in Texas and Kansas has tested positive for bird flu, U.S. officials said.
Recently, I was asked to describe myself without saying I was a wife or mother and that hit me a bit differently. After all, as parents, it is hard for us to see beyond that.
The official start of spring is today and Easter is right around the corner. Days are longer, hyacinths and narcissus are blooming and the grass is greening up in pastures and yards. It is my favorite time of the year.
A new resource developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and CattleFax helps cattle producers maximize profitability from their culling decisions.
Early spells of warm weather mean that truckers who use rural roads in Illinois had an added challenge.
Cattlemen learned about options for their operations at the Illinois Beef Expo trade show.
I just saw a map of the affected drought areas of 2012 and right now and they looked awfully similar to the one for 2024.
March weather has come in like a lamb, so if the saying is true, it will turn into a lion at some point this month. It is still winter, but we are inching closer to spring.
When producers talk about hypocalcemia today, the focus has shifted to subclinical hypocalcemia. Unlike clinical milk fever, it’s a disease that doesn’t show any visible signs.
Spring is always a good time to get horses and other equine up-to-date on vaccinations, especially for the mosquito-borne diseases that can be so devastating.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Executive Committee approved the organization’s policy priorities at the 2024 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show.
The Illinois Pork Producers Association is leading a call to members of the Illinois congressional delegation for a legislative remedy to state-by-state livestock production requirements.
For University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students Saira Cruz and Mercedes Saavedra, majoring in animal sciences is making their dream careers possible.
An Israeli company has received a preliminary green light from health officials to sell the world’s first steaks made from cultivated beef cells, not the entire animal, officials said.
Managing dry cows through the fresh period pays dividends down the line.
AgriNews and Beck’s are proud to announce the 2024 Indiana Farm Family of the Year — the Muegge family of M5 Family Farms in Hancock County.
Today, as I am writing this column, it has been snowing all night and all day. So far in northern Illinois we have at least 6 inches of heavy, wet snow on the ground.
Another year has passed with an outcry for improved sustainability on our planet. If you ask 10 people to define sustainability, you will get 10 different answers.