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The Animal Science Monitor – Issue 226 – 227

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Sep 142018
 

ASM ISSUE: 226 The #10GallonChallenge Takes Over Social Media

With the state of milk prices today, we’re happy to see someone trying to help dairy producers and also people in need at the same time. Dairy Herd Management just published another amazing story that I just had to share. Have you heard of the #10GallonChallenge?

Ty Higgins is a farm broadcaster. He developed the #10GallonChallenge to get milk off the store shelves and into local pantries. “Dairy farmers right now are in the worst position they’ve been in in years and so I thought, ‘How can I help them?'” Higgins said in an interview with We Are Green Bay.

ASM ISSUE: 227: Dairy Revenue Protection Launching This October

We all know the milk industry has been a “bit” shaky as of late. So I thought I’d share an article I found on Progressive Dairyman since the industry could use a bit of good news right about now.

Dairy Revenue Protection insurance coverage is due to launch early this October. This will provide dairy farmers with a way to manage income risk next year. You can sign up for this policy starting October 9, 2018. The first available coverage will begin during the first quarter of 2019. This provides dairy farmers with insurance for milk revenues on a quarterly basis.

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The Animal Science Monitor – Issue 224 – 225

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Aug 172018
 

ASM ISSUE: 224 Colostrum Is Still King

Colostrum is just as vital to calves as it is to newborn babies. We all know that it contains essential immunoglobulin (Igs) to strengthen immunity and an unmatched energy level. In this article by Hoard’s Dairyman, Maggie Seiler quotes Mike VanAmburgh of Cornell University to discover why colostrum is a must for calves.

Colostrum is important because it is filled with signalers/growth factors that help the calf achieve optimum success. Colostrum contains IGF-1, insulin, prolactin, and leptin. VanAmburgh thinks that Igs are not the main reason that calves should have colostrum. He says that calves can build their Igs, but there are other essential things they must get from their mothers by way of colostrum.

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ASM ISSUE: 225 Colostrum Is Still King

Dairy Herd Management just published an article by Maureen Hanson that will be quite beneficial for producers, especially since summer is here. Many farms prefer to keep their pre-weaned dairy calves in calf hutches, as this is said to provide many advantages. Sadly, the lack of climate control can be hard on calves and may cause them to experience heat stress.

Jud Heinrichs and Colleen Jones are educators at Penn State University’s Dairy Extension. According to them, certain factors like excessive humidity, high temperatures, and the hot sun can cause heat stress in calves. Hair coat, bedding, moisture, air movement, and also rumination activity are some other factors that may come into play.

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The Animal Science Monitor – Issue 222 – 223

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Jul 272018
 

ASM ISSUE: 222 Milk Component Variation Linked To Seasonal Differences

Being relatively new to the dairy industry, I have come to appreciate articles that help me to expand my knowledge. I recently came across an article from Hoard’s Dairyman that talks about milk component variation and how it is linked to seasonal changes. It was a good read, so I thought I’d share it with you.

At the Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference, Kevin Harvatine of Penn State University said that seasonal differences have a larger role to play in milk variations in comparison to heat stress. He backed the statement with the research he did.

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ASM ISSUE: 223 Evaluating Farm Tech ROI

I have always found robotics fascinating. I understand that it isn’t every producer’s “cup of tea,” but I am awed by how much technology is being used these days in the dairy industry. Farm Journal’s MILK recently shared an article about how one farmer evaluates his return on investment with regard to the use of technology on his farm.

Brian Houin of Homestead Dairy says that the first factor to consider is how the technology will help improve your business. After doing so, one can begin putting dollar values to it to assess if it can give you a return on your investment. He believes that producers have to look at the whole picture when evaluating the usefulness of a device.

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The Animal Science Monitor – Issue 220 – 221

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Jun 122018
 

ASM ISSUE: 220 3 Ebooks Every Hiring Manager Should Read

It is midyear 2018 and many employers have had more candidates refusing their company’s job offers than accepting them this year. Whether you have hit your quota or not, I am sure you are wondering if there is any way you can improve your hiring stats.

I have been recruiting since 1991 and working with employers and candidates in the animal agriculture since 2002. I have compiled candidate feedback I have received and data from renowned publications to help you. The three ebooks listed below are chockfull of helpful hints to help you improve your hiring ratio.

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ASM ISSUE: 221 MPP-Dairy Check Processing Began on June 4

We talked about MPP-Dairy a few months ago. According to Progressive Dairyman, the deadline was on June 1, 2018. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) made certain that interested farmers were able to enroll by the June 1 deadline. They were given the option to download and fill out the application form or to visit the FSA county office to apply.

Dairy producers who decided to go the MPP route are getting their checks soon. Producers enrolled in the 2018 Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) and have elected $7, $7.50, or $8 per hundredweight margin coverage are guaranteed indemnity payments for milk production from February to April.

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The Animal Science Monitor – Issue 214 – 215

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Mar 202018
 

ASM ISSUE: 214 – 2018 Spending Bill Program Promising for Dairy Producers

I shared an article about NMPF’s suggestions to improve 2018’s MMP-Dairy a few days ago. Now it looks like President Donald Trump has just signed a stopgap spending measure that will protect dairy farmers. According to Farm Journal’s MILK, Jim Weisenmeyer, a ProFarmer’s Washington policy analyst, said these changes were the most significant ones he has seen in his 40 years working in Washington.

This bill will eliminate the livestock gross margin program (LGM) $20 million cap. According to the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), this package will bolster the MPP, which was created as a safety net program born from a 2014 farm bill.

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ASM ISSUE: 215 – Dairy Scientists to Benefit from New In-Depth Mineral Review

Dr. Jesse Goff, DVM, PhD and holder of the Anderson Chair in Veterinary Medicine atIowa State University, just released a thorough review that was published in theJournal of Dairy Science. According to an article in The Dairy Site, Dr. Goff”s review examined the minerals used in ruminant nutrition and discussed their mechanisms of absorption.

This review summarized each of the seven macrominerals and other important microminerals, which work together to create a complete dietary nutrient profile for cows. “By understanding the mechanisms involved in movement of minerals from the diet into the blood of the animal, I hope the reader might gain some insight into factors that impair or enhance mineral utilization by animals,” Dr Goff said.

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The Animal Science Monitor – Issue 211 – 212

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Jan 152018
 

ASM ISSUE: 211 – An Introduction to Candidate Experience

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that recruiting was going to get tougher during the next few years. This is due to many factors, most of which are out of a company’s control. However, there is one factor that can be controlled, which is improving candidate experience.

What Is Candidate Experience?

This term has been around for a few years. Some of you might know what it is and others might not. According to jibe, candidate experience (CX) is a term used to describe how people seeking jobs react to how a company handles processes from sourcing to onboarding.

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ASM ISSUE: 212 – Can Feed Management Software Improve Milk Production?

With the demand for milk being so high on a global scale, dairy producers are looking for ways to increase their output. An article by Sue Hart of VAS provides insights regarding the efficacy of feed management software for improving total milk output.

According to Hart, a feed is responsible for about 50% of the cost of dairy production, which is why this software is so important. Using this technology consistently, you could speed up your return on investment.

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The Animal Science Monitor – Issue 204 – 205

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Sep 272017
 

ASM ISSUE: 204 – Salary Non-Disclosure: Yea or Nay?

The recruitment industry is abuzz over a new ruling that might possibly be implemented all over the country soon. There have been talks about banning human resource firms and companies from asking job candidates how much they’re earning at their current place of employment, a ruling that has already been passed in Massachusetts.

I came across an article by Lydia Frank on Harvard Business Review that aligns with the sentiments of most recruiters regarding this possible ruling. While they may mean well and their intent is to address the gender pay gap, Payscale data does not show that it can truly amend it.

Payscale is a data and compensation company where Frank works. The company studied the relationship between the gender pay gap and the salary history question.

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ASM ISSUE: 205 – Negative Unemployment in the Feed and Grain Industry

Recently Feed & Grain Magazine decided to explore the state of employment in the feed and grain business. They interviewed 7 leaders in the business, two recruiters and 5 top industry professionals. I was asked to share my insights regarding the challenges recruiters in this niche presently face. You can check out the article on our website.

I have noticed that it in recent years, top talent has more available options, as the industry is currently facing negative unemployment rates. There is a high demand for people with the right degree or a certain amount of experience. However, there aren’t enough qualified talent to fill this role.

This low employment rate does not only affect high level positions, but lower level roles as well. Companies have to compete for qualified candidates. The agriculture industry, despite the abundance of well-paying jobs, is not exactly considered a glamorous career option. There is a lot of physical labor involved and outdoor tasks under the sun or during colder months.

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The Animal Science Monitor – Issue 202 – 203

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Aug 152017
 

ASM ISSUE: 202 – Filling an Open U.S. Job Has Never Taken So Long

There are, at most, 31 days in a month. That also happens to be the average amount of time it now takes to fill a job opening in the United States. So if you’re having difficulty filling your most important positions, you’re certainly not alone.

Not only is that average a new record, but it’s also causing problems when it comes to hiring the best candidates in the marketplace. (Hint: they don’t want to wait around for a month, and since they have so many suitors, they really don’t have to.)

Of course, it wasn’t always this way. During the depths of the Great Recession in 2009, it took just 15 days to fill an open job. That represented a vast improvement from 2006, when the average was 23 days.

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ASM ISSUE: 203 – Does Your LinkedIn Profile Suck?

We all know that there is power in a well-crafted resume. However, not many people know that a kick-ass LinkedIn profile is equally, if not more, important. Now I’m not saying you should send us a shoddy excuse of a resume and focus on your LinkedIn profile instead. Just make certain both are equally detail-oriented and worth viewing. Here are a few tips to add star power to your boring LinkedIn profile.

Make the Right First Impression
Your picture and headline are the first things that you should work on. I would recommend a professional-looking photo instead of a selfie. Your face should take up at least 70% of the photo.

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The Animal Science Monitor – Issue 200 – 201

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Jul 312017
 

ASM ISSUE: 200 – How Data Can Make Dairy Farming More Profitable

Republished from ABC Rural

“We’d like to help farmers make better and more informed decisions because volatility is here to stay.” That is the message Dairy Australia is sending farmers.

South Australian dairy farmers met in Mount Gambier last week to hear from industry innovators about the big data revolution. At a time when dairy business viability is making headlines, the event focused on helping farmers to collect and analyze data to make what they already do more profitable.

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ASM ISSUE: 201 – How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Summary and Profile to Get Jobs

By: Natalie Severt
Resume Expert at Uptowork

As a job seeker, having a LinkedIn profile is no longer a matter of choice. It’s a necessity.

Why?
Well, for starters, everyone is on LinkedIn – job seekers, recruiters, CEOs, that weird guy next door, your mom – everyone.

Okay, but what if you’re not looking for a job right now?
Well, you don’t have to be actively looking for a job to use LinkedIn. In fact, if you optimize your profile and engage with the platform, a job could come looking for you.

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The Animal Science Monitor – Issue 198 – 199

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Jun 302017
 

ASM ISSUE: 198 – Employee Retention: Future Recruiting Metric

In most cases, it is easier to spot talent and hire them than it is to retain them. In the near future, employee retention may become part of the recruiting metrics, according to an article from Human Resources Today.

Why This Metric Will Matter
First-year retention is going to be essential in the years to follow, especially since the workplace will be composed of about 50% Millennials by 2018. Millennials, also known as Echo Boomers, share almost the same traits as Baby Boomers. However, they also are more of “career butterflies” than the people from Generation X. in fact, statistics shows that only 15% of Millennials believe in working at the same company for five years or longer.

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ASM ISSUE: 199 – Is “The Perfect Fit” a Myth?

Perfection is something that humans strive to achieve. Be it the perfect life partner, friendships or in the business world, candidates, perfection plays a key factor.

The “perfect fit” sounds so ideal that it has made many a company pass on promising talent in search of someone who crosses out all the items in their checklist. This makes recruiters wonder if perfection is attainable or if it is just a myth.

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