In this month's "Protecting Your Profits" discussion, Rob Goodling from Horizon Farm Credit breaks down 17 benchmarks that are part of the PA Dairy Performance Indicators project. From year to year, these benchmarks help us compare individual dairy operations to how the top dairies in the data set are performing financially. Rob shares an overview of the 2023 data and a comprehensive snapshot of herd performance across various sizes and production types – revealing distinct patterns in milk production, costs, and financial outcomes.

Find out where Pennsylvania stands in terms of herd performance, financial performance and more. Rob also examines how herds participating in both years of the Performance Indicators Project compare to the group averages and shared some of the variation between herd size groups.

What daily responsibilities on the farm have the highest risk? The answer might surprise you. From animal handling and manure application to horizontal silos and working with heavy machinery, dairy farmers are exposed to a large amount of risk on a daily basis. According to 2019 data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the agricultural sector is the most dangerous in America. While most dairy farmers accept the risk involved in the profession and enjoy working with their hands, farm safety should still be a top priority on dairy operations to help protect families and employees. As we approach the fall harvest season, Dr. Florence Becot from Penn State University shares the top three farm safety risks – and how we can be proactive with simple precautions that could save a life.

In this month's episode, Kathleen Noble Wolfley and Bryce Windecker from Ever.Ag explored market factors that are influencing feed price and shared strategies to help farmers mitigate feed price risk. They gave an update on key feed commodity markets, including corn, soybean meal, canola and cottonseed. They also shared a deep dive into basis trends in the Northeast and ways for livestock producers to manage feed risk.