Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell joined dairy industry representatives and dairy producers on Tuesday, June 18, to sign a proclamation honoring the dairy industry and June as Dairy Month in Kentucky.

Ping Dairy in Pulaski County is the reigning winner of the Kentucky Dairy Development Council’s (KDDC) Highest Milk Quality Award. Members of the Ping family are, from left: Andrea, Adam, Brooklyn, and Haley, along with Haley’s boyfriend, Jaden, who works full-time at the family’s dairy. The Ping family also won the most recent Top Quality Herd Award given by the council last year and five of the past six awards in that category. (KDDC photo)

Good fences mark clear boundaries, keep livestock contained and create a clean aesthetic. Farmers who build and maintain a good fence add value to their farms and protect their assets

Like other agriculture producers in the commonwealth, Kentucky dairy farmers faced the challenges of COVID-19, disastrous weather events, chain supply issues, and inflation. To honor the resiliency and the everyday hard work of the Kentucky dairy farmer, Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Ryan Quarles joined Kentucky dairy producers in proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Kentucky.

Antibiotics are expensive for livestock producers and many times, they fail to stop infections. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment scientists have observed antibiotic failure in cattle is associated with behavior changes in the first days after treatment. Finding a way to predict antibiotic success or failure before treating dairy calves could save producers money and reduce antibiotic resistance.