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Healthy cows are about biology. Healthy farms are about economics. You need both. In this month’s “Protecting Your Profits" discussion, hear expert insight on biological vs. economic health from Dr. Joe Bender, Associate Professor of Clinical Dairy Production Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania – New Bolton Center.

Biological health refers to the physical health of your cows, including freedom from disease, longevity, and comfort. Economic health centers around the cow’s financial viability, productivity, and cost efficiency of your herd. It’s easy to pick out a biologically unhealthy cow – you’ll often see physical signs like lameness, sickness or thinness. Economically unhealthy cows, on the other hand, are harder to find. Dr. Bender shares:

• How to balance both sides of the biological and economic health equation (the cow level and the business level).
• How ratios demonstrate the economic health of your farm.
• How to move items from the liability side of the equation to the asset side.
• Practical ways to balance strong milk production with strong economic health, so you have the right formula to make a good product and take good care of your cows and employees.

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In this February installment of the "Protecting Your Profits" miniseries, Dairy Report Rundown, we were joined by Dr. Jim Lawhead with Penn State Extension, to talk through the January 2026 Lancaster DHIA data. Dr. Lawhead provided his insights into the trends in the data, as well as what the numbers can tell us about the health of Pennsylvania's dairies. He also offered advice on how dairy producers can use their 202 reports to make informed on-farm decisions.

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How can you go from surviving to thriving when it comes to your farm’s financials? How do you navigate economic downturns with your current funds while still finding a way to plan for the future? In this month's "Protecting Your Profits" discussion, Ava Hasbrook, a Business Coach from Legacy Farmer, shared how dairy farmers can evaluate and forecast their long-term stability with their current funds and discussed how to plan for the future now versus later. She also offered insight into measuring long-term strength, surviving economic downturns, and investing in your farm’s viability 10 years from now.

To receive weekly dairy market updates via email each week, click here to subscribe and get the updates sent to you at no cost each week.