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1 month ago | 
hoards.com | Morgan Oliveira
There are a lot of tasks in life that can be overwhelming, especially as time becomes less of an available resource. One thing I’ve experienced in college is how easy it is to feel overwhelmed; between classes, extracurriculars, and jobs — they all seem to pile up. Every so often, I get the chance to take a weekend trip from the California coastline back to my hometown in the Central Valley.
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2 months ago | 
hoards.com | Morgan Oliveira
Feb. 12 2025 10:10 AMHow can we better understand consumer choices in the dairy industry? In one of my classes at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, we’re learning all about social theory and how that applies to the agricultural industry. Although it may seem grueling to endure a lecture at 8 a.m., the class has broadened my perspective on how others might perceive the dairy industry.
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2 months ago | 
hoards.com | Morgan Oliveira
Every new diet and trend comes with its own complicated set of instructions. Whether it’s eliminating all forms of sugar or tracking daily intake on an app, the complexities of choosing what and when to eat have grown into a tangled web of information. Honestly, the tips and tricks are more confusing than they are helpful. With each new craze that comes out in the modern-day media, part of me is brought back to when I was a kid.
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Jan 14, 2025 | 
hoards.com | Morgan Oliveira
My childhood holds a series of core memories — most of which involve a glass of milk and dairy cattle. In the fourth grade, my experience working directly with dairy cattle grew exponentially as I was introduced to the vibrant world of showing cattle at the local county fair. Before I knew it, my ambition took over and I began expanding my herd of dairy cattle, creating a prefix and growing the list of shows I attended.
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Nov 20, 2024 | 
hoards.com | Morgan Oliveira
As a college student, I’ve faced some of the most common misconceptions that circulate throughout the dairy industry in simple conversations with many of my peers. The main ones that catch my attention are about antibiotics in milk and poor animal welfare on dairy farms. I never understood the extent to which others believed these statements because my entire life as a dairy kid, I’ve been trained to believe otherwise.
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Nov 7, 2024 | 
hoards.com | Morgan Oliveira
As beef prices reach new heights, beef-on-dairy breeding in the dairy industry shows no signs of slowing. While dairy farmers seek a positive revenue line, raising steers for beef sale has also become an attractive option for several dairy farmers across the nation. In comparing the growth efficiency of dairy-type steers, Michigan State University conducted a study to evaluate performance and feeder calf value between dairy-beef crossbred steers and Holstein steers.
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Nov 6, 2024 | 
hoards.com | Morgan Oliveira
Growing up as a dairy kid, I was offered two options at every meal — to drink either milk or water. For a long time, I thought that those were the only two options because we’re a dairy farming family. After moving out for the first time and gaining a greater understanding of the world, I quickly realized that the reason my parents did this goes beyond just the principle of us being dairy farmers. Milk offers an extensive list of benefits for anyone that drinks it.
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Oct 9, 2024 | 
hoards.com | Morgan Oliveira
Growing up, I always had a glass of milk on the dinner table in front of me. It was a staple of every meal, and now having moved to college, I can safely say that the taste of whole milk makes me feel at home. Although drinking milk has been such an integral part of my life, you wouldn’t believe how many people don’t have access to it. Milk is the most requested but least donated item in food banks across the nation and providing it to families in need is crucial now more than ever.
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Sep 25, 2024 | 
hoards.com | Morgan Oliveira
Being sick is the worst. With the combination of feeling awful and not being able to perform daily tasks as normal, being sick is something most people dread and will try to avoid at all costs. Arguably enough, the one thing worse than being sick is watching someone else be sick, considering that there’s not much you’re able to do for them in that given moment. Many parents may share this notion, and it’s safe to say that this indescribable feeling is felt by farmers when their herd gets sick.
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Sep 11, 2024 | 
hoards.com | Morgan Oliveira
Above anything, dairy farmers prioritize the health and care of their animals. Whether installing fans or sprinkler systems to help with the hot weather, creating a cool environment for dairy cows is a top item on a dairy farmer’s long list of to-dos. The recent heat throughout the nation has proven to severely impact the agriculture industry, especially cattle behavior. The heat negatively impacts various facets of a cow’s life, including milk production, fertility, and overall well-being.
