Livestock Grain Market News fed cattle report for Nov. 18.

I’ve been an editor with Progressive Dairyman magazine for two years now. While most of my work has been online, managing the content on our website and in our Extra e-newsletter, I have contributed several articles to the print publication. This, however, is my first editorial piece. Ever.

Results from the 2011 University of Minnesota corn grain and silage hybrid trials are available online. These trials were conducted at multiple locations across Minnesota to provide unbiased and replicated information on the performance of numerous hybrids for growers and agronomists.

When’s the best time to start eating healthy? After a heart attack. How about exercising? After you’re already overweight. The best time to stop smoking? After someone you know has lung cancer. When’s the best time to start talking to your teenager? After the cops call. And when’s the best time to buy homeowner’s insurance? As soon as you buy a house. Duh?

A retired Ohio farmer named Phil told me this story of the best coon dog he’d ever seen. I believe it, of course! The dog was a blue tick hound that his father had trained. His dad was such an excellent trainer that he didn’t even have to go hunting with Blue; the dog would go by himself!

Click here to download a pdf of the latest Export Watch update, provided by U.S. Dairy Export Council. PD

Editor’s note: The following is a follow-up report to an article titled, “What does a gallon of milk cost?” published in 2009. Google made that article popular with consumers on www.progressivedairy.com; it has received more than 10,000 pageviews in the last two years. Click here to read Ben Yale's article from the September 1, 2009, issue of Progressive Dairyman. Following milk from the farm to the truck to the plant through the processing into the bottle onto another truck to the store and into the dairy cooler is easily understood. Following the money back from that cooler to the farm is a different story.

I am excited for the opportunity to write this article and provide business owners with valuable tax planning ideas. However, I am a CPA and many may question my qualifications for writing an article in Progressive Dairyman. So I wanted to start off with some instant dairy credibility by listing some of my impressive agricultural qualifications.

A recent Progressive Dairyman article on fluid milk sales contains several important points that all dairymen should understand. Click here to read Kaczor's article "Fluid milk sales head for 25-year low: Is anyone watching?" in the October 12th issue of Progressive Dairyman. I’d like to add several thoughts to the conversation. Milk sales analysis usually includes a statement to the effect that other beverages have “stolen our share” of stomach. The reality is, no one stole our share of stomach – we, as an industry, gave it away. Experience shows, again and again, if we give consumers what they want, where and how they want it, milk sales will increase.