As the percent of farmers continues to decrease in proportion to the population, it seems the harder the ANTIs (HSUS, PETA, Sierra Club, name one) try to increase America’s dependence on foreign food just as they have done with manufacturing, energy, timber and steel. They have the foresight of a mayfly.

Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney met with New York dairy producers this week to discuss the lack of competition and unfair milk prices. The forum, held in Batavia, New York, drew about 200 people. Although Varney spent most of the meeting listening to about 25 dairy farmers and industry officials, she said her sector of the government was aware of the problem.

A bill that would allow farmers to sell raw, unpasteurized milk directly to consumers has moved out of an Assembly committee. The Rural Economic Development Committee approved the bill 8-1. The move clears the way for a vote in the full Assembly.

King Richard III, as many such monarchs do, made many enemies. Over time, one, Henry, gathered enough supporters and challenged Richard for the throne of England. Their forces met near Market Bosworth. While Richard’s forces outnumbered Henry’s, in the midst of fierce fighting, Richard is dehorsed. Shakespeare, in one of his greatest plays depicting this historic scene, has Richard cry out, “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” He gets no horse, he is killed and the kingdom lost, for want of a horse. Legend says his crown was retrieved from a nearby hawthorn bush and delivered to Henry, who became the next king of England, Henry VII, father of the more famous, Henry VIII.

The dairy industry, as with virtually all other agricultural commodity industries, can and will have volatile price cycles over time. These price cycles provide both challenges and opportunities in making financial decisions. We will examine these decisions from two broad producer perspectives: 1. The steady and growing dairy operation and 2. The liquidating dairy operation.

Shuffling through the mail on a daily basis is a menial, yet important task that can rarely be described as exciting. Every once and a while, however, an envelope flashes through your hands that grabs your attention: “You may have already won $10 million!” Ummmmm, yeah, right.