Texas and New Mexico combine to produce about 10% of the U.S. milk supply, with about 80% of that total produced in northwest Texas and eastern New Mexico. Although the distance between them is short, in some ways dairy producers in the two states are seemingly a canyon apart.

Winding its way north through the central U.S., Interstate 29 is a major artery connecting Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota.

Starting 2022, few states are home to more dairy cows than they were a year ago. Based on the USDA’s semi-annual Cattle report, Wisconsin is one of them – up 15,000 head from a year earlier.

Like many other major dairy states, last year’s story about cow numbers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio was written in two chapters. There was growth early in the year before numbers tailed off as base-excess programs and higher feed costs put lids on production.

The current outlook for milk prices is creating cautious optimism among dairy producers in the Southeast. Beyond that, however, the mood turns more precarious, scarred by the recent past and clouded by uncertainty for the future.

As a keen showmanship class heats up, it is common for judges to “break the tie” by asking a question. As we have mentioned in previous articles, these questions should not be open-ended such as “tell me about your heifer,” but specific questions that require a well-thought-out answer.

With apologies to English singer-songwriter Adele, a look back at 2021 could be characterized by a line in her song titled “Hello,” reflecting dairy’s current relationship with past conditions and times.

As we look to a new year, whether you are just beginning a show season or just ending one, it’s a great time to look ahead to 2022 and what you would like to achieve.