How the dairy industry could benefit from a price stabilization plan “The volatility in dairy product prices and dairy producer milk prices is extremely difficult for dairy producers, milk processors and end users of milk and dairy products to manage,” the Holstein Association USA, Inc. (HAUSA) says in their Dairy Price Stabilization Program outline.

Should any growth management plan include a market access fee on all of the milk produced or just for the new milk produced? What should that price be?

Despite the brisk temperatures during the first week of January, more than 10,000 agricultural producers and industry professionals attended the Keystone Farm Show, held at the York Fairgrounds January 5 to 7.

Last year has been noted as one of the most economically challenging years in the last 30 years. In his last Dairy Day address before retiring as a University of Illinois Extension dairy specialist at the end of the year, Mike Hutjens reviewed lessons learned in 2009 and throughout his extension career. There was some good news for producers in the state. Illinois ended the year with the same number of cows as it had when it started.

Milk production per cow, according to the NASS Milk Production report released on December 18, for November was 1,679 pounds, up 25 pounds or 1.5 percent from a year earlier.

This informal survey is the fourth of its type. Many academics, practitioners and trade journals participated in helping put out the word. Finally, special thanks go to each and every one of the dairy producers who took the time to fill out the survey.

Last issue we discussed two possible plans to tax all the milk or just the new milk.

Proud to Dairy is very close to awarding its 300th member with a hat.

Philip Lobo Director of Feed Utilization at SmithBucklin/United Soybean Board in Chesterfield, Missouri Territory: USA