I have been thinking about carbon. This particular atom is profoundly important for organic life and the sustainability of life. In plants, carbon is about half of the total dry weight. Carbon dioxide is the precursor to organic carbon assimilation in plants; we know this as photosynthesis. This reaction, driven by solar radiation and the change in energy of electrons, is easily the most important chemical reaction on the planet’s surface. We call this the biosphere.

The bankruptcy of New York City milk distributor Beyer Farms threatens to kick off a domino effect that could also topple Elmhurst Dairy, the only milk-processing plant left in New York City, according to executives. Elmhurst Vice President and General Manager Jay Valentine told The Post that Beyer’s collapse slashed 20 percent of his company’s revenue overnight.

An article published recently in the Journal of Dairy Science suggests that breeding programs could select cows that emit less methane per unit of milk produced if appropriate selection traits are identified. Enteric methane is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions associated with milk production, according to research commissioned by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. A large portion of the variation in the amount of enteric methane produced by dairy cattle is inherent genetic variation among individual cows.

EPA chief Lisa Jackson has announced that she will leave her cabinet position after President Obama's State of the Union address, planned for late January. An Associated Press article summarized Jackson's three-plus years in the role: "Jackson, the agency's first black administrator, constantly found herself caught between administration pledges to solve controversial environmental problems and steady resistance from Republicans and industrial groups who complained that the agency's rules destroyed jobs and made it harder for American companies to compete internationally."

The American Jersey Cattle Association has announced that for the first time in history, it has recorded 100,000 animals in a single year. The previous record for Jersey registrations – 96,174 set in 2011 – was broken early in the day on Dec. 26, attesting to rapid expansion of the Jersey population across the U.S. “This is a milestone for not only the association and its members, but also for the Jersey breed worldwide,” said Neal Smith, the association's executive secretary and CEO.

A new campaign focuses on the hard-working dairy farm families and the nutritious products they produce. Named “Dedicated to Dairy,” the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association Inc. campaign includes multi-media efforts featuring regional dairy families and their stories. Who better to tell the story regarding the dairy industry, its impact on local communities and the vital role this industry plays in providing consumers with a quality product than the dairymen themselves?

Alan Clark Verona, Wisconsin Executive Director Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium

Heather Weeks Carlisle, Pennsylvania Extension Educator – Dairy Profitability Penn State Extension