I am sitting in a large classroom at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI). Around me are about 70 adults.

If you’re buying much feed from off-farm sources, you are well aware of higher feed prices.

Last issue we promised to deliver you more information about how to capture the opportunities and remain profitable during this current dairy market downturn.

In response to declining milk prices, dairy cooperatives and organizations are seeking congressional support for relief in a federal economic stimulus package. Letters have also been sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reignite some of its economic support programs.

Dairy cooperatives across the country are doing what they can to provide services and benefits to their members. They are implementing different processing and marketing methods, cutting their own expenses and offering tools to members to improve their individual operations.

Dairy financial consultant Bob Matlick writes journal entries after participating in regular conference calls with Jon Spainhour, a dairy market analyst at Rice Dairy, and his dairy producer clients. He says most times he writes what he is thinking. Sometime in late October last year he remembers scribbling the thought: “Oh, *&^%!”

In January, I sent an e-mail to contacts throughout the industry requesting comments about what dairymen are doing to effectively cope with the industry’s current difficult economic situation.

Progressive Dairyman asked dairy producers and allied industry at Managers Academy Jan. 20-22 in Orlando, Florida, the following question: “What strategies will your business employ or recommend to keep dairies strong through 2009?”

As we look at the current economic environment, both in the dairy industry and nationwide, it can be easy to become pessimistic and downtrodden. However, now is a critical time for dairy producers to seek and obtain professional and objective consultation.

Milk market regulations are like a balloon, poke it here and it pops there. Fights over dairy policy are about where and how deep to poke and who gets the pop. Milk payment timing is one of those pokes and pops. Consider this: It is the 15th of the month, and the final check for the previous month has not yet arrived.