When you travel through Vermont, tree-lined farms and hills dominate the landscape. Throughout this patchwork lies hundreds of producers that, until now, have been cut off from the advancing world of manure digestion, simply because people have said their operations are just too small. With the backing of a renewable energy company, Avatar, and a desire to prove everyone wrong, Dr. Guy Roberts is about to change the face of anaerobic digestion and its implications for smaller operations.

Agricultural practices have become more intensive to provide for the nutritional needs of an increasing human population and as a response to economic pressures on individual farms. Higher production levels are possible on farms through the use of chemically fixed fertilizer and feeds imported to farms from other regions. However, such practices also may increase the potential for losses of reactive nitrogen to air and water.

Recent events have reminded me that we all share one very interconnected dairy world. Take the latest milk production statistics, for example. In August, milk production was up 3.6 percent over last August with more than 11,000 more cows milking than in July. The statistics don’t lie. Milk prices are up, and dairy producers can afford to keep cows in their herds longer. So what are some doing – adding cattle and/or planning for expansions. This month’s issue contains several articles that address preparing to grow or expand a dairy business. Last month, Texas saw its own expansion as Hilmar Cheese’s new processing plant came online (see page 30). The open house and first shipments of milk into the facility have had more than just the locals talking for months. It will most likely still have the rest of the industry trying to gauge exactly how much the dairy industry in west Texas and its panhandle will continue to grow. Also, these past few weeks I’ve been following with increasing interest news about the Social Security Administration’s plans to send out more than 140,000 letters informing employers that they are employing someone whose Social Security number doesn’t match the agency’s database. The plans are difficult to keep up with. What was supposed to be a mail date in September was postponed. (See page 4 for more details). It’s anyone’s guess how the plans will turn out now. By the time you receive your copy of this issue, the legality of the administration’s proposal may have changed again. If a court order against sending the letters is lifted, see page 14 for more information about how to protect yourself and do all that you can to retain your employees. So with these and other issues (high feed prices, labor availability, etc.) still looming, there’s certainly not a dearth of things to talk about heading into World Dairy Expo and the fall trade show season. I hope the market’s high milk prices will allow you to splurge for a day off the dairy to meet with other producers. Attendance at trade shows can most certainly relieve emotional stress as you talk about industry issues with others. But they are also a place to learn about (and drool over) new technology and equipment. If you’re in Madison, stop by Booth #441 in the Arena Building. We’re giving away a free trip to see the other side of the dairying world – World Ag Expo in Tulare, California – in 2008. And if I don’t see you there, look for me outside the Badger Dairy Club’s tent, eating a grilled cheese sandwich. I’ve yet to find in this world a food made with dairy products that I like more than those sandwiches. PD

The saying goes, “You can’t have your cake and eat it, too.” Sometimes we’re faced with the tough decision of choosing one action or the other rather than getting everything we want. Fortunately, when it comes to making money and keeping cows healthy on your dairy, things aren’t as complicated. You can have your tasty treat, by reaping more profits in your milk check, and savor it too, by ensuring rumen health and good protein nutrition for your herd.

Growers and producers have had to deal with an ever-increasing amount of regulations. The Social Security No-Match letter has the potential of becoming one of the most devastating challenges American agriculture has faced in decades. If this regulation is truly enforced, and if provisions for immigrant labor are not streamlined or established, farm operators will be scrambling for labor. The words “labor shortage” will take on a whole new meaning.

A universal goal of progressive dairy producers is to maximize milk production from healthy cows. But when you ask these same producers what and how they feed their cows to produce that milk, the diversity becomes clear. Producers choose strategies that fit their dairy conditions and their management style.

Editor’s note: The following is a follow-up article to last issue’s discussion about career opportunities for students interested in studying the dairy industry. The author has made his best attempt to update the average incomes for various dairy careers to reflect current market conditions.

Exactly 18 months after its groundbreaking ceremony, Hilmar Cheese Company in Dalhart, Texas, hosted an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony in September.

Now is the time to capitalize on high milk prices and make up for the low milk prices of 2006. By developing a marketing strategy to lock in long-term cash flows, producers can offset low milk prices that are certain to return following the effects of high prices, which include improved profitability, herd expansion and milk supply growth.

Research and practical on-farm experience over the years has shown us that grouping cows according to age, nutritional needs and milk production at specific stages of the lactation can provide an economic benefit to many dairy farms. The dairy farmer who’s able and willing to group cows can do a more efficient and effective job of managing his herd. It opens the door for fine-tuning of feed rations, which has the potential to increase overall lactational performance and maximize income-over-feed-costs (IOFC) for individual groups. Properly formulated feed rations targeted for specific stages of lactation will result in a more productive and healthy cow.