Baler Brown, age 3, seems destined to become a fourth-generation dairy farmer. Every evening after her bath, when she’s in her pajamas, Baler runs to the front door and flaps her arms in excitement. She’s ready to help prep the milking parlor.

November 2017 U.S. milk production grew just 1 percent compared to the same month a year earlier, with weak growth in milk output per cow applying most of the brakes. Nationally, cow numbers remained at a six-month low.

The boards of directors of Koepon Holding BV and Cooperative Resources International (CRI) have reached agreement on a plan to merge their organizations, the companies announced in a press release.

Digest Highlights: Dairy co-op deduction added to tax reform bill. Cooper stepping down as GM at FarmFirst. Dairy exporting will be competitive. Find a summary of these and other news here.

While the long-term outlook for agriculture is bullish, dairy producers face short-term financial challenges, Rod Wautlet, Agri-Business Consultants LLC, told producers attending the 2017 Vita Plus Dairy Summit, Dec. 6-7, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Basis – the amount received from a milk buyer above the monthly Federal Milk Marketing Order Class III minimum price – has been shrinking.

Recently, many dairy producers have seen their revenues decline as a result of milk check deductions. Dairy risk managers who want to protect their profitability must account for these deductions as they calculate their forward margins and consider adjusting existing margin management strategies.

Milk prices improved somewhat in 2017, but price announcements don’t tell the whole story. Market deductions are cutting into the totals dairy farmers actually receive in their milk checks.

We know dairy farmers have limited time to participate in events, so we design the Dairy Strong conference to give you the best return on your time and money.

At Farm Credit East, we are often asked about equipment purchases – what constitutes a “major” equipment purchase, how to plan for them and whether to buy new or used. Paul VanDenburgh, an experienced credit officer and tax specialist, recently provided his insight on some of these frequently asked questions.