On the farm, kids have endless opportunities to be hands-on and involved from a very young age. Farm kids grow up to be responsible, capable individuals, and often are mature beyond their years.

Editor's note: CEO Corners are editors' compilations of business news from top publications, which they have tailored for the dairy industry. The cover story of this week’s Bloomberg Businessweek (April 3, 2017, issue) tells the story of a company with an unlikely parallel to the dairy industry.

Dairy Marketing Services LLC (DMS), the marketing arm of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), has provided about 700 independent Northeast dairy producers with a timeline to find another milk market or join the cooperative.

What started out as a year of milk price optimism is turning into a nightmare for some dairy farmers. Two recent announcements have producers in the Midwest and Northeast facing the reality they must find new markets for their milk.

It begins with an idea Brian Devereaux of Orem, Utah, grew up around the dairy industry working for his father at TDLogix Inc. His father, Todd Devereaux, is a dairy equipment dealer and still is an innovator in programmable logic controls.

A federal judge approved a settlement agreement limiting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) release of information related to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

Ninety-seven percent of all U.S. farms are family-owned farms, according to the USDA. It’s a rarity for people from outside the ag industry to take an interest in farming or dairy, and when they do, it takes a lot of work to break into the industry and put down roots.

As farmers put 2017 cropping plans into action, softening dairy markets continue to require attention on dairy risk management strategies too, according to Alan Zepp, risk management program manager at Pennsylvania's Center for Dairy Excellence (CDE).

Breaking free of the dairy market fundamentals’ grip that choked 2015-16 producer income is proving difficult. Optimism for 2017 remains, but U.S. milk prices were held in check by growing supplies and weakening dairy product prices in February.

Calf nutrition programs come in all shapes and sizes, and every calf raiser has unique goals. The best calf nutrition program is one that delivers the best results to meet your specific goals.  “We understand that calf raisers’ goals are not all the same. Regardless of your goals, it’s important to provide calves with the right nutrition at the right time, every time,” says Sara Sievert, director of commercial business development at Milk Products, manufacturer of Calf Solutions® products. “Calves can face a variety of unique challenges. Look to a flexible line of calf nutrition and health products to help your calves feel and perform their best while also meeting your business needs.”