The story of agricultural markets today is very similar to A Tale of Two Cities or, if you are willing to forgive the campiness, "a tale of two farm economies."

Fall began today, or tomorrow. I can’t be sure unless I check a calendar. It’s the autumnal equinox – the point at which the sun shines equally on both hemispheres of a tilted Earth.

The Jersey cow was the topic of a particularly inane conversation I was having at a casual work dinner. Then, it turned a little more interesting. I should say, it turned on me, and that’s what made it more interesting.

My oldest daughter, Cora, is 12 and is a solid cowgirl. She was invited to her first branding a few weeks ago – a rite of passage for any young cowgirl who doesn’t grow up on a ranch.

They say that any two people are six or fewer social connections away from each other. In agriculture, I’d swear it’s two.

Her dad shook her shoulder lightly. She slowly opened her eyes; the transition to the bright overhead light he’d flipped on was jarring. Then, she remembered with a quick rise of her pulse, it was Christmas. Had she slept in? Where were Clara and Ethan?

A refrain I’ve heard often from temperate climate dwellers is that they wish they lived in a place with seasons. I suppose we often yearn for what we don’t have, as I also dream of the continual warmth of mild days in San Diego.

At the intersection of tradition and innovation lies the future of dairy farming, which is increasingly intertwined with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. AI has emerged as a transformative force as the industry responds to marketplace pressures and technological advancements. While integrating AI in dairy practices presents challenges, it also offers significant opportunities.

Working hard works, well, until it doesn’t. And it doesn’t always work when my girls enter the show ring for the market judging class during the county fair.