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Milk consumption in the U.S. has plummeted to its lowest levels since 1970, according to the USDA. What used to be a serving of 1.5 cups per day in the 1970s is nearly half that today, a mere 0.8 cups.
Some believe the decline in consumption is due to milk’s taste and the numerous alternatives available, while others assume the prevalence of lactose intolerance.
“Whether it’s in corporate America, private or even on the farm, you never know what is going to happen,” says Jerry Kozak. “Everyone needs a management transition plan.”
Last December, Kozak sat down with Progressive Dairyman’s managing editor, Walt Cooley, and described his involvement in the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) as CEO; a position he held for 16 years. In the interview, Kozak mentioned the success he believed he had as he helped Jim Mulhern transition into the leadership role.
Family-run dairy farms account for nearly 97 percent of the total dairy farms in the U.S., producing 85 percent of all milk products sold, according to the USDA.
What makes up the remaining 3 percent of dairy farms? Corporate-owned dairy farms. One of those corporations operates in the southeast corner of the country.
Idaho is the country’s fourth-largest dairy state, where the average herd is 620 cows. Exploring further into the state, you’ll find that Cassia County, located in the Magic Valley, is home to nearly 54,000 milking cows.
It’s then no question as to why producers there are showing interest in automated, centralized feeding systems to reduce feed loss and improve efficiency on the farm.
Throughout a cow’s life cycle, the transition period is the most critical stage to maintain so that she may be productive during the subsequent lactation, but it is often the trickiest for commercial dairy producers to manage.
Turbulent transition periods will limit profitability of the cow for her entire lactation by decreasing milk yield and reproductive success while causing an unforgiving amount of health problems.
Dairy farming is a pricey business, no matter the size.
Data collected by the Center for Dairy Profitability estimates that the average dairy farm uses 800 to 1,200 kWh per cow of electricity each year.
Fresno State University dairy tests pilot system
You’ve probably heard the horror stories about drinking water and streams being contaminated by dairy wastewater.
Fortunately, while regulations have tightened, the technology to treat and re-use wastewater from dairy farms has expanded. The latest innovation is a sustainable, energy-efficient approach that uses worms and their castings (manure) to generate clean, re-usable water.
It would seem fair to say that dairy farms are beneficial to their local communities. Not only do they provide a nutritious food source, but have contributed nearly 900,000 jobs nationwide.
On the contrary, could dairy farms have negative effects on our livelihood?
One Sunday morning this past spring as the rain continued to fall and the sun was nowhere in sight, family, friends and peers of John Klossner trudged through the muddy grasses of the University of Wisconsin – Madison campus for the Inaugural Dairy Dash.
They were headed to the philanthropic 4K race that was held in memory of John, a brother of Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) fraternity’s Madison chapter, who tragically passed away last August from a brain injury suffered at the state fair.
