Hot summer days are no longer meant for a vacation from school. Instead, those three months prepare many dairy and agriculture students for a full-time career in their respective industries.

100% USA label hopes to attract loyal consumers “Made in China,” “Made in Brazil,” “Made in Vietnam” are all-too-common phrases found in the American household. From the sweatshirt in the dirty laundry to the orange juice in the fridge, many consumer goods are imported. Dairy products, such as cheese ingredients and powdered milks, are being brought into the U.S. for further processing and sales. According to the USDA, last year nearly $1.6 million was spent on imported dairy products.

So you’ve been going to school for four years; the bothersome question of “Where will I go next?” continues to linger.While many classmates will return to the home farm or adhere to an industry professional role, choosing to pursue a higher education may provide you with an array of opportunities.

There are 313 million people living in the U.S. Of that 313 million, only 2 percent are directly involved in agricultural production, and few more understand the importance of it for the sustainability of our country.

Summer is in full swing, and it is more important now than ever for dairy producers and nutritionists to know how to plan for and manage heat stress.

As policy makers edge closer to releasing rules for the new Margin Protection Program (MPP) for dairy producers, introduced in the new farm bill, many questions still remain.

Editor's note: Some of this information was presented in the March 12, 2014 InFocus department of Progressive Dairyman. Organic dairy farms account for nearly 23 percent of all dairy-farming operations in Vermont. “We are seeing an increase in organic farming across the state,” said Dr. Robert Parsons, an agricultural economist from the University of Vermont. Since the 1990s, Vermont has seen a steady increase in organic dairy farms. Currently, the state is home to some 900 dairy farms, 210 of which operate under USDA Organic protocols and regulations.