Markets & Management

Thirty years ago, dairy farming was never easy, but the milk check seemed to stretch a little further – or at least felt less volatile. A load of milk helped cover feed, fuel, labor, repairs, and the next round of bills. Today, that same check is asked to do far more while its value rises and falls with cheese, butter, nonfat dry milk (NFDM), exports, and national milk production. Dairy producers have responded with tremendous gains in productivity, efficiency, technology, genetics, and herd management. That progress provides a strong foundation for navigating tighter margins and building dairy’s next chapter.

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