MilkLine Newsletter

A few weeks ago FarmFirst staff was asked by a dairy magazine writer “In a word, what’s the mood as 2021 gets under way?” Our response, “Uncertainty.”Uncertainty can be uncomfortable and challenging, yet these circumstances often lead us to grow the most. Uncertainty also challenges us to dig deeper for solutions when new issues arise, […]

A new year is always a source for optimism and hope that next 365 days are going to be better than the last. After last year, many of us are saying “how can 2021 be any worse?” with all the trials and tribulations we faced in 2020.

The holidays are upon us, and while this year has been anything but normal, it is still important to celebrate this special season. It is a time to reflect on all that we are most grateful for and honor annual holiday traditions the best that we can, given the circumstances.

Like many of you, over the past several weeks I have been spending many hours in a tractor seat. These weeks are long, but if you recall, last year was much more challenging and tedious in getting crops out of the field and wrapped up for winter. We were still combining in December! I am

Farmers in Newhall, Iowa weren’t very familiar with the term ‘derecho’ and what kind of impact it could have on their dairy farming operations. However, on what was seemingly a typical August day, a few dairy farmers quickly realized the power and fury of a ‘derecho’ as their farms experienced unprecedented damage from the summer

All the FarmFirst staff are surely going to miss the opportunity to visit with all the FarmFirst members and Family Dairies USA patrons that attend World Dairy Expo and stop by our booth each year. World Dairy Expo is always a great time to recap what happened over the spring and summer and discuss what

One of the most interesting things I have observed during this pandemic is how so many consumers returned to the basics. Their decision was not always a personal choice or desire, but perhaps out of necessity. Take bread, for example. Not only were shelves cleared out during the panic buying that ensued when states issued

On March 10, I flew to Washington, D.C. to attend the National Milk Producers Federation Board of Directors meeting and do my normal lobbying after the meeting to discuss dairy issues with Congressional members from the Upper Midwest. When I first got to D.C., the coronavirus was just starting to become a concern to the

This is one of my favorite quotes from the beloved Harry Potter book series, and its sentiment is particularly true during these current times. I’m sure there’s a group of people in this world that have found a great amount of happiness from social distancing and being able to stay home with their family. To

Plain and simple, COVID-19 has more than upset the apple cart of supply and demand in dairy markets,it has chopped the whole orchard down. Videos of milk being dumped and vegetables being plowed under leave us in agriculture speechless. We know the work, long-term plans and coordinated effort that is required to produce the food