spartans – Behind the Mic

Wrapping up June Dairy Month posts, let’s take a look at what Michigan’s dairy industry is really doing in terms of dollars and cents. This is a great article summarizing 2011 from MSU Extension News –

Following the economic devastation in 2009, many Michigan producers began reinvesting in their operations and growing cow numbers and total milk production. According to a report by DairyBusiness Communications in June 2012, Michigan ranked eighth in the U.S. for total milk production in 2011, contributing 8.48 million pounds to the country’s 196.25 million pounds. While Michigan ranked sixth in the nation for milk per cow at 23,164 pounds, production per cow was down 113 pounds in 2011 compared to 2010.

The U.S. dairy cow herd grew in 2011 by 75,000 up to 9.194 million head. In Michigan, the herd grew from 2010 to 2011 from 358,000 to 366,000 head, contributing to a 1.7 percent increase in milk production (8.48 million pounds). Although total cow numbers have grown in Michigan, the number of commercially licensed dairy farms (grade A or B), has continued to decline. Between 2010 and 2011, 70 herds in Michigan either went out of business or were merged, leaving 2,160 herds selling milk in Michigan. This is consistent with a U.S. trend of 3.1 percent loss from 2010 to 2011, and 17.1 percent decline from 2006-2011. Michigan is slightly less than the U.S. trend at 14.6 percent commercial dairy herd decline since 2006 (Michigan had 2,530 dairies in 2006).

Although the largest herd size in the Midwest, Michigan’s average herd size is slightly below the U.S. average of 179 head at 169 head per herd. This number is up 43 cows per herd since 2006.

Record high milk prices in 2011 boost producer cash receipts from milk marketing (gross income) to a record $39.5 billion for the U.S., up 26 percent from 2010. Michigan ranked eighth in the U.S. for milk marketing receipts totaling $1.77 billion. Michigan’s all milk price for 2011 averaged $21.00/cwt., giving an average income of $4,864/cow/year, third highest in the nation (Florida averaged $5,062/cow and Washington averaged $4,911/cow). The average U.S. cow generated $4,322 in 2011, up from just $2,660 in 2009.

For more information, read the USDA’s full report.

Continuously being opposed, the Michigan State University ag students have a passion. What may have started with protesting PETA, has turned into what I’m sure young agriculturalists everywhere are doing: using social media to spread the word of hard working farmers and work to educate and inform those who are misinformed.

A college that was founded as the first land grant in the country to support agriculture and the needs of Michigan’s farmers, today still fills seats with passionate sons and daughters of hard working farmers. While from time to time it may seem as the university gets in the way of itself, the students and alumni that call the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources home get it right.

Turn to the opinion page in the college newspaper The Statenews, attend events where agricultural is being threatened, and most recently, tune in to radio stations that make outlandish comments about the work of farmers. They’re young, bright and passionate. They are the future that is going to feed the world, teach their children values and work every day to make the world a better place.

As another crop of CANR students graduates this week from MSU, they are ready and willing to take on the world. Through all the trials and tribulations, these Spartans stand tall. As agriculturalists, they’re praying for a good season, hoping for a promising future, and working day by day to endure the hardships of life.

Congratulations to my fellow Spartans, your journey in life is just beginning and I wish you all the best of luck! I believe in the future of agriculture, it’s young, bright and passionate.