October 2005

A new initiative ("Hoard's has heard" section, Hoard's Dairyman, Oct. 10, '05 ) reports on iDairy. "Plans now are to begin by helping dairy farmers register their farms with a state premise ID. Individual animal ID will follow with a goal to have all dairy cows identified well before the 2009 deadline. Concern has been that, without an organization representing the entire dairy industry participating in National ID talks. Dairy could have its hand forced by other animal industries that have more coordinated leadership. The hope is that iDairy will give dairy a major voice in animal ID discussions and keep the industry ahead of USDA deadlines." IDairy's website is http://www.idairy.org/.

Fewer and Fewer People are Buying Dairy Products ("Editorial Comment," Hoard's Dairyman , Oct. 10, '05 ). " . . . we're referring to the number of people who actually place orders for dairy products to be sold in stores. It is a way of recognizing the incredible degree of consolidation and concentration that continues to redefine our food marketing system. Wal-Mart now sells 25 percent of all food sold in supermarkets and 18 percent of ALL FOOD sold at any type of retail outlet. And this does not include Sam's Clubs. . . . This situation puts incredible power in the hands of relatively few buyers. Those who market finished products for co-ops or other dairy processors have their work cut out for them."

From the milk house to the State house ( Hoard's Dairyman, Oct. 10, '05 ) profiles three dairy producers who have "found rewarding careers in politics." The first person profiled is Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff, who "is also the owner of Pen-Col Farms, a well-known 400-herd dairy in Millville , Pa. " Also profiled are Wisconsin state senator Sheila Harsdorf and Rep. Devin Nunes, a congressman from California .

Consider Hiring a CFO recommends the "Profit Tips" section of Dairy Herd Management , Oct. '05 . "When growing your business, consider hiring a chief financial officer to take over som eof the management responsibilities that you used to handle. . . . Adding a CFO to your team gives you great financial metrics." Read the complete article at http://www.dairyherd.com/directories.asp?pgID=677&ed_id=4896&component_id=807 (free registration required).

Grow Your Management Team is another "Profit Tip" in Dairy Herd Management , Oct. '05 . "Bring in a herdsman, a chief financial officer and others as your business grows to make sure that your management capacity can effectively manage the size and scope of your growing business." Read the complete article at http://www.dairyherd.com/directories.asp?pgID=677&ed_id=4903&component_id=807 (free registration required).

5 Signs That Business Growth is Surpassing Your Management (Dairy Herd Management , Oct. '05) . Author Shirley Roenfeldt quotes David Kohl, professor emeritus of agriculture and applied economics at Virginia Tech, who says, "The earliest warning signs that a business is growing faster than your management ability show up on the 'soft' side of the business. . . . Issues like communication, employee relations or even family stress . . . . Some managers don't recognize a problem until an episodic event happens, such as a heart attack, or half the labor force walks out. Or, another person points it out." Five warning signs are given with the recommendation that you "sit down with a trusted adviser and look for the . . . warning signs." Read the entire article at http://www.dairyherd.com/news_editorial.asp?pgID=675&ed_id=4949 (free registration required).

More Farmers Now Eligible For PIDA Financing (Country Focus , PA Farm Bureau, Oct. '05). "A recent change in rules has expanded the number of farmers who could be eligible for affordable financing through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA). . . . The money can be used for purchasing land or buildings, or construction or renovations which result in creation or retention of jobs. . . . At a PIDA board meeting last month . . . the board voted to change the eligibility test for farmers from at least 25 full-time employees to having at least $100,000 in annual gross sales. The change has expanded the number of potential applicants from 116 to approximately 9,500 according to National Agricultural Statistics Service figures. . . . PIDA loans begin at $200,000 which is where the Small Business First program . . . is capped . . . . Applicants must create or save one job for every $35,000 of PIDA loan funds over three years. Thus, . . . an applicant has to be creating or saving at least six jobs to make it worthwhile to go through PIDA rather than Small Business First." Find information on PIDA loans at http://www.newpa.com/programDetail.aspx?id=49 and on Small Business First at http://www.newpa.com/programDetail.aspx?id=33 .

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