SEATTLE -- After 70-some years and four generations of milking cows in Washington’s Snohomish Valley, the Bartelheimers were the latest in a long list of dairy families who have called it quits. But the long, low barns had been empty for less than a week last month when the cows came home again.Today, the dairy is in operation as one of four rented locations Jeremy and Jerald Visser are using to expand their herd.

Yes - Zippy Duvall, president, Georgia Farm Bureau - Americans enjoy the safest, most diverse and affordable food supply of any nation in recorded history. No - Brian Riedl, Grover M. Hermann Fellow in Federal Budgetary Affairs, The Heritage Foundation - Farm subsidies are outdated, unnecessary and unaffordable.

The 2011 all-milk price is forecast to average $16.10/cwt. to $16.90/cwt.

Gov. Jerry Brown appoints longtime agricultural advocate Karen Ross to head California’s Department of Food and Agriculture.

State ag director Katy Coba looks forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead.