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Dairies’ soaring feed expenses put 2011 on a record-setting track.

South Woodstock -- Vermont FarmsteadCheese Co. started producing cheese only in January and didn’t begin distributing until June, but it’s already struggling to keep up with customers’ requests.

The miniature donkeys that graze at the Mount Laurel homestead of U.S. Rep. Jon Runyan became political fodder as soon as the former Eagles tackle announced his candidacy in 2009. Under a New Jersey law designed to protect farmers from soaring property taxes, Runyan receives a 98 percent tax break on most of his land because he keeps donkeys and sells firewood. Democrats attacked Runyan, whose median net worth is estimated at $7 million, for taking advantage of a farm program to avoid paying the full tax rate on 20 of his 23 acres. Two years later, tax breaks for the wealthy are drawing even sharper criticism as Congress fights over how to spur the sluggish economy and manage the country’s debt.

The Milk Import Tariff Equity Act would simply ensure that milk protein concentrates are regulated at the same level as other dairy products.

Dairy manufacturers’ group says the proposed dairy legislation does not “significantly improve the short-term and long-term fiscal imbalance” of government’s budget.

This month’s announcement that Thiel Cheese & Ingredients of Hilbert was acquired by the Irish Dairy Board might have struck some people as a bit odd. Have the Irish run out of dairyfarmers or lost their historic knack for making cheese?Fear not. Cheese-making in Ireland is in tip-top shape, as they might say in Dublin. The purchase of a Wisconsin company by the Irish Dairy Board, a commercial cooperative, represents a strategic investment in a high-quality partner with strong research and innovation tools. For Thiel Cheese and its 66 employees, it means better access to markets in North America and abroad.

Executives shared how working through the dairy checkoff and its Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy helps drive dairy sales and protect dairy’s image.

These high producing herds netted $1.35/cwt in October, based on a milk price of $19.96/cwt, corn at $6.28/bu, soybean meal at $280/ton and alfalfa at $190/ton.

The farm bill process could revert to “normal,” meaning it could require hearings from the Ag Committees and mark-up procedures that have been part of all farm bills.

Implementing Johne’s control measures must become a part of daily routine, and followed year after year.