submitted by Dave Mollenhoff; photo by Margaret Murphy
“Everything in Wisconsin’s dairy industry has changed!” That was the keynote hit by Daniel Smith, the president and CEO of the Cooperative Network, in a clear and well-organized talk to the club on Wednesday.
You must understand the scale and depth of change in the last 40 years—1978 to 2018—he began. The number of dairy farms dropped from 47,000 to 8800. The size of the average dairy herd increased from 36 to 140. Milk production soared from 11,735 to 23,725 pounds at the same time the number of cows dropped from 1.8 to 1.2 million. (Some cows are producing 200 pounds of milk per day!) And all of this occurred at a time when milk prices fluctuated by 75%.
These changes were driven by advancements in technology, genetics and nutrition, changes in the cost of credit, farm consolidation, specialization, and access to international markets.
What have we gained from this revolution? Smith asked. We Americans enjoy the lowest cost of food in the world, the most productive farms, and a consistent, safe, and dependable supply of food—all of which freed up millions to pursue non-farm occupations.
What have we lost? His answers included 40,000 farm families, thousands of farm-related businesses, family-focused husbandry, and a sense of who we are as a nation.
The transformation of Wisconsin’s dairy industry has been fueled by a five-year slump in prices, rapidly increasing infrastructure and equipment costs, intense global competition, and an aging farm population. (Today, the average age of a dairy farmer is 58.)
Looking ahead, Smith warned that highly mechanized, vertically integrated agriculture was already evident in poultry, hogs, and grain and that dairy farming was rapidly moving in this direction.
If you missed our meeting this week, you can watch the video here.
Tom Lynch, Director of Transportation for the City of Madison, began his presentation by acknowledging the significant contribution of 13-year Director of Metro Transit, Chuck Kamp, for his energy and foresight in bringing the system into the future. Mr. Lynch then shared important aspects of Madison’s transportation system and its future.
Christian W. Overland has been the Director of the Wisconsin Historical Society since his appointment in February 2018. He came to Madison from sixteen years in various positions at The Henry Ford Museum, in Dearborn, Michigan.
Being a past Rotarian when he was a private citizen, Governor Tony Evers opened with some personal observations. First, he applauded the audience for their civic mindedness and stressed the importance we play as role models for our young people. Second, he talked about the small private liabilities of being in a major public position. For instance, he asked how do you sell a car? It took him and his wife over a month to figure that out. In summary of his private life, he said, “I try to figure it out; not worry; keep steady.”
Rotary Club of Madison, Wisconsin 