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As people who live in rural areas, we are all used to the potholes that jar our vehicles and rattle our teeth. Likewise, the financial statements that measure the position and performance of our dairy businesses have potholes that are sometimes difficult to navigate.

Work on a dairy farm can be hectic. A lot of your success and efficiency is tied to clarity on who does what and when. Consider creating more energy when you understand what I call the family roles guide.

With sustainability becoming ever more a focus in the food system, the urgency of creating practical ways to achieve something meaningful is increasing. The calls for progress are growing from customers, communities and regulators. And they want proof.

The COVID-19 pandemic taught and continues to teach numerous lessons to those of us in the dairy industry. We found out in March 2020 that the processing and packaging part of the industry could adapt but was not very nimble in doing so.

The lack of volatility in the grain markets from 2015 to 2018 really lulled a lot of people to sleep. Most dairy producers had all but forgotten about the prices paid for feed between 2012-14 and became very accustomed to seeing corn futures bounce between $3 and $4 per bushel with minimal movement.

The World Dairy Expo has special meaning for 34-year-old Holstein breeder Ryan Sonnenburg.