Soda, Water, and Milk

An AP story on America's drinking habits caught my eye earlier this month:

America's new love: Water (by Candice Choi) Americans now drink an average of 44 gallons of soda a year, a 17 percent drop from the peak in 1998. Over the same time, the average amount of water people drink has increased 38 percent to about 58 gallons a year. Bottled water has led that growth, with consumption nearly doubling to 21 gallons a year.

I think that people are looking for something healthier than soda and by the rate of increase in water consumption I believe they are willing to change their habits.  While in 2011 Americans only drank 20.2 gallons per year, milk could be the healthy alternative to soda that people are looking for. The handout below from SUDIA really illustrates the uniqueness of milk.

Dairy products can meet the wants and needs of consumers. Milk is more than an alternative to sodas and cokes, it is nature's most perfect food.

Hot, Dry Weather On the Farm

Many people notice heat and lack of rain by how green or brown the grass is in their yard, but this has a more dramatic affect on dairy farms. When it is hot cows can slow down in milk production which directly influences the farmer's income. To help offset the heat we make sure our animals have access to shade and plenty of fresh water.

Hot, dry weather also can put a strain on crops. We have some mid summer crops we'd love to plant, but until there is rain we can't put the seed in the ground. Likewise with our corn, when there is little moisture the plants will twist in the heat while patiently waiting for the rain. The dry weather has been good for putting up hay as it can be quickly mowed and baled, however 2cd and 3rd cuttings will not come if there's no rain.

One of our local television stations and my extension agent came to my farm this week to highlight how the weather is affecting farmers.