1	Regional Competitiveness: A Southeast Perspective 31^st Annual Southern Dairy Conference, Atlanta, GA, 2/15/2005
2	Outline Trends in U.S. dairy production Comparison milk production economics Southeast – other regions in U.S. What do we need to do?
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6	Year 2000 Economic Comparison: Challenges Are methods the same? Is data representative for region? Averages don’t say it all.
7	Milk Sales / cwt ($) Florida / Georgia North Carolina New York Arizona New Mexico South. California San Joaquin Val. Wisconsin Idaho
8	Total Revenues / cwt ($) Florida / Georgia North Carolina New York New Mexico South. California Wisconsin Arizona San Joaquin Val. Idaho
9	Feed Cost / cwt ($) New York Idaho San Joaquin Val. New Mexico South. California North Carolina Arizona Florida / Georgia Wisconsin
10	Labor Cost / cwt ($) New Mexico San Joaquin Val. Idaho Arizona South. California North Carolina Wisconsin New York Florida / Georgia
11	Total Cost / cwt ($) Idaho Wisconsin South. California San Joaquin Val. New Mexico Arizona New York North Carolina Florida / Georgia
12	Revenue – Cost = Net Income / cwt ($) North Carolina Wisconsin Idaho South. California Florida / Georgia San Joaquin Val. New Mexico New York Arizona
13	Assets / Cow ($) Wisconsin North Carolina New York Florida / Georgia Arizona San Joaquin Val. South. California Idaho New Mexico
14	Rate of Return on Assets (%) Florida / Georgia Idaho North Carolina New Mexico New York South. California Wisconsin San Joaquin Val. Arizona
15	Economic Comparison Summary Southeast compared to other regions: Higher revenue / cwt Higher cost / cwt Competitive profitability Considerable variation between farms in Florida / Georgia. Opportunity for well-managed herds.
16	What do we need to do? Opinions of leaders in the Southeast dairy industry:
17	I. Production Efficiency Educate dairy producers how to maximize their resources: Focus on cost control. Utilize what is already known about cow comfort, nutrition, genetics, reproduction, and production of quality milk. Develop the technology and management systems to contribute to milk production by reducing costs through: Determining optimal crop and forage fertilization programs including the development of subtropical grasses. Develop economically viable and environmentally sound weed and exotic plant control practices. Improve feed efficiency to achieve proper balance of milk production with minimal nutrient excretion. Better understanding of the role of feed supplements in heat-stressed conditions and their effect on digestion of feed stuffs. Supplementation options and practices. Grazing systems.
18	II. Reproduction, Genetics Evaluate reproduction using a systems approach in addressing: Reproductive efficiency. Calving dates and seasons. Calf and heifer development. Genetics: Continuous studies of breeds and breeding programs; crossbreeding.
19	III. Environment Gather new baseline data on dairy farms and their effect upon: Air quality. Water quality. Water Use Practices for maximum milk production and water conservation. Develop a viable education program that: Assists the public’s understanding of the importance of agriculture. Educates dairy producers in Best Management Practices. Develops guidelines for use of bio-solids and analysis of their environmental impact. Analyze methane production systems used for: Cooling. Hot water generation. Electricity generation. Solids drying. Rapid composting.
20	IV. Housing, Equipment Total confinement; tunnel barns Bedding options for comfort and management The role of milk equipment in mastitis control and overall milk quality.
21	V. Economics Economic strategies to protect the local milkshed: Production incentives for local milk production. Federal order pooling strategies to protect local milk production. Models for de-coupling of fluid milk pricing from manufacturing prices.
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24	Change in inventory of dairy cows from 1992 to 1997
25	Average farm real estate values per acre on January 1, 1999
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