It is not news to any farmer that events around the world impact the market and the price the farmer receives for what is sold. Dairy and beef producers have seen a number of headlines that may affect them in the coming year. The Butler County Dairy Service Unit is pleased that Brian Roe, Ohio State University extension specialist, livestock economics, will address some of these headlines at their annual meeting on Tuesday, January 24 at noon.

The removal of 64,000 dairy cows from production, the majority from the western or southern plains states, under Round 3 of the Cooperatives Working Together will yield an estimated 1.2 billion-pound reduction in annual milk production.

According to the USDA Livestock Slaughter report released in November, the number of dairy cows harvested through October trails a year ago levels by 102,000.

A study by Landell Mills, a British dairy consulting firm, forecasts that demand for globally traded dairy commodities will increase to 6.1 million tons, 22 percent, by 2010. The United States may get a portion of this increased demand.

The Japanese are, on a limited basis, eating U.S. beef again. Japan had, before the blockage of U.S. beef into that country, been the country that purchased more beef than any other. In 2003, the last year cattle were exported to Japan and Korea, 1.9 million cattle were exported to these two Asian countries.

A condition of the agreement to allow beef back into Japan is that it must be less than 21 months old. A calf will need to gain more than two pounds per day, from birth to harvest, to meet this requirement. These are interesting and exciting times if you are a bovine producer.

The Dairy Service Unit invites beef and dairy producers from the tri-state area to learn more about how the markets may go next year. The meeting will be held at the St. Aloysius Catholic Church on Chapel Rd. in Morgan Township.

Cost for the roast beef dinner prepared by the ladies of the church is only $5 thanks to the contribution of the Central Ohio Breeders Association. Call 513-887-3722 by January 19 for reservations.

Published in the January 4, 2006 issue of Farm World.