Numerous projects approved in first round of funding focus on dairy producers and commodities.

Digest highlights
• FARM Program seeks comments for Animal Care Version 5 revisions
• ‘Dairy’ major recipient in first round of USDA ‘climate-smart’ project funding
• Darigold building $600 million dairy protein, butter facility
• Checkoff competition focuses on calming benefits

Whoever said ignorance is bliss has never been on the losing end of an idiotic situation that could have been avoided with a little more tact and a lot more education. Ignorance, as defined by Merriam-Webster is a “lack of knowledge, education or awareness.” I don’t know about you, but I have seen a lot of that lately, whether it’s on social media, the news or a conversation with someone who happens to stand on the other side of the fence from me on everything from politics and social issues to the correct doneness of steak – all I’m saying is that you shouldn’t be able to play hockey with it.

Alarming news articles recently divided the country into “habitable” and “unlivable” zones, based on scientists’ climate change weather predictions. In essence, as the planet and country warm, the prime habitable zone in the U.S. moves north toward the Great Lakes region and the Canadian border. What used to be colder Northern regions (too cold for a long growing season) will now be prime production areas, and the present prime Southern and Midwest farm and ranch lands will become too hot and dry for sustained production or human habitation.