La. Dairy Farmers Feeling Optimistic

Louisiana dairy farmers are feeling a little more optimistic this year. High costs of feed, fuel and fertilizer and the low prices farmers were getting for their milk had been cutting deeply into farmers profits, but things have improved recently, says LSU AgCenter dairy researcher Mike McCormick. LSU researchers are working on ways to help dairy producers who are struggling with their finances, says McCormick. Louisiana's main dairy-producing area includes St. Helena, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes. McCormick says those parishes are not well-suited for producing corn for feed, though. (Louisiana has about 165 dairy producers, and about 25,000 dairy cows.)