ARTICLE: "'Saudi Arabia of Milk' Hits Production Limits: New Zealand Dairy Thirsts for Capital, A Big Issue in Food," by Patrick Barta, Wall Street Journal, 8 May 2008, p. A1.

The industry wants to raise $1 billion internationally, but the hold-up is getting 11,000 individual farmers in co-ops to agree. Big trick is getting independence-minded farmers to accept more outside say in how they do things.

New Zealand risks plenty by not being able to take advantage of this rising global demand, because if it doesn't, then others will—eventually.

The revealing quote from a farmer's union: "Farmers didn't build up this bloody great asset to throw it away."

Saudi Arabia of Milk you say? In more ways than one. Same narrow-minded fear of outside capital, so a preference to underutilize and dominate a smaller pool that build up a larger pool that makes everyone richer while meeting and sustaining rising international demand.

Why the love of small farms? It's all about jobs and maintaining small towns.

Sounds like the India of Milk—in love with the village.

I say we pump up California and Wisconsin and crush the competition globally.