North American dairy giant Saputo Inc., Montreal, said overall efficiency influenced its decision to simply close a Hinesburg, Vt., cheese plant damaged by fire on September 29, 2008. Saputo said the closure affects about 80 workers, some of whom would be offered other posts within the U.S. Dairy Products Division. . . . Dairy Farmers of America Inc., Kansas City, Mo., said it expects by May 2009 to complete a $21 million expansion to its Fort Morgan, Colo., plant. Officials say the move willl boost the operation's milk processing capacity by 2 million pounds per day. The expansion will add four fluid shipping and receiving bays; a new processing area to house equipment, including a reverse osmosis system to concentrate milk; $1.5 million in upgrades to a milk powder dryer; and $4.4 million in waste treatment improvements.