Processing & Packaging

With the 2020 US election looming, the US dollar is expected to be volatile and affect global dairy. Pic: Getty/sergeyryzhov

Higher dairy prices are on the horizon

By Beth Newhart

As the year's fourth quarter wraps up, Rabobank's RaboResearch looks back on global dairy's performance in 2019, and ahead to 2020. Milk production and prices are up, leading to challenges for producers.

The Munson Rotary Continuous Mixer RCM36X9SS blends dry materials uniformly with or without liquid additions, rapidly and at low cost over long production runs with little or no degradation.

Munson Machinery debuts new mixer

By Jim Cornall

A new sanitary Model RCM36X9SS Rotary Continuous Mixer from Munson Machinery blends dry bulk solids with or without liquid additions, in-line at low cost over long production runs.

The deal is being reviewed by legal channels, and has not yet been signed by officials in either country. Pic: Getty/Christoph Burgstedt

US reaches new trade deal with China

By Beth Newhart

The US government announced a ‘Phase One’ trade deal on Friday that stipulates China will make substantial purchases of US goods and services in the coming years, including from agriculture.

Breeding technology practices can lead to increased milk production and environmental benefits.  Pic: Getty/Deb Drury

Fluid milk has room to grow with genomic testing

By Beth Newhart

The future of milk can evolve beyond organic, grass fed and a2 varieties with more widespread breeding technology, changing the way dairy farmers manage their herds, according to a new Rabobank report.

“Dairy farmers in Pennsylvania and across the US are in the fourth year of an economic downturn in which many farmers are struggling to break even.

Conservation pays on US dairy farms, even in a weak economy

By Beth Newhart

In a collaboration between the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and four Pennsylvania dairy farmers, a new report finds that conservation practices generally result in a farm’s good economic health. But farmers can’t do it alone.

Dean Foods is ‘engaged in advanced discussions’ with the Dairy Farmers of America regarding a potential sale of all company assets.

Dean Foods files for bankruptcy in Texas

By Beth Newhart

One of the most well-known dairy companies in the US is prepared to sell its business after years of disappointing numbers. The Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) may be a potential buyer of the Dean Foods assets.

 SIG said the deal will support existing customers in Asia.

SIG to acquire Visy Cartons in Australia

By Jim Cornall

SIG has reached agreement to acquire Visy Cartons Pty Ltd from VisyPak Operations Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Pratt Consolidated Holdings Pty Ltd, for AU$70m (US$48.2m), subject to customary conditions being met.

Lewis Road Creamery has permanently shifted all its bottles to rPET.

Lewis Road Creamery reducing plastic with rPET bottles

By Jim Cornall

New Zealand dairy producer Lewis Road Creamery has eliminated 210 tonnes of fresh plastic from its packaging cycle in the first 12 months of trialling bottles made from 100% recycled plastic.

“It’s impressive to see how this industry comes together. They don’t point fingers at each other, they work together.

DMI exec talks sustainability strategy after six months on the job

By Beth Newhart

After years of working under former USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden officially joined Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) in April of 2019. Her role as executive VP of global environmental strategy has put her focus on telling the sustainability...

Growing populations, westernization of diets and a preference for full-fat dairy are driving global cheese growth. Pic: Getty/Михаил Руденко

Winners and losers in a decade of global cheese trade

By Beth Newhart

More out of market investments and a strong US production base are bolstering cheese growth. Rabobank took a look at the global cheese market since 2010 in a recent report, and predicted what’s to come.

The lines support the design of solutions for stirred, set, drinking, concentrated and ambient yogurts.

Tetra Pak offers best-practice yogurt lines

By Jim Cornall

Tetra Pak has launched new best-practice lines for yogurt products - a suite of services to support a variety of yogurt innovations to address growing consumer demand.

Trade tensions between the US and China have finally started to ease, but US consumers might see the tariffs reflected in retail prices soon. Pic: Getty/Lumineux_Images

Dairy prepares for potential 2020 recession

By Beth Newhart

Global dairy markets are expected to remain firm through mid-2020, but Rabobank predicts that the second half of the year will be tighter in the face of a possible global recession.