Dairy Farmers

 “We want an ongoing relationship with China. We are in this for the long haul.

USDEC positive after China visit in spite of new tariffs

By Beth Newhart

Over the weekend, US president Donald Trump put into effect a new round of tariffs on Chinese goods, while the US Dairy Export Council (USDEC) visited Chinese officials to preserve its relationship with China.

“It is vital that consumers have transparency and awareness of the quality dairy products available to them.

‘Mozzarella’ protected for global cheese use

By Beth Newhart

The European Union’s effort to take sole ownership of common cheese terms based on origin has ended in an agreement, protecting the fate of ‘mozzarella’ around the world.

DBA ‘policy picnics’ bolster member engagement

DBA ‘policy picnics’ bolster member engagement

By Beth Newhart

This summer, the Dairy Business Association (DBA) has hosted ‘policy picnics’ in collaboration with the Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative. The member events brings together the dairy community during a time of economic stress.

The St. Albans board of directors will become part of DFA’s Northeast Area Council. Pic: Getty/Georgy Rozov / EyeEm

DFA closes merger with St. Albans Co-op

By Beth Newhart

The Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) started the process of merging with the St. Albans Cooperative Creamery in June; the deal closes this week.

“The details we announced today ensure farmers will not stand alone in facing unjustified retaliatory tariffs.

USDA releases new farm aid details

By Beth Newhart

A $16bn aid package for US farmers was first announced in May. Last week Secretary Sonny Perdue gave more details about how and when the funding will be divided up.

The merger created 35 local jobs and the dairy will house nearly 4,500 cows.

Ohio dairy partnership will supply Danone

By Beth Newhart

McCarty Family Farms and VanTilburg Farms have teamed up to open a new dairy in Mercer County, Ohio, which will supply milk to Danone North America.

DFA chose its accelerator startups based on innovation potential and

DFA wraps up accelerator and merger deal

By Beth Newhart

In late June the Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) started a merger with St. Albans Cooperative Creamery. It also held the Demo Day for six agriculture and dairy startups in its third annual accelerator.

Fair Oaks Farms is one of 30 farms that provide milk to fairlife.

Fairlife and Coca-Cola deal with Fair Oaks abuse fallout

By Beth Newhart

Last week, an undercover video surfaced showing severe calf abuse at Fair Oaks Farms. The Indiana-based farm supplies milk to ultrafiltered milk brand fairlife, which is a Coca-Cola Company partner. Several retailers have pulled the products from shelves...

Five years ago, whole milk only accounted for 30% of retail milk sales. It’s now up to 40%. Pic: Getty/DragonImages

Can whole milk make a comeback?

By Beth Newhart

The National Dairy Council (NDC) has been involved with the fight to bring back whole milk for several years, investing in research on its health benefits.

The DBA met in Madison to discuss the future of Wisconsin's dairy community. Pic: Getty/Sean Pavone

DBA announces legislative and budget priorities in Wisconsin

By Beth Newhart

The Dairy Business Association (DBA), an organization of the Wisconsin dairy community, outlined its legislative and budget priorities for 2019-2020 at a Dairy Day this month, taking place at the Capitol in Madison.

Dairy concerned by Trump Mexican border closure threats

By Beth Newhart

Last week President Donald Trump announced plans to close the southern US border, effectively ending trade with Mexico. He has since changed his mind and now given Mexico ‘a one-year warning’ with further threats of tariffs.

Governor of Washington Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency with more snow on the way. Pic: ©GettyImages/Kayla Teske

1,600 dairy cows are dead after Washington blizzard

By Beth Newhart

The Dairy Farmers of Washington (DFW) has reported that more than 1,600 cows perished during an unusually heavy snowstorm in the Yakima Valley region of Washington State. The significant loss further burdens an already-struggling industry.

Overall US cheese production likely reached 13 billion pounds in 2018. Pic: ©GettyImages/ShotShare

US cheese surplus not an 'unusually enormous amount'

By Beth Newhart

Last month, the American Dairy Coalition (ADC) called attention to the record 1.4 billion pounds of surplus cheese currently in US cold storage. But it may not have a simple solution, or even be as big of a problem as the public thinks.

“This bill is a strong start to addressing the issues our producers are facing right now, particularly our dairy farmers.

Pending farm bill has big implications for dairy

By Beth Newhart

The US is close to passing a landmark $867bn farm bill after months of negotiation and compromise. It has already passed the Senate and the House and is expected to be signed into law by President Donald Trump within the coming days.

“The Creamery is filled with unique storylines, from its heritage in cheese-making to its all-new dairy experience attraction.

DFA opens ‘The Creamery’ retail store in Utah

By Beth Newhart

The Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) has completed the anticipated update and expansion of its cheese store in Beaver, Utah. The new retail location opened its doors this month.

Foodbytes! dairy participants like SomaDetect and dropnostix are using AI and sensors to improve cow health and milk quality.

FoodBytes! returns to NYC with pioneering startups in milk quality

By Beth Newhart

Rabobank brings another FoodBytes! competition to New York City this month with 19 food and agriculture startups in line to pitch investors, executives and media on their innovations. AI and health monitoring dairy teams are among the group.

The new system eliminates costly, error-prone manual work. Pic: ©GettyImages/seraficus

Dutch cheesemaker grows with Infor M3 software

By Beth Newhart

Rouveen Kaasspecialiteiten has partnered with software company Infor to improve its cheese quality, tracking and tracing as well as build out production capabilities.

DFA and Mopro will work together to increase product distribution and build brand awareness.

DFA invests in high protein Greek yogurt company Mopro

By Jim Cornall

In an effort to drive demand for dairy and support industry growth, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a national cooperative, has announced an investment in Mopro Nutrition, a high protein, low sugar, whole milk Greek yogurt infused with whey protein combined...

SomaDetect can alert dairy farmers to individual cow health issues to prevent certain diseases from developing. ©GettyImages/jenoche

SomaDetect technology brings transparency to dairy farms

By Mary Ellen Shoup

SomaDetect, a dairy technology startup measuring milk quality and cow health, will launch its business in the US with a new office and pilot program with 10 dairy farms in the State of New York in early January 2018.

Dairy farmers are voluntarily making a positive contribution to water issues, a new report says. Pic: ©iStock/naruedom

NZ dairy farmers tackling water issues, says new report

By Jim Cornall

An independently-audited report into New Zealand’s dairy farmers’ environmental challenges says ‘significant progress’ has been made in the three years since a water accord was adopted, but more progress is needed, according to the country’s Green Party.

A farm trial in New Zealand is looking into using farm effluent to create fish food.

Cow shed effluent converted to fish food

By Jim Cornall

DairyNZ and Bay of Plenty Regional Council held a public open day on a dairy farm near the New Zealand coastal community of Katikati to demonstrate the on-farm trial of a process to convert dairy shed effluent into fish food.

The EFRA report looks at threats facing the farming industry. Photo: iStock - Matthew Dixon

EFRA report recognizes threat to dairy farmers

By Jim Cornall

While the GDT (Global Dairy Trade) price index was up this week, UK milk prices were cut again. In response to the calls for action, a UK government committee report has acknowledged the threat to farmers.

ICOS dairy committee chairman, Jerry Long, ICOS president Martin Keane and ICOS CEO Seamus O’Donohoe at the launch of the ICOS “5-5-5” proposal

ICOS proposes 5-5-5 plan for dairy farmers

By Jim Cornall

The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), the umbrella body for the co-operative movement, has launched a new proposal aimed at combatting extreme income volatility in the dairy sector. 

Westland is dropping its payout predictions for 2015-16.

Westland lowers pay-out predictions

By Jim Cornall

Westland Milk Products, New Zealand’s second biggest dairy co-operative, has announced a drop in its pay-out predictions for 2015-16, saying a forecast 15 to 25% reduction across all commodity products for the remainder of the season is the driving force...

Milk production in Zimbabwe has improved, but farmers still want government support

Zimbabwe milk production rises

By Jim Cornall

Milk production has increased by 11% this year as more farmers join the dairy production industry, a Zimbabwe government official has said.