The U.S. dairy industry endorsed bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reform a powerful White House trade tool to ensure it is used as intended by Congress to respond to genuine national security threats. Rolling back current retaliatory tariffs and keeping others from forming in the future is the dairy industry’s top trade priority. America currently sends 16 percent of its dairy …
Study Shows Trade Agreements by Competitors will Threaten U.S. Dairy Exports to Japan
A study released by the U.S. Dairy Export Council projects that new trade agreements between Japan and other countries will put U.S. dairy exports at a competitive disadvantage, resulting in lost U.S. sales of $5.4 billion over 21 years. The Japanese dairy market, the fourth-largest export destination for U.S. dairy exports, is expected to continue to grow in years to …
Dairy Industry Research Shows Consumers Thoughts on Plant-Based Milk Imitators
New consumer research supported by the dairy industry shows Americans widely disapprove of dairy terms being used by fake-milk producers, as well as confusion on the nutritional content of milk versus plant-based imitators. The national survey conducted by a global market research and consulting firm, found only 20 percent of all consumers said plant-based beverages should be labeled milk, as …
Louis Dreyfus to Exit Dairy Business
Louis Dreyfus Company this week announced it would exit its small dairy business as part of an overhaul to revive growth at the agriculture commodity company. The dairy unit represents for roughly one percent of the company’s revenue in 2018, and was previously earmarked as a unit to be sold. The company says the exit will have “practically no impact” …
Dairy Prices May Be Ready to Rise in 2019
Milk prices haven’t exactly jumped higher early on in 2019. A Drovers’ report says dairy farmers are in need of a market rally after years of low prices. However, at least some relief may be coming this year. Bryan Doherty, VP of Stewart-Peterson, tells Drovers that dairy is a tough market to be in right now because there’s too much …
Milk Production Dependent on Annual, biological Rhythms
The amount and composition of milk produced by dairy cows appears to be more regulated by internal, annual biological rhythms than by environmental factors. A new study released by Penn State University found peak yield, fat concentration and protein concentration occurred in winter months, when days are shorter, and lowest in summer months, when days are longest. And the amplitude …
Food Banks Struggling With Too Much Milk
A USDA program designed to buy and distribute almost $50 million in dairy products is overwhelming food pantries in Iowa and Illinois. An Associated Press article says River Bend Foodbank CEO Mike Miller says about 80,000 half-gallons of milk will be sent to food banks across the Quad City (Iowa) region through March. The large rise in milk donations comes …
Second Round of Trade Aid Payments Underway
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is moving forward on the second and final round of trade mitigation payments to farmers hurt from retaliation by America’s trading partners. Commodity producers are now eligible to receive market facilitation payments (MFP) on the second half of their 2018 production. USDA has been sending out the first round of MFP payments to producers …
Celebrating National Eggnog Day
Cathy Isom lets us know about the festival holiday drink dating back hundreds of years that’s being celebrated today. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.  National Eggnog Day is observed once a year on the day before Christmas. Also known as egg milk punch, eggnog is a very popular drink throughout the U-S during the holidays. Eggnog is …
USDA Highlights Benefits of Improved Dairy Safety Net Tool
More than 21,400 dairy producers opted for coverage through the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) in 2018, up by more than 2,000 producers from the previous year. This U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program was significantly updated in February by the Bipartisan Act of 2018, and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said those changes attracted more producers to enroll in the safety …