Dairy Markets Week in Review The cash dairy markets were mixed in the Good Friday holiday shortened week. Block cheese closed Thursday at $1.2350 per pound, down 4 1/2-cents on the week, and 60 cents below a year ago. Barrel closed at $1.17, down 9 cents on the week and 58 cents below a year ago. Twenty one cars of … Read More
IDFA Announces New Pricing & Updates on Educational Publications
Whether you are new to the dairy industry or just want to expand your knowledge of procedures and practices, there is an International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) publication for you! With newly updated educational resources and reduced pricing, IDFA is your prime source for dairy training manuals, operations resources and other important industry information. IDFA offers a wide range of … Read More
Hood Cuts Organic Producers
Dairy processor H.P. Hood has reduced its organic milk supply since late February by not renewing several Maine dairy producers contracts. Hood maintains that with the declining economy, the demand for organic milk has just not caught up with production, according to Hood spokeswoman Lynn Bohan. “Due to a softening in organic milk sales triggered by the recent economic downturn, … Read More
Kentucky Establishes Milk Commission
The state of Kentucky has created a state milk commission. The legislation was signed into law by Governor Steve Beshear on March 24. The next step is for Beshear to make appointments, which he is required to do by Aug. 1. The commission will be composed of consumers, retailers, processors, handlers or cooperative representative, producers and a representative from the … Read More
Foremost Farms Sells Two of It's Brands
Foremost Farms USA, one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the nation, has sold its Golden Guernsey and Morning Glory milk bottling plants in Waukesha and De Pere, Wis. to Dean Foods Co., a Dallas-based food and beverage distributor. The plants, employing 282 people, will continue operating and buying milk from area dairy farmers, according to Foremost Farms. The sale … Read More
Dairy Beef Quality Assurance
While at the Central Plains Dairy Expo last week, I was walking around the trade show and ran across a booth that was reminding producers about the Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Program. Sponsored by the Midwest Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Center and the Minnesota Beef Council and funded by America’s beef producer checkoff dollars, this booth reminded dairy producers that … Read More
Indiana Family Farms Have New Website
Here’s a great new website to help open the communication lines between non-farm neighbors and farmers in Indiana. Designed by ZimmComm for Gary Truitt, Hoosier Ag Today, the site is called Indiana Family Farms. There’s a special section to learn more and meet dairy producers. Check it out! Welcome to Indiana Family Farms. This web site is your personal introduction … Read More
ERS Predicts Milk Price May Raise Slightly
A small ray of sunshine for our country’s dairy farmers – the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) has raised its predictions for milk prices. In its March “Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook” report, ERS economists write, “As a result of higher cheese and butter prices than forecast earlier, the prices for Class III and Class IV milk have been raised … Read More
U.S. and Canada to Standardize Organic Rules
The U.S. and Canada have agreed to finalize negotiations on organic equivalency standards between the countries by this summer, according to the Organic Trade Association. Until now, Canada has had a hotchpotch of different voluntary and mandatory organic certification in place in different provinces across the country. The new Organic Products Regulations, due to be implemented on June 30, will … Read More
Hispanic Fresh Cow Workshop
I polished up on my Spanish skills as I listened in on the Hispanic Fresh Cow Workshop at the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls this Thursday. This forum was tailored specifically for the Hispanic dairy employees, and the workshop was presented by Jorge Luna, Fresh Cow Reproduction Manager at Pfizer Animal Health. Luna told the group that it … Read More