Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan has announced more than $19 million in grants have been awarded to universities across the country to solve critical organic agriculture issues through the integration of research, education and extension projects. Merrigan announced the funding in Portland, Maine, and was joined by representatives from the University of Maine, the local grant recipient which is conducting … Read More
Senate Panel Hears From Dairy Producers
Senate Agriculture Committee members this week heard directly from dairy producers, industry groups and processors about what can be done to address the current economic crisis in the dairy industry. Proposed short and long term solutions ranged from the government buying more cheese to complete restructuring of U.S. dairy policy. Eric Ooms, a producer from New York, told the panel … Read More
Supermarket News Examines Pros, Cons of COOL
Fresh Market Editor Matthew Enis with Supermarket News dives into the pros and cons of labeling dairy products in grocery stores. He offers up some interesting insights, and this is your opportunity to share your opinions, as well. Link here to read the entire column and voice your opinion in the comments section. Earlier this month, U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown, … Read More
Dairy Stimulus Helps Local Farmers
Kim Souza at the Morning Business News recently reported on the dairy stimulus that will soon be assisting local farmers. Last week, President Barack Obama signed a stimulus packaged for emergency funding, and the dairy producers will get a share of this stimulus package to aid in struggling times. Read on for more information… Local dairy farms will soon share … Read More
President Obama, Secretary Vilsack Push For Dairy Products in Schools
This is positive news for school kids and dairy producers alike. Reuters recently published an article about the praise International Dairy Foods Association has been giving President Obama and USDA Secretary Vilsack for their push for more dairy products in school lunch and breakfast programs. Kudos to these government officials for understanding the importance of dairy in growing children! Here … Read More
NMPF Applauds USDA Decision
National Milk Producers Federation‘s (NMPF) long-term objective of limiting the pricing advantage enjoyed by the largest farms that bottle their own milk is about to be realized with the decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to close the loophole for the largest such bottlers. In a decision published Wednesday in the Federal Register, the USDA recommended that the producer-handler … Read More
Vilsack Discusses Dairy in South Dakota
Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin hosted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Monday for a Rural Issues Forum at the farm of Jim and Barbara Hundstad in Bath, South Dakota. An estimated 300 South Dakotans attended the forum where representatives of farming and ranching organizations along with area producers had the opportunity to ask questions of Rep. Herseth Sandlin and Secretary … Read More
Dairy Assistance Considered by Congress
The new fiscal year for the U.S. Department of Agriculture began October 1, but this week a 30-day continuing resolution was passed after an amendment by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was included to allocate $350 million in emergency dairy assistance under the budget. The measure adopted by the conference committee specified $290 million for direct payments and $60 million for … Read More
Milking Parlor Podcast from World Dairy Expo
World Dairy Expo Photo Album World Dairy Diary coverage of World Dairy Expo is sponsored by: This edition of the Milking Parlor podcast focuses on the Dairy Price Stabilization Program proposed by Holstein Association USA as a way to address the current dairy industry economic situation and minimize milk price volatility for the long term. I spoke with John Meyer, … Read More
Dairy Farmers, Task Force Grapple With Policy Reform
Dave Lefever with Lancaster Farming wrote an article titled, “Dairy Farmers, Task Force Grapple With Policy Reform,” and it highlights the efforts of dairy producers in dealing with dairy policy reform. Stay up-to-date on the issues and check out this informative article. Dean Jackson’s dad told him that a roomful of farmers would never agree on a solution to a … Read More