News

USDA took steps to boost low milk prices and expand dairy consumption through $148 million in Section 32 purchases announced Feb. 19, pledging to buy a balanced, effectively targeted mix of dairy products, including the [Read More …]

Farm Credit Mid-America to Return $280 Million to Customer-Owners in March 2026

Patronage distribution in March brings the total capital returned over the past decade to more than $1.75 billion. At a time when farmers continue to navigate tight margins, elevated input costs and ongoing market uncertainty, [Read More …]

Farmer sentiment rebounds, but future expectations continue to slide

Farmer sentiment improved modestly in February, as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose by 3 points from January to a reading of 116. The increase was driven by a stronger assessment of current conditions; the [Read More …]

New Trade Deals Include Key Dairy Priorities

Following significant engagement from NMPF and the U.S. Dairy Export Council, the United States signed new trade agreements in February with Indonesia, Taiwan, Argentina and Bangladesh that strengthen export opportunities for America’s dairy farmers. These [Read More …]

Annual Scholarship Program Now Open for Students Pursuing Careers in Dairy

The PA Dairymen’s Association and Dairy Excellence Foundation Are Offering Twelve $3,000 Scholarships The annual Student Leader Scholarship program is now open for undergraduate students, including college students and high school seniors, who are pursuing [Read More …]

FDA Finalizes Cottage Cheese Exemption

After nearly a decade of back-and-forth, FDA announced Feb. 19 that Grade “A” cottage cheese is getting an exemption from FDA’s Food Traceability Rule. This exemption from the added traceability requirements tied to foods on [Read More …]

Real California Milk Launches 8th Annual Search For Best Pizza

Recipes Featuring California Cheese & Dairy The 2026 Real California Pizza Contest features two dynamic categories, eight finalists, and $18,500 in prize money. The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) has officially launched the eighth annual [Read More …]

AgWest Farm Credit supports aspiring producers with $15,000 grant program

AgWest Farm Credit, a cooperative lending association dedicated to championing agriculture, has launched the application window for the AgWest New Producer Grant. Designed to help motivated producers get started in agriculture, the grant provides $15,000 [Read More …]

Indiana Farm Bureau touts policy wins after General Assembly wraps

A unique legislative session At the conclusion of the 2026 Indiana General Assembly on Friday, Indiana Farm Bureau celebrated several legislative successes for Hoosier farmers. “This was a truly unique legislative session for Indiana across [Read More …]

IDFA Names Adam Tarr Vice President of Legislative Affairs

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today announced that Adam Tarr has been named Vice President of Legislative Affairs, effective March 9. Tarr brings 20 years of federal policy experience spanning Capitol Hill, the U.S. [Read More …]

Thank A Farmer

Have you ever heard someone speak that you feel secondhand embarrassment for? You know that moment—that moment when you are listening to someone who is definitely not an expert try to give an expert opinion. Politics, child-rearing, fashion, whatever the topic, there is a cringe-inducing comment [Read More …]

Meet The Young Farmers Driving The Future Of Dairy Farming

At Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), the future of dairy farming starts on family farms, and increasingly, with young farmers stepping into leadership roles on their operations and making everyday decisions that help shape the [Read More …]

Share a photo of your farm family for National Ag Day

With National Agriculture Day quickly approaching, we’d like to share photos of the dairy farm families that call Pennsylvania home – and contribute so much to our communities, economy and entire agriculture industry. With so many multi-generational [Read More …]

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in Dane County, Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has identified a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a backyard poultry flock in Dane County. DATCP and the U.S. Department of Agriculture [Read More …]

Hurricane Helene Block Grant Applications Open March 16th, 2026

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper announced that Georgia farmers, ranchers and foresters in eligible counties that have suffered losses in timber, infrastructure, poultry, beef cattle, dairy cattle, milk loss, dairy feed loss, pecans, blueberries, [Read More …]

Young Agriculture Leaders Encouraged to Apply for WFBF Awards

Applications are now available for Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Agriculturist program’s Farming for the Future, Outstanding Agriculture Professional and 35 Under 35 awards. The Farming for the Future Award recognizes members who own or work on a [Read More …]

Zoetis to Acquire Animal Genomics Business from Neogen®, Accelerating Precision Animal Health Innovation

Acquisition strengthens Zoetis’ leadership in Precision Animal Health by integrating Neogen’s global genomics capabilities, expanding predictive insights and individualized care worldwide. Zoetis Inc. the world’s leading animal health company, today announced it has entered into [Read More …]

Dairy Producers Invited to Get Hands-On Training in Animal Care

The Workshops Will Be Held on PA Farms for Hands-On Training in National FARM Areas To help dairy producers and their employees boost their skills in key animal welfare areas, the Center for Dairy Excellence, [Read More …]

VIDA – Monthly Life and Wellness Training for Hispanic Farmworkers

FREE Educational Series to Support Health, Financial, and Workplace Skills Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development (CAWD) along with NY FarmNet, the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH), and Cornell Small Farms’ Futuro en [Read More …]

Nomination Period Open for Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Board of Directors Election

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is accepting nominations for nine seats on the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW) Board of Directors. Nominations will be accepted from February 27 through March [Read More …]

World Ag Expo® Celebrates Successful 2026

The 2026 World Ag Expo gathered attendees and exhibitors from around the world in Tulare, California, for the world’s largest annual outdoor agricultural exposition. Over 100,000 attendees joined the 2026 World Ag Expo, with a [Read More …]

Dairy Margin Coverage: A Vital Backstop Showing Its Limits

Milk markets have softened over the past year. The U.S. all-milk price averaged roughly $19 per cwt in December 2025, down more than $4 since January, while butter and cheddar prices fell 47% and 28%, [Read More …]

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in Jefferson County

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has identified a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry flock in Jefferson County. DATCP and the U.S. Department of Agriculture [Read More …]

Water Board Letter to Modesto-Area Dairies; Lagoon Storage Capacity

Editor’s Note: The California Dairy Quality Assurance Program (CDQAP) recently published its February update, which can be read in its entirety here. Dairies, Cattle Ranches to Receive Early March Letter from Water Board Regarding New [Read More …]

18 Active HPAI Control Zones in Lancaster & Dauphin Pennsylvania Counties

There continues to be an uptick in highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Pennsylvania-based poultry operations. There have not been any reported cases on Pennsylvania dairy farms. However, dairy farms that fall within the 3km [Read More …]

CentralStar scholarship open; applications due June 1

CentralStar Cooperative is now accepting applications for its 2026 scholarship program, offering up to seven $1,000 scholarships to support students pursuing agriculture-related education. Applications must be submitted by June 1, 2026, and are available at [Read More …]

Are the Gains in Milk Production Paying Off?

The prior posts reviewed the amazing gains in producer productivity. Increases in butterfat components, increases in protein components, and increases in milk per cow. In each of these areas the increases were continuous over [Read More …]

Trade Progress Poised to Reel in Revenue