The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, established under the leadership of dairy farmers and leading companies, announced its eighth annual U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award winners during a May 8 ceremony in Rosemont, Illinois. The program recognizes dairy farms, businesses and partnerships whose practices improve the well-being of people, animals and the planet. Award winners represent U.S. dairy’s commitment to sustainability, demonstrating how transparency …

Krysta Harden, former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has been named Executive Vice President of Global Environmental Strategy of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI). At a time when telling the story of U.S. dairy’s positive environmental contributions has never been more important, Harden will be tasked with driving the dairy checkoff’s environmental sustainability strategy.   “Dairy farmers …

The judges have been selected for The 67th All American Jersey Shows, sponsored by the American Jersey Cattle Association of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. The largest exhibition of Registered Jersey™ cattle in the world, the three shows of The All American, will be held November 9, 10 and 11, 2019 in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky. Keith …

The Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2019 Stakeholders Summit kicked off today with record attendance, bringing 335 food and agriculture stakeholders to Kansas City, Missouri. The event, themed “A Seat At The Table,” started with a consumer focus group led by Anne-Marie Roerink of 210 Analytics. Six consumers were asked about their meat purchasing habits, including how much price, taste, appearance, animal …

WASHINGTON, April 30, 2019 — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced today the availability of a new web-based tool– developed in partnership with the University of Wisconsin – to help dairy producers evaluate various scenarios using different coverage levels through the new Dairy Margin Coverage(DMC) program. The 2018 Farm Bill authorized DMC, a voluntary risk management program that offers financial protection …

USDA extended the deadline to May 17 from May 1 for agricultural producers to certify 2018 crop production for payments through the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), which helps producers who have been significantly affected by foreign tariffs, resulting in the loss of traditional exports. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) extended the deadline because heavy rainfall and snowfall have delayed harvests …

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that the February 2019 income over feed cost margin was $8.22 per hundredweight (cwt.), triggering the second payment for dairy producers who purchase the appropriate level of coverage under the new but yet-to-be established Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program. DMC, which replaces the Margin Protection Program for Dairy, is a voluntary risk management program …

Background The Quota Implementation Plan (QIP) provides that anyone seeking substantive amendments or termination of the QIP must do so by submitting a petition to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (Department) signed by at least 25 percent of market milk producers. The QIP does not specifically outline the procedures or process for a petition received by the Department. …

(Washington, D.C., April 12, 2019)— U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the implementation status of the 2018 Farm Bill. President Trump signed this Farm Bill into law on December 20th, 2018 and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) promptly began implementation of key programs. USDA held several listening sessions with stakeholders and the public, specific to each agency’s …

The Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) is designed to support education and extension activities and practice enhancement initiatives that will enable veterinarians, veterinary students, veterinary technicians, and veterinary technician students to gain specialized skills and provide practices with additional resources (e.g., equipment, personnel) needed to more effectively mitigate veterinary service shortages in the U.S. Ultimately, this program will bolster the …