Organic milk production has soared despite volatile profit margins

Rising feed and operational costs are outweighing strong returns for organic dairy farmers.

By Nathan Owens • Sept. 17, 2024

California’s first bird flu cases in dairy cows magnifies production risks

Avian influenza has reached the top milk producing state in the nation, raising concerns about a lack of testing among farms.

By Nathan Owens • Sept. 12, 2024

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Top 5 stories from Agriculture Dive

Declining farm income and other production challenges have pushed farmers to rethink their operations and adopt new technology in a bid to diversify potential revenue streams. 

By Agriculture Dive staff

Can a farm bill pass in 2024?

Threats of yet another government shutdown are likely to derail a last-ditch effort to pass the agricultural spending bill. The election itself could lead to further delays.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Sept. 11, 2024

Farm income to fall far less than expected in revised USDA forecast

The department is no longer expecting a record profit drop in 2024 as production expenses decline and rising meat and egg prices boost the livestock sector.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Sept. 6, 2024

Farmers are getting less for their crops. Here’s the full breakdown.

While prices in July were sharply lower compared to a year ago for most commodities, meat and dairy producers benefited from lower supply.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Sept. 5, 2024

Are shoppers’ concerns around food inflation starting to ease?

While consumers feel they have “more or less control” over their grocery finances, they are still worried about rising food costs, new FMI research found.

By Peyton Bigora • Aug. 30, 2024

Bird flu vaccine for US dairy cattle is one step closer to reality

The USDA approved the first safety trial for a vaccine and is working to address potential trade complications that could come with an immunization rollout.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Aug. 29, 2024

Record ag trade deficit to widen in fiscal 2025: USDA

The latest projections come as farmers experience lower crop prices, driving a decline in export values.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Aug. 28, 2024

Western Valley cleared to buy Cargill’s Fresno beef plant, but must provide job protections

California is requiring the meat producer to operate the facility for at least one year, saying a closure would limit dairy farmer options on where to send their cows.

By Nathan Owens • Aug. 27, 2024

Lifeway Foods family feud heats up as shareholders push CEO to resign

The brother and mother of Julie Smolyansky are accusing the executive of steering the company off course.

By Chris Casey • Aug. 16, 2024

Rocket fuel chemical detected in fruits, dairy and meat: Consumer Reports

The group said while perchlorate was detected in two-thirds of nearly 200 food samples, it was not “acutely dangerous” and didn’t exceed EPA guidelines.

By Christopher Doering • Aug. 9, 2024

USDA makes another $300M available to boost ag trade

The department is releasing more money in the absence of a new farm bill, which farmers were hoping would help address a record trade deficit. 

By Sarah Zimmerman • Aug. 6, 2024

Milk production is increasing despite fewer dairy farms

Large farms are getting more out of their cows through advancements in technology, as smaller operations struggle to keep up.

By Nathan Owens • July 30, 2024

More human bird flu cases confirmed in Colorado, raising US total to 14

The state is a hotbed for domestic human infections as variations of the virus spread to other parts of the world.

By Nathan Owens • July 29, 2024

White House unveils guidance on slashing methane, super pollutant emissions

The U.S. is taking new steps to better track and reduce the greenhouse gasses in industries including agriculture.

By Zoya Mirza • July 26, 2024

Danone partners with Microsoft to scale AI projects

The dairy giant said it aims to upskill 100,000 of its workers as part of the tech-driven collaboration.

By Chris Casey • July 25, 2024

Nestlé develops technology to reduce fat in dairy ingredients

The food and beverage giant said the process cuts fat in milk powder by up to 60% without compromising on quality, taste and texture.

By Christopher Doering • July 24, 2024

Sixth human case of bird flu in Colorado confirmed

A seventh case is pending confirmation after a worker was exposed to infected chickens at a separate farm in the state.

By Nathan Owens • July 23, 2024

Snacking propels annual dairy sales to $76B: CoBank

Consumer interest in cheese, yogurt and other refrigerated dairy items has grown as the shoppers become more averse to processed foods.

By Chris Casey • July 23, 2024

A TikTok ban could hurt farm groups’ efforts to reach Gen Z

Meat and dairy industries have poured millions of dollars into promotional campaigns to reach younger audiences.

By Nathan Owens • July 11, 2024

Colorado poultry farm kills 1.8M chickens after bird flu outbreak

The state, which recently reported its first human case tied to dairy cattle, declared a disaster emergency.

By Sarah Zimmerman • July 11, 2024

How Michigan is dealing with bird flu in dairy cows and humans

As another human contracts the virus, the state’s response may serve as an example for others navigating the challenges of a novel disease outbreak.

By Nathan Owens • July 8, 2024

Cal-Maine buys egg producer for $110M to grow presence in the Northeast

The purchase of ISE America expands the company’s dominant position in the protein with the addition of nearly 5 million egg-laying hens to its portfolio.

By Chris Casey • July 1, 2024

Bird flu survived pasteurization of heavily infected milk: study

Researchers said the findings should not be used to draw conclusions about the safety of the nation’s retail milk supply.

By Nathan Owens • June 25, 2024

Inside the dairies with bird flu: What farms’ experiences say about the need for biosecurity

A USDA survey of affected dairy farms revealed lapses in sanitation and equipment handling.

By Nathan Owens • June 20, 2024