Dairy

  • A flare burns gas coming out of a thin metal pipe, part of a system attached to a metal shed.
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    The image by Office of Gov. Jay Inslee is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
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    California opts to preserve credits for dairy digesters in major regulatory update

    A state regulator voted to amend the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, injecting new life into a lucrative biofuels credit market that is used by waste projects throughout the U.S.

    By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 20, 2024
  • RFK Jr. shakes hands with Donald trump on stage with a crowd behind watching
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    Rebecca Noble via Getty Images
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    Eliminate pesticides in farming? Trump’s pick of RFK Jr for health secretary raises concerns in agriculture

    The prominent vaccine skeptic has promised to shake up the FDA, claiming Americans are being “poisoned” by seed oils and food additives in comments that have alarmed the industry. 

    By Sydney Halleman , • Nov. 18, 2024
  • Guardian Agriculture's SC1 eVTOL sprays crops in California. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Courtesy of Guardian Agriculture
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    Trendline

    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
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    California biofuel restrictions limit farms’ role in renewable energy transition

    New changes to the state's low carbon fuel standard cap incentives for soybean oil in renewable diesel and give a timeline to phase out subsidies for dairy methane digesters.

    By • Nov. 12, 2024
  • lifeway kefir
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    Courtesy of Lifeway Foods, Inc.
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    Lifeway Foods rejects Danone’s $283M ‘opportunistic’ takeover offer

    The keifer maker said its board determined that the “proposal substantially undervalues” the company and was not in the best interest of its shareholders.

    By Christopher Doering • Nov. 7, 2024
  • Chickens are in cages at an egg farm.
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    Rak Kara via Getty Images
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    California voters reject ban on ‘factory farming’

    A proposal to phase out large livestock operations in a major agricultural county failed.

    By • Nov. 6, 2024
  • A pig inside its pen at a farm in Indonesia.
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    Ulet Ifansasti via Getty Images
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    Bird flu detected in pig for first time in US, raising concerns from experts

    The recent development is worrisome as swine promote virus mutations that could more easily infect humans, an epidemiologist said.

    By • Nov. 1, 2024
  • A person shopping in a grocery store, carrying a shopping basket and reading the ingredient label on a bottle.
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    kali9 via Getty Images
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    4 charts examining grocery inflation

    While high retail prices are a hot topic among consumers and politicians, the annual rate of food-at-home prices has held steady at about 1%.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • Oct. 31, 2024
  • A woman pulls steak out of an industrial grill
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    Cindy Ord via Getty Images
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    US dietary guidelines could recommend Americans eat less meat and potatoes. Expect a food fight.

    Beef groups slammed recommendations for consumers to increase their protein intake via beans, peas and lentils, calling the proposal “unhinged.”

    By • Oct. 30, 2024
  • A package of Lactalis USA's Président Feta cheese.
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    Courtesy of Lactalis USA
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    Lactalis USA spending $55M to expand feta cheese production

    The 38,000-square-foot manufacturing line, which will be operational in 2027, comes as the cheese variety grows in popularity with American consumers.

    By Christopher Doering • Oct. 30, 2024
  • The U.S Capitol Rotunda is in front of a designed background of $100 bills.
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    Getty via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Big Ag is spending big on lobbying and the 2024 election

    Political spending from the food and agriculture sector has increased, with a record $178 million spent on lobbying alone in 2023. Experts saying rising polarization may play a role.

    By • Oct. 24, 2024
  • Cattle are seen in a feedlot. One cow with an orange plastic eartag raises his head above the herd.
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    John Moore via Getty Images
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    Ranchers will soon need to beef up traceability with electronic cattle ID tags

    The new rule, which has taken on more importance amid the spread of bird flu in dairy cows, is set to take effect in early November. But farmers are raising concerns.

    By • Oct. 22, 2024
  • An aerial view shows highway destroyed by Hurricane Milton
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Hurricane Milton caused up to $2.5B in Florida farm damage

    The storm ravaged infrastructure and flooded the state's orange crops, with some growers expecting tree death.

    By • Oct. 21, 2024
  • A woman uses a digital tablet while working at a cow farm
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    Jay Yuno via Getty Images
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    Column

    Agtech Seedlings: Deere launches dairy sustainability tool with DeLaval

    Also in this week's farm technology news: Cibo Technologies partners with Scoular to prepare for biofuel tax credits, and AcreShield raises $2.5 million to help farmers with seed selection.

    By • Oct. 11, 2024
  • Heavy rains caused record massive flooding and damage on Sept. 28, in Asheville, North Carolina.
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    Melissa Sue Gerrits via Getty Images
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    ‘Decades of progress gone in a single instant’: Assessing the farm damage from Hurricane Helene

    With billions of dollars in damages expected, the USDA is deploying "surge teams" to assist with recovery efforts as farmers and food giants work to rebuild local communities.

    By • Oct. 7, 2024
  • Hundreds of turkeys stand in a barn in California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    One of California’s major agricultural regions could ban ‘factory farming’

    Residents in Sonoma County are divided on Measure J, which farmers say could yield unintended economic consequences if passed.

    By • Oct. 4, 2024
  • A photo illustration of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump shoulder to shoulder facing away from each other. The background is a purple wave with a grid gradient.
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    Photo illustration: Industry Dive; Joe Readle/Getty Images; Brandon Bell/Getty Images

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    Deep Dive

    Election 2024: Where Trump and Harris stand on agriculture

    Higher food prices, trade relations with China and other farm issues are becoming more central to party platforms.

    By • Oct. 3, 2024
  • Attendees roam the grounds of the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky.
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    Courtesy of National Farm Machinery Show
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    Top agriculture conferences in 2025

    As attendance increases at farm-related shows, some events are relocating to larger venues to accommodate more exhibitors and programming. Here’s an early look at some of the biggest upcoming shows.

    By Agriculture Dive staff • Oct. 1, 2024
  • DairyX team in the lab
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    Permission granted by DairyX
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    DairyX makes breakthrough advancement in cow-free casein

    The Israeli startup developed a method to recreate the “primary building blocks of dairy products,” which it says paves the way for tastier cheese and yogurt alternatives.

    By Elizabeth Flood • Sept. 30, 2024
  • Dairy cows wade in water at a farm in Turlock, California in 2006.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Colombia ends ban on US beef imports

    The South American country was the only nation to restrict trade in response to the bird flu outbreak in dairy cows.

    By • Sept. 25, 2024
  • A dairy cow is seen standing on grass
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    Pierre Crom via Getty Images
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    Higher dairy prices reverse trend of declining profits

    Shrinking feed costs are lifting profit margins to record highs for farmers.

    By • Sept. 23, 2024
  • A herd of cows roam on a lush, green dairy farm.
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    Sandra Mu via Getty Images
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    Organic milk production has soared despite volatile profit margins

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

    By • Sept. 17, 2024
  • Cows behind a fence graze on grass
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    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 • Sept. 12, 2024
  • The sun sets behind the US Capitol
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    Tom Brenner via Getty Images
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    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 • Sept. 11, 2024
  • A farmer drives his tractor out of a red barn
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    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 • Sept. 6, 2024
  • A tractor moves through a farm field
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    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 • Sept. 5, 2024