Dairy
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The biggest food sustainability pledges at COP28, from Bezos to JBS
Food companies commit millions of dollars to tackle methane and advance regenerative agriculture, while governments prioritize farming in climate action plans. Here are the highlights from the U.N. climate summit in Dubai.
By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 7, 2023 -
US cheese consumption in 2022 was whey up
Consumers are eating more dairy than ever, even as milk demand reaches an all-time low.
By Nathan Owens • Dec. 6, 2023 -
Darigold CEO steps down
Board Chairman Allan Huttema will take over as interim chief executive as the dairy co-op is in the midst of a company-wide transformation to become a global ingredients provider.
By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 5, 2023 -
Retrieved from Generate Upcycle on December 01, 2023
Generate Upcycle threatens to close anaerobic digester over Michigan permitting changes
The company may shutter its 150,000-ton-per-year Fremont Regional Digester this month if it’s required to obtain a groundwater permit for its liquid digestate, which has been marketed as a fertilizer.
By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 4, 2023 -
US loses trade dispute over access to Canada’s dairy market
Farm groups called the ruling a "surprising setback" that weakens the value of the USMCA.
By Sarah Zimmerman • Nov. 27, 2023 -
Retrieved from Danone.
Danone’s Horizon Organic suspends use of milk from Texas farm at center of PETA report
The animal rights group released images showing animal suffering and deaths at the operation near Dallas. It urged the USDA to open an investigation.
By Christopher Doering • Nov. 22, 2023 -
Opinion
Devising a just transition for sustainable livestock agriculture
As national leaders and industry stakeholders prepare to convene on climate change at COP28, frameworks to ensure neither farmers nor ranchers are left behind should be top of mind.
By Danielle Nierenberg, Dr. Lee Recht, Dr. Harpinder Sandhu and Didier Toubia • Nov. 20, 2023 -
Schumer calls for USDA investigation into nationwide milk carton shortage
The New York senator is calling for help “to find packaging alternatives” and resolve the issue. Dairies point to Pactiv Evergreen as the source of the supply chain snarl, although no origin point has been positively confirmed.
By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 16, 2023 -
Midwest dairy co-op partners with biotech firm to upcycle co-products
A new technology is being developed by Foremost Farms and Gingko Bioworks to convert raw materials such as whey and lactose, which are often lost in wastewater, into value-added products.
By Nathan Owens • Nov. 9, 2023 -
Milk suppliers sour over carton shortage
Dairy manufacturers and others cite Pactiv Evergreen as the supply problem’s source. Tetra Pak and other competitors are trying to step up production to meet increased demand as beverage producers seek help.
By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 6, 2023 -
Retrieved from USDA Agricultural Research Service on November 02, 2023
Environmental groups blast USDA for extending climate funding to dairy digesters
An industry push to turn manure into biofuel fails to address climate change and encourages the proliferation of "factory farms," according to a letter signed by nearly 200 organizations.
By Sarah Zimmerman • Nov. 2, 2023 -
Butter prices soar to record highs
Supply is constrained going into the holiday baking season due to lower production and increased summer demand for ice cream and other products.
By Sarah Zimmerman • Oct. 19, 2023 -
Retrieved from Walmart on October 11, 2023
Walmart pouring $350M into new milk processing plant
The facility builds on the retailer’s efforts to control more of its fresh foods supply chain.
By Catherine Douglas Moran • Oct. 12, 2023 -
Deere teams with 2 companies on digital precision agriculture tools for sustainability
The partnerships aim to help farmers track livestock and fertilizer data so they can make smarter business decisions that are better for the environment.
By Nathan Owens • Oct. 5, 2023 -
Biden admin expands funding for farms to tackle livestock waste
Producers that compost or improve feed management are now eligible to apply to USDA's increasingly popular climate-smart agriculture programs.
By Sarah Zimmerman • Oct. 5, 2023 -
Coca-Cola’s Fairlife still sourcing milk from abusive farms, animal rights group claims
The beverage giant disputed the claim from Animal Recovery Mission, saying the two operations and its owner are not suppliers for the dairy product, which has more than $1 billion in annual sales.
By Christopher Doering • Sept. 26, 2023 -
Extreme heat is causing cows to produce less milk
Lower supply is pushing butter and cheese prices higher, which could help dairy producers who have suffered from deteriorating margins.
By Sarah Zimmerman • Sept. 19, 2023 -
Deep Dive
How the looming government shutdown is complicating the farm bill
Averting a budget crisis remains a top priority in Congress, likely pushing back the timeline for the most consequential law in the agriculture industry. Here’s what it means for farmers.
By Sarah Zimmerman • Sept. 12, 2023 -
Dairy industry teams with cybersecurity group to beef up defenses
As cyber crimes become more prevalent, the International Dairy Foods Association joins other food companies in efforts to share information and bolster protections.
By Nathan Owens • Sept. 12, 2023 -
Danone joins corporate alliance to turn food waste into renewable energy
The dairy giant and other industry leaders are partnering with Vanguard Renewables to mitigate climate impacts by using anaerobic digesters on dairy farms.
By Nathan Owens • Sept. 8, 2023 -
Organic Valley doubles size of dairy sustainability initiative
The co-op is encouraging farmers to change their grazing practices with the support of a USDA grant and funding from commercial partners.
By Sarah Zimmerman • Sept. 7, 2023 -
EPA and Hershey invest $2M for dairy sustainability at Land O’Lakes farms
The commitment expands on the group’s goals to support a more eco-friendly supply chain for Hershey's milk chocolate.
By Nathan Owens • Aug. 25, 2023 -
Chevron and Brightmark’s Florida dairy digester project marks first renewable gas delivery
The shipment comes as the energy companies expand a venture to fund anaerobic digesters at farms throughout the country.
By Sarah Zimmerman • Aug. 24, 2023 -
Farm production costs skyrocketed 15.2% in 2022
Expenses are only expected to surge higher this year, creating a difficult calculus for farmers as they also grapple with declining prices.
By Sarah Zimmerman • Aug. 2, 2023 -
Aemetis secures $25M to turn methane from cows into renewable energy
The USDA-backed loan will allow the biofuels company to fund biogas digester projects for eight new dairies.
By Nathan Owens • Aug. 1, 2023