Dairy

The myth that retail fluid milk prices never go down when farm milk prices do is very pervasive in the dairy industry. In late 2011, Robert J. Gray, a senior policy advisor to a dairy producer group, made such a claim in public comments submitted to The Wall Street Journal, which led me to research the issue in my December 2011 column, “Retail Milk Prices Do Track with Farm Milk Costs.” Then a press release from the National Milk Producers Federation last summer made a similar claim, and I responded in my July 2012 column, “The Farm-to-Retail Milk Price Myth Revisited.” …

Two national dairy organizations are urging Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval to veto legislation that would allow the sales of raw milk directly to consumers, arguing that the food safety risks of the measure represent too great a gamble with the public’s health. …

Northwest farmers will fight hunger throughout June Dairy Month. The goal is to raise $100,000 and 100,000 pounds of food in partnership with Fred Meyer stores to benefit Oregon Food Bank, Food Lifeline, and Second Harvest. …

California Dairies Inc. (CDI), the nation’s second largest dairy processing cooperative, announced today the election of a new executive committee for the 2013-2014 term that includes the election of John Azevedo, former first vice chairman, to chairman of the board. Azevedo succeeds Brian Pacheco whose term as chairman has concluded. Pacheco will continue to serve on the board of directors and will remain on the executive committee as a member-at-large. …

Get moo-vin’ for June Dairy Month and virtually experience life on a Midwest dairy farm! Midwest Dairy Association, which works on behalf of more than 9,500 dairy farm families across 10 states, today launched the Dairy Farm PinTourist Contest on Pinterest giving everyone the opportunity to go beyond the dairy aisle to “see” what life is like on the farm, and the care and pride dairy farmers take in producing wholesome, nutritious dairy foods. …