We were all bracing for a crisis. At the end of 2024, milk supplies were looking a little tight. There was a lot of uncertainty in the market. U.S. dairy herd numbers were already low… Read more
Herd-pocalypse averted: What’s next for 2026
Articles & guides
The butterfat boom: Genetics, supply, and the price squeeze
Not all that long ago, milk was milk. But today, milk’s components are evolving fast, particularly butterfat content. Thanks to advances in dairy cow genetics and feed strategies, butterfat levels in U.S. milk are climbing…. Read more
How Ozempic and GLP-1s are driving new demand for whey protein
A decade ago, whey protein’s biggest champions were bodybuilders and CrossFit buffs. But the times they are a-changin’. The explosive popularity of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy is helping millions curb food cravings and… Read more
4 cheese procurement tips from an industry veteran
Greg Kinate began his career in cheese production in the 1970s. Over the last 50 years, he has worked with influential players like Kraft and Sargento, started a cheese marketing company that branched out into… Read more
Focusing your dairy procurement strategy on exact-fit products
Commodity procurement is often a race for the lowest price. But too many buyers lose sight of a more primary objective: acquiring a product that fits their use case. For some use-cases, any mozzarella will… Read more
A straightforward guide to dairy purchasing strategy
Dairy purchasing is a key accountability for lots of different people across many different types of companies. Procurement teams for cheese retailers. Commodities managers for food manufacturers. VPs at sports nutrition companies. But no matter… Read more
The impact of African Swine Fever virus on U.S. dairy exports
An outbreak of a virus fatal to hogs that surfaced last summer shows no signs of stopping. African Swine Fever, nicknamed “pig Ebola,” has expanded from China to neighboring Southeast Asian nations. The virus—and pork… Read more
The block-barrel spread is widening, and it’s hurting dairy farmers
The gap in price between a 40-pound block of fresh cheddar and a 500-pound barrel has widened steadily over the last two years. At the end of 2018, the average block-barrel spread hovered around $0.12…. Read more
Change is coming with California’s Federal Milk Marketing Order
Things are changing for milk producers and handlers in the Golden State. Milk marketing in California fell under the purview of a Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) starting Nov. 1. The state order administered by… Read more
What dairy pros need to know about the USMCA
The wait is (kind of) over. Trade authorities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada have agreed to a trilateral free trade agreement that replaces NAFTA. The finer points of automotive manufacturing earned most of the… Read more
