Strong March results capped an excellent first quarter for U.S. red meat exports, according to data released by the USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), as beef exports set a new monthly value record in March and pork export value reached the second-highest level on record. The U.S. is exporting a strong share of its beef and pork production at higher prices – a clear sign of solid international demand.

Hay shortages and delays to stand evaluation and first-crop harvest pressured regional prices higher, but weaker dairy and export demand could have an impact.

Earlier this year, the National Mastitis Council (NMC) launched a new online resource to its 1,000 members. The Teat Condition Portfolio allows users to quickly see and compare various teat conditions. They can then use this information to assess teat health and make recommendations for treatment.

Branding cattle is a tradition (and practical measure) that dates back as far as the ancient Egyptians, but for most Americans the tradition is immortalized in Western movies as a symbol of the Old West.

It is no secret that humans are emotional beings. We naturally are moved by sensational content that pulls at our heart strings or scares us into action. This is the template that animal and environmental activist groups have been using to captivate audiences for years, and they are successfully swaying public perception through emotionally charged material and skewed data.

April showers bring May flowers. Those spring showers can also bring on some much-needed spring cleaning. Instead of complaining how it’s too wet to do anything outside, turn those rainy days spent indoors into a day of productivity.

CWT continues to focus its export-assistance efforts on dairy products that most directly impact producers’ milk checks: American-type cheeses and butter containing 82 percent butterfat.

Globalization touches virtually every aspect of our business from sales and demand to nutrition and environmental policy, trade, the economy and more.

With milk market availability no longer a certainty, many producers are wondering how they can make their operations attractive for a direct supply contract. For the first 20 years of my career, I worked for consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies.

Like many of you, I attend many dairy meetings and am fortunate to have the opportunity to speak at many of them. In my interactions with dairy farmers and other industry people at these meetings, I find there is not a good understanding of what is happening with demand for dairy products.