Dairy producers, processors and retailers gathered for the first-ever Dairy Experience Forum in Bloomington, Minnesota, July 24-26, hosted by the American Dairy Association of the Midwest.

After a three-year run when annual U.S. per capita dairy product consumption rose from the year before, 2017 yielded a small decline in overall consumption. The decrease was mostly attributed to a continuing drop in fluid milk consumption.

Whether on the grounds or hundreds of miles away, advances in technology allow people to connect with every aspect of World Dairy Expo in even more exciting ways, from wherever they are.

Over five days, 16 judges will place more than 2,300 head of cattle during World Dairy Expo’s 52nd show. Take a moment to watch cows and heifers of your favorite breeds battle it out on the colored shavings. All shows will take place in the Coliseum.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to enhance your World Dairy Expo experience with a stellar lineup of speakers and virtual dairy farm tours.

Dairy forage seminars, held in conjunction with the World Forage Analysis Superbowl, will once again provide further educational opportunities to World Dairy Expo attendees on Oct. 3-6.

County fair season may be coming to an end, but those youth looking forward to exhibiting their dairy projects at the next level are just gearing up for national shows this fall.

In part due to lower cheese and dry whey sales to China, U.S. dairy export volumes in July were the lowest since January. However, year-to-date exports remain ahead of last year’s pace, according to monthly data from USDA and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC).

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Eligible dairy and other farmers suffering lost export markets and lower commodity prices due to retaliatory tariffs can sign up for federal financial assistance. Applications are available online and through local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices. The application period opened Sept. 4 and runs until Jan. 15, 2019.