A cold front hangs over the country both in terms of temperatures and the near-term outlook for dairy markets. Meanwhile, the USDA updated milk prices, feed costs and income margins from November.

Digest Highlights: National Dairy Board gets new appointees. Pennsylvania cuts over-order premium. California dairy digester deadline nears. Find a summary of this and other news here.

The dairy industry is volatile and unpredictable, and that isn’t likely to change. Dairy managers must embrace and adapt to that mentality to be successful, Michael Swanson, ag economist with Wells Fargo, told dairy producers attending the 2017 Vita Plus Dairy Summit, Dec. 6-7, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Editor’s note: Read on for new comments online (Progressive Dairyman). Visit the site today to ask a question on any article or leave a comment for the author.

Dairy has an obvious place as a key ingredient in meals served across the country every day. But what about meals served at schools? Are there potential growth opportunities for dairy in school meals?

Make plans to attend Dairy Strong 2018 The dairy community is creative and innovative.

November 2017 U.S. milk production grew just 1 percent compared to the same month a year earlier, with weak growth in milk output per cow applying most of the brakes. Nationally, cow numbers remained at a six-month low.

The boards of directors of Koepon Holding BV and Cooperative Resources International (CRI) have reached agreement on a plan to merge their organizations, the companies announced in a press release.

Digest Highlights: Dairy co-op deduction added to tax reform bill. Cooper stepping down as GM at FarmFirst. Dairy exporting will be competitive. Find a summary of these and other news here.

While the long-term outlook for agriculture is bullish, dairy producers face short-term financial challenges, Rod Wautlet, Agri-Business Consultants LLC, told producers attending the 2017 Vita Plus Dairy Summit, Dec. 6-7, in Madison, Wisconsin.