Editor’s note: This article is the final installment in a series profiling sources for an in-depth feature about the Chinese dairy industry, appearing in print later this summer. Dr. Jeff Elliott laughs when asked to describe his work: “Who would have thought a farm boy from west Kentucky would end up traveling around the world thanks to cows?”

The USDA Risk Management Agency’s Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy (LGM-Dairy) program remains one of the better tools to protect dairy incomes, according to Alan Zepp, risk management program manager at Pennsylvania's Center for Dairy Excellence.

The Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program, administered by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), is assuming management of the Farm Smart Program, previously managed by Dairy Management Inc.

The Rabobank 2016 Global Dairy Top 20 list is out, reflecting a challenging year for the world’s dairy giants. The biggest story isn’t so much the names on the list, but the bottom line on overall dairy sales and its impact.

Summertime means fair season in ag country, and with fair season comes the familiar waves of noise, the tantalizing smell of fair food, along with the not-so-tantalizing smell of the livestock barns, and blurred crowds of people.

The University of Georgia Dairy Science Club is raising money to start a retirement fund for Charisma, a 13-year-old cow in the university’s teaching dairy herd. The Washington State Dairy Federation disputes state water permit costs. Prairie Farms Dairy and the National Basketball Association’s Milwaukee Bucks will team up to sell milk at the Wisconsin State Fair. Richard Denier, retired general manager of World Wide Sires in Visalia, California, will receive the National Dairy Shrine’s highest honor. This and other U.S. region-by-region dairy news can be found here.

For the first time in more than a year, the top five dairy exporting countries/regions produced less combined milk than 12 months earlier. USDA’s June milk estimates showed relatively strong production, but there’s still hope milk prices can stabilize and improve. Dairy margins continued to strengthen over the first half of July. This and other U.S. dairy economic news can be found here.

USDA’s June milk estimates showed relatively strong production, but there’s still hope milk prices can stabilize and improve, according to Bob Cropp, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Congressional ag leaders seek Margin Protection Program for Dairy enrollment extension. The Republican ag platform includes a little dairy. Canada adjusts support prices higher, while the European Union plans additional dairy assistance. This and other dairy policy news can be found here.

Dannon has begun marketing yogurt made with non-genetically modified ingredients. Increasing global demand for pizza cheese is good news for the U.S. dairy industry. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is allowing milk processors to add more vitamin D. This and other U.S. dairy industry news can be found here.