Milk prices are providing some optimism. May U.S. milk production was up 1.2 percent. Early June margins improved. This and other U.S. dairy economic news can be found here.

A northeast U.S. study will explore dairy manure treatments’ impact on antibiotic residues and potential antibiotic resistance. The U.S. Supreme Court announces a decision on Obama administration immigration initiatives. Senate leaders reach an agreement on GMO food labels. A proposal expands manure digester tax incentives. The Federal Aviation Administration unveils “drone” rules. Advocacy group says federal agencies use state department of motor vehicle databases to check immigration status. This and other U.S. dairy policy news can be found here.

Vermont dairy labor advocates seek consumer buy-in for structural change. Lawsuit seeks consistent ‘soy’ beverage label enforcement. Dairy/NFL partnership reviewed. LED lighting negatively impacts milk. This and other U.S. dairy industry news can be found here.

Holstein Association USA will unveil new “ideal Holstein cow and bull” models on June 30, during the 2016 National Holstein Convention in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Just over one year ago, an early morning drive down the road to check his heifers left a North Carolina dairyman with a gunshot wound to the neck. Now, Zach Myers shares his miraculous story of survival and recovery with Progressive Dairyman.

Dairy farmers who still have the option could protect milk income margins through the USDA Risk Management Agency’s Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy (LGM-Dairy) program, while leaving open the opportunity for milk price increases, according to Alan Zepp, risk management program manager at Pennsylvania's Center for Dairy Excellence.

To give Culver’s social media followers a peek into a day in the life of farming community members, the restaurant chain has asked agricultural influencers to share photos and videos during a seven-week social content series called #FarmingFridays.

These are difficult times in our industry. Reduced milk prices are putting severe stress on dairy businesses and encouraging greater emphasis on total costs of production as opposed to milk revenue.

Despite relatively strong milk production, increasing stocks of dairy products and weak exports, domestic foodservice sales helped boost dairy product prices in June. If those prices hold, farm milk prices for the remainder of 2016 could be stronger than previous forecasts, according to Bob Cropp, professor emeritus with the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Profitability in dairy operations is directly related to reproductive performance. The results of the preferred reproductive program in the dairy farm will be used to measure essential parameters of success, for instance, decreasing replacements due to reproductive failure and increasing the number of heifers for replacement due to reproductive success.