InFocus

InFocus: Butter consumption hits new all-time high in 2024

audrey@agproud.com — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 10:34:55 -0500

USDA data show Americans’ per capita consumption of dairy is up 0.6% over the past five years, 8% over the past 15 years and 12% over the past 30 years.

InFocus: Farmers turn to the internet for input purchases and marketing

audrey@agproud.com — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

From seed and fertilizer orders to purchasing products and equipment, online business activity is reshaping how U.S. farmers operate. The latest biennial USDA survey shows not only more devices and stronger rural broadband access on farms but also a considerable rise in using the internet to purchase agricultural inputs and conduct marketing activities.

InFocus: 2024 per capita milk production

audrey@agproud.com — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 12:34:04 -0400

The U.S. milk production per capita for 2024 was 664.1 pounds, down 7.8 pounds (-1.2%) compared with 2023.

Cheese and butter consumption hits all-time high in 2023

audrey@agproud.com — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 16:27:22 -0500

In the past decade alone, domestic per-capita consumption of cheese is up 19% and per-capita butter consumption is up 18.1%.

InFocus: Cheese consumption hits all-time high in 2022

audrey@agproud.com — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 14:28:02 -0500

In the past decade alone, domestic per-capita consumption of cheese is up 17.1%, and per-capita butter consumption is up 9.0%.

InFocus: Increases in farm internet devices, access

audrey@agproud.com — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Use of the internet and computer technology continues to grow on U.S. farms, whether in the farm office, freestall barn, milking parlor, field or pickup truck.

Growth industry: Dairy product consumption measures up

dave@agproud.com — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 06:41:32 -0400

U.S. consumers continue to eat more dairy in the form of cheese, butter and yogurt, while the long-term decline in the consumption of fluid milk persists.

In Focus: Management, genetics boost milk quality

dave@agproud.com — Sun, 08 May 2022 13:00:01 -0400

After reaching new levels of quality in 2020, U.S. milk producers saw one measure – somatic cell counts (SCC) – post a tiny setback in 2021, based on an annual summary of Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) test-day results.

In Focus: Will 2022 be the best year for dairy in over a decade?

aconnolly@agritechcapital.com — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 14:00:01 -0500

Dairy producers’ optimism noted at recent trade shows is matched by current projections for farm profitability in 2022, based on current predicted feed and milk prices. Following several years of tight margins, it seems that 2022 could be the most profitable in a decade.

In Focus: 2021 was another wild ride

dave@agproud.com — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 00:07:53 -0500

It took a roller coaster ride to get there, but December 2021 uniform milk prices in Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) reached the highest level in more than seven years. For many producers, the 12-month ride was anything but a trip to an amusement park.

In Focus: 2021 Dairy Margin Coverage payments reach $1.2 billion

dave@agproud.com — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 14:00:01 -0500

In December, the USDA released details regarding changes to the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, including hay price adjustments used to calculate monthly feed costs and margins, creation of a Supplemental DMC provision for small- and mid-sized dairy producers to update milk production history and establishment of a 2022 sign-up period.

In Focus: An in-depth look at fluid milk consumption

dave@agproud.com — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 14:00:01 -0500

Few topics draw more angst among dairy farmers than the seven-decade decrease in U.S. per-capita fluid milk consumption.

In Focus: Digester database updates show large spike in RNG

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 14:00:01 -0500

In early November, AgSTAR announced updates to its comprehensive U.S. livestock anaerobic digester database.

In Focus: Dairy consumption: Pandemic’s impact measured in ounces

dave@agproud.com — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 22:11:20 -0500

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted food supply chains and affected where and how food was consumed.

In Focus: Connectivity becoming more mobile

dave@agproud.com — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 13:00:01 -0400

Use of the internet and computer technology continues to grow on U.S. farms, whether in the farm office, freestall barn, maternity pen, field or pickup truck.

In Focus: 2021 cropland values jump but rental rates hold

dave@agproud.com — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 21:27:52 -0400

Average U.S. agricultural land values and cropland rental rates increased in 2021, according to the USDA’s annual report.