The FAO Dairy Price Index rose to 152.1 points in April 2025
The FAO Dairy Price Index rose to 152.1 points in April 2025, marking a 2.4% increase from March and a significant 28.4% rise compared to the same period last year. Butter prices reached an all-time high, driven by reduced inventories and strong milkfat demand in Europe, despite seasonally higher milk production. Skimmed and whole milk…
Experts Warn of Potential Bird Flu Pandemic in US Cattle
A new wave of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, is spreading across all 50 US states, prompting health experts to urge early pandemic preparedness. While the virus primarily affects wild and farm birds, its recent detection in mammals like cattle and goats has raised zoonotic concerns. The U.S. CDC and…
Sugar tax on fizzy drinks to include milkshakes and others
The government is proposing to extend the sugar tax on fizzy drinks to include milkshakes and similar drinks, impacting both dairy-based and non-dairy alternatives. the move follows Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement in the autumn budget last year that the government would explore expanding the tax to encompass these beverages. The plans, which remove an exemption for these drinks from the existing…
Milk price hike by Tk 10 per liter across brands leaves big impact on consumers
The first ripple came last November when BRAC Enterprises’ brand Aarong Dairy abruptly raised the price of its packaged liquid milk-marking Tk 10 surge per litre and Tk 5 on half-litre packs, setting the tone for a wave of hikes across the market. Other brands, including PRAN, quickly followed suit, similarly adjusting their prices upwards….
Nepal’s Dairy Sector Faces Deepening Crisis as Flush Season Stockpiles
Nepal’s dairy sector is grappling with a severe financial crunch as the flush season—characterized by high milk production from August to February—has led to excessive stockpiles and mounting unpaid dues to farmers. The Dairy Development Corporation (DDC) owes farmers approximately Rs900 million since January 2025. Sales have dropped, compounding the crisis, with DDC stockpiling 750…
America’s dairy farms are disappearing — milk-price rules
Milton Orr looked across the rolling hills in northeast Tennessee. “I remember when we had over 1,000 dairy farms in this county. Now we have less than 40,” Orr, an agriculture adviser for Greene County, Tennessee, told me with a tinge of sadness. That was six years ago. Today, only 14 dairy farms remain in…
Why India Poses the Biggest Trade Opportunity with US
India Trade Talks Make Progress Before the White House’s 90-day pause on higher tariffs for other countries expires on July 9, India is one country rushing to negotiate a trade deal with the U.S. As trade tensions continue to impact both commodity and financial markets, the White House says the Trump administration is making progress…
Dairy’s Acceleration in Butterfat and Protein Production
The dairy industry is experiencing a significant shift, with advancements in genetics, nutrition and feed management driving remarkable changes in milk composition. These changes spell good news for everyone involved in the industry as higher butterfat and protein content are now being optimized. Dairy Components: A Growing Importance In the U.S., over 80% of the…
Burpless Cattle? Dairy Explores New Diets to Cut Methane
Researchers are testing innovative dietary strategies to reduce methane emissions from dairy cattle, a significant contributor to global greenhouse gases. By altering feed composition—such as incorporating seaweed additives or high-fat supplements—scientists aim to curb the methane expelled through cattle burps, which account for over 50% of dairy-related emissions. These trials, underway in multiple countries including…
US FDA Halts Routine Milk Quality Testing Amid Budget Cuts
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended key milk quality testing programs due to internal workforce reductions tied to federal budget constraints. These tests, crucial for detecting antibiotic residues and ensuring food safety, were part of a longstanding quality control framework under the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. The move…