Most Americans would agree that our world has been turned upside down and inside out in the past four weeks. Just six weeks ago, America was experiencing one of the lowest unemployment rates in history and restaurant sales were at all-time highs. The latest statistics indicated that unemployment rates will reach 15 percent by the…
Spring came quickly this year, with the weather warming up in late February and temperatures now topping 60 degrees or higher daily. We don’t know if this trend toward warmer weather means that spring officially arrived early or if it’s just an early taste before more cold weather. For most of us, the transition from…
Every year in February, we celebrate Presidents’ Day. It provides an opportunity for teachers to share wonderful stories about our forefathers with their students, people to joke about those funny “President legends” you didn’t learn in class, and for businesses to have one last sale after the holiday rush. It’s also a time to reflect…
They say being in dairy is much like riding a roller coaster, and 2019 certainly did not disappoint. Class III milk prices started out the year at below $14 in January and December. In the first four months, prices struggled to rise above $16. Fortunately, in May, supply started to come back in balance and…
Like most people, I find December to be an extremely busy time of year. Along with getting ready for Christmas and coordinating holiday gatherings with family and friends, it’s one of the busiest months for the Center and our Dairy Excellence Foundation. That’s because the second week of December is when we have our joint…
One of my favorite Thanksgiving Day traditions is going around the table and having everyone say why they are most thankful. We don’t do this every year in our family because it’s often met with eye-rolling and begrudging comments. But when we do, usually at least one person surprises me with their thoughtful remarks. This…
At our On-Farm Dairy Innovation Forum in September, dairy producers were invited to learn more about how others stepped into the value-added dairy business and what it would take for them to do the same. With consumers becoming more and more interested in buying local and knowing where their food comes from, more farms are…
The tide is starting to shift in the dairy industry. The July USDA Milk Production report shows US milk production flat year-over-year at 18.3 billion pounds, with 82,000 fewer head than were in the nation’s dairy herd a year ago. Milk production per cow is still growing, up about 0.8 percent or 16 pounds from…
Every time I look at an income statement, I realize just how expensive the cost of doing business can be. When you think about labor, capital and insurance, these items can really eat into your bottom line. But without any one of them, you could be putting yourself at risk and possibly end up losing…
Thirty-five years ago, US President Ronald Reagan proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month. Since then, people across the country have celebrated the creamy treat and its ability to brighten almost anyone’s mood. Last year the Center worked with Pennsylvania’s Tourism Bureau and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to launch the Pennsylvania Ice Cream Trail,…
