Editorials

Stand up for Dairy Security Act

On April 19, a coalition of 29 dairy organizations sent a letter to the Senate Agriculture Committee, urging inclusion of the Dairy Security Act in the next Farm Bill. ... Full story.

Editorial: Take the threat of agroterrorism seriously

Since 2005, I have had the opportunity to attend four conferences on agroterrorism sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

They are serious affairs, considering the subject matter. I think back to the time someone showed a simulation model of how fast a certain infectious animal disease would spread within the state of Iowa. Or the time I sat near a person who was wearing a gun holster. Or the Japanese military officer (dressed in full uniform) who came and spoke on the all-out emergency response his country waged against foot and mouth disease in 2010. ... Full story.

The food police and unintended consequences

We have run numerous articles about school districts banning chocolate- and strawberry-flavored milk on lunch lines. ... Full story.

Unity critical for dairy policy reform this year

I was trying to be open-minded. After all, the much-ballyhooed Congressional Super Committee had just gone down in flames and the whole Farm Bill debate was back to square one. ... Full story.

Did the Founding Fathers intend to create a nanny state?

Facing an impending ban on 100-watt incandescent light bulbs, I headed to the hardware store in mid-December to stock up. ... Full story.

Partnerships give your money more bang for the buck

At a recent industry meeting, I had the opportunity to speak to a McDonald’s executive about the partnerships his organization has formed with the dairy industry. ... Full story.

HSUS continues to deceive the public

I look back from time to time at what I’ve accomplished in this job. Which stories have made a difference? Which stories am I most proud about? ... Full story.

Immigration reform remains an elusive goal

In November 2009, U.S. Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano told the Center for American Progress that immigration reform would be a priority of the Obama Administration in 2010. ... Full story.

Should you really care about carbon footprints?

Last May, a reader chided me after I ran an article on milk’s carbon footprint and how it has gone down over the past 67 years. “…do you really think anyone with a brain cares about the ‘carbon footprint’ of milk? Give me a break. Dairy farms are vanishing, the industry is being destroyed by USDA regulations and someone is actually concerned about phantom science. Please concentrate on improved profitability issues and preserving remaining dairies,” he wrote ... Full story.

Why did I wait so long to be optimistic?

It's been tough covering the news in this industry over the past two and a half years. Tough economic times have made it difficult on everyone. ... Full story.

Commentary: Dairying is a privilege, not a right

Finally, someone articulated what I have been thinking for years. Here is what a reader from Vermont had to say following a story we ran about the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments failing to adopt a stricter SCC standard in the U.S.: ... Full story.

Another missed opportunity to improve milk quality

When one of the readers of our daily newsletter heard that the somatic cell count standard in the U.S. won’t be upgraded to 400,000 cells/ml, he responded in the reader-comment section: ... Full story.