Latest News From Wes Mills

As NAFTA talks intensify in Washington, Canada’s dairy farmers implored Prime Minister Justin Trudeau not to trade access to the country’s protected milk market for a deal with the U.S.
Farmers Tell Trudeau Don't Use Milk as Bargaining Chip

As NAFTA talks intensify in Washington this week Canada’s dairy farmers urge Prime Minister Justin Trudeau not to trade access to the country’s protected milk market for a deal with the U.S.

An earthquake measuring 6.7 Richter scale rocked northern Japan on Sept. 5., hurting the country's primary dairy region.
Japan Earthquake May Lead to Milk, Cheese Shortage

Japan’s dairy industry is at risk as a widespread power outage persists following a strong earthquake in the country’s northern island of Hokkaido on Sept. 5.

Charged in the death of college student Mollie Tibbetts, Cristhian Bahena Rivera worked at an Iowa dairy farm under the name John Budd, according to reports by the Associated Press.
Investigators Back at Iowa Dairy Farm for Tibbetts Case

Federal, state and local agents are at the Iowa dairy farm that employed and housed the man charged with killing Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts.

Perdue Farms, Inc. may join a growing list of meat processors, like Tyson Foods and Cargill, Inc, to invest in plant-based protein products.
Perdue Explores Non-Meat Options

It’s a sign of the times that 98-year-old Perdue Farms Inc. is looking at selling non-meat protein products alongside its signature chickens and turkeys.

As companies try to cater to Americans' interest in lighter eating, the term "plant-based" is replacing "vegan" and "vegetarian" on some foods. The worry is that the v-words might have unappetizing or polarizing associations.
Don't Use the "V" Word

It's not vegan, it's "plant-based." So will carnivores bite?

A judge has ordered a man charged in the kidnapping and murder of an Iowa college student to be jailed on a $5 million cash-only bond.
Meanwhile the farmer who employed Cristhian Bahena Rivera says he's received death threats.
Iowa Farmer Threatened in Tibbetts Case

The farmer who employed murder suspect Cristhian Bahena Rivera says he's received death threats. Rivera was charged with the murder of missing Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts. Rivera worked at the dairy farm.

What does the future hold for animal agriculture as researchers delve deeper into the genetic code of livestock?
Rewriting the Genetic Code of Livestock

Meet one of the leading scientists in the world of livestock genetics. Dan Carlson of Minnesota-based Recombinetics is rewriting the future of genetic code of animals.

Bryan Matthews tends to his cows at his farm in Callaway, Va. Despite stubbornly low milk prices forcing some dairy farmers to pinch pennies just to scrape by and others to call it quits and sell off their cattle, Bryan Matthews tries to remain optimistic.
Dairy Farms Weather Long Stretch of Low Milk Prices

Across the country, dairy farmers are struggling to make ends meet. While some are opting out of the business, others are hoping to weather the storm.

After multiple food scares in recent years affecting the bottom line, Chipotle's new CEO is making changes....including menu changes like adding milkshakes.
Chipotle's Road to Redemption Includes Milkshakes

After multiple food scares in recent years affecting the bottom line, Chipotle's new CEO is making changes....including menu changes like adding milkshakes.

Canada’s dairy system caps production to avoid oversupply and maintain stable prices for farmers. Permits to sell within supply management’s cap, known as quota, have grown in value and are now worth C$35 billion (US$26 billion).
Canada's Real Cash Cow

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has billions of reasons to dig In against President Trump's attack on Canada's dairy supply management system.

Pres Donald Trump & Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau share a lighter moment in this undated photo. But the smiles were replaced by frowns following the Group of Seven (G-7)  Summit.
How Canada's Dairy System Upset the President

Pres Trump spent much of the G-7 complaining about Canadian dairy tariffs, mentioning it repeatedly during a leaders’ session on trade,

America's Dairyland is hurting and a new task force plans to spend the next year figuring out how to save the industry that's integral to Wisconsin's economy and identity.
America's Dairyland Seeks Help

Gov. Scott Walker on Tuesday announced creation of the task force tasked with coming up with recommendations to save the Wisconsin dairy industry, which pumps $43.3 billion into the state's economy every year.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is taking heat from dairy farmers in his own country as he signals a willingness to negotiate their dairy program with the U.S.
Trudeau Taking Heat from Canadian Dairy Farmers

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is under fire from farmers at home for saying he’s flexible on increasing access to the country’s dairy industry, a change sought by Donald Trump in Nafta talks.

Dean Foods is the largest dairy company in the United States. Headquartered in Dallas,  the company has 66 manufacturing facilities in 32 U.S. states.
Dean Foods Eyeing Up Alternatives

Even the largest dairy processors are looking for potential investments in the plant-based milk movement.

Dean Foods, the largest dairy company in the U.S., gets hit with a downgrade of its stock.
Tough Report for Dean Foods

Shares of Dean Foods Co., the largest U.S. bottler, fell as much as 8.9 percent to a six-year low after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. downgraded its rating on the stock.

It's getting crowded in the cooler as a growing number of supermarkets add an oat-based milk alternative.
Feeling Your Oats; Another 'Milk' Alternative

There’s a new plant milk in town, and it’s started such a craze that coffee shops across the country are struggling to keep up with demand.

An Easter egg hunt will cost more this year as prices surge 37% over last year.
Easter Egg Hunt Costlier in 2018

Egg prices in the U.S. have surged close to a record high, just in time for Easter.

Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts says it’s crucial to get the farm bill finished this year because of the possibility that tariffs imposed by President Trump might trigger retaliation that would hit farmers.
Farm Bill in Jeopardy over Food Programs

2018 Farm Bill negotiations already facing backlash over proposed changes to work requirements for SNAP recipients

Thousands of dairy cows are being flown and shipped to the nation of Qatar, many from the United States.
Flying Cows. Floating Cows. How Qatar Gets Around Boycott

The nine-month Saudi-led embargo of Qatar has an undisputed mascot for Doha’s defiance: the cud-chewing American cow.

Ohio milk man may find himself behind bars for allegedly delivering something other than milk to prisoners
Milkman Makes Wrong Delivery

A longtime milkman delivered more than what the labels on his packages promised, smuggling marijuana, tobacco and cellphones into an Ohio prison hidden inside milk cartons, a prosecutor said.

Feb 2018 McDonald's announced it will remove cheeseburgers and chocolate milk from its Happy Meals menu to reduce calories that kids consume.
McDonald's Cuts Cheeseburgers, Chocolate Milk from Happy Meals

McDonald's will soon banish cheeseburgers and chocolate milk from its Happy Meal menu in an effort to cut down on the calories, sodium, saturated fat and sugar that kids consume at its restaurants.

Bipartisan Effort to Fund Export Programs
Bipartisan Effort to Fund Export Programs

Lawmakers Cross Aisle to Boost Funding for Export Initiatives