Goat Milk

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded more than $11 million in grants to promote innovation and marketing within the dairy sector. This initiative is specifically designed to support small and mid-sized dairy businesses, facilitating their growth, production and enhancing their market competitiveness.

The funding aims to encourage the development of value-added products and innovative marketing strategies. By focusing on these areas, the USDA intends to help dairy producers increase their profitability and sustainability in a competitive market environment.

“This funding through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives makes important investments in the domestic dairy industry, furthering USDA’s efforts to ensure Americans have access to affordable wholesome U.S. dairy products,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins.

This grant program is part of a broader USDA strategy to bolster the agricultural sector by supporting innovation and ensuring that smaller producers have the tools necessary to succeed. The funds are expected to be distributed among various projects that align with these goals, although specific recipients have not been detailed in the announcement.

Background and Impact

The USDA’s commitment reflects an ongoing effort to strengthen rural economies through targeted investments in agriculture. By prioritizing innovation and marketing, the USDA seeks to address challenges faced by small and mid-sized dairy businesses, such as fluctuating market demands and increased competition.

Dairy innovation grants like these play a crucial role in enabling producers to explore new product lines and reach new markets. They also help in offsetting costs associated with research and development, which can be prohibitively expensive for smaller operations.

This funding initiative is aligned with the USDA’s broader goals of enhancing agricultural sustainability and fostering economic growth across rural America. As the dairy industry continues to evolve, such investments are essential for maintaining the competitiveness of American dairy producers on a global scale.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects that China’s dairy industry will reach a phase of structural stability by 2026. This follows a period of volatility characterized by declining milk prices since 2022. As a result, smaller dairy producers have exited the market, leading to a consolidation of production within larger industrial operations.

According to the USDA’s office in Beijing, mega-farms now account for over 68% of China’s total milk production. This marks an increase of more than 2% compared to the previous year. The consolidation trend reflects a broader global pattern where operations with economies of scale dominate markets with compressed profit margins.

China’s local dairy production is gradually reducing its historic dependency on imports. Although fluid milk imports are expected to decline slightly by 2026, the production of skim milk powder is projected to increase, maintaining current import levels. Despite this progress, China remains reliant on foreign suppliers for specialized dairy products where domestic competitiveness is still developing.

The USDA also forecasts a slight growth in both the production and importation of butter and cheese. Meanwhile, imports of whey and derivatives are expected to remain strong. These projections highlight strategic opportunities for global exporters, as China’s domestic market continues to evolve.

Overall, the shift towards mega-farm dominance and increased local production are reshaping the dairy supply chain in China, with implications for technology, bovine genetics, feed, and specialized veterinary services. This transformation is steering China’s dairy industry towards efficiency and biosecurity standards comparable to leading Western dairy regions.

International health certificates for the export of animals from the United States are completed by the accredited veterinarian who certifies herd and animal health status, conducts tests, and records test results for the individual animals being exported. Completed and signed international health certificates for the export of animals from the United States must be endorsed by a Veterinary Services area office in order to be valid.

The United States has minimal requirements for animals to be exported to other countries.  Your Area Veterinarian-in-Charge can provide you with the current regulations, tests, and inspections required.  Approved ports of embarkation and shipping requirements can be found in the Program Handbook. Each country may have other specific health requirements for entry of animals. These requirements are established by the importing country, not the United States. Other countries may also have their own certificate format for export. Since export requirements frequently change, obtain the current export requirements from the Veterinary Service office in your area before each shipment. Do not rely solely on information provided by brokers and exporters. Export certificates are official documents and they should be typewritten, accurate, and complete.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these regulations for exporting animals to a foreign country, you should contact the Veterinary Services service center in the State from which the animals will be exported.