Lawmakers divided by region over how to spend $350 million set aside for dairy farmers

September 30th, 2009 Congress fashions $350 million dairy aid packageWASHINGTON — Amid a crisis of low milk prices and mounting losses in dairy country, lawmakers in Congress are fashioning a $350 million emergency aid package aimed at helping struggling milk farmers. Secretive talks on Capitol Hill have produced a tentative compromise, slated to be unveiled Wednesday, that would leave it to Agriculture Department chief Tom Vilsack to figure out how to deliver most of the aid, $290 million.

September 30th, 2009 Deal would offer $350M for struggling milk farmersWASHINGTON — Lawmakers from dairy-producing states announced agreement Wednesday on $350 million in aid for struggling milk farmers. Some $290 million would go for direct support of dairy farmers under a program to be devised by the Agriculture Department, according to Rep.

September 18th, 2009 Euro farmers dump milk to protest price slumpPARIS — Angry French farmers dumped millions of liters of fresh milk next to one of France's most famous tourist sites on Friday to denounce the slumping cost of milk and an EU plan to end production quotas, which could further drive prices down. APLI, a small dairy farmer's union that organized the protest, said over 1,000 farmers and 300 tractors took part in the event, pouring 3,5 million liters (925,000 gallons) of milk onto fields next to the famed Mont Saint-Michel.

September 17th, 2009 EU offers extra help to ease dairy crisisSTRASBOURG, France — The European Commission on Thursday promised extra steps to combat sinking dairy prices but insisted it would not abandon long-term farm reforms that include phasing out milk quotas after 2015. Faced with farmers spilling vast amounts of milk on roads and farmlands around Europe to protest sagging milk prices, EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said she will propose to cut red tape to be able "spring into action in the future if we hit further problems in the dairy sector." She also suggested that a European dairy futures market could stabilize prices and said she would study if better long-term contracts between farmers and the dairy industry can improve supply and demand.

September 17th, 2009 Program asks consumers to help New England farmersRICHMOND, Vt. — Several New England states are urging consumers to chip in and save the region's dwindling dairy farms, which are struggling with record-low milk prices.

September 15th, 2009 Senators call for more support to dairy farmersWASHINGTON — Flanked by a cow named Maggie — and six of his Senate colleagues — Sen. Bernie Sanders is calling for the House to pass an amendment increasing price supports to dairy farmers.

September 1st, 2009 American Dairy pays down convertible notes earlyLOS ANGELES — American Dairy Inc. on Tuesday said that it has paid down a portion of its convertible notes ahead of schedule.

August 12th, 2009 American Dairy to raise $63M from selling sharesLOS ANGELES — American Dairy Inc., which makes and distributes infant formula, said Wednesday that private investment firm Sequoia Capital will pay $63 million for 2.1 million of its common shares. The purchase price includes $47 million in cash and the conversion of a $16 million bridge loan American Dairy received from Sequoia last month.

July 31st, 2009 USDA will aid struggling dairy farmsWASHINGTON — The Agriculture Department is helping struggling dairy farmers by raising the price the government pays for milk and cheddar cheese through a dairy price support program. The department estimates the temporary increases, which will be in place until October, will boost dairy farmers' overall revenue by $243 million.

June 25th, 2009 ANAND - Amul has been ranked amongst the top 21 largest dairy businesses in the world as per the findings published by International Farm Comparison Network (IFCN) at the 10th IFCN Dairy Conference 2009 at Stockholm. The IFCN is a network of dairy researchers responsible for analysing global dairy trends and creating knowledge to guide the various stakeholders in the dairy sector covering about 80 countries, over 60 dairy related companies, a number of dairy related institutions and dairy farmers.

June 12th, 2009 $50M in stimulus will help fish farmers buy feedOSAGE BEACH, Mo. — The United States is about to spend $50 million in stimulus money on fish food to help fish farmers who have been struggling since feed prices jumped 50 percent last year.

April 28th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala government is working towards self-sufficiency in milk production by setting up four state-of-the-art dairy farms in the state on an outlay of Rs.20 crore. Work on the first farm has begun at Kulathupuzha in Pathanamthitta district, Animal Husbandry Minister C.

April 2nd, 2009 ANAND - Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which owns the Amul brand of dairy products, posted a turnover of Rs.6,705 crore (Rs.67.05 billion) in 2008-09, reflecting an increase of around 28 percent, the company announced Thursday in a statement. The federation's turnover has almost doubled over the last three years, the statement said, adding that the group turnover of GCMMF and its dairy 13 cooperatives, all members of the federation, has touched Rs.10,000 crore.

February 6th, 2009 PANAJI - India needs to actively pursue a National Milk Vision 2020 in an integrated manner if it is to hold its position as a global milk production giant, former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said here Saturday.

January 12th, 2009 ANAND - Milk farmers from Jammu and Kashmir, who were on a visit to the state of 'white revolution', feel inspired by their Gujarati counterparts for their success in creating Amul as one of Asia's largest milk brand. At least 50 milk producers of Jammu and Kashmir Milk Producers' Co-operative Ltd (JKMPCL) came on a five-day Amul Yatra in the first week of January to study a model of milk production.