Kyle's mom, Danielle, started buying organic milk for her family after reading about hormones and other chemicals in conventional milk. His mother constantly refills the cup with milk, which the 3-year-old drinks while eating meals or playing around the family's Yakima home. That belief is likely driven from reports of negative health and environmental effects of rBGH, a synthetic growth hormone that farmers have used to increase milk production, said David Granatstein, sustainable...

This increase in productivity will have come from a combination of better bred cows, and better management of those cows, with farmers also getting better informed of new and efficient ways of producing milk. Why cows churn out more and more milk. Whilst many find statistics quite dull and boring and want to fall asleep at the mere mention of the word, there are a few dairy industry statistics that we can do well by reminding ourselves so here we go. Where then has the money gone? The last...

The reason why milk prices and those for other dairy products have skyrocketed is a simple case of cause and effect, Newman said. Temperatures that are not drought-like make it more comfortable for dairy cows, who in turn eat more and produce more milk. Currently, corn is the source of 98 percent of all ethanol, an alcohol that is blended with nearly half of the gasoline sold in the country to power cars and light trucks. And if they don't eat as much, they don't produce as much milk....

Before the library opened, children ran through the courtyard, anxiously asking their parents if the dairy truck had arrived. Sanders explained about the diet of cows, why cows produce milk and modern-day methods for milking. Sanders said schools are required to concentrate on a variety of subjects and agriculture doesn t get as much attention. He emphasized, however, agriculture and farmers are still an important part of today s society. Children don t always realize where the...

Through careful breeding and with the help of surrogate cows, Calles' tiny herd of 11 has grown to 5,000, the largest group of purebred Akaushi cattle outside Japan. On a 0-12 quality scale used to rate beef in Japan, where heavy fat marbling is preferred, Kobe rates a minimum nine points, and Angus beef 4. Their beef, often called ''Kobe beef'' by American restaurants, commands staggering prices but is heralded by chefs and foodies for thoroughly marbled fat that gives the meat tenderness...