Dairy industry representatives increasingly view the next round of WTO talks as critical for the U.S. dairy industry, as it seeks to open global markets to more dairy products. U.S. negotiators attending this month's Doha Round in Hong Kong are pushing for lower tariffs and fewer subsidies, but in the past have run into stiff opposition, especially in Europe.

Dairy owner, and Illinois gubernatorial candidate Jim Oberweis has been accused of hiring a subcontractor who paid janitorial workers $3.50 an hour to clean Oberweis ice cream and dairy stores.

Leprino Foods hopes to expand its facility here by 90,000 sq ft, but it has told local officials it might instead look to build a new facility out west if it doesn't get tax incentives for the expansion.

Congress recently approved the agricultural appropriations bill, and within it is a provision that will help restore a portion of the original USDA National Organic Program's rules, that was altered by a federal court decision.

Two men who have had a major influence on the dairy industry will not be as intimately involved with it in 2006.

Norse Dairy Systems, (NDS) Columbus, Ohio made a big splash at Worldwide Food Expo with several new systems including a new automated ice cream sandwich system offering a 60% reduction in labor.

The World ChurnsSlow Churned, Double Churned, now another ice cream company is introducing a lower fat product with the word Churn in the name. Yarnell's Ice Cream Co. of Arkansas

You could see this one coming like a hung breaking ball. The new "controversy" ad campaign from "got milk?" has caused, well... a controversy. The tongue-in-cheek campaign positions milk as a performance enhancer and pokes fun at baseball's steroid scandal. Major League baseball is not too pleased with the ads, according to statements given to a San Francisco newspaper.

Cabot Creamery is holding a contest for recipes from food industry pros. Recipes must use Cabot's Light natural cheddar cheeses, and the grand prize is a sapphire & diamond ring plus a Vermont vacation for two at Stoweflake Spa & Resort. Other prizes include $200 and a $50 cheese gift pack for each category.

Last month the House Budget Committee passed its budget reconciliation package without including a renewal of the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program.

The program expired September 30, but was brought back into discussion by several dairy state congressional members in October.