One of USDA’s first big decisions of 2007, at least as far as the dairy industry in concerned, is whether to change the Class I and Class II pricing formulas to include increases in the minimums for both classes. USDA held a public hearing in December to consider a petition from dairy producers to implement the change as quickly as possible.

Entry materials for the 2007 United States Championship Cheese Contest are now available. The competition is set for March 12 –14 in Milwaukee and entry forms and fees are due February 12.

Marie Osmond shares a smile and a Dairy Queen Blizzard with customers during Dairy Queen’s first-ever North American Miracle Treat Day, which raised more than $3.5 million for Children’s Miracle Network.

Dean Foods will close the Reiter Dairy milk and ice cream plant in Akron, Ohio, next month, eliminating 164 jobs. Dean will shift production of Reiter’s brand products to three plants-near Dayton, and in Erie, Ohio, and in Sharpsville, Pa.

Kemps has entered the niche market of pelletized cryogenically frozen ice cream with the launch of IttiBitz. Ice Cream Reporter says the company describes the new product as “a revolutionary new chilled dessert product concocted of small creamy bits of ice cream that instantly melt in your customer’s mouth.”

The Brazilian agriculture ministry is being asked to ban the use of rBST. According to a report in Food Chemical News, the Brazilian Consumer Defense Institute (Idec) is basing a new offensive on rBST on recent research suggesting it may be linked to higher rates of twins in women who regularly drink milk.

Initiated in 1916, the Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest has had a phenomenal record of growth and industry participation since its inception. Many of today’s dairy industry leaders started out as contest participants . . . and winners.

With control of Congress passing to the Democrats, changes are taking place on key food industry related committees. Virginia Republican Bob Goodlatte will step down as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.

YORK, Pa.-The Rutter’s companies recently presented two checks totaling $10,000 to The Four Diamonds Fund which provides support to families whose children are being treated for cancer at Penn State Children’s Hospital in Hershey, Pa.

Tillamook County Creamery Association released a unique featured ice cream flavor recently-Tillamook Pumpkin. The cheesemaker, which also does a good deal of regional ice cream business, calls it a perfect combination of creamy pumpkin puree flavored ice cream with hints of spice and molasses throughout.