National Cheese Lovers Day: Jan. 20

January 20 marks National Cheese Lovers Day. As you build your next charcuterie board or grab a simple cheese and crackers snack, think of our dairy research partners that help move your favorite product from the farm to your refrigerator.

According to USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, the United States produced more than 13.3 billion pounds of cheese in 2020. Below are a few research projects conducted by Land-grant Universities with support from the USDA National Institute Food and Agriculture.
Navigating Delays at the Processing Plant with Help from MSU Extension
In spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in supply chain disruptions across the globe, including Michigan dairy farmers and milk processing. School closures resulted in a shift in demand from fresh milk for school lunches to other packaged dairy products such as cheese that could be sent home. Sick workers in processing and bottling plants led to temporary processing disruptions and a decreased ability for producers to ship milk off their farm. In some cases, this led to the need for farms to manage their excess raw milk. With that in mind, many dairy producers were asking what options existed regarding raw milk management from both an agronomic and environmental standpoint. Learn more.
Returns to Dairy Technology Investment
A variety of factors can influence a cow's milk production. In Texas, two of these factors are heat stress and reproduction. External heat accumulates from solar radiation, high ambient air temperature, and high relative humidity, causing a cow's body temperature to increase. This has an adverse effect on both reproduction and milk production. Learn more.
Motivating Calcium Consumption in Children
Scientists have worked together on Multistate Research Project W-2003, conducting studies about the specific factors that influence calcium intake among children. With the data they have collected so far, researchers are designing messages, materials, and programs that motivate parents to boost the number of calcium-rich foods and drinks their children consume. Learn more.
ICYMI: National Milk Day
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, in 2020 more than 9 million dairy cows produced 223.2 billion pounds of milk in the United States. On National Milk Day, we highlighted some of the Land-grant Universities conducing dairy research with support from NIFA. Learn more.