Despite recent price declines, 2008 remains a historically strong year for the agricultural economy, according to a new report from USDA, Agricultural Income and Finance Outlook.

The Center for Food Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has just published in their annual Outbreak Alert! report that dairy is the safest food category when dealing with food-borne illnesses.

International experts have established a tolerable daily intake (TDI) for melamine, the chemical found recently in contaminated milk products.

Irish dairy and ingredients group, Carbery, is promoting research employing its hydrolyzed whey protein ingredient, Optipep, that it says demonstrates its superiority to regular whey protein in terms of insulin response.

The proposed tax would require farms or ranches with more than 25 dairy cows, 50 beef cattle or 200 hogs to pay an annual fee of about $175 for each dairy cow, $87.50 per head of beef cattle and $20 for each hog.