Pennsylvania dairy producers are invited to apply for the Dairy of Distinction award from the Pennsylvania Dairy of Distinction Program. Applications must be submitted by April 15.

When it comes to artisanal cheese making, Pennsylvania is not Vermont, concedes Kerry Kaylegian, but the dairy foods extension specialist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences is doing what she can to put the Keystone State on the cheese-making map.

Americans drink more than 6 billion gallons of milk per year, and another 10 billion gallons are used to produce cheese, not to mention the milk that goes into products such as ice cream and yogurt. Yet, it's safe to say, most consumers take the well-being of dairy cows for granted. But the country's 65,000 dairy farmers don't — they can't afford to.

A student team representing the Food Science Department in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences took first place in the Yogurt category of the 95th Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest, held April 12 in Madison, Wisconsin.

Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has a long history of helping to fulfill the University's land-grant mission by providing educational outreach to dairy farmers and other producers in Pennsylvania and beyond. Now, utilizing the latest educational technology and methods, the college is poised to offer "Dairy Production and Management," the world's first dairy-related "massive, open online course" (or MOOC to the tech savvy).

Pennsylvania dairy producers are invited to apply for the Dairy of Distinction award from the Pennsylvania Dairy of Distinction Program. Applications must be submitted by April 15.

These are not your grandfather's dairy cows. In 2014, the United States national dairy herd produced twice as much milk as it did 90 years ago, but with about 60 percent fewer cows.

If you love the flavor and mouthfeel of Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream, you can thank, in part, the milk fat. You also can thank research on the diet of dairy cows, which began before the creamery's founding 150 years ago.

Penn State’s Dairy Challenge team earned a second place award at the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge held in April in Syracuse, New York. Funded with the support of 120 agribusinesses and dairy farms, Dairy Challenge is an innovative two-day academic competition for students representing dairy science programs at North American universities.

Penn State Extension is offering two important resources related to dairy products.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Pennsylvania dairy producers are invited to apply for the Dairy of Distinction award from the Pennsylvania Dairy of Distinction program. Applications must be submitted by April 15.