Dairy

The price of beef is at all-time highs, but a major policy initiative of the incoming Trump Administration could drive them higher. In an industry that's already strapped for workers, mass deportations could put some ranchers and feedlots out of business.

Raw milk continues to grow in popularity, despite bird flu in dairy cattle bringing increased scrutiny from health experts.

H5N1 has not been detected in Missouri’s dairy herd, but some of the state’s poultry flock has been affected. Exhibitors bringing Cows to the Missouri State Fair need to have their milk tested before arriving.

Four months after the first reported cases of bird flu in dairy cows, the price of milk and demand for it have largely remained unchanged. Industry experts say whether that remains the case will depend on how far and how quickly cases spread.

With bird flu spilling into dairies across the U.S., several Midwestern states have ramped up efforts to curb the virus. Few have expanded testing requirements like Iowa.

The USDA has confirmed 126 cases of bird flu in dairy cattle herds in a dozen states, and three dairy farmworkers have contracted the disease this year. Now Kansas is one of four states participating in a pilot program to test bulk milk tanks on dairy farms.

Livestock in Texas, Kansas and Michigan are confirmed to have the virus, and herds in New Mexico and Idaho have also tested positive. Officials confirmed that one person in Texas also had bird flu.

Spring is slowly blooming in Kansas City, and with it, comes an array of fresh, brightly-colored ingredients to add to the menu. KCUR’s food writers offer recommendations for Kansas City’s freshest springtime meals.