Blog
Certification, education, advocacy, events, industry news and the members behind them — written by the Federation, for the people who make, age, sell and buy the cheese.
Member spotlight: the apprentice who stayed
A composite look at a member archetype we're seeing more of this winter: the longtime apprentice who's quietly becoming the next owner, one small decision at a time.
Read postWhat a cold snap does to your milk quality
Cold weather asks more of a herd than warm weather does, and that shows up in your milk before it shows up anywhere else. A look at what…
Read postThe succession conversations finally happening
With input costs finally easing after a hard 2025, more farmstead creameries are having the ownership conversation they'd been postponing. Here's what we're hearing from members.
Read postA workshop built around your nose
This week's in-person sensory workshop is a smaller, hands-on companion to the Advanced Sensory Evaluation course, and it's the kind of session that changes how members judge their…
Read postThe paperwork behind your first export pallet
The new year reset several import quota categories that affect where specialty cheese can move and at what volume. If you're shipping overseas for the first time, the…
Read postThe margin program's six-year bet
The federal margin coverage program is offering a discount to producers who lock in six years of protection at once, right as milk prices open 2026 at their…
Read postA webinar before the rush
Next week's Listeria Control webinar lands right before spring production ramps up. A preview of what it covers and who should carve out the hour.
Read postWhat a judge accreditation actually checks
Competition season planning starts earlier than most members expect. Here's what the Competition Judge Accreditation actually tests, and why now is the time to start.
Read postWhat the cave owes you in January
Cold outside doesn't mean stable inside. A look at why January humidity swings catch cheesemakers off guard, and the course that walks through the fix.
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