Lisa Rathke

Associated Press

Today in Manufacturing Podcast

Today in Manufacturing Podcast

Today in Manufacturing has a new podcast brought to you by the editors of Industrial Media. In each episode, we discuss the five biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward.

Milk pours out of the bulk tank and into the drain Wednesday, April 8, 2020, at the Azevedo Family Dairy in Buhl, Idaho. With restaurants across the country closed, milk processors have lost a significant chunk of their market, leaving dairy farmers with no one to take their milk. Owner Richard Azevedo says 4,100 gallons of milk were dumped that morning. 'It's hard to watch that go down the drain,' he says.

Virus Hurts Already-Reeling Dairy Industry

This was supposed to be rebound year for dairy farmers.

Chad Butters, founder of Eight Oaks Farm Distillery, poses for a photo at their facility in New Tripoli, Pa., Monday, March 16, 2020. Butters, who grew increasingly angry as he saw the skyrocketing price of hand sanitizer, has decided to do something about it: He's temporarily converting his operation into a production line for the suddenly hard-to-find, gooey, alcohol-based disinfectant.

Distilleries Are Making Hand Sanitizer

Production lines are being converted to make alcohol-based disinfectant.

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Ben & Jerry's Sued Over 'Happy Cows'

The suit claims not all of the company's milk and cream stems from 'Happy Cows'.

Defining Milk Well

VT Dairy to Merge with Nat'l Giant

The move comes as dairy farmers have been struggling with a prolonged period of low milk prices.

Maple Syrup Up Despite Short Season

This year's season lasted an average of 30 days in the syrup-producing states, compared with 42 days in 2018.

This combination of Sept. 27, 2012, file photos, show Jay Peak Resort co-owner Ariel Quiros, left, and Jay Peak Resort co-owner and CEO Bill Stenger at a news conference in Newport, Vt. Fraud charges were filed Wednesday, May 22, 2019, against former Jay Peak owner Ariel Quiros, of Florida, and former president, William Stenger, of Newport. The pair are accused in a multimillion-dollar fraud case on multiple federal charges over a failed plan to build a biotech facility using foreign investors' money.

Multimillion-Dollar Fraud Case

The former owner and former president of a ski resort have been indicted on multiple federal charges.

Dairy Pricing Program Expected in June

Dairy farmers are in their fifth year of low milk prices that have driven thousands out of business.

Ruth Goodrich of Goodrich's Maple Farm in Danville, Vt., holds squirrel-damaged maple sap tubing, right, and new tubing, left, in the farm's equipment shop.

Squirrels Damaging Syrup Operations

Damage from wildlife is not unusual, but this year an abundant population of squirrels is disrupting plastic sap tubing and spouts.

Dairy Farm Holsteins

Experts Predict Tough Year for Farmers

Milk prices paid to farmers are expected to be better this year, but not by much.

Farm Bill Exempts Pure Maple, Honey

The FDA acknowledged its error after receiving thousands of comments.

Containers of maple syrup, with nutrition facts on their labels are lined up on a table at Morse Farm Sugarworks in East Montpelier, Vt., Tuesday, May, 1, 2018. Maple syrup and honey producers aren't too sweet on a plan to label their natural products as containing added sugars. The FDA plans to require updated nutrition labels for products that would say that pure maple syrup and honey contain added sugars.

Makers Not Sweet on New Labels

The new labels are misleading, illogical and confusing and could hurt their industries.