Last year more than half of Americans did not eat there meals at home. Ag Resource economist Dan Basse says the global pandemic has changed that. He shares his concerns about stocking our nation’s grocery stores and is also keeping his eye on another Black Swan that is affecting the ethanol industry.

USDA has FAQ’s and resources about coronavirus (COVID-19).

The latest information directly from the CDC can be found at www.coronavirus.gov.Read More

• Dairy Farmers of America postponed its annual meeting, scheduled for March 16-18 in Kansas City, Missouri.
  
• The Professional Dairy Producers Conference annual business conference, set for March 18-19, in Madison, Wisconsin, will now be held entirely online. Registration closes on March 17 at 5 p.m. Registrants can also access all recorded sessions, handouts and presentations on-demand, and then take a “walk” through PDPW’s premier suppliers’ digital storefronts on PDPW Prime.
  
• The Central Plains Dairy Expo, scheduled for March 24-26 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has been canceled.
  
• The California Dairy Sustainability Summit, set for March 25-26 in Sacramento California, has been postponed.
  
• The Wisconsin Public Service Farm Show, scheduled for March 31-April 2 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has been canceled.
  
• An annual “Workshop for Dairy Economists and Policy Analysts,” originally set for April 22-23 in Baltimore, Maryland, will not be held.

Dairymen who are over 65 need to isolate themselves and be creative about how they are managing their usual daily activities with their employees. Non-essential functions by the state have been cancelled and most businesses and state agencies have been working around the clock to comply with the guidance and keep people away from one another.  Western United Dairies thank our farmers for keeping the stores stocked and all their employees who are keeping our consumers fed with healthy and nutritious food.

The State of California has issued the following guidance for self isolation to control the spread of COV-19:
Gathering Guidance English
Gathering Guidance Spanish

Additional information on other self-isolation protocols can be found here:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Guidance.aspx

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR20-020s.aspx

Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, released the following statement today on COVID-19 and the availability of dairy products across the nation:

“The International Dairy Foods Association has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation to ensure the safety and availability of dairy products throughout the nation during this time of emergency. Our members, who represent the full dairy supply chain from the dairy cooperatives to dairy processors to the retailers, report at this time that the nation’s dairy industry is experiencing no interruptions and is continuing to supply American consumers with affordable, healthy milk and dairy products even as demand surges.

“Our association is in close contact with federal agencies and the White House to ensure transportation routes and supply lines in different regions of the country remain free of disruption. These routes are crucial to commerce and public safety and must remain unobstructed. At present, at retail facilities across the country, milk—a nutritious family staple—remains affordable and available. We are working closely with the USDA to remain flexible in how dairy processors get milk to schools and school districts who are continuing to provide meals to the millions of children who need them each day, despite closures, through distribution at schools, churches, parks and other community sites.

“And we are working to ensure dairy processors across the nation have up-to-date information about the swift and dynamic nature of COVID-19, including the latest guidance on prevention, so that they can continue to protect the health and safety of their workforce, their goods, and their customers, ensuring our nation can remain food secure throughout this situation.

“In times like these, we are most grateful for our dairy farmers and dairy processors for their great efficiency, commitment to safety, and ability to get affordable, nutritious milk where it is needed.”

In response to the continued spread of COVID-19 (the coronavirus) in the United States and the virus’s potential impact on domestic and international markets, National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jim Mulhern said the following:

“As the organization representing U.S. dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own, the National Milk Producers Federation stands ready to assist its members in addressing coronavirus challenges. From possible damages to domestic and world markets, to supply chain labor disruptions on the farm, at the processing plant or in transporting milk, the potential ramifications for dairy are wide-ranging. We will devote our resources to the best of our ability to helping dairy farmers and cooperatives respond to whatever challenges they may face.

“The good news is that the U.S. dairy supply is safe, and production of high-quality products continues unimpeded. The FDA has confirmed that heat treatment kills other coronaviruses, so pasteurization is expected to also inactivate this virus. In addition, there is no evidence that this strain of coronavirus is present in domestic livestock such as cattle.

“Still, all producers will remain vigilant as what has now been labeled a pandemic continues its path. We will continue to answer questions and offer information to help our members. Policy solutions also may be needed for producers whose operations have been affected by the virus. In keeping with our mission of serving our members, regardless of the challenge, we will work with lawmakers and regulators to ensure a safe and adequate supply of milk and to mitigate potential economic harm to dairy farmers.”

It’s that time of year again as warming temperatures bring out those pesky flies. Mark Upton, Director of Sales, Feed Additives with Central Life Sciences joined us on today’s Dairy Radio Now with some tips on how to better prepare for the upcoming fly season.

January milk output hit 18.8 billion pounds, according to preliminary data in the Agriculture Department’s first Milk Production report of 2020. That’s up 0.9% from January 2019. Output in the top 24 states totaled 17.9 billion, up 1.2%. Revisions added 88 million pounds to the original 50-state December total, now put at 18.37 billion pounds, up 1.2% from December 2018.
Read Full Report Here

After serving as president of National Farmers Union (NFU) for over a decade, Roger Johnson will not seek reelection next year. His current term will end at the organization’s annual convention in March, at which point an election for his successor will be held. Three candidates filed to run for the position before the Dec. 31 deadline – Rob Larew serves as NFU’s SVP of public policy and communications, Donn Teske has led Kansas Farmers Union as its president since 2001, and Mike Eby has served as spokesperson and chairman for the National Dairy Producers Organization for the last five years. Eby joined us on today’s Dairy Radio Now:

The Agriculture Department announced the first Federal Order Class III benchmark milk price of 2020 at $17.05 per hundredweight, down $2.32 from December but $3.09 above January 2019 and the highest January Class III price since 2014.

The January Class IV price is $16.65, down a nickel from December but $1.17 above a year ago and also the highest January Class IV price since 2014. Courtesty of Mielke Market Weekly

USDA just recently made some changes to the school lunch standards to give schools more choices when serving fruits and vegetables and meat. These include slices of pizza and hamburgers and even French fries. Why hasn’t USDA given our school kids the option of having whole and 2% milk in the lunch line? They have the regulatory authority to do this, according to Bob Gray of Northeast Dairy Farmers Cooperatives:

Part two of our conversation with former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, President and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council:

President Trump is expected to sign a trade deal with China today and the U.S. Senate is expected to pass the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement tomorrow. Tom Vilsack, President and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council says both will be good news for the U.S. dairy industry:

The Agriculture Department announced the December Federal Order Class III benchmark milk price on January 2 at $19.37 per hundredweight (cwt.), down $1.08 from November, $5.59 above December 2018, and the highest December price since 2007. That put the 2019 Class III average at $16.96, up from $14.61 in 2018 and $16.17 in 2017. 

        The December Class IV milk price is $16.70 per cwt., up 10 cents from November, $1.61 above a year ago, and the highest Class IV price since August. Its 2019 average is $16.30, up from $14.23 in 2018 and $15.16 in 2017. Courtesy Mielke Market Weekly

The US Agriculture Department announced the November Federal order Class III benchmark milk price at $20.45 per hundredweight this week, up $1.73 from October, $6.01 above November 2018, and the highest Class III price since October 2014.

The eleven month Class III average is $16.74, up from $14.69 at this time a year ago and $16.24 in 2017.

The November Class IV price is $16.60, up 21 cents from October and $1.54 above a year ago. Its average stands at $16.26, up from $14.15 a year ago and $15.31 in 2017. Courtesy Mielke Market Weekly

America’s largest milk producer will sell to Dairy Farmers of America:

Every year, FFA members nationwide converge on the National FFA Convention & Expo to celebrate their accomplishments and find inspiration for their next steps: https://convention.ffa.org/

An online tool from the Center for Dairy Excellence shows the value of dairy in each county in Pennsylvania: http://www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/pa-dairy-goodness-that-matters/calculate-dairys-value/

Bob Cropp and Mark Stephenson discuss the latest dairy market activity on their podcast link:
https://dairymarkets.org/pubpod/podcast/outlook/2019-10.ogv

The Agriculture Department announced the November Federal order Class I base price at $18.14 per hundredweight, up 30 cents from October, $2.62 above November 2018, and the highest Class I since January 2015. It equates to $1.56 per gallon, up from $1.33 a year ago. The 11 month average is $16.78, up from $14.82 a year ago and $16.41 in 2017.
Courtesy: Mielke Market Weekly