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Weak Production Lately

Lucas Fuess is a Senior Dairy Analyst for RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness and is based in Chicago:  

Supporting Calf Immunity

Dr. Mike Hutjens discusses the topic of supporting calf immunity - from a recent webinar from Mississippi State University:      

Keep Chocolate Milk In Schools

Chris Galen with the National Milk Producers Federation discusses the latest efforts to keep dairy in school meals:      

Farmers Are A Trusted Source

John Clark reports from the recently completed Stakeholders Summit from the Animal Ag Alliance:  

Managing Feed

Managing feed is our topic on this PDPW Producer Tuesday, brought to you by the Professional Dairy Producers.  

Butter Is Beacon Of Hope

Butter was a “beacon of hope" in the USDA's latest supply and demand data, which was a contrast to several other disappointments last week. Betty Berning, HighGround Dairy contributing dairy economist, talks with Lee Mielke about it.  

Fly Control Is A Smart Investment

It is not too late to manage those pesky flies. As we hear today from Brian Hupp, National Accounts Mgr with Central Life Sciences, untreated fly infestation can cut into dairy profitability:      

Optimal Feed Efficiency

Dr. Heather White, Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, joins us on our Producer Tuesday to discuss the optimal way to feed our cows.  Brought to you by the Professional Dairy Producers:      

Restaurant Sales Strong

Restaurant sales are strong and good news for the dairy industry - but why isn't that showing up in farm milk prices? Lee talks about it with StoneX dairy broker Dave Kurzawski:  

Feed Forum Friday

Dr. Mike Hutjens with more research relating to feeding our dairy cows for optimum performance:  

Latest Moos

April Class III Up 42 Cents

Farm milk prices are climbing but have a long ways to go before hitting profitability for most U.S. dairy farms. The Agriculture Department announced the April Federal order Class III benchmark at $18.52 per hundredweight, up 42 cents from March but $5.90 below April 2022. The four month average stands at $18.46, down from $22.04 a year ago and compares to $16.40 in 2021. 

The April Class IV price is $17.95, down 43 cents from March, $7.36 below a year ago, and the lowest Class IV since October 2021. Its four month average is at $18.80, down from $24.31 a year ago, and compares to $14.14 in 2021. Courtesy of the Mielke Market Weekly

 

Promoting Dairy At NCIMS Conference

The 2023 National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) was held in Indianapolis from April 3 to 7. The gathering once again highlighted the successful collaboration between the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS)/Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state regulators, and dairy industry representatives in an ongoing effort to promote and protect a safe supply of Grade A milk and milk products. Read More

More Dairy Beef In Supply

Tight finances on dairy farms and high beef prices are tempting producers. StoneX broker Dave Kurzawski says dairy beef is making up a bigger percentage of the U.S. beef supply than it was a year ago, and talks with Lee Mielke about it.

April Class I: $18.85

The Agriculture Department announced the April Class I base at 18.85 per hundredweight, down 14 cents from March, $5.53 below a year ago, and the lowest Class I since November 2021. It equates to $1.62 per gallon, down from $2.10 a year ago. The four month average stands at $20.26, down from $22.15 a year ago and compares to $15.35 in 2021. Courtesy of the Mielke Market Weekly

Provide Your Feedback on Fake Milk

National Milk’s Chris Galen joins us to discuss the public comment period for FDA’s guidance of plant based labels. Dairy advocates may learn more about the issue and offer comments here. Galen also updated us on legislation called DAIRY PRIDE, an acronym for the Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday Act.

 

 

Dairy Leaders Honored By World Dairy Expo

World Dairy Expo® is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2023 Expo Recognition Awards. Nominated and selected by their peers, these individuals have made remarkable contributions to the dairy industry and their communities. Honorees will be formally honored during the Recognition Awards Banquet at World Dairy Expo on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. Banquet tickets will be available at www.worlddairyexpo.com beginning on July 1. TThe 2023 Expo Recognition Award honorees are as follows:

Dairy Producer of the Year Randy Kortus, Lynden, Wash., Mainstream Holsteins, Jerseys and Ayrshires

Randy Kortus, Lynden, Wash., has built a dynasty of elite cattle genetics with his family’s herd, focusing on solid production cows while encompassing multiple breeds. Kortus and his family’s commitment to detailed and consistent herd management has provided each cow the opportunity to express her genetic potential, and it shows, as Kortus has developed 22 Dam of Merit cows, 41 Gold Medal Dam cows, and 13 cows achieving individual lifetime productions over 300,000 pounds of milk. He has also developed prominent sires in the Holstein and Jersey breeds, such as Mainstream Manifold and Mainstream Iatola Sparky. Beyond impacting the dairy industry through elite genetics, Kortus has committed over 25 years of service and leadership to Holstein Association USA and Select Sires, providing consultant services for herd owners and presenting seminars on a variety of dairy industry topics. Kortus has traveled to 27 countries on over 50 different trips, serving as a welcomed ambassador for the US dairy industry.

 

Industry Person of the Year  Tom Morris, Amery, Wis., Deronda Farm, Tom Morris Ltd., Cattle CONNECTION

A successful Registered Holstein breeder, educator, auctioneer/sale manager, publisher and industry leader, Tom Morris’ pedigree is as storied as any sale topper he’s sold. Morris and his wife Sandy, owners of Deronda Farm, developed more than 200 Excellent cows and held three complete dispersals during the 1980s, each boasting the highest average in the USA for the year. Owners and operators of Tom Morris Ltd., the couple has managed over 500 dispersals and consignment sales, including the World Classic at World Dairy Expo. Always an innovator, Morris helped launch the first 9-month Dairy Herdsman Technical College Program in the country, serving as an instructor for ten years. As owner/publisher of the Cattle CONNECTION, he connected buyers and sellers with the monthly dairy publication for 32 years. Morris is also a valued industry leader, currently serving as World Dairy Expo’s Dairy Cattle Exhibitor Committee chair and as Vice President of the Executive Committee.

International Person of the Year  Bonnie Cooper, North York, Ontario, Canada, Holstein Journal

Bonnie Cooper of North York, Ontario, Canada, is a well-known, highly respected and trail-blazing journalist who has dedicated her distinguished career of over 45 years to chronicling Canada’s dairy cattle industry as Editor of Holstein Journal. Throughout her time at Holstein Journal, Cooper devoted her way with words to telling meaningful stories about industry challenges and successes, genetic advancements, cow families and shows and sales. Cooper also managed the distinguished All-Canadian contest. Although Holstein Journal ceased publication in March 2019, Cooper continues her passion for writing about the dairy industry as a freelance journalist for a variety of publications, both in Canada and around the world. Most notably, she wrote “Holstein Milestones at the Royal” in honor of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair’s 100th anniversary for Holstein Canada’s Info Holstein publication last fall. Cooper also continues to write and distribute throughout Canada a free, monthly Holstein Coming Events column called “Bonnie’s Holstein Dairy Events Listing”.

Serving as the meeting place of the global dairy industry, World Dairy Expo brings together the latest in dairy innovation and the best cattle in North America. The global dairy industry will return to Madison, Wis. for the 56th event, October 1-6, 2023, when the world’s largest dairy-focused trade show, dairy and forage seminars, a world-class dairy cattle show and more will be on display. Download the World Dairy Expo mobile event app, visit worlddairyexpo.com or follow WDE on FacebookTwitterLinkedInSpotifyInstagram or YouTube for more information.

Fluid Milk Sales Flounder

US fluid milk sales continue to flounder, down 2.4% in 2022 from 2021. Some of the blame is put on plant-based beverages, and the dairy industry has been calling on the Food and Drug Administration to stop such products from using dairy terms like “milk. Lee talks with HighGround Dairy President Eric Meyer over the FDA’s latest position on this issue.

 

Dairy Pride Act Would Help End Consumer Confusion

The National Milk Producers Federation commended a bipartisan group of senators for re-introducing the DAIRY PRIDE Act, which would end the problem of consumer confusion of the nutritional content of plant-based beverages the Food and Drug Administration took inadequate steps to remedy last week.

FDA is accepting comments on its draft guidance until April 24. Meanwhile, DAIRY PRIDE introduction in the House of Representatives is expected within weeks. NMPF’s Chris Galen gave Dairy Radio Now listeners an update from our nation’s capital:

 

February Class III Drops To $17.78

The February Federal Order Class III benchmark milk price was announced by the USDA at $17.78 per hundredweight Wednesday, down $1.65 from January, $3.13 below February 2022, and the lowest it has been since Sept. 2021.

The February Class IV price is $18.86, down $1.15 from January, $5.14 below a year ago, and the lowest Class IV since November 2021.
Courtesy of the Mielke Market Weekly

March Class I: $18.99

The Agriculture Department announced the March Federal Order Class I base milk price at $18.99 per hundredweight, down $1.79 from February and $3.89 below March 2022, lowest Class I since Nov. 2021. The three month average stands at $20.73, down from $21.41 at this time a year ago, and compares to $15.29 in 2021. Courtesy of the Mielke Market Weekly

Holding Canada Responsible For Trade Violations

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) commended a recent announcement that the U.S. Trade Representative has formally moved to advance a U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) dispute settlement proceeding and establish a second panel to determine whether Canada has been in violation of its market access obligations under the agreement. NMPF’s Chris Galen tells us about it on today’s Dairy Radio Now:

 

Farmer Angel Network

Farming is a uniquely stressful occupation, and farmer mental-health needs tend to be underserved, said Loganville, WI dairy farmer Randy Roecker in the latest Dairy Defined podcast. Roecker, a board member for Foremost Farms USA, is a co-founder of the Farmer Angel Network, a Wisconsin organization that helps support farmers’ mental health needs.  More info about the Farmer Angel Network here: https://www.farmerangelnetwork.com/

 

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