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Promoting Silage Bunker Safety

The in and outs of bunker safety is our topic today with Connie Kuber, Co-Owner of Conner Agriscience joins us on today's PDPW Producer Tuesday:  

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:      

Lee Mielke

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.

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.

 

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

GDT Disappoints Again

The Global Dairy Trade’s last main event last week was another disappointing performance. HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess talks with Lee Mielke about China’s impact:


China’s Role in GDT A Big Factor

China remains the big factor in the poor performing Global Dairy Trade and that may continue for awhile, says StoneX dairy broker Dave Kurzawski. He talks with Lee Mielke about it, based on first hand info out of China.


Dairy Headlines

Last week had plenty of headlines from the disappointing Pulse dairy auction to China’s mounting COVID cases and growing government protests, to USDA’s disappointing purchases of dairy products and the possibility of national railway strike. HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess talks with Lee Mielke:


Benchmark Milk Price Drops 80 Cents

The Agriculture Department announced the November Federal order Class III benchmark milk price at $21.01 per hundredweight (cwt.), down 80 cents from October but $2.98 above Nov. 2021. That put the eleven month average at $22.09, up from $16.96 a year ago and $18.39 in 2020.

The November Class IV price is $23.30, down $1.66 from October, $4.51 above a year ago, and the lowest Class IV since January. Courtesy of the Mielke Market Weekly

Class I Down $1.51

The Agriculture Department announced the final Federal order Class I base milk price of the year at $22.58 per hundredweight, down $1.51 from November but $3.41 above Dec. 2021, and the lowest Class I since February. It equates to $1.94 per gallon, up from $1.65 a year ago. The Class I average for 2022 is $23.66, up from $16.83 a year ago and $16.91 in 2020.


Global Dairy Trading Struggling

GDT trading has been struggling and much of that due to China’s absence but global markets are increasingly important to U.S. dairy farmers. But, global markets “have never been more interdependent than they are currently,” says Ron O’Brien, President of New Zealand-based Nui Markets North America. He talks with Lee Mielke about it:


Milk Feed Ratio Numbers Short-Lived

The September milk feed ratio ended seven months of decline but it will be short-lived, according to dairy economist Bill Brooks of Stoneheart Consulting in Dearborn, Missouri. He talks with Lee Mielke about it:


Prices Pulling Back

Butter prices have pulled back and cheese has fallen below $2 per pound. The “elephant in the room is not in the room,” meaning China – but StoneX broker Dave Kurzawski tells Lee Mielke there’s still support under the markets:


Dairy Demand Update

August dairy demand tells a story. HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess talks about it with Lee Mielke and has a warning on the high butter price.


Nov. Class I Jumps To $24.09

The November Federal order Class I base milk price was announced at $24.09 per hundredweight, up $1.38 from October, $6.11 above Nov. 2021, and the highest November price ever, topping to the Nov. 2014 high by 3 cents. It equates to $2.07 per gallon, up from $1.55 a year ago. The eleven month average stands at $23.76, up from $16.61 a year ago and $16.64 in 2020.

Courtesy of the Mielke Market Weekly

Milk Production Forecast Up

The USDA has upped its latest milk production estimate in the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. HighGround Dairy’s Lucus Fuess agrees and says the consensus is that U.S. milk output might be a little stronger than normal this fall and into 2023. He talks about it with Lee Mielke.


Class III Slips 28 Cents

The September Federal order Class III benchmark milk price slipped 28 cents from the previous month but is still $3.29 above September 2021. Unfortunately, it’s the lowest Class III since Dec. 2021. The nine month average stands at $22.24, up from $16.75 a year ago, $17.48 in 2020 and $16.11 in 2019.

The September Class IV price is $24.63, down 18 cents from August, $8.27 above a year ago, and the lowest Class IV since February. The Class IV average is at $24.81, up from $15.26 a year ago, $13.53 in 2020, and 16.21 in 2019.
Courtesy of the Mielke Market Weekly

Is Tik Tok Boosting Butter Price?

U.S. butter prices have been in the clouds and part of the reason for that may actually lie in the sometimes controversial Tik Tok social media, according to StoneX dairy broker Dave Kurzawski. He talks about it with Lee Mielke:


Dairy Demand In Driver Seat

The August Milk Production report appears to show a rather large increase in U.S. milk output but StoneX dairy broker Dave Kurzawski puts the numbers into perspective with Lee Mielke.

Got Milk? Yes, But Sluggish Output

The Got Milk campaign imagined what a shortage of milk would mean to consumers. With July milk output only up 0.2%, do we face a milk shortage in this country? Matt Gould, analyst and editor of the Dairy and Food Market Analyst newsletter, talks about it with Lee Mielke:


Butter High Short-Lived

Butter hit a seven-year high on Aug 3rd but was short-lived. StoneX broker Dave Kurzawski talks with Lee Mielke about it, and how bullish he is on cheese, despite prices falling below $2 per pound.


Class III Takes A Hit

The news was mixed this past week with the $1.81 drop in the Class III milk price, however U.S. dairy exports remained strong in June. HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess talks with Lee Mielke about the highlights.


GDT Down

Tuesday’s GDT weighted average was down 5%. Many point the finger at China and the latest import data would seem to support that. HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess talks about it with Lee Mielke:


Is Dairy Demand Slipping?

The numbers would indicate dairy product demand is slipping however StoneX dairy broker Dave Kurzawski, says you have to put the data into perspective and does so in his talk with Lee Mielke:


Post Holiday Blues

Tuesday was not a good day to come back to, following the 4th of July holiday. The GDT dropped 4.1% and CME prices fell as well. Lee Mielke talks about it with Matt Gould, editor of the Dairy and Food Market Analyst.


Benchmark Milk Price Down 88 Cents

The Agriculture Department announced the June Federal order Class III milk price at $24.33 per hundredweight, down 88 cents from May but $7.12 above June 2021.

That put the 2022 Class III average at $22.95, up from $16.96 at this time a year ago, $16.09 in 2020, and $15.25 in 2019.

The June Class IV price set another new record high at $25.83, up 84 cents from May, and $9.48 above a year ago. Its average sits at $24.67, up from $14.84 a year ago, $13.78 in 2020, and $15.98 in 2019. Courtesy of the Mielke Market Weekly

Milk, Feed Prices Set Records

The April All Milk Price set another record high; but feed prices are setting records too. Bill Brooks, dairy economist with Missouri-based Stoneheart Consulting, talks with Lee Mielke about it.


Benchmark Sets New Record

The Agriculture Department announced the May Federal order Class III milk price at $25.21 per hundredweight, up 79 cents from April, $6.25 above May 2021, and a new record high for the Class III. The 2022 average now stands at $22.67, up from $16.91 a year ago, $15.10 in 2020, and $15.05 in 2019.

The May Class IV price is $24.99, down 32 cents from April but $8.83 above a year ago. The five-month average is at $24.44, up from $14.54 a year ago, $13.96 in 2020, and $15.81 in 2019. Courtesy of the Mielke Market Weekly


Dairy Market Insights

Dairy got a boatload of market driving information recently, another big drop in the GDT, insight into where U.S. milk production is headed in the March Milk Production report, and the drop in Chinese dairy imports in March. HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess talks with Lee about it all:


Inflation At 40 Year High

Good Friday Week gave us some startling news showing inflation at a 40-year high of 8.5%, as fuel and food prices skyrocket. Lee Mielke talks about it with StoneX dairy broker Dave Kurzawski:


Market Volatility With Russia’s Invasion

There’s plenty of uncertainty and volatility in the market these days as the war rages on in Ukraine. HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess talks with Lee Mielke about the dairy side of things, specifically USDA’s latest milk production and milk price projections and January export data:


Volatility During Uncertain Times

Volatility is the word of the day as the war between Russia and Ukraine rages on. StoneX Dairy Group broker Dave Kurzawski says the markets are focusing on worst case scenarios. He talks with Lee Mielke about what it means for dairy:


Milk Output Down, Bullish Cold Storage Report

The world witnessed the beginnings of war this past week as Russian troops invaded Ukraine. We also saw a large reduction in U.S. milk output and a bullish Cold Storage report. Lee Mielke talks about it with Matt Gould, editor and analyst with the Dairy and Food Market Analyst newsletter:


Costs Going Up

A much delayed study on updating Federal Market Order make allowances has been released and shows that the cost of processing most products has gone up. That would affect dairy farmer milk prices. StoneX dairy broker Dave Kurzawski talks with Lee Mielke about it on today’s Dairy Radio Now.


Producers See Class III Bump

Dairy producers saw a nice $2 increase in the January Class III milk price and the latest milk feed ratio inched higher; but there won’t be a Dairy Margin Coverage payment for the month, according to dairy economist Bill Brooks of Stoneheart Consulting. He talks about it with Lee Mielke about it on today’s Dairy Radio Now:


Futures On Roller Coaster

The dairy and futures markets were on a roller coaster this past week but the market did what it was designed to do, says StoneX Dairy’s Dave Kurzawski. He talks with Lee Mielke about it.


Strong Dairy Prices Ahead

Dairy prices are strong and will likely be around for awhile, according to dairy analyst and editor of the Dairy and Food Market Analyst newsletter, Matt Gould. He adds that the resulting higher milk prices will find their way to the farm this time and talks about it with Lee Mielke:


Soaring Dairy Product Prices

We are off to the races in this new year. High Ground Dairy’s Lucas Fuess gives Dairy Radio listeners an update, as well as his reaction to the recent USMCA ruling against Canada.


Benchmark Up 33 Cents

The Agriculture Department announced the December Federal order Class III milk price at $18.36 per hundredweightup 33 cents from November, $2.64 above December 2020, and the highest Class III since May. That put the year’s average at $17.08, down from $18.16 in 2021 and compares to $16.96 in 2019.

Class III futures portend a January 2022 price at $20.66; February, $22.35; and March at $21.75 per cwt.

The December Class IV price is $19.88, up $1.09 from November, $6.52 above a year ago, and the highest Class IV price since October 2014. The 2021 Class IV average is $16.09, up from $13.49 in 2020, and compares to $16.30 in 2019.
Courtesy of the Mielke Market Weekly


DMC Changes

Another new year is upon us and we take look ahead, including the changes USDA has made on the Dairy Margin Coverage program with Bill Brooks, dairy economist with Stoneheart Consulting in Deerborn, Missouri:\


 

Inflationary Environment

The last week of 2021 is here. The so-called “highlights,” or “low lights” will likely be the same in 2022, according to StoneX dairy broker Dave Kurzawski. He talks about it with Lee Mielke:


Weak Domestic Disappearance

The Agriculture Department gave us the latest on U.S. dairy product demand. According to HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess, it was the weakest October domestic disappearance since 2017:


Impressive Export Numbers

October U.S. dairy exports were “decently impressive,” according to HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess. He talks with Lee Mielke about it and the port congestion issue.


Mielke Market Talk

Omicron became the buzzword of “Black Friday” and ever since as another chapter is being written in the ongoing COVID saga. What are the ramifications for the dairy industry? Lee Mielke talks about it with StoneX dairy broker Dave Kurzawski.


Monitoring Cheese Prices

The European Energy Exchange (EEX) announced the launch of four European cheese indices (indexes) this week. HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess talks about the significance of that and what has happened to U.S. cheese prices. 


Too Little, Too Late

The October Federal Order Class III milk price jumped $1.30 from September but it’s too little, too late for many dairy operations. Matt Gould, editor and analyst for the Dairy and Food Market Analyst newsletter, talks with Lee Mielke about it:


GDT Unchanged

The GDT was unchanged Tuesday, but the stability of the GDT is not bearish, according to StoneX dairy broker Dave Kurzawski. He talks about it with Lee Mielke:


Benchmark Milk Price Inches Up

The September benchmark milk price gained 58 cents this week and futures prices are showing a peak around $17.80. Will that be enough for U.S. farmers to stay in business? StoneX dairy broker, Dave Kurzawski, tackles that question.


Dairy Markets Absorbing Latest Reports

The dairy markets had a lot to absorb this week but the smaller than expected 1.1% increase in August milk production and the fact that butter stocks fell below those a year ago for the first time since June 2019 were the top two. Lee Mielke talks about them with HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess.


Class I Up 49 Cents

The Agriculture Department announced the October Federal order Class I base milk price at $17.08 per hundredweight, up 49 cents from September, $1.88 above October 2020, and equates to $1.47 per gallon, up from $1.31 a year ago.

The ten month average stands at $16.48, down from $16.50 a year ago and $16.64 in 2019.
Courtesy of the Mielke Market Weekly


Dairy Products Report Recap

The June Dairy Products report had a few surprises in it but likely isn’t going to influence the market, according to StoneX Dairy’s Dave Kurzawski. He talks about it with Lee Mielke: