Still Room for Improvement in Dairy Markets

Randall Weiseman Cattle, Dairy, Livestock

nmpfThe U.S. Department of Agriculture will help offset lower dairy markets by purchasing surplus cheese supplies. USDA announced the department is offering to purchase $20 million of cheddar cheese to reduce a record level surplus. USDA will use the surplus cheese to supply food banks.

The most recent Food Price Index by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations this month showed a sharp increase for global dairy markets. World dairy prices rose 13.8 percent through August, and 38 percent since April of this year. But National Milk Producers Federation spokesperson Chris Galen says there’s still room for improvement.


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As for the USDA cheese purchases, the department says a solicitation will be issued shortly, and cheese deliveries to food banks are expected in March.

(From the National Association of Farm Broadcasters News Service)