USDA has revised their beef, pork and dairy production and price forecasts for 2018. Gary Crawford has the report.
Fixing the Dairy Safety Net
The dairy safety net in the farm bill needs to be fixed. Scott Brown, University of Missouri dairy economist, says the thing he’d like to see is more participation in the safety net, known as the Margin Protection Program (MPP). “The last thing I’d like to see is a disaster happen and no one has signed up for the program,” …
Global Food Prices Reported Lower
Global food prices dropped in October, led by lower dairy products. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s monthly Food Price Index averaged 176.4 points for the month of October, down 1.3 percent from September, while still up 2.5 percent from a year earlier. The Index is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of …
Dairy Producers Reminded to Enroll for 2018 Coverage
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) wants to remind dairy producers that enrollment for 2018 coverage in the Margin Protection Program (MPP-Dairy) continues through Dec. 15, 2017. MPP-Dairy gives participating dairy producers the flexibility to select coverage levels best suited for their operation. Participating farmers will remain in the program through Dec. 31, 2018, and pay a minimum $100 administrative fee …
Dairy Industry Applauds Introduction of School Milk Nutrition Act
The nation’s dairy industry applauded the introduction of a bipartisan bill this week that would help reverse the decline in milk consumption in schools. The National Milk Producers Federation and the International Dairy Foods Association say the School Milk Nutrition Act of 2017 would make permanent the administrative changes in the school lunch program proposed earlier this year by the …
Misbranded Dairy Imitations Mislead Americans
Require Enforcement Action, NMPF Tells FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb’s recent comments about the need for strong federal oversight of food labels are exactly what is needed to address the misleading labeling and branding of imitation dairy products, the National Milk Producers Federation said. In a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, …
Peterson Says Writing Farm Bill Will be a Challenge
The House Agriculture Committee held seven Farm Bill listening sessions this year with the goal of hearing what farmers and commodity groups are looking for in the next Farm Bill. Ranking member Collin Peterson says they heard from people in a lot of different ag sectors. Cotton and dairy groups are looking for some extra help from the new Farm …
October Dairy Market Report from NMPF
In the October Dairy Market Report, milk prices continued to strengthen in August, but production is showing signs of acceleration. This year’s slow decline in the rate of U.S. milk production growth was interrupted in July and August, bouncing back to a 2 percent year-over-year increase. Lower feed costs in August helped further improve the month financially for the nation’s …
Big Data on Display in Dairy Farm Operations
Dairy farmers are incorporating more technologies that collect and analyze real-time data in their operations. Rod Bain has the details.
U.S. Milk Production Slows Increase Level
U.S. milk production increased last month, but at a slower pace than seen earlier this year. The Department of Agriculture’s monthly Milk Production Report found September milk production was up just 1.1 percent, the smallest increase all year if you ignore February, according to the website Milk Business. February 2016 was a leap year, so this year’s February milk production …