U.S. dairy product exports were virtually flat on both a volume and value basis in October, undermined by a continued loss of sales to China, according to Al Levitt, vice president of communications and market analysis at the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC).

A final rule giving schools greater flexibility in the varieties of milk offered to students could be in place by mid-March, in time to make milk-purchasing decisions for the 2019-20 school year.

Digest Highlights

• Good news: GDT moves higher for first time in six months
• October cull cow prices dip
• What’s in the mailbox?
• October dairy products report: More cheese
• STATES: Wisconsin Farm Bureau votes to ‘consider’ dairy supply management
• Minnesota Milk elects 2018-19 leaders
• INDUSTRY: Nominees sought for processors’ fluid promotion board
• Saputo finalizes F&A Dairy Products purchase
• Chobani investing in ‘kids’ yogurt lineup
• GENYOUth gala generates over $2 million to support youth wellness programs
• POLICY: GIPSA folded into USDA Ag Marketing Service

Farm transitioning can be a very stressful time. Change is never ceasing, but it still comes with more than a little heartburn for those of us who have been in the production side of agriculture on the same piece of the earth for more than a few years.

High-producing dairy cows are more susceptible to negative impact from stressors in their feed and in their environment. But what matters for performance and efficiency is how the cows respond. Feeding the right natural bioactive substances can help the animal adapt its response in a way that helps maintain milk quality and component yields. This article focuses on how to adapt to the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) for profitability.

Automatic milking robots can essentially be arranged in one of two ways when it comes to entry and exit of cows. One way we call perpendicular and the other is tollgate.