Digest Highlights

• Dairy-RP activity tops 2.6 billion pounds of milk
• INDUSTRY: FDA approves Experior for reduction of ammonia gas released from beef cattle manure
• Chobani launches campaign to benefit military veterans
• Prairie Farms to add baghouse to Iowa plant, pays penalty
• Saputo enters ultrafiltered milk market with JOYYA
• Kraft Heinz Canada selling natural cheese business to Parmalat
• Darigold names Garth to financial post
• Dean Foods holds quarterly investor call
• POLICY: FarmFirst asks USDA to increase trade mitigation payments for dairy
• Groups endorse agribusiness merger moratorium bills
• STATES: WSDA awards dairy nutrient management grants
• Michigan dairy promotion award nominees sought
• CDE offers dairy advisory team grants
• Minnesota Milk hosting annual Dairy Conference and Expo

Dairy promotion and industry officials say they are exploring all innovation and marketing efforts to build dairy demand in attempt to help dairy farmers through tough economic times.

Citing declining milk cow numbers – which will be partially offset by stronger milk output per cow – the USDA’s November World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report cut milk production forecasts for both 2018 and 2019. However, the outlook for less milk didn’t translate into improved milk price projections for either year.

Sometimes we limit ourselves because we don’t know our options – or have heard misrepresentations about what is possible. Many past unachievable efficiencies or techniques are now a standard part of everyday life, on and off the farm.

Improved heifer raising and reproduction results in fewer total days on feed, earlier return on investment, improved cash flow by having fewer heifers on feed and more milking cows, increased first-lactation milk and more lifetime milk.

Nestled in the northeast corner of Indianapolis is a Christmas light display like no other.