Industry News

Digest Highlights

• Second MFP payment authorized; enrollment deadline is Dec. 6
• AMPI ends production at Iowa, Minnesota plants
• Global Dairy Trade index jumps
• Four named to Dairy Council of California board
• Wisconsin Dairy Innovation Hub launched, convenes advisory council
• Michigan CAFO permit changes released
• California Cattle Council assessment begins

Dairy organization leaders took a more contentious tone toward ongoing attacks on the industry during the joint annual meeting of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB)/National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF)/United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA), Nov. 4-6, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dean Foods has initiated voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization proceedings and is engaged in advanced discussions with Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) regarding a potential sale of substantially all of the company’s assets.

The USDA’s November World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report raised milk production estimates for both 2019 and 2020 and provided a brighter outlook for 2019 prices. Although an increase in cow numbers is expected to slow, stronger-than-expected growth in milk output per cow – despite widespread feed quality concerns – pushed the milk production expectations higher.

U.S. dairy product export volumes in September 2019 surged ahead of year-ago levels for the first time since October 2018, propelled by sales of nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder (NDM/SMP) and cheese.

The USDA has clarified that acreage seeded to alfalfa-and-grass-mixture forage crops is not eligible for federal payments under the Market Facilitation Program (MFP).