Industry News

From an award of attorneys’ fees in Idaho to a new legal challenge in Kansas, “ag gag” laws continue to be in the news. Let’s take a look back at recent legal decisions and where pending litigation currently stands.

Editor's note: This has been updated from its original posting.

Digest Highlights

• Dairy-related programs suspended during government shutdown
• 2018 dairy cull cow slaughter nears 3 million
• Butter inventories see drawdown
• Canadian dairy farm grants available
• USDA advances bioengineered food disclosure standard
• Pfaff appointed Wisconsin ag secretary
• Illinois milk returns stay negative
• DairyAmerica lawsuit claim forms revised for Upper Midwest FMMO
• Global Dairy Trade index rise continues
• What’s in the mailbox?

For the second consecutive month, November 2018 U.S. milk production increased less than 1 percent from the same month a year earlier, as cow numbers continued to decline. With November’s estimate, U.S. milk production growth has now been under 1 percent in five of 11 months in 2018, according to USDA’s monthly Milk Production report, released Dec. 19.

Digest Highlights

• October fluid sales steady
• USDA-procured milk delivered to food banks
• Schumer critical of Defense milk procurement proposal
• Global Dairy Trade prices up again
• Tractor, combine sales resilient
• STATES: DFA to acquire Agropur facility in Minnesota
• Six dairy biomethane clusters approved in California
• Wisconsin farm groups to receive watershed grants
• Dairy Council of California revises nutrition education program
• Pennsylvania: CAFO reports due Jan. 1
• Farm Credit East provides ‘grant’ resources
• POLICY: USDA Risk Management Agency offers multicounty crop insurance flexibility
• USDA offers rural broadband financial support

U.S. dairy farmers will receive a second payment to partially offset losses as a result of the negative impacts of retaliatory tariffs on exports.

Editor's note: Updated with House passage of the bill.

After nearly six months in limbo, the 2018 Farm Bill – including substantial improvements in the federal dairy safety net – received critical approval in rapid succession this week.