Industry News

Digest Highlights

• Farm wages continue to rise
• Minnesota dairy producers eligible for DMC rebates
• Global Dairy Trade index lower
• EPA rule grants dairy manure air emissions reporting exemption
• FFAR grant funds research to decrease dairy feed costs
• USDA lowers ag export forecast
• Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin election results certified
• Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board appointees named
• FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative pays milk loss benefits
• DFA turns social currency into ‘milk money’

Plan to attend this exciting learning and networking event in Rochester, Minnesota, June 18-20.

With less than two weeks until dairy producers begin signing up for the 2019 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, those who plan to select the highest level of coverage are ensured indemnity payments for a fourth consecutive month.

Dairy industry relief over an agreement to end tariff and retaliatory tariffs related to steel and aluminum has been replaced with confusion over a new tariff threat announced by President Donald Trump.

This spring’s slow planting progress and multiple government programs are creating uncertainty in corn and soybean markets. For dairy producers, those dynamics are also influencing projected milk income margins using the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program formula.

In some circles, increased dairy cow culling and the trend toward more dairy farmers breeding a percentage of their dairy cows and heifers to beef sires has raised concerns over the impact on U.S. beef supplies. Latest data from University of Wisconsin – River Falls ag economics professor, Brenda Boetel, and research assistant, Jared Geiser, shows the importance of dairy-beef to the total U.S. beef supply, but also puts some of those concerns to rest.