Industry News

Digest Highlights

• June Class I base price tops $17 for first time in 29 months
• California ‘Stop QIP’ petition falls short of required signatures
• Product inventories continue to build
• Darigold expands sales, logistics capabilities in Mexico
• USDA Economic Research Service employees vote to form union
• Farm Credit East Dairy Farm Summary reveals 2018 struggles
• Bill creates indefinite moratorium on agricultural mergers
• Land O’Lakes, Mars Wrigley seek dairy sustainability solutions

U.S. milk quality – measured in terms of somatic cell counts (SCC) – improved again in 2018, based on an annual summary of Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) test-day results.

You’re busy – milking cows, managing employees and hoping to get some hay made. With that in mind, Progressive Dairyman looks at issues in the news impacting you and your dairy business. In recognition of your time, we’ll attempt to summarize recent events or actions making dairy headlines and reported in our weekly digital newsletter, Progressive Dairyman Extra. Then, we’ll try to put that news into perspective and briefly describe how it might affect you.

The Undeniably Dairy campaign – created two years ago by the dairy checkoff to build trust and relevance in dairy with consumers – is hitting its mark. Dairy farmers are a key part of the program’s content. And, consumers want to hear their stories!

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include comments from leaders of U.S. dairy organizations.

The USDA will roll out another three-pronged aid package aimed at helping U.S. farmers suffering financial damages due to ongoing trade disputes. Details regarding direct payments to dairy producers have yet to be released.

Heavy cow culling continued to keep the lid on milk production growth in April. Monthly year-over-year output has now been up less than 1 percent in six of the past seventh months, with March 2019 production lower than the year before.