Industry News

In early July, Greek yogurtmaker Chobani LLC announced a program designed to increase supply chain transparency and boost consumer confidence when making dairy product purchases – and provide a premium to participating dairy farmers and their workers.

Dairy producers signing up for the highest level of Tier 1 coverage under the 2019 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program are ensured indemnity payments for a sixth consecutive month. And, with feed costs climbing faster than milk prices, the June payment will be the highest since February.

From school wellness to food security, the summer of 2019 has been filled with activities and events designed to educate and serve others, while promoting dairy. Here’s a look at a just a few.

Digest Highlights

• St. Albans Cooperative Creamery members approve merger with DFA
• Dairy Margin Coverage payments reach $158 million
• USDA to purchase $68 million in dairy products
• California Dairies Inc. names Anderson president and CEO
• April fluid sales revised upward
• Hearings set on Wisconsin livestock facility siting rule
• Large California dairy biogas operation completed

Digest Highlights

• Dean Foods names new president and CEO
• June 2019 dairy cow slaughter rate dips
• Semiannual cow and heifer survey shows dairy decline
• California dairy groups start QIP process
• U of I acquires site for dairy research complex
• IDF publishes second ‘Dairy Sustainability Outlook’
• Dairy Protein Messaging Initiative launches new website
• Horizon Organic teaming up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
• Foremost Farms president/CEO to retire

Editor’s note: This article has been updated with additional details on the amount of the initial dairy payment.

Dairy producers will receive 20 cents per hundredweight (cwt) on their annual milk production history under a USDA program aimed at offsetting negative financial impacts of ongoing trade and tariff wars.