Industry News

You’re busy milking cows and keeping them cool. With that in mind, Progressive Dairy 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 Dairy Extra. Then, we’ll try to put that news into perspective and briefly describe how it might affect you.

2019 has continued to be a challenging year for U.S. dairy farmers. The Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) export assistance program and CWT member cooperatives have made strides in alleviating those challenges by adding products to those eligible for assistance in this most recent quarter.

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