In the news affecting dairy producers' bottom lines in the middle of April 2025:
- Fluid milk sales continue downward trend
- GDT index moves higher again
- Greg Schlafer announced as president and CEO of Hilmar Cheese
- USDA cancels Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, reformats the initiative
- American Dairy Association North East, Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program elect leadership
- Dairy’s Foundation now accepting grant applications
Fluid milk sales continue downward trend
Fluid milk sales for February 2025 are lower than the same month a year earlier. According to data from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
- Total sales: February 2025 sales of packaged fluid milk products were estimated at 3.4 billion pounds, down 2.2% from the same month a year earlier. At 7.2 billion pounds, year-to-date sales of all fluid products are down 1.3%.
- Conventional products: Monthly sales totaled 3.1 billion pounds, down 2.5% from the same month a year earlier. Sales of flavored whole milk were 2.3% higher than last year, while low-fat (1%) milk was down 12.8% from February 2024. Year-to-date 2025 sales were estimated at 6.7 billion pounds, down 1.7% from this time last year. Whole milk and flavored whole milk year-to-date sales were slightly higher than 2024.
- Organic products: January sales totaled 241 million pounds, up 2.8% from a year earlier. Whole milk sales were up 6.9% and reduced fat (2%) milk sales were up 5.5%. Year-to-date organic fluid milk sales were estimated at 517 million pounds, up 4.8% from this time last year. Organic represented about 7.1% total fluid product sales in February.
The U.S. figures are based on consumption of fluid milk products in Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) areas, which account for approximately 92% of total U.S. fluid milk sales, and adding the other 8% from outside FMMO-regulated areas. Sales outlets include food stores, convenience stores, warehouse stores/wholesale clubs, nonfood stores, schools, the food service industry and home delivery.
GDT index moves higher again
The price index of dairy product prices sold on the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) platform is up again. It was up 1.6% in the auction held April 15.
Compared to the previous auction, prices for individual product categories were mostly higher. Lactose had a significant jump, up 22%. Mozzarella was up 5.4%, with whole milk powder, anhydrous milkfat and butter up by 1.5% to 3%. Skim milk powder and cheddar cheese were down 2.3% and 1.8%, respectively. Buttermilk powder was not traded.
The GDT platform offers dairy products from several global companies: Fonterra (New Zealand), Darigold, Valley Milk and Dairy America (U.S.), Inalpi (Italy), Arla (Denmark), Arla Foods Ingredients (Denmark), BMI (Germany), Kerry Dairy (Ireland) and Solarec (Belgium).
The next GDT auction is May 6.
Greg Schlafer announced as president and CEO of Hilmar Cheese
Hilmar Cheese Company Inc., a cheese manufacturer and a global supplier of whey ingredients, announced that Greg Schlafer will join the company as president and CEO on July 1.
Schlafer has served as president and CEO of Foremost Farms USA, a supplier of cheese and dairy ingredients, butter and milk products for nearly six years. Foremost Farms USA is a dairy cooperative owned by more than 600 members in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.
“He brings extensive experience in cheese and ingredients markets, working with dairy farm families and an impressive leadership style that is a good fit for the Hilmar culture,” said Jim Ahlem, chairman of the board.
Late last year, the company announced that CEO David Ahlem would step down from his role after almost 10 years at the helm and 22 years with the company. He will continue to work with the company in a board adviser role.
Schlafer has served on the board of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, the National Milk Producers Federation and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. He is also passionate about food security and education and has served on the board of Project SUCCESS and the North American Millers’ Association.
Prior to Foremost Farms, Schlafer was vice president, food group sales and marketing, at J.R. Simplot Company. Before that, he served as president of Lamb Weston, a division of ConAgra Foods Inc. He also worked for General Mills as vice president and general manager, bakeries and food service division.
Schlafer will be only the third CEO in Hilmar’s 41-year history.
USDA cancels Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, reformats the initiative
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the cancellation of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC) after finding high administration fees linked to the projects. Select projects may continue if it is demonstrated that a significant amount of the federal funds awarded will go to farmers.
Additionally, the USDA has reformed and overhauled the PCSC initiative into the Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) initiative. The USDA will review existing grant agreements based on these priorities:
- A minimum of 65% of federal funds must go to producers.
- Grant recipients must have enrolled at least one producer as of Dec. 31, 2024.
- Grant recipients must have made a payment to at least one producer as of Dec. 31, 2024.
The USDA will contact current partners individually to provide information about their future participation. In addition, it will honor all eligible expenses incurred prior to April 13. This reform effort will utilize existing funding, with no new funding made available for these partnerships.
American Dairy Association North East, Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program elect leadership
Audrey Donahoe of Clayville, New York, was reelected to serve as president of American Dairy Association North East for the fifth year, and Lolly Lesher of Bernville, Pennsylvania, was chosen for the third year as chair of the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program.
Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program is managed by ADA North East, and Lesher will also serve as Donahoe’s first vice president. Both Donahoe and Lesher have served on the dairy promotion boards of directors for more than two decades each.
Donahoe also serves as chair of the National Dairy Council, which is funded by the national dairy checkoff to provide science-based research and education about the nutritional and health benefits that dairy foods provide. She is also the second vice chair of the United Dairy Industry Association, which exists to advance marketing programs developed and implemented in coordination with its member organizations to ensure farmers have a voice in local and national checkoff efforts.
Lesher is also the vice chair of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board that carries out coordinated promotion and research programs to help build demand and expand domestic and international markets for dairy products.
American Dairy Association North East officers
- President: Audrey Donahoe, Clayville, New York
- First vice president: Lolly Lesher, Bernville, Pennsylvania
- Second vice president: Louie Diamond, Masontown, Pennsylvania
- Secretary: Barb Hanselman, Bloomville, New York
- Treasurer: Dina Zug, Mifflintown, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program officers
- Chair: Lolly Lesher, Bernville, Pennsylvania
- First vice chair: Louie Diamond, Masontown, Pennsylvania
- Second vice chair: Doug Harbach, Loganton, Pennsylvania
- Secretary: Elizabeth Cashell, Towanda, Pennsylvania
- Assistant secretary: Laura Paxton, Grove City, Pennsylvania
- Treasurer: Elaine Noble, Gillett, Pennsylvania
- Assistant treasurer: Jennifer Heltzel, Martinsburg, Pennsylvania
- Representatives to the ADA North East Board: Louie Diamond, Lolly Lesher and Dina Zug
Dairy’s Foundation now accepting grant applications
Dairy’s Foundation is taking applications for the next round of grant requests to support new programs in the dairy industry. The application deadline is June 1. Grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to programs that build the skills of students or dairy producers or increase public trust in the people and products of dairy are available for organizations across the country.
As the only public-held national foundation supporting dairy education and initiatives across the entire dairy industry food chain, Dairy’s Foundation strives to identify emerging educational needs and help fill gaps in funding for new or innovative programs. Since 2010, Dairy’s Foundation has awarded more than $350,000 in grants to support vital programs that equip the dairy community with the latest tools and resources to be effective managers, leaders and ambassadors of dairy to their neighbors in rural and urban settings.
Applications will be reviewed by an independent grant-selection committee. Organizations with a tax status of 501(c)(3) or (5) may apply.
Complete grant information is available here. Inquiries about Dairy’s Foundation grants can emailed.
