Digest Highlights

• Thirty-nine percent of dairy cows in ‘drought' areas
• O’Brien to succeed Gallagher as head of DMI
• Multichannel checkoff campaign launched to reach Gen Z
• Stonyfield to take in some Northeast farms facing contract terminations
• Agropur adding Wisconsin cheese production capacity
• CDI building UHT-ELS fluid plant
• USDA grant to fund algae dairy feed research
• The number of the week: Dairy consumption
• Coming up: PVMAP details; September uniform prices and PPDs

The USDA announced Oct. 4 an additional $100 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act to help private lending for the expansion of meat and processing capacity, in addition to other food supply chain infrastructure.

Digest Highlights

• August cull cow prices were highest in four years
• Dairy margins improved to end September
• June 2021 mailbox, all-milk price spread declines
• ‘Class I mover’ options analyzed
• Global Dairy Trade index unchanged
• Vitaliano: Prices settle into traditional alignment
• Prairie Farms’ Mullins stepping down as CEO
• Inflation concerns grow in latest Ag Economy Barometer
• USDA accepts bids for process cheese
• Things you might have missed

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) recently released a news statement condemning the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) decision to relocate its headquarters to Washington, D.C. amid multiple historic environmental crises in the western U.S.

Digest Highlights

• August retail dairy sales reveal impact of COVID-19 variant
• July 2021 fluid sales lower
• Another ‘solid’ month for exports
• Global Dairy Trade index inches higher
• Northeast officials seeking options for organic producers
• USDA seeks bids for process cheese, cancels call for butter
• USDA details plan to help cover feed-related transportation costs
• DFA, regional brands launch $1 million ‘Fuel the Drive’ promotion
• Things you might have missed

The USDA’s latest World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, released Sept. 10, reduced both 2021 and 2022 milk production forecasts slightly on expectations of lower cow numbers and slower growth in milk output per cow. Combining slightly stronger milk price projections with declining feed prices, the report suggests dairy income margins should improve off the extremely low levels this summer.

Digest Highlights

• Drought maps updated; USDA to help cover feed transportation costs
• DFA donating dairy refrigeration, milk
• Saputo buys two North Carolina dairy businesses
• USDA seeks bids for butter
• Dairy pilot project targets SNAP participants
• NDC ‘new product’ competition focuses on gamers
• Things you might have missed

The USDA’s latest World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, released Aug. 12, reduced 2021 and 2022 milk production forecasts slightly on expectations of lower cow numbers going forward. Price projections were also reduced for both years due to larger supplies and weakening demand.

U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the USDA’s plans to conduct an in-depth review on “Product of the USA” labeling requirements, following a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) vote to strengthen enforcement of the “Made in USA” standard.

Digest Highlights

• Senate dairy hearing planned after congressional recess
• Proposal opens H-2A visa program to dairy workers
• Global Dairy Trade index lower
• May 2021 fluid sales were down
• World Dairy Expo virtual farm tours return
• ‘Adopt a Cow’ program enrollment opens Aug. 1
• USDA seeks cheese and yogurt
• Things you might have missed: Catching up in the Southeast