Progressive Dairy reviews the USDA’s latest World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) and Crop Production reports to identify potential influences on dairy producer income.

Roughly 40% of all U.S. dairy farms have non-family member employees, and about 70% of those workers are immigrant employees.

With improving milk prices and margins and tightening cow numbers, average prices for U.S. replacement dairy cows moved to an eight-year high in October.

Struggling cheese and protein prices weakened the Class III price, offsetting strong butterfat and Class IV prices and widening the Class III-IV price spread, adding substantial Class IV depooling incentives.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its latest Ag Prices report on Oct. 31, including factors used to calculate September 2023 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) margins and indemnity payments.

Farm lending activity at commercial banks has slowed as the Federal Reserve Board’s Federal Open Market Committee meets to consider adjusting interest rates again.

Without a 2023 Farm Bill or temporary extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program expires at the end of the calendar year.

As we know, good welfare is important for cows. However, we also want to ensure we have good welfare practices in place with our two-legged teammates. Their interactions with our cows may also increase their health and well-being.