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.

The most common injury caused by pressure washers are lacerations, followed by bruises, punctures and eye injuries.

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.

USDA organic dairy programs, production data collection and risk management support would increase under a bill introduced in the Senate.

With congressional failure to approve a 2023 Farm Bill, new milk supply contracts under the Dairy Forward Pricing Program are no longer authorized.

Without approval in the 2023 Farm Bill, the Dairy Margin Coverage program expires at the end of the year.

Compared to a month earlier, U.S. average feed costs were lower and milk prices were up, pushing the milk income margin up almost $3 per hundredweight from July’s historic low.

With a federal government shutdown possible, October’s dairy risk management calendar has the potential to be scarier than Halloween.

DMC margins are expected to improve through the end of 2023, but current futures prices indicate indemnity payments at top coverage levels are likely in 10 of 12 months.