Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) and Dean Foods announced an agreement for the farmer-owned cooperative to acquire a substantial portion of Dean’s assets and business for a base purchase price of $425 million.

Digest Highlights

• California quota program sunset proposal forwarded to CDFA
• Bills give FDA access to CAFOs for microbial sampling
• 133 milk donation partnerships approved
• USDA buys dairy products
• ‘Sustainability’ seen as market competitiveness requirement
• January Class III price weakens
• HP Hood, Upstate Niagara purchase land for expansions
• California offers methane reduction program grants
• South Dakota dairies partner on digester project
• FarmFirst Dairy annual meeting features workshop series

Of the many inaccurate arguments misattributed to dairy in the debate over imitation-product labeling, one of the most persistent is that “Big Dairy says consumers are confused about what milk is” – a statement that tries to turn a public-health issue into a debate on respect for consumer intelligence.

The USDA’s February World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report left the 2020 milk production estimate unchanged but lowered projected milk prices somewhat across the board.

A strong finish helped propel the value of 2019 U.S. dairy product exports above $6 billion for the first time since 2014, and alfalfa hay exports set a new all-time annual high despite lower sales to China.

The Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) export assistance program and CWT member cooperatives benefited all U.S. dairy farmers in 2019 by exporting 135 million pounds of cheese, butter and whole milk powder.

Milk quality monitored in three of four Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs) improved in 2018, according to an update from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

You’re busy milking cows, squeezing in a final extension meeting or two and wondering if your manure lagoon is big enough. With that in mind, Progressive Dairy looks at issues in the news impacting you and your dairy business.

What a decade 2010-19 has been. We had the highest milk prices ever in 2014 followed by a very prolonged half-decade with persistently low milk prices.

Digest Highlights

• New Form I-9 released
• California QIP sunset proposed; meeting is Feb. 11
• Global Dairy Trade index tumbles, but cheese higher
• Vermont: Small cheese could be stabilizing opportunity
• Veterinary stress, mental health levels surveyed
• Wisconsin cheese company owner faces theft charge
• NMPF: Pass DAIRY PRIDE Act
• Aemetis project receives additional grant
• Chapter 12 bankruptcy filings increased in 2019
• U.S. Gain purchases dairy digester in northeast Wisconsin
• Danone North America, rePlant partner on loan program