Progressive Dairy is pleased to bring you the most popular articles, according to pageview metrics from Google Analytics, published between Oct. 1, 2018 and Oct. 1, 2019.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to include market commentary. October 2019 U.S. milk production increased by about 1.3% compared to the same month a year earlier, keeping pace with stronger growth in monthly year-over-year production that started in September.

Digest Highlights

• USDA buying yogurt, butter
• Proposal requires ag representation on FAA ‘drone’ committee
• September fluid sales volume dips
• Global Dairy Trade index higher
• USDA extends crop insurance interest deferral
• United Dairy Industry of Michigan accepting promotion award nominations
• Chobani adding oat, dairy-based products

Farm liquidity (availability of working capital) and income are two leading concerns among agricultural lenders completing an American Bankers Association-Farmer Mac survey.

Dean Foods announced that it has received approvals from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas for the “first day” motions related to the company’s voluntary Chapter 11 petitions filed on Nov. 12, 2019. Among those approvals was a motion to pay dairy farmers for milk.

A new federal database listing drug and alcohol violations by long-haul truck drivers won’t likely impact most individual farmers moving milk, cattle, grain or hay to market, but producers and owner-operators transporting larger volumes of ag commodities longer distances could be affected.

Digest Highlights

• Second MFP payment authorized; enrollment deadline is Dec. 6
• AMPI ends production at Iowa, Minnesota plants
• Global Dairy Trade index jumps
• Four named to Dairy Council of California board
• Wisconsin Dairy Innovation Hub launched, convenes advisory council
• Michigan CAFO permit changes released
• California Cattle Council assessment begins

Dairy organization leaders took a more contentious tone toward ongoing attacks on the industry during the joint annual meeting of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB)/National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF)/United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA), Nov. 4-6, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dean Foods has initiated voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization proceedings and is engaged in advanced discussions with Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) regarding a potential sale of substantially all of the company’s assets.

The USDA’s November World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report raised milk production estimates for both 2019 and 2020 and provided a brighter outlook for 2019 prices. Although an increase in cow numbers is expected to slow, stronger-than-expected growth in milk output per cow – despite widespread feed quality concerns – pushed the milk production expectations higher.