Here’s an update on interest rates from quarter three of 2024 as reported by Federal Reserve districts that share data impacting dairy finances.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its Agricultural Prices report Nov. 19, which includes feed costs used to calculate the October Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program margins and indemnity payments. The margin slipped to $15.17 per hundredweight (cwt).

As we look to the last month of the year, milk prices are trending lower than the previous months’ highs with milk production up year over year, new cheese plants online and holiday buying finishing up noted as a few influencing factors. Yet margins continue to look favorable.

Dairy cull cows marketed through U.S. slaughter plants in October lowest since 2010.

Here is a look at news affecting a dairy producer's bottom line: Class I base price falls for December, GDT index up 1.9%, USDA extends application deadline for Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance until Dec. 13, and SNAP Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive program expands to 1,150 stores in 32 states by 2025.

Thirteen states including Texas, Idaho and South Dakota boosted milk production a combined 258 million pounds in October.

In the news this week: CARB approves Low Carbon Fuel Standard program updates, DFA plans to stop production at Indiana condensing plant in January, checkoff launches new conservation resource, and DCRC annual meeting addresses sustainable dairy cattle management practices.

In coordination with state health departments in Michigan and Colorado, the CDC tested blood from people who were exposed to dairy cows with H5N1 bird flu infection, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Eight of the 115 people tested (7% of participants) showed evidence of recent H5N1 virus infection.