More cows and stronger milk per cow pushed U.S. milk production higher in September 2020, up 2.3% from a year earlier, according to the USDA’s preliminary monthly Milk Production report, released Oct. 20.

A long-awaited Michigan cheese and whey facility began receiving milk from local farmers on Oct. 20, the first loads of which will eventually grow to up to 8 million pounds of milk intake per day.

Digest Highlights

• Retail dairy sales strong in September
• 2020 fluid sales volumes updated
• Court approves DFA divestiture order
• Dairy Defined: Dairy votes crucial to 2020 elections
• Study: Removing dairy does little for climate, while limiting essential nutrient supply
• Texas dairy producers face tiered pricing system
• Dairy maintains push for higher-fat dairy options in dietary guidelines
• Dairy Download: Dairy walking a tight rope
• Global Dairy Trade index steady
• Progressive Dairy COVID-19 resources

You’re busy milking cows, emptying manure pits and eagerly awaiting the final presidential debate. With that in mind, Progressive Dairy looks at issues in the news impacting you and your dairy business.

It may seem like ages ago, before COVID-19, related market disruptions and changes in consumer habits, but 2019 was another banner year for U.S. per-capita dairy product consumption.

Progressive Dairy provides updates on dairy-related organizations and companies, compiled from staff news sources and industry press releases. Email industry and organization news to Progressive Dairy Editor Jenna Hurty.

Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) September uniform milk prices were announced the week of Oct. 12. With a weaker Class III price, the incentive for depooling was a little lighter and that reduced the impact of negative producer price differentials (PPDs), but in most cases also meant lower uniform prices. October, however, is setting up to be the ghost of this past summer.

Good news is hard to come by in 2020, which is why the agriculture community shouldn’t overlook the latest Gallup poll. Last month, farming and agriculture earned the highest rating for Americans' views of U.S. business and industry sectors, with the grocery and restaurant industries trailing not far behind. Farming and agriculture was already one of the top-rated industries, but its rise to the number one spot is likely the result of the pandemic’s spotlight on the food sector’s importance. Now, the challenge for the agriculture community is to keep a positive rating with American consumers.

Dairy producers and genetic enthusiasts are invited to participate in the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) industry meeting on Nov. 2, which will focus on feed efficiency, genetic selection and impacts on sustainability. Meeting participants will have an early opportunity to understand the collaborative data collection, genetic methodology and expected results for the new trait, Feed Saved, being launched by CDCB with Dec. 1 genetic evaluations.

Digest Highlights

• Dairy payment totals updated for CFAP 1, CFAP 2
• Dairy Max launches refreshed ‘Our Land, Our Cows, Our Passion’ campaign
• WHIP+ application deadline is Oct. 30
• CMAB launches Dairy Innovation Center
• COVID-19 impact on holiday consumption a concern
• Dairy groups urge common cheese name advocacy
• Progressive Dairy COVID-19 resources