The USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff were actively processing Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) applications last week, with direct dairy producer payments nearly doubling the total from the week before.

Update Highlights:

• Dairy retail sales strong heading into summer
• WASDE report forecasts more milk for 2020-21; prices come off the floor
• FAPRI: 2020 milk price will average $16.34 per cwt
• Bozic: Need for risk management emphasized
• Wolf: Manage risk to maintain access to outside capital
• Plourd: 20 years of cheese price volatility in 35 trading days

You’re busy milking cows, harvesting forages and getting motion sickness from watching daily milk futures price gyrations. With that in mind, Progressive Dairylooks at issues in the news impacting you and your dairy business.

Digest Highlights

• Global dairy market recovery: a ‘U’ not a ‘V’
• USDA buying dairy products
• Jacquier: Higher prices, effective policies helping dairy rebound
• UDFC submits California QIP petition
• 2020 DGAC report schedule challenged
• Wisconsin dairy processors receive grants
• Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers hosting virtual dairy ‘Co-op County Fair’
• Progressive Dairy COVID-19 resources

U.S. dairy producers received about $337 million in direct payments through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) as of June 8, according to a weekly update from the USDA. Payment applications processed by USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices stands at 7,706.

Digest Highlights

• Dairy drought areas expand
• May Class III and Class IV prices lower
• Letter defends animal agriculture safety, value
• ‘Climate solutions’ bill would help ag producers tap into carbon credit market
• Holstein Association USA virtual meeting is June 25
• Progressive Dairy COVID-19 resources

After the first week of the sign-up period, U.S. dairy producers received about $128.6 million in direct payments through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), according to an initial report from the USDA.

Editor's note: This article has been updated from the original to include marketer comments on dairy heifer and hay exports. U.S. dairy product exports were strong in April, and foreign sales of alfalfa hay hit a new record high. Following is a summary of export activity in the major categories routinely followed by Progressive Dairy, as well as other trade news updates impacting dairy.

For the first time in its 53-year history, World Dairy Expo has been canceled. The World Dairy Expo (WDE) Executive Committee announced the cancellation on June 4, saying the decision was based on public health restrictions and safety concerns related to COVID-19.