Editor's note: This article has been updated to include comments from Dairy Farmers of America regarding the lawsuit filed in North Carolina. Dean Foods’ financial struggles continue to reverberate throughout the dairy industry, affecting farmer milk checks for producers nearly nationwide.

Digest Highlights

• June 2020 Class I base dips below $11.45 per cwt
• Dairy leaders urge U.S. dairy product aid to other nations
• Global Dairy Trade index rises
• Dairy margins improved in first half of May
• Wisconsin temporarily lifts checkoff on dumped milk
• U.S. patent office guide helps protect generic cheese, meat names
• HEROES Act approved in House but Senate action uncertain
• LMA eyes livestock dealer trust fund
• Foremost Farms to close Wisconsin cheese plant
• Progressive Dairy COVID-19 resources

Editor's note: This article will be updated as more information becomes available. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the application period and payment rates for direct producer financial assistance through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).

Digest Highlights

• Are dairy retail sales helping turn the corner?
• USDA makes it easier to donate dairy
• USDA buys dairy products
• U.S., global dairy groups concerned about a new round of EU intervention stocks
• ‘Spot’ market cattle bill introduced
• Pennsylvania CDE ‘Protecting Your Profits’ webinar scheduled
• April global dairy price index falls

The USDA’s May World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report raised forecasts for both 2020 milk production and the all-milk price, but only slightly.

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) will host a webinar on Thursday, May 14, at 1 p.m. (Eastern time), for agricultural producers interested in applying for direct payments through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Open to all farmers, the webinar will be of special interest to producers new to FSA programs.

Digest Highlights

• Dean Foods completes final sale
• Companion bills restrict, eliminate large CAFOs
• COVID-19 expected to push farm bankruptcies higher
• USDA solicits bids for fluid milk
• California Producer Review Board recommends QIP assessment increase
• Ben & Jerry's lawsuit dismissed
• ‘Dietary Guidelines’ schedule update
• Progressive Dairy COVID-19 resources

The USDA has approved $1.2 billion in contracts to support U.S. farmers and communities in need through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The funding includes $317 million specifically for dairy products, more than $700 million for fruits, vegetables and meat products, and another $175 million in combination boxes of fresh produce, dairy or meat products.

U.S. exports of dairy products and hay were strong in March, but foreign sales of dairy replacement heifers weakened under the growing pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following is a summary of export activity in the the three dairy categories routinely followed by Progressive Dairy, as well as others trade news updates impacting dairy.

• Dairy product exports on 7-month run
• Dairy heifer exports weaken
• China buying hay but shipping a concern
• Monthly ag trade balance turns deficit
• USMCA implementation date disputed
• USTR rebukes EU over dairy trade policies
• U.S. export impact: Japan adds to COVID-19 support

We’ve either seen it with our own eyes or caught the images flooding social media: The cattle markets collapsing and barren grocery store meat cases without a package of ground beef in sight.