Despite the ongoing challenges of declining fluid milk consumption, the picture of the health of the dairy industry is much brighter than the doom and gloom conjured from selective use of data, according to the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). A new weekly series from NMPF – called "Dairy Defined” – provides a data-based look at today’s dairy farms and industry.

Dairy farmers who procrastinated in signing up for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for 2019 have until Friday, Sept. 20 to enroll.

The struggles faced by dairy farmers and potential programs to alleviate those issues were the focus of congressional briefings held Sept. 12 in Washington, D.C.

Compared to a month ago, the USDA’s September World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report expects dairy cow numbers to continue to shrink into 2020, but stronger milk output per cow will buffer overall milk production declines. Price projections moved modestly higher for both years.

Low-fat and fat-free milk plays a key role in school feeding programs and is required to be offered with every school breakfast and lunch because of its unique nutrient package. In school year 2018, more than 3 billion pounds of milk were served in school feeding programs.

Nearly half of dairy owners have heightened concern for adequate forage supplies for their farms this year. That’s according to recent online and phone surveys conducted by Progressive Dairy.

The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released results of the 2017 Census of Agriculture, spanning some 6.4 million new points of information about U.S. farms and ranches and those who operate them.

You’re busy milking cows and making corn silage. With that in mind, Progressive Dairy looks at issues in the news impacting you and your dairy business.

Less than 10 days remain for U.S. dairy farmers to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for 2019. Then, three weeks later, the DMC enrollment period opens for 2020.

Digest Highlights

• Dean Foods to pursue ‘stand-alone’ strategy
• August Class III, IV milk prices diverge
• Rhode Island: Wright's Dairy Farm named 2019 Outstanding Dairy Farm
• Reinford to chair Pennsylvania Dairy Future Commission
• California ‘quota’ process moves to phase two
• New Mexico Milkmaid, Cargill team up for milk donation campaign
• Pennsylvania CDE offers dairy team grants
• DFA seeking applicants for Accelerator program
• Milk Donation Reimbursement Program details unveiled
• Nomination period open for ninth annual U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards