U.S. cheese exports hit a record high in March, but a setback in negotiations with China cast some dark clouds over the trade picture.

If the latest USDA projections hold true, U.S. dairy farmers could see the 2019 all-milk price top $18 per hundredweight (cwt), the first time that’s happened since 2014.

The Dairy and Functional Food Research Unit of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service had planned on determining whether or not milk processing affects the functional properties of A2 beta casein in milk. That study never happened, which may have been due at least in part to the recent government shutdown, Dr. Peggy Tomasula, the research leader, told participants at the 2019 Northeast Pasture Consortium conference. 

The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, established under the leadership of dairy farmers and leading companies, announced its eighth annual U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award winners during a May 8 ceremony in Rosemont, Illinois. 

What does the African swine fever (ASF) epidemic in China have to do with U.S. dairy product exports? Plenty, according to Mary Ledman, global dairy strategist with Rabobank.

Digest Highlights

• Dean Foods still exploring business options
• DMC, livestock disaster program training scheduled for Farm Service Agency staff
• Imitators turning back to ‘butter’ on label
• Proposal would create Pennsylvania Dairy Future Commission
• FarmFirst Dairy Co-op issues disaster benefits
• Wisconsin farm groups seek Dairy Innovation Hub
• DMI names Harden as VP of global environmental strategy
• CDI’s Mikhalevsky to retire at the end of 2019
• Wisconsin: Bovine TB investigation ongoing
• Michigan dairy farmers taking students of virtual tours

From The ONE Thing podcast “Customer Loyalty | How Lady Gaga Turns Fans Into Fanatics with Jackie Huba” that originally aired on Aug. 27, 2018.

Update Highlights

• Quarterly dairy replacement cow prices remain in doldrums
• March cull cow prices improve
• April Class III price increases
• March dairy product output mostly lower
• Fluid sales report makes adjustments
• Global Dairy Trade index up, but …
• Dairy margins end April stronger

You’re busy – milking cows, starting the 2019 cropping season and getting ready to celebrate Mother’s Day. With that in mind, Progressive Dairyman looks at issues in the news impacting you and your dairy business. In recognition of your time, we’ll attempt to summarize recent events or actions making dairy headlines and reported in our weekly digital newsletter, Progressive Dairyman Extra. Then, we’ll try to put that news into perspective and briefly describe how it might affect you.