A common question from dairy farmers is: How did milk supply and demand change in 2018 compared to 2017? The simple and quick response is: Milk production increased 1 percent, and demand increased 2.3 percent. If I stop there, most dairy farmers have concerned looks.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has resumed issuing “Employer Correction Requests,” commonly known as Social Security number “no-match” letters. These notices alert employers of mismatches between submitted Internal Revenue Service W-2 form information and SSA records.

• New DMC calculator available
• DMC, Dairy-RP webinar scheduled

Digest Highlights

• Dairy-RP changes noted in USDA Risk Management Agency policy updates for new crop insurance year
• Market changes could impact 2019 DMC indemnity payments
• Sequestration deduction: It’s a little lower this year
• USDA extends deadline for MFP crop production certification
• USTR: European Union unfairly targeting U.S. dairy exports
• Lawsuit challenges Iowa’s new trespass law
• Appeals court upholds Indiana Right to Farm Act
• DFA announces startups selected for 2019 Accelerator Program
• Midwest Dairy elects leadership

U.S. dairy farmers moved more dairy cull cows to slaughter in March 2019 than in any month since December 1986.

Digest Highlights

• CDI buying Hilmar Cheese Company milk powder facility
• Some lawmakers want dairy terms allowed on plant-based products
• Plant-based group offers FDA comment analysis
• PFAS Detection Act introduced
• House version of Chapter 12 bankruptcy reform bill introduced
• Wisconsin DBA sets legislative priorities
• California exploring opportunities to ‘export’ manure
• IDF global dairy animal welfare standards updated

Heavy culling and weaker milk output per cow pushed March 2019 U.S. milk production below year-ago levels.

While legislative and administrative efforts seek to expand dairy options in school lunchrooms, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) likely provide a key avenue to get whole milk back into schools.

Strengthening cheese prices have been helping boost U.S. dairy farmer milk prices, and at least part of that support can be attributed to stronger cheese export sales, based on latest estimates from the USDA and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). Also, the U.S. International Trade Commission estimates small gains in market access for the U.S. dairy sector as a result of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

You’re busy – milking cows, managing employees and making 2019 cropping preparations. With that in mind, Progressive Dairyman looks at issues in the news impacting you and your dairy business.