Here is what is happening in dairy-related news as we start the final month of the year: Fluid milk sales declined in September, Trump nominates Brooke Rollins for secretary of agriculture, Holstein updates pedigrees with slick gene label, and new dairy innovations are promoted.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its Agricultural Prices report Nov. 19, which includes feed costs used to calculate the October Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program margins and indemnity payments. The margin slipped to $15.17 per hundredweight (cwt).

As we look to the last month of the year, milk prices are trending lower than the previous months’ highs with milk production up year over year, new cheese plants online and holiday buying finishing up noted as a few influencing factors. Yet margins continue to look favorable.

Here is a look at news affecting a dairy producer's bottom line: Class I base price falls for December, GDT index up 1.9%, USDA extends application deadline for Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance until Dec. 13, and SNAP Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive program expands to 1,150 stores in 32 states by 2025.

Thirteen states including Texas, Idaho and South Dakota boosted milk production a combined 258 million pounds in October.

The USDA’s World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report offers forecasts for dairy, beef and feedstuffs.