Farm lending activity at commercial banks has slowed as the Federal Reserve Board’s Federal Open Market Committee meets to consider adjusting interest rates again.

USDA organic dairy programs, production data collection and risk management support would increase under a bill introduced in the Senate.

Here is a brief look at the news affecting dairy producers during the third week of October 2023.

With congressional failure to approve a 2023 Farm Bill, new milk supply contracts under the Dairy Forward Pricing Program are no longer authorized.

Here is a brief look at the news affecting dairy producers during the second week of October 2023.

Here is a brief look at the news affecting dairy producers during the first week of October 2023.

Lower milk production cut into butter inventories in cold storage in August. The tighter supplies are driving prices higher.

The Federal Reserve Board’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted to maintain the interest rate for federal funds at 5.5%.

Although MLP support is targeted for individual producers, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is urging cooperatives that spread losses across their membership to inquire about eligibility.

Private-lender interest rates on agricultural loans are moving higher and so are rates on loans through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency.