The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) board of directors today unanimously approved a series of recommended changes to the dairy Margin Protection Program (MPP) that will restore several key elements first proposed by NMPF during development of the 2014 Farm Bill. These changes to the MPP will ensure an effective safety net for the nation’s dairy farmers – if the recommendations are adopted by Congress.

One phrase is repeated over and over again to describe the outlook for dairy producers in 2017: “cautiously optimistic.” Here’s Progressive Dairyman’s regional “State of Dairy” report.

U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) annual analysis shows dairy consumers are safe when it comes to animal drug residues in milk.

U.S. average milk prices held fairly steady in January, while moderately higher feed prices took a slightly larger bite of income margins.

President Donald Trump directed the U.S. EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to review the “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule, which dramatically expanded the number of federally protected waterways under the federal Clean Water Act.

The congressional journey to develop the 2018 Farm Bill moved to Kansas, where the Senate ag committee held its first hearing on Feb. 23. The Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) was again a featured topic.

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) withdrew a proposal seeking increased milk pooling flexibility in the Northeast federal milk marketing order (FMMO 1). In a letter to Northeast Market Administrator Erik Rasmussen on Feb. 17, Elvin Hollon, DFA vice president of fluid marketing/economic analysis, said the request to withdraw the proposal was due to a lack support from other dairy organizations.

The inauguration of Donald Trump represents a dramatic stylistic change in the way the nation’s government will be managed.

The Dairy Business Association’s (DBA) annual “Dairy Strong” conference was held Jan. 18-19 at Madison, Wisconsin.

This month’s VAS DC305 tip is on transition. How well animals transition will greatly affect how they will do in their next lactation. Poor transition will not only affect the production of the animal for the next lactation, but will also affect reproduction, somatic cell count and lifetime in the herd. All are very important and lead to lost income.