U.S. dairy farmers will receive a second payment to partially offset losses as a result of the negative impacts of retaliatory tariffs on exports.

Dairy farmers aren’t the only business owners struggling to find and retain a labor force. According to Kurt Bauer, president and CEO of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), 80 percent of his group’s members are having trouble hiring people right now too.

Editor's note: Updated with House passage of the bill. After nearly six months in limbo, the 2018 Farm Bill – including substantial improvements in the federal dairy safety net – received critical approval in rapid succession this week.

Digest Highlights EPA proposes repeal, replacement of Waters of the U.S. Dairy-RP activity nears 4.5 billion pounds of milk Wisconsin to host 18 Dairy-RP, MPP-Dairy informational meetings Canola meal values in dairy ration updated Premier Select Sires merger effective Jan. 1 Official judges selected for 53rd World Dairy Expo

Citing declining milk cow numbers and slower growth in milk per cow, the USDA’s December World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report cut milk production forecasts for both 2018 and 2019. However, the outlook for less milk again didn’t translate into improved milk price projections for either year.

You’re busy – milking cows, managing employees and preparing year-end financials. With that in mind, Progressive Dairymanlooks at issues in the news impacting you and your dairy business.

TRENDING: DAIRY CONSUMPTION The downward trend line in fluid milk consumption continued in 2018. And for the first time in years, the decline pulled down the entire dairy category on a per-capita basis.

TRENDING: LABELS Efforts to regulate use of dairy terms on plant-based imitation dairy products gained momentum in 2018.

TRENDING: EXPORTS, TRADE Having ended the previous year on a high note, many dairy analysts believed exports would be key to reversing slumping U.S. milk prices.

TRENDING: NEWSWORTHY IN 2018 New York summit supports dairy supply management About 350 participants, about half of whom were dairy farmers, attended a summit to explore dairy policy and marketing options in New York on Aug. 13.