Cows exhibit heat stress in many ways, and the impact can be seen in both the short and long term. Understanding heat stress is critical for producers managing herds in warmer, more humid climates or farms located in areas that experience intense heat spells in summer. There are appropriate management practices to help herds avoid some of the heat and strategies that work with the animal to help a herd manage stress during the summer months.

The July 2019 Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) Class I base price is $17.18 per hundredweight (cwt), the highest level since January 2017. It is up 11 cents from June 2019 and $1.82 more than July 2018. Through the first seven months of 2019, the Class I base price is $16.12 per cwt, up about $1.52 compared to the same period a year ago.

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is providing dairy producers and others with additional flexibility in harvesting cover crops to help meet their 2019 forage needs. Under the special provisions announced June 20, producers can hay, graze or cut cover crops for silage, haylage or baleage on “prevented plant” acres on or after Sept. 1 and still remain eligible for 100% of their prevented planting federal crop insurance payments.

When doing anything to scale, it is key to look for critical points where efficiencies can be maximized to ensure the most value for your dollar.

Digest Highlights

• Senate proposal opens school lunchrooms to all varieties of milk
• April fluid sales weaker
• Global Dairy Trade index lower again
• Minnesota announces further DMC premium rebate details

U.S. dairy farmers have shown the capacity to turn on milk production quickly, but the pace of growth in recent months is the slowest dating back to lengthy stretches in 2011-12 and 2014.

It will likely be months before the farmers receive payments under a second Market Facilitation Program (MFP). For crop farmers, one of the issues the USDA must work through is the relationship between “prevent plant” crop insurance policies and how they impact MFP payments. Specifics related to the level of payments dairy farmers will receive has also not been announced. (Read: USDA announces new farmer aid package to offset impact of tariffs, dairy details yet to come.)

“I think cows in general are beautiful creatures. I easily get inspired by personalities, coloring, spots, wrinkles or folds, if they have fluffy ears or long eyelashes, droopy eyes or nose freckles – the list goes on. I love specific details that will grab your attention within seconds.” –Andrea Jorgensen 

“I installed an automated heat detection system, but it is flagging cows that are not in heat. I’m so frustrated.” This is a very common complaint from dairy farmers. They are told an activity system will find the cows in heat better than their personnel, which is true, but they are never told what to do with the extra cows on the list. 

Late changes in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program calculations make the program even more attractive for dairy farmers. DMC sign-up begins June 17 at local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices.