Northeast U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation calling for modifications to the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy), potentially leading to state-level income margin calculations.

Rules allowing voluntary supply management advance in the European Union. Canadian dairy farmers want tighter enforcement of cheese standards to cut ultrafiltered milk imports. This and other U.S. dairy industry news can be found here.

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) urged members of Congress to insist that the U.S. request a more thorough analysis of a World Health Organization (WHO) proposal seeking to discourage parents from feeding toddlers milk and certain dairy products.

JW JonesU.S. SalesmanOleofinos/LactoMilTuscola, Texas

USDA announced several changes in the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy), including decoupling the percentage of milk production eligible for catastrophic coverage, and allowing production history adjustments when a family member joins a dairy operation.

“Give it to me straight, Heather,” the post read. “Lucy is still breastfeeding, but we’re starting to think about transitioning her to whole milk in a few months. I’m worried about extra hormones. Should I be looking for hormone-free milk? Or should I just be buying it for her when she’s old enough?”

This guide is a climate-specific extension of the summary article “Dairy Cooling: The Benefits and Strategies,” which describes heat stress, its costs and consequences, and several strategies for its mitigation.

Margin Protection Program for Dairy participants can update their production history when an eligible family member joins the operation. Dairy producer, exporter and processor organizations support the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, but ask the federal government to watch implementation and enforcement. This and other U.S. dairy policy news can be found here.

The U.S. trade deficit reached a six-month high in February, but don’t blame agriculture. U.S. agriculture, including dairy, remains an industry producing a trade surplus.

For the most part, manure has been an underused resource by dairy farmers. Some never realize its full value and potential while others simply don’t know where to go for assistance.