Through the first six months of 2018, average Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) “mailbox prices” – approximating the net price received by dairy farmers for milk after adding any premiums and deducting costs associated with hauling and marketing – were about $1.79 per hundredweight (cwt) less than the same period in 2017 (Table 1). For those with a longer memory, average mailbox prices were running $9 per cwt less than the record highs of 2014.

August 2018’s Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) calculations indicate margins improved somewhat, thanks primarily to lower feed costs.

You’re busy – milking cows, managing employees, attending World Dairy Expo. With that in mind, Progressive Dairyman launched this column: “What happened? What’s next?”

When Joe and Russ Kelsay received a milk contract termination notice from Dean Foods, they hoped to weather the storm and find a new home for their milk.

The 20 largest global dairy companies processed about 25.4 percent of the world’s 2017 milk production, according to a biennial report from IFCN, an international dairy research network. The companies processed about 211 million metric tons (MMT) of milk in 2017, up from 200 MMT in 2015.

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) authorized the sale of Dairy Revenue Protection (Dairy-RP) insurance policies, effective Oct. 9. Insurance coverage for the first quarter of 2019 (and four quarters thereafter) can be purchased until about Dec. 14, 2018.

Digest Highlights Wisconsin’s ‘cow of the year’ to be honored at World Dairy Expo January-August dairy cow slaughter tops 2 million head California entry into FMMO system enters final stages Borden delivers 45,000 milk servings for Hurricane Florence CMPB jumping at chance to reward kids ‘Quality Chekd’ dairy award finalists named PMMB extends over-order premium at 75 cents Cheese, butter inventories see slight drawdown FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative seeks more tariff-related support LGM-Dairy policies on sale Sept. 28

A decline in cow numbers was offset by stronger milk output per cow, pushing August 2018 milk production up 1.4 compared to a year earlier. However, cow numbers were up from July 2018, reversing course from last month’s 9,000-cow drop.

Digest Highlights Dairy Revenue Protection webinars scheduled Federal order BTSCC improved in 2017 Americans drank less milk but ate more dairy in July Cattle hide values falling DFA Kansas plant suffers fire FDA unveils five-year antimicrobial plan UW – Madison Dairy Science Department sets fall visit date CDI appoints Anderson as COO

With milk prices low and margins tight, dairy farmers seeking a quick infusion of some cash may want to get to the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to apply for payments under the Market Facilitation Program (MFP).