The threat of Hurricane Florence is raising concerns regarding North Carolina’s cotton crop. For dairy farmers, that translates into what impact the storm will have on cottonseed supplies and prices.

After Sept. 14, the full House is scheduled to be in session just 12 days prior to elections in early November. With limited days and a full slate of issues to tackle, dairy organization leaders continue to push Congress for a bill to address the industry’s growing labor needs.

The USDA’s September World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report reduced the 2018 milk production forecast by another 100 million pounds, but raised the 2019 forecast by an equal amount.

USDA opening bidding process for dairy products CWT export assistance hits 1 billion pounds of milk milestone ‘Tennessee Milk’ logo introduced 2018 MPP-Dairy buy-up premiums due Sept. 28 Bill would impose moratorium on agricultural business mergers Land O'Lakes selects Dairy Accelerator program participants California producers receive alternative manure management project grants UW – Madison’s dairy product research projects launched Conferees named for ‘minibus’ appropriations bill USDA, FDA plan public meeting on use of animal cell culture technology to develop ‘meat’ products

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

Dairy farmers attending a summit meeting to explore dairy policy and marketing options overwhelmingly supported some method of milk supply management but worried congressional action might take too long for many of them to survive.

After a three-year run when annual U.S. per capita dairy product consumption rose from the year before, 2017 yielded a small decline in overall consumption. The decrease was mostly attributed to a continuing drop in fluid milk consumption.

In part due to lower cheese and dry whey sales to China, U.S. dairy export volumes in July were the lowest since January. However, year-to-date exports remain ahead of last year’s pace, according to monthly data from USDA and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC).

A look at crop/weather maps helps tell the story as the 2018 hay production season winds down in many areas. Continuing drought in the Southwest affected quantity, while widespread rain elsewhere impacted quality and prices.

Digest Highlights DPA petition seeks 2 cents of national checkoff for dairy product donation program USDA accepting bids for 9.6 million gallons of milk Arla proposes to pay all 2018 net profits to farmers FDA comment period on dairy identity standards extended Dairy’s map ends August drier California 4a, 4b prices improve July cull cow prices steady Global Dairy Trade prices mixed Louisiana Dairy Stabilization Study Commission holds first-ever meeting Missouri regulating ‘meat’ advertising, lawsuit filed Consuming milk at breakfast lowers blood glucose throughout the day