Arla will offer milk premiums for European dairy farmers steering clear of GMO feeds. U.S. dairy loses a leader with death of Kirkpatrick. Asian companies are investing in Russia. This and other U.S. dairy industry news can be found here.

California’s Class 4b milk price whey factor is now permanent. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will not defend a state law that excludes farm workers from the right to organize. Montana’s Board of Livestock approved a fee arrangement to help pay the costs of dairy inspections in the state. This and other U.S. region-by-region dairy news can be found here.

There’s a new Canadian-U.S. "protein highway." A House committee included key dairy provisions in the “Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act.” OSHA has new reporting requirements for large farms. The International Trade Commission says U.S. dairy will fair well under TPP. This and other U.S. dairy policy news can be found here.

The International Trade Commission released an economic impact analysis of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) (PDF, 14MB), including its effects on the U.S. beef industry.

Lower cutter cow prices are reducing slaughter, adding to the milking herd. May margins weakened a bit. MPP-Dairy margins look like they’ll bottom out in June at about $5.50 per hundredweight. GDT auction posted a small gain, but global prices are still low. This and other U.S. dairy economic news can be found here.

Cattle on feed, beef production and beef cow slaughter were all higher in April. Cash prices provided a Memorial Day-demand bump, helping early May margins a little.

Whether it’s batting averages or rolling herd averages, we Americans like to keep statistics and rank things. Next to sports, dairy might be one of the most numerically analyzed industries around.

Given the current political climate, federal immigration reform doesn’t seem likely anytime soon. However, two upcoming dates could determine the timeline and direction for potential reforms moving forward.

March U.S. beef exports rose, but USDA’s latest outlook report indicates improved forage conditions combined with growing cattle supplies and heavier carcass weights will boost U.S. beef production and pressure prices lower into 2017. This and other beef and cattle market news is available here.

The U.S. dairy herd continues to grow. At 9.331 million head in April, the nation’s dairy barns and pastures now hold the largest number of cows since December 2008, according to USDA’s monthly milk production report.