DOMESTIC DAIRY CONSUMPTION continued to grow this past year. Butter finished the year up 2.1 percent, while cheese rose 2.3 percent.
GLOBALLY, DAIRY EXPORTS expanded 2.9 percent last year, reported the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Butter shipments jumped 7.5 percent, while cheese inched up 0.8 percent. Skim milk powder surged 8.6 percent, and whole milk powder climbed 1.7 percent.
FOR EVERY $1 INVESTED IN THE DAIRY CHECKOFF, demand-enhancing activities returned a $4.78 profit to the dairy producer, revealed an independent analysis by USDA and Texas A&M University.
RETURNS VARIED BY PRODUCT CATEGORY. Butter led the way with a $22.74 return to dairy farmers for every $1 in contributions; next came dairy exports at $8.10; cheese, $4.81; and fluid milk, $4.11.
THE NEW NORM COULD BE 9.4 MILLION dairy cows, suggested USDA economists in making projections through 2028. Milk per cow could climb from 23,150 to 26,520 pounds, while the collective U.S. milk production could vault from 217 billion to 250 billion pounds.
THERE COULD BE A STEADY IMPROVEMENT in milk prices with the current year netting $17.30 per hundredweight. From 2020 to 2028, the All-Milk price could climb steadily from $17.40 to $19.65.
FEBRUARY MILK FLOW INCHED UP 0.2 PERCENT, while eight of the top 23 dairy states reduced milk 2.1 to 11.7 percent. California rose 0.1 percent, while Wisconsin climbed 1.5 percent. Colorado led all gainers, up 8.3 percent, followed by Texas, 7.7 percent, and Oregon, 7.3 percent.
COLORADO GREW MILK OUTPUT BY 41.2 PERCENT over the past five years, which was five times the U.S. average of 8.1 percent. During that time, Texas and South Dakota were tied for second at 33.7 percent.
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN STATE lost only 10 farms or 7.7 percent since 2009. That contrasted to the national average of 31.8 percent.
AN INTERNAL CALIFORNIA BATTLE is brewing over quota that delivers between a $1.43 and $1.70 per hundredweight price premium. A generation ago, all California dairy farms were awarded quota. But due to trades and sales between farms, only 55 percent now hold it. Some farmers question its current validity.
In your next issue . . .
THERE’S MORE TO COLOSTRUM THAN QUANTITY.
The volume of colostrum calves need depends on body weight, but quality factors must be considered, too.
CAN YOU KEEP UP?
Pennsylvania farms are improving production and quality, but fewer farms and more competition looms.
MASTER THE COGNATES TO BRIDGE COMMUNICATION.
Shared words can help every dairy develop a distinct language that English and Spanish speakers can communicate in.
