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US Has Seen Consistent Growth in Ag Exports to Mexico Under NAFTA, USMCA
US Has Seen Consistent Growth in Ag Exports to Mexico Under NAFTA, USMCA

Over the 29 years of free trade, U.S. ag exports to Mexico increased both in terms of volume and value, although there were some years where growth was not positive.

A Checkoff Success: Grilled Cheese Burrito Becomes Permanent Item on Taco Bell’s Menu
A Checkoff Success: Grilled Cheese Burrito Becomes Permanent Item on Taco Bell’s Menu

Cheese lovers from coast to coast are rejoicing with the news that the “Grilled Cheese Burrito” has become a permanent item on Taco Bell’s menu.

Beef Cross Calves: Just What the Consumer Ordered
Beef Cross Calves: Just What the Consumer Ordered

The younger consumers of today may not embrace meat consumption like previous generations, but they are more inclined to seek and pay for high quality. That’s good news for producers selling beef cross calves.

Drought Concerns Grow as 57% of Corn, 51% of Soybeans in the U.S. Now Considered to Be in Drought
Drought Concerns Grow as 57% of Corn, 51% of Soybeans in the U.S. Now Considered to Be in Drought

Drought continues to deepen its grip across the Corn Belt, with Iowa and Illinois seeing large jumps in the moderate and severe drought categories. Now, more of the U.S. corn and soybean crop is covered in drought.

Economist Shares It Will Be a Tough Year Ahead for Dairy
Economist Shares It Will Be a Tough Year Ahead for Dairy

Ben Laine shares we would need a big demand surge to see a significant increase in prices. He also adds that June is likely to be the bottom of prices, although he remains cautious for the second half of 2023.

Fed Leaves Interest Rates Unchanged for Now, Farmers Deal with Interest Costs That Have Doubled in a Year
Fed Leaves Interest Rates Unchanged for Now, Farmers Deal with Interest Costs That Have Doubled in a Year

Wednesday's interest rate decision broke a streak of 10 straight meetings where the Fed announced higher rates. Officials say another half-a-percentage-point hike is likely yet this year.

How Does the Farm Bill Funding Process Work?
How Does the Farm Bill Funding Process Work?

It's not as simple as you might think. House Ag Chair G.T. Thompson shares a rundown of the funding and extension processes. He says the ag committees need to find new dollars to expand the farm bill budget.

U.S. Senators Introduce Bill Giving Farmers Better Access to Feed Additives
U.S. Senators Introduce Bill Giving Farmers Better Access to Feed Additives

The bill would offer a pathway for manufacturers to seek FDA approval of additives tied to improving the efficiency of meat and dairy production.

Precision Dairy Conference to Explore Labor Solutions
Precision Dairy Conference to Explore Labor Solutions

Dairy labor challenges will be a major focus of the 2023 Precision Dairy Conference, hosted by the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences.

Drones Hone in on Silage Inventories
Drones Hone in on Silage Inventories

What if you could accurately measure your silage pile inventory with a few clicks of a button? With today's drone technology, you can.

Why Employees Are in the Driver's Seat
Why Employees Are in the Driver's Seat

It's hard to stay competitive in today's job market. Here are four reasons why employees are in the driver's seat in 2023.

USDA Launches Effort to Strengthen Validity of Animal-Raising Claims
USDA Launches Effort to Strengthen Validity of Animal-Raising Claims

USDA announced on June 14 that it is implementing a multi-step effort aimed at strengthening the substantiation of animal-raising claims.

6 Ways to Boost Performance and Lower Feed Costs
6 Ways to Boost Performance and Lower Feed Costs

Feed costs will continue to be the No. 1 expense. Jim Salfer, Extension dairy educator with the University of Minnesota, offers some best practices to help producers lower feed costs.

Once Again, Minnesota Dairy Farm a Tour Stop for Luke Bryan
Once Again, Minnesota Dairy Farm a Tour Stop for Luke Bryan

Gar-Lin Dairy Farm is thrilled to have Luke Bryan make his way back for the second straight year as a tour stop at their dairy farm in Eyota, Minn. Gar-Lin Dairy Farm will again host the show on Sept. 23, 2023.

The Truth Behind Being Married 20 Years to a Dairy Farmer
The Truth Behind Being Married 20 Years to a Dairy Farmer

Twenty years, Scott and I were married on our family dairy farm. It all goes by quickly, especially when you build a family and expanded a farm simultaneously. It’s all kind of a blur.

Springers Steady Heading into Summer
Springers Steady Heading into Summer

For now, springers are holding their own and Holstein heifer calves actually posted healthy gains.

Kentucky Dairy Farm Featured on Guy Fieri’s All-American Road Show
Kentucky Dairy Farm Featured on Guy Fieri’s All-American Road Show

When Guy Fieri rolled into Kentucky to film his All-American Road Trip television hit earlier this year, he brought his whole entourage. They showcased Chaney’s Dairy Barn on their hit tv show.

Flavored Milks in Schools Win in Committee
Flavored Milks in Schools Win in Committee

School milk remains an important part of the Class I market, especially as overall milk consumption declines.

Lawmakers Push for 2% and Whole Milk to Return to School Cafeterias
Lawmakers Push for 2% and Whole Milk to Return to School Cafeterias

A new bill could put 2% and whole milk back in schools.

Gene Editing Could Improve Heat Tolerance
Gene Editing Could Improve Heat Tolerance

The dairy cattle of the future may be more comfortable and less susceptible to heat stress thanks to genetic alterations to change the physical characteristics and color of their hair coats.

Pennsylvania Dairy Farmer’s Love of Music Helped Him Get Over Selling His Cows
Pennsylvania Dairy Farmer’s Love of Music Helped Him Get Over Selling His Cows

Two things have had a huge impact on Jeff Corle’s life—music and dairy cows. After high school, Corle headed south to Nashville, to pursue his dream of working in the music industry.

Ireland Proposes Culling 200,000 Cows to Help Meet Climate Goals, Farmers Push Back
Ireland Proposes Culling 200,000 Cows to Help Meet Climate Goals, Farmers Push Back

Ireland's Agriculture Minister has been looking into various ways to reduce methane emissions, including culling 200,000 cows over the next three years.

Over-The-Counter Livestock Antibiotics Officially a Thing of the Past
Over-The-Counter Livestock Antibiotics Officially a Thing of the Past

Starting on June 11, over-the-counter livestock antibiotics will no longer be available through traditional retail channels.

Drought Watch: Nearly Half of the U.S. Corn Crop is Now Covered in Drought
Drought Watch: Nearly Half of the U.S. Corn Crop is Now Covered in Drought

Last week, 34% of the U.S. corn crop was covered in drought, and this week it jumped to 45%. The second crop conditions ratings of the season from USDA-NASS confirmed dryness is starting to deteriorate crop conditions.

Beating the “Summer Slump”
Beating the “Summer Slump”

Calves and heifers aren’t as susceptible to heat stress as cows, but they do suffer from it to some degree, and their production is diminished as a result.

Five Downturn Survival Tips from an Experienced Dairy Financial Consultant
Five Downturn Survival Tips from an Experienced Dairy Financial Consultant

After record milk prices in 2022, the downturn has come on quick and felt hard by those producers who milk cows for a living. A dairy financial consultant offers five pieces of advice to survive dairy’s volatile markets.

Community College Ag Programs Could See $20 Million in New Funds
Community College Ag Programs Could See $20 Million in New Funds

National enrollment in ag and related science majors at two-year institutions grew 41% in Fall 2021. The Community College Ag Advancement Act aims to give these students more industry opportunities.

Farm Bill Will Not See an Increase in Funds
Farm Bill Will Not See an Increase in Funds

Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow, (D-Mich.) says there will be no new funding for the 2023 farm bill. However, Stabenow stressed she will not allow a cut in conservation funding.

Gregg Doud Named New President and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation
Gregg Doud Named New President and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation

The National Milk Producers Federation’s Board of Directors today unanimously voted to name Gregg Doud, a globally recognized agricultural leader, as its next president and CEO.

A Dividing Line
A Dividing Line

Adversity is a character test. From low milk prices, rising interest rates, weather and supply chain hiccups, farmers are used to dealing with adversity and things beyond their control. Our character is challenged daily.

Midwest Dairy Producers Forced to Dump Milk
Midwest Dairy Producers Forced to Dump Milk

With much of the Upper Midwest processing capacity maxed out in terms of milk production, finding a new home for milk is not an easy task. This is causing dairy farms to dump milk due to the oversupply. 

When Will Dairy's Minimum Pricing System Change?
When Will Dairy's Minimum Pricing System Change?

USDA will soon decide whether to hold a formal hearing and propose changes to dairy's minimum pricing system, which would then require a vote from dairy farmers.

MULHERN TO RETIRE AS NMPF PRESIDENT AND CEO AFTER DECADE OF SERVICE
MULHERN TO RETIRE AS NMPF PRESIDENT AND CEO AFTER DECADE OF SERVICE

NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern announced he will retire from his position at the end of this year, concluding a decade of service leading the organization and capping a 45-year career.

Dial in on Feed Efficiency
Dial in on Feed Efficiency

Producers know all too well that once the feed truck comes down their driveway, a bill will follow. The rising cost of feed has forced dairies to dial in on efficiency to help boost overall profitability for the farm.

FREE WEBINAR: Young Dairy Producers Talk Industry Challenges With MILK Business
FREE WEBINAR: Young Dairy Producers Talk Industry Challenges With MILK Business

Hear from three up-and-coming industry leaders about their roles, how they have evolved their skill sets and their advice for future leaders during the second session of the MILK Business Dialogues Webinar Series.

3 Reasons the Farm Bill is Behind Schedule
3 Reasons the Farm Bill is Behind Schedule

The Senate and House Ag committees are facing delays in drafting the next farm bill, and it is expected to be the most expensive farm bill to date, clocking in at around $1.5 trillion.

Formal Process of Modernizing Federal Milk Marketing Orders Officially Underway
Formal Process of Modernizing Federal Milk Marketing Orders Officially Underway

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) has announced that the formal process of modernizing Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMO) is now officially underway.

Management, Planning Key to Forage Quality and Production
Management, Planning Key to Forage Quality and Production

Tightening profit margins behoove growers to pay careful forage options, micronutrients, plant health and productivity. Partnering with agronomists, nutritionists and dairy advisors is an important piece of the puzzle.

Texas Farmers Pummeled by 20 Inches of Rain, Now Major Dairy Region Too Wet to Harvest Wheat for Silage
Texas Farmers Pummeled by 20 Inches of Rain, Now Major Dairy Region Too Wet to Harvest Wheat for Silage

After consecutive years of drought, areas of Texas are now breaking records for the wettest May ever. With most of their crop left to plant, it's also forcing tough decisions about silage, as wheat is ready for harvest.

Prairie Farms Dairy Celebrates 85th Anniversary & Dairy Month By Giving Back
Prairie Farms Dairy Celebrates 85th Anniversary & Dairy Month By Giving Back

Prairie Farms kicked off Dairy Month in a big way by partnering with 30 Feeding America® food banks to donate 85 pallets of milk, which is over 346,000 milk servings.

A cow peers out from a platform while being milked by a robotic arm Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, at the farm of Sid and Kristin Huls in rural Hancock County, Ill.
Cows Need Certain Personalities to Handle Robots

According to a recent study, some cows don't have the right personalities to click with robots.

US Moves to Full Blown Trade Dispute with Mexico Over GMO Decree
US Moves to Full Blown Trade Dispute with Mexico Over GMO Decree

“We fundamentally disagree with the position Mexico has taken on the issue of biotechnology, which has been proven to be safe for decades,” said Tom Vilsack, USDA secretary.

How Did Your Corn Grow in 2022?
How Did Your Corn Grow in 2022?

Despite increased yields recorded in 2022, the total cost of producing a ton of corn silage increased by 27%, from $34 per ton in 2021 to $43 per ton in 2022.

Worries Mount for New York Farmers Dealing with Low Milk Prices and High Labor Costs
Worries Mount for New York Farmers Dealing with Low Milk Prices and High Labor Costs

An ongoing march to pay farm workers more continues to unfold in the state of New York as agriculture labor regulations have drastically changed. From farm owners to farm workers, this has all led to confusion.

What Makes a Good Farm Manager?
What Makes a Good Farm Manager?

There are three areas producers need to focus on to earn the title of “good farm manager,” according to Purdue University researchers.

Hiland Dairy Celebrates World Milk Day and National Dairy Month by Providing Milk to 15 Area Feeding America Food Banks
Hiland Dairy Celebrates World Milk Day and National Dairy Month by Providing Milk to 15 Area Feeding America Food Banks

On June 1, Hiland Dairy is kicking off World Milk Day and National Dairy Month by donating to 15 Feeding America® network food banks across a six-state area.

Stop Raising ‘Peter Pan’ Heifers
Stop Raising ‘Peter Pan’ Heifers

Weight at calving not only determines first-lactation performance, it pretty much sets in stone lifetime performance and your herd’s overall performance.

DMC Payment Issued Yet Again to Help Offset Low Milk Prices
DMC Payment Issued Yet Again to Help Offset Low Milk Prices

The ongoing milk price rollercoaster that seems to be on a downward track has once again forced a Dairy Margin Coverage payment to be issued in 2023. The DMC income over feed costs for April is $5.84/cwt.

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How Low Will Milk Prices Go?
How Low Will Milk Prices Go?

It appears June Class III milk could be below $16.00 and back to the lowest level since August 2021.