Latest News From Karen Bohnert

The USDA Milk Production report shows that per cow milk production in the 24 major States for March was 3 less lbs. than last March. The 24 major States also had 71,000 head fewer than in March 2023.

The deadline to enroll for the USDA’s Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) and Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage (SDMC) programs is approaching fast. The last day for producers to sign up is Monday, April 29, 2024.

While we watch how Ozempic continues to shift from a prediabetic to a weight loss drug, the food industry is now exploring how these medications might potentially reshape the future of food consumption.

As long as the beef market is hot, the key for producers will be maintaining the right number of lactating cows going through the parlor and ensuring the right number of replacement heifers can keep that pipeline full.

The language barrier is often a challenge for dairies, as the owner and employees don’t always speak the same language. Now that barrier is extended as K’iche’ is becoming more well-known on U.S. dairy farms.

Consistent biosecurity measures have always been needed on dairy farms. And, on the heels of several confirmed cases of the HPAI in dairy cattle this spring, the need for stepped-up biosecurity measures is essential. 

Tough financial situations unfolding on farms accelerated the pace of farms exiting, and DFA shared that more than 500 of their member farms exited in 2023. They are now planning to have around 5,100 farms by 2030.

Lucas Fuess with RaboResearch says we are now in a far different state as producers have kept fewer replacement heifers and the milking herd numbers are the lowest they’ve been in four-plus years.

The conversation about how the farming business is going to be transitioned from an established generation to the next generation is a conversation these families cannot afford to put off for another day.

Once again, Farm Journal will be awarding Milk Business awards to dairy producers from whom our readers can learn business concepts, ranging from technology to young producers to employee excellence.

At the Professional Dairy Producers Annual Business Meeting, dairy producer, JJ Pagel, of Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, spoke on his journey to measuring his farm’s carbon footprint during a 2023 carbon pilot program.

What’s new and rare for the dairy industry is that we are experiencing nearly a year of weaker global milk supply. What’s not new is that for the seventh consecutive month, milk production has documented a decline.

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture announced that HPAI, known as highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, has been found in dairy cattle in Idaho.

Comparing a leap year versus a non-leap year in 2023, February milk production was up 2.4%. However, on a per-day basis, production was down 1.1%. Milk cows totaled 9.3 million head, down 89,000 compared to a year ago.

Kansas Dairy Development provides temporary housing for up to 80,000 head of cattle — from a few days old to springers nearly ready to calve. Their formula for success is all in the details.

Travel to the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, and you’ll meet Hayley and Stephanie Painter who not only made the Forbes 30 under 30 list, but have also created one of the fastest growing yogurt company in the U.S.

Dairy Farmers of America Board Chair, Randy Mooney, told attendees at the 2024 DFA Annual Meeting that the they are financially strong, as it has exceeded projected earnings for the first two months of the year.

Recently Assemblyman James Gallagher proposed a California bill to pull back current overtime rules and mandate overtime for farmworkers working more than nine hours in a day or 50 hours in a week.

Farm kids have learned to quickly survey what needs to be done and take the lead to get it done. No questions asked. This is one reason farm kids stand out. They have learned to get tough during tough times.

Chad Huyser with Lely says often the question isn’t so much if producers want to invest in big technology, the question is more of when. Especially as producers wade through a tough financial dairy outlook.

Krysta Harden with USDEC told those attending High Plains Dairy Conference in Amarillo, Texas the financial well-being of the U.S. dairy farmer will be critical to U.S. export success in 2024.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I think of the many strong dairy women we have working on farms all across this great nation. For all of you farm girls out there, continue to shine bright.

Dairy producers wonder what it will take for the market to turn around, as we wade out of this volatile economy. Phil Plourd shares fluctuating signals that are a telltale sign if milk prices will rebound in 2024.

Milk protected at the $9.50 level will receive indemnity payments of $761.56 for each one million pounds enrolled.

One thing adversity teaches us is how to persevere. Dig deeper. Plow harder. At least this is what dairy farmer, Todd Benedict, has learned when he faced two nightmare situations—a barn fire and losing his milk market.

NBA superstars Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith learned how to hand milk a cow on live television thanks to a Madison, Georgia dairy farm, Big Sandy Creek Farm.

Happy heavenly birthday to my father, Bob. He would also have said that all of you, too, have found success, as you are part of the 2% club that is feeding the world.

Travel the I-29 corridor and you’ll see an explosion of dairy cattle. As of January 2024, USDA announced that the total number of dairy cows in South Dakota totals 208,000, up 70.5% since 2019.

USDA has announced that the 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage sign-up will open Feb. 28 and run through April 29.

The Professional Dairy Producers Annual Business Meeting is set for March 13-14 in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. Dairy farm owners and managers can expect a lot of networking opportunities.

For the seventh consecutive month, U.S. milk production dropped. Also following suit was a decline in cow numbers, the lowest total since November 2019.

Producers have embraced technology for their mature herd, and now more dairies and calf ranches are exploring how to use it to streamline management for the youngest members of their herd – calves and heifers.

An ‘ah-ha’ moment when young leaders realize the power within themselves to advocate for the dairy industry often unfolds at the Holstein Foundation’s Young Dairy Leaders Institute (YDLI). This year was no exception.

All I can say is God bless American dairy farmers. You work hard despite the hardships that come your way. We need dairy farmers to continue to push forward to produce nutritious dairy products to feed the world.

After months Federal Milk Marketing Order hearings unfolding, dairy leaders are still doing what they can to advocate for U.S. dairy farmers. USDA is considering forty proposals that were submitted by stakeholders.

Success is often shaped by values, found through hardships and the stimulus for momentum. If we learn anything from our 2023 Milk Business Award winners, it’s there is no cookie-cutter formula to achieve success.

Elle Purrier St. Pierre was fired and fueled to become the best version of herself. The Vermont dairy farmer recently broke her own U.S. record in the women’s indoor mile at a race in New York City.

I encourage you to look at the star players on teams, and when you get to know more about them, more times than not, you’ll learn they learned all they needed to excel in sports from growing up on a farm.  

Get to know Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. better. A full sit-down Q&A session with David Ahlem, President & CEO of Hilmar Cheese Company.

Shatto Milk has created its own swag line that includes, “Mahomes Dairy Cow.” Their flagship cow, Casey, has been transitioned into looking like the Kansas City Chief’s quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.

Dairy producers realize that good times don’t last forever. While producers are hoping good times circle again, until then, keeping a close eye on your financials will help you weather the financial storm.

The list of challenges facing animal agriculture is complex and multifaceted. This is what Dr. Robert Hagevoort from New Mexico State University Dairy Extension shared at the 2023 Milk Business Conference in Las Vegas. 

On January 25, 300 farm workers protested Washington’s agricultural overtime law that went into full effect on the first of the Year. This comes after a two-year phase-in.

At the IDFA Dairy Forum in Phoenix, Az., IDFA’s CEO Michael Dykes shared that to drive the growth of dairy forward will take investment in people, processors, production, innovation and sustainability.

According to Idaho Dairymen’s Association for the first time in a long time, production growth will likely come to a halt due to the financial stress and the negative margins producers out west are experiencing.

The USDA Milk Production Report highlighted a drop in milk production to 18.8 billion lbs. of milk. This reflects the sixth consecutive month of lower production and a decline of 0.3% from a year prior.

Michael Dykes, CEO of IDFA shared at the 2024 International Dairy Forum in Phoenix that our industry has a growth mindset The big-ticket question is whether today’s producers can help fill the milk production need.

At the end of the day, solid communication between the processor and the farm is essential and firmly understanding the processor’s strategic long-term vision is vital. 

Iowa Dairy Association has launched the Dairy Innovation Grant Program, which has been created to increase on-farm dairy processing, reduce farm labor costs, and expand the availability of dairy products for consumers.

Now that its mid-January, dairy producers are eagerly awaiting an announcement to sign up for the Dairy Margin Coverage program. The Farm Service Agency office has yet to reveal when the 2024 enrollment period will open.