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The June 2024 USDA Milk Production Report revealed a noticeable year-over-year decline in milk production across the 24 major States. Specifically, production was 18 billion lbs., marking a 0.7% decline for the month of June in the 24 major States.

USDA pegged U.S. milk production at 18.8 billion pounds in June. That was down 1.0% versus 2023, a bigger drop than anticipated.

Milk production continues to decline as summer weather takes its toll on cow comfort and feed intakes.

Spot cheese prices started the week off with an increase. Crop conditions are holding relatively steady through the dog days of summer.

Investing time now in thinking about who you hire and why you hire them will pay more dividends than most other things you can do.

Let’s continue to applaud all the kids who participate in 4-H and FFA and exhibit at the county fair. The lessons they learn are difficult to duplicate anywhere else and the memories will be cherished for a lifetime.

Over the years, as milk moves from the farm to the plant, it increasingly carries less water. According to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, butterfat levels continue to climb at an impressive rate.

The dairies that tend to be must successful at actually reducing their labor costs are the ones where the owners have a little more “boots on the ground,” doing some of the work themselves.

Not everyone knows their life calling from an early age. Not everyone knows that they want to do what dad does for a living. Many have to go through trial and error to figure it all out.