Feed Prices
For the third time this year, a Dairy Margin Coverage payment will be issued. Here’s what to expect.
With today’s market conditions, producers are capitalizing on strong beef prices. More cows went to slaughter in March, the highest total since 1986, the year of the whole-herd buyout program.
Dairy farms are routine. Milk cows 365-days a year. This is the life that Kelly and Christy Cunningham with Milk Unlimited near Atlantic, Iowa, have grown accustomed to. Although in 2017, that nearly came to a halt.
The March 2023 USDA Milk Production report showed a 0.5% increase in year-over-year milk production. Cow numbers also showed an increase of 31,000 head over last year, but production per cow only gained 3 lbs.
Waning milk prices, persistently high feed costs, and spotty feed inventories appear to be the emerging financial story of the 2023 U.S. dairy industry.
For the second time this year, a Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) payment will be issued. The USDA’s Farm Service Agency announced that March’s DMC income over feed costs calculation is $6.19/cwt.
Warren Buffet saying, “Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2, don’t forget Rule No. 1” is widely known. Dr. Brady Brewer from Purdue University said it is unlikely that Buffet spends much time working in ag.
The challenges that face the Golden State have quickly changed from drought to flooding and played havoc with the California agriculture landscape. This has forced several dairies to move their cattle to higher ground.
Along with a slew of environmental benefits, cover crops offer up some impressive nutritional benefits as well.
There are some sources of feed shrink you might not think of that can be causing substantial losses in terms of feed used, ration formulation and poor performance.
The rollercoaster of the dairy industry certainly isn’t new. Dan Basse told the PDPW audience last week that a great reset is underway for the dairy economy, which will spell a more competitive world market.
A different story is unfolding in 2023 with a decline in milk prices, while expenses continue to remain high. What are the best recommendations to help position yourself for a good start for the first half of the year.
So, you want to build a new feed center? Where to start without getting caught up in all the nitty gritty details? Start with all your wants and a wish list that fulfills your finished project vision.
One glance at the milk futures and it’s hard to be optimistic, especially coming off a record milk market year. Simply stated, the second half of the year presents opportunities that come with bittersweet reviews.
The U.S. is heating up and that could spell disaster for U.S. livestock producers. Drastic changes will need to be implemented to ensure we have enough feed for our cattle in the future.
For the first time this year, a Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) payment will be issued. Yesterday, USDA’s Farm Service Agency announced that February’s DMC income over feed costs calculation is $7.94/cwt.
The USDA February Milk Production report illustrated a 1.3% increase in milk production compared to January 2022. Following suit, cow numbers also showed growth with an increase of 38,000 additional head year-over-year.
Heifers are the future of your milking herd. They need your attention and management. Remember, bigger is better, and to achieve that we need good feed management, reproduction and environment.
Knowing your budget is essential for dairy producers, especially coming off a record-high milk price year. Penn State Extension offers guidelines to be considered when using milk futures.
As more companies break ground on new soybean processing plants, will soybean meal become cheaper for dairy farmers?
After some volatile stretches through the year, feed prices are posting a lower drama level as 2022 wraps up.
Ben Laine, a senior dairy analyst with Terrain, says that he expects 2023 will be deceptively steady in the sense that the U.S. will stay fairly level with current cow numbers.
Ever dream of having a Fairy God Mother grant you three wishes to help your dairy farm push forward? If you had three wishes for the New Year and could put anything into place on your dairy, what would it be?
To continue being a part of the 2% of dairy farmers that feed the world, we need you all to continue being bold with your decision-making to move your dairy forward. Register today for the Milk Business Conference today!
The Zisk 2023 report shows that dairy producers again expect a great year, surprisingly a little more profitable than 2022. That said not all producers will share in the success.
Water was once taken for granted in western states, like California. But now the tides have changed, and dairy farmers understand all too well the need for water is vital but also one that is not always guaranteed.
Wide price swings have become more frequent over the past year. These price swings have taken place over short durations as market participants have been quick to enter and exit positions.
Dairy is a historical rollercoaster with wild swings in milk prices. Tanner Ehmke says there might be some opportunities on the horizon to expand, as other dairies look to exit through the cycle of the dairy industry.
Recently, three dairy producers from coast to coast talked about the biggest, unexpected challenge that faced their dairy this year on a Farm Journal Farm County Update webinar.
While the challenges ahead for dairy producers are real, the silver lining is that both global consumption for dairy is on the rise and the supply chain headaches have lightened compared to how we started 2022.