U.S. Department of Agriculture
Brad Kamerman’s dairyfarm sits along a dusty and rolling road in western Gallatin County, his black-and-white Holstein cows visible to the occasional passerby. Milking there starts daily at 3 a.m. as cows file into pens where rubber tubes simultaneously do the work of a several farmhands, pumping the milk into refrigerated vats.
USDA issued a proposed rule for the mandatory, electronic price reporting for cheese, butter, whey and nonfat dry milk today.
Corn prices fell Friday on concerns about global demand after the government reported a drop in export sales.
News of Black Sea export bans being lifted for the 201112 season has stirred the commodity market.
Applications due July 8.
USDA says strong economic growth, especially in emerging and developing markets, should buoy U.S. dairy exports as well as domestic use.
Trend reflects transition from smaller, diversified farms to larger, specialized dairies.
The following information was released by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA):In the past week, corn growers nationwide hit their fields in earnest and planted more than a quarter of their 2011 crop, finally enjoying a break from cold, wet weather. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that, as of May 8, 40 percent of the 2011 corn crop has been planted, compared to 13 percent May 1.
If 400,000 SCC limit would be implemented today, some 8% to 14% of U.S. herds would not be in compliance.
Almond hulls should be in good supply for dairies next year.
The National Milk Producers Federation and the National Mastitis Council have both submitted proposals to lower the current federal SCC limit to 400,000 cells/ml.
Cow numbers are also up an estimated 76,000 (0.8%) over a year ago and 17,000 head over February.
• Fever tick inspections move to Texas By Julian AguilarThe Texas TribuneLAREDO - An unexpected casualty of the drug-cartelfueled lawlessness in Mexico: the cattle industry.At a temporary inspection site in the industrial sector of Laredo, home to the country’s largest inland port, the lowing of cows has been heard not far from the purring of the tractortrailers that haul millions of dollars worth of goods from Mexico each day.
U.S. dairy producers sent 268,000 dairy cows to slaughter through Federally inspected plants in March
Dairy demand improves as economy recovers.
USDA report says high feed costs offsetting high milk prices, only slight herd growth expected.
Tight supply situation expected to continue into 2011 and 2012
Cow numbers are also up 68,000 head over a year ago.
Dairy importers will now pay a 7.5¢/cwt. research and promotion assessment fee effective today.
Survey to be conducted in 21 states starting in April.
USDA announced this afternoon that the U.S. all-milk price for February was $18.40/cwt., up $1.70 from January and up $2.50 from a year ago.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement regarding today’s quarterly forecast for U.S. agriculturalexports, which are expected to reach a record $135.5 billion in fiscal year 2011:
A recovering global economy is good news for U.S. dairy exports, with 2010 U.S. sales growing 39% over 2009 to 1.5 million tons.
The January report also revealed that Idaho moved up to the Number 3 milk producing state in 2010, out producing New York by 66 million pounds of milk.
Modest herd expansion, robust exports also expected.
USDA is reminding livestock producers that Federal assistance may be available to compensate for weather-related death and other losses.
“The Holy Grail” of the agricultural calendar each month is the USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Report.