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February 14, 2020: Heifer Inventory

Last year’s milk price was a welcome relief compared to the previous two years. The U.S. All-Milk price for 2019 averaged $18.60 per hundredweight, the highest since 2014. After several years of low prices, 2019 was not enough time to see much expansion in the industry and total milk production only increased about 0.3% over…

February 7, 2020: Export Competition

Over the last 20 years, the U.S. has grown from a minor global milk supplier to one of the top-5 dairy exporters in the world. In 2000, the U.S. was exporting less than $1 billion worth of exports (by value). Through November of 2020, the U.S. had exported over $5.4 billion worth of dairy products,…

January 31, 2020: January

January has been an active month for the dairy industry. The new U.S.-Japan trade agreement started on January 1st. Barring something unforeseen, the President will have signed the USMCA trade agreement by the time this article reaches you. Phase 1 of the new U.S.-China trade deal, which promises increased purchases of U.S. agricultural products, was…

January 24, 2020: Why USMCA?

Last Friday, the U.S. Senate passed the United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA) in a bipartisan vote of 89 to 10. The next step is for President Trump to sign the legislation, which he is expected to do this week. Once that happens, the main factor holding back implementation is waiting for Canada’s House of Commons to…

January 17, 2020: Pennsylvania Farm Shows

Pennsylvania cares about its agricultural heritage. With two major farm shows at the beginning of the year, farmers and consumers are treated to two events that showcase what it means to be a farmer in Pennsylvania. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday at the Keystone Farm Show, and I appreciate several of you stopping by the…

January 10, 2020: Risk Management Tool for 2020

Milk prices are down somewhat from 30 days ago, but milk price through 2020 still appears to remain profitable for most dairy farms across the country. Even though the price is looking good for 2020, it certainly is not a guarantee. Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) enrollment for 2020 ended last month, but if you decided…

January 3, 2020: December

It seems like 2019 flew by. Perhaps there is some truth in the adage, “Time flies when you’re having fun.” I have enjoyed the past year and am grateful for the opportunity to stay involved in the dairy industry. The dairy industry in Pennsylvania has taken a hit over the last few years. Multiple years…

December 20, 2019: Trade Agreement Update

Christmas is near and with it brings the end of another year. A year that started off rough for milk prices but ends with the highest prices we have seen since 2014, providing much-needed relief to dairy farmers across the country. Next year looks even better, and if progress continues to be made with trade…

December 13, 2019: 2020 Milk Price

It is hard to believe that 2019 is almost in the books. The year started with low milk prices, but by summer, prices had risen to a breakeven or profitable rate for many U.S. dairy farmers. Milk price this year has not been good enough to make up for the last few years, but it…

December 6, 2019: One Year

December 10, 2018 marked the start of a new era for my family and me. That was my first day working for the Center for Dairy Excellence. I am coming up on my one-year anniversary of living and working in Pennsylvania. I grew up on my family’s dairy, and for 16 years, I was the…