As autumn arrives, it brings a wide-range set of responsibilities for dairy producers, particularly as preparations for the fall harvest begin. Whether this involves chopping silage, completing that final hay cutting, or winterizing facilities ahead of colder weather, it is essential not to overlook the future planning and administrative aspects of your operation. Updating your…
The dairy markets have taken a decidedly bearish turn over the past few weeks with Class III and IV futures values moving notably lower. From the beginning of August, October to March Class III futures prices dropped from $17.95 to $16.65 per hundredweight on average, while Class IV contract values fell by $3.50 to $15.75…
The National Safety Council always earmarks the third week in September as National Farm Safety and Health Week. The annual promotion was first initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944 to remind the farm community to prioritize safety. As farm equipment has gotten much larger and farm practices have gotten much more complex, being…
The USDA announced July’s margin under the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program to be $10.94 per hundredweight (cwt), down 16 cents from June’s margin and down $1.39 from the same month the year prior. As we move into the second half of the year, participating producers have still not received any indemnities for the duration…
On the July 2025 USDA Cattle Inventory Report, all cows and heifers that have calved totaled 94.2 million head, a 1.0% decrease from 95.4 million head in July 2023. The 2025 calf crop also saw a 1.0% drop from January 2025’s report to 33.1 million head in July. With the USDA cancelling the cattle inventory…
If you haven’t been paying attention to the grain markets over the past few weeks, it’s time to tune in. December corn prices are trading around $4 per bushel – near life-of-contract lows – while soybean meal prices are still hanging below $300 per ton. These lower grain futures are pushing 2025 and 2026 feed…
Inflation continues to weigh on global food prices, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reporting a 1.6% month-to-month increase in the agency’s food price index (FFPI) last month. July’s index was 130.1 points, at its highest level since early 2023.
The USDA announced June’s margin under the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program to be $11.10 per hundredweight (cwt), up 70 cents from May’s margin and down 56 cents from June 2024. With June marking the halfway point for this program year, participating producers have not received any indemnities thus far.
Looking at the preliminary estimates for June, the U.S. milk supply was abundant throughout spring flush and held strong heading into the beginning of summer. Based on the most recent USDA Milk Production report, May’s U.S. milk production was revised from a previous 1.6 increase to a 2.4 increase year over year.
An uncomfortable silence settled over the small group assembled around the kitchen table. The father had just told me of the tragic death of a visiting relative, due to a preventable farm accident. “We think about it every day,” the father continued. “We keep thinking, ‘if only, if only, if only……” Unfortunately, unlike this computer…
