The U.S. Department of Agriculture has published a final rule reaffirming that milk may be sold anytime, anywhere in all schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. The rule bans any school policies or procedures that attempt to restrict the sale or marketing of fluid milk in a la carte lines, vending machines and concession stands at school-sponsored events. … Read More
Senate Approves $350 Million for Milk Price Supports
The Senate tonight voted 60 to 37 for an amendment to provide an extra $350 million for milk price supports to increase government purchases of surplus dairy products. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) cosponsored the measure introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). The extra $350 million would provide farmers, on average, an estimated $1.50 extra per hundredweight, the industry’s standard unit … Read More
Vilsack Announces Immediate Increase
Glad to hear a little bit of good news for our country’s struggling dairy farmers! Agriculture Secretary Vilsack today announced that the Obama Administration is taking immediate action to support struggling dairy farmers by increasing the amount paid for dairy products through the Dairy Product Price Support Program (DPPSP). USDA estimates show that these increases, which will be in place … Read More
Vilsack Committed to Temporary Dairy Relief
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, has committed to temporarily raise the price the federal Department of Agriculture will pay for dairy products, providing the director of the U.S. Office of Management and the Budget approves the move. In a meeting with U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., and other senators Wednesday, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack agreed to raise the … Read More
Congressional Dairy Farmer Caucus to be Reinstated
As dairy farmers throughout the country continue to face a pressing financial crisis in their industry, dozens of members of the House of Representatives announced Wednesday that they will reform and reactivate the Congressional Dairy Farmer Caucus. Led by Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Joe Courtney (CT), Peter Welch (VT), Devin Nunes (CA) and Tim Walz (MN), and joined by Caucus Vice … Read More
Iowa Dairy Farmer Testifies
America’s dairy producers find themselves in a “price-cost squeeze” between plummeting milk prices and feed costs that have remained high. Several public and private assistance initiatives are in place, but relief is not yet being fully felt at the farm gate, an Iowa dairy farmer today told a House Agriculture subcommittee. Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Lang, partner in a … Read More
Advisory Panel to Help Avert Drops in Dairy Prices
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will appoint an advisory board to recommend how the government can avert further freefalls in the price dairy farmers are paid for milk, his office said. The advisory board, whose membership has yet to be determined, could take the place of a congressionally mandated commission that was dictated by the 2008 farm bill but has yet … Read More
Dairy ‘Herd’ Protests in D.C
It would have been quite a sight to see a group of farmers dressed as cattle on the green in Washington D.C. Sick and tired of the down markets and troubling times plaguing the dairy industry today, a group or “herd” of dairy producers marched to D.C. to have their voices be heard. As reported by Jerry Hagstrom of Agweek, … Read More
USDA Economic Outlook for Dairy
From the USDA‘s newly released “Livestock, Dairy & Poultry Outlook,” a report from the Economic Research Service. Dairy: Feed prices are expected to moderate slightly both this year and next. But milk supplies still lead demand, and exports are expected to be well behind the last two years. Consequently, prices will remain weak this year. A modest improvement in prices … Read More
CWT Sets Second Dairy Buyout
The dairy industry is gearing up for another dairy buyout, says Farm Futures. Did you participate in the first buyout? Are you planning on selling your cows in this upcoming buyout? Unfortunately, I fear more producers will exit the business this year. What do you think about these buyouts? How many of your neighbors have exited? Cooperatives Working Together has … Read More