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2 months ago | 
dairyherd.com | Taylor Leach |Rhonda Brooks |Steve Cubbage |Shay Foulk
Milk production in the 24 major states continued its downward trend in December, totaling 18.0 billion lbs., a 0.4% decline from the previous year. This marks a continuation of the slight contraction seen in November, where revised production figures showed a 0.3% year-over-year decrease. Slight Contraction ContinuesDespite these declines, the overall number of milk cows in the 24 major states increased by 17,000 head compared to December 2023 yet decreased by 8,000 head from November 2024.
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2 months ago | 
dairyherd.com | Rhonda Brooks |Steve Cubbage |Shay Foulk |Karen Bohnert
Eggs continue to be a hot topic in the news as supplies are down, prices are up – and expected to go even higher – and consumers are understandably concerned. At the center of the issue, fanning the on-going problem for poultry and dairy producers as well, is the Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza A virus (HPAI H5N1). AgriTalk Host Chip Flory broached the topic with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig on Tuesday.
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2 months ago | 
dairyherd.com | Steve Cubbage |Shay Foulk |Karen Bohnert |Maureen Hanson
Global Milk Production CostsA new report says milk producers around the world are seeing an increase in production costs. The report comes from Rabo Research. It says dairy farmers across eight regions including Argentina, Australia, California, China and the Netherlands, have seen total production costs surge by 14% from 2019 to last year. with over 70% of the increases happening since 2021.
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2 months ago | 
dairyherd.com | Steve Cubbage |Shay Foulk |Karen Bohnert |Jim Wiesemeyer
Class III milk futures continued their strong momentum today, with blocks and barrels both posting gains with no offers appearing during the cheese session. This back-to-back strength bodes well for producers, as Q1 futures currently sit at $20.27 per hundredweight, with January contracts set to expire next week. Butter turned out to be the biggest mover and Q1 Class IV futures saw a slight decline, settling at $20.46.
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2 months ago | 
dairyherd.com | Shay Foulk |Steve Cubbage |Karen Bohnert |Jim Wiesemeyer
In 2023, I said the most important thing for your farm business is build your transition plan. Recently, we’ve focused on knowing your numbers, and now it’s time for cost of living and budgeting for retirement. When I work on transition planning with family farms and businesses, I often start by asking whether or not the senior or junior partners have met with a certified financial planner. Usually, but not always, the answer is no.
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2 months ago | 
dairyherd.com | Steve Cubbage |Shay Foulk |Karen Bohnert |Jim Wiesemeyer
Bread, check. Blueberries, check. As I wheel my grocery cart alongside the deli case, I’m taken aback at what I see. Rather, it is what I don’t see that has me wondering, “What in the world?” This section of my favorite grocery store is now almost completely empty, except for a couple of ham loaves and a renegade block of cheese.
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2 months ago | 
dairyherd.com | Karen Bohnert |Steve Cubbage |Shay Foulk |Jim Wiesemeyer
The U.S. dairy industry faces a pivotal moment as it contends with both gripping challenges and promising prospects amidst fluctuating global market dynamics. Krysta Harden, president of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), provides insights into the factors shaping the current landscape and future outlook for the industry.
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Dec 6, 2024 | 
agweb.com | Cheyenne Kramer |Michelle Rook |Shay Foulk |Jamie Sears Rawlings
We caught up with The Fertilizer Institute’s 2024 4R Advocates—a group of two farmers and two retailers who are committed to implementing fertilizer management practices based on the principles of 4R Nutrient Stewardship. They reflect on 2024, share their sustainability wins and describe how 2025 could look different. What Does Sustainability Mean To You?
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Dec 6, 2024 | 
agweb.com | Shay Foulk |Matthew J. Grassi |Larry Stalcup |Cheyenne Kramer
The only sustainable thing for your business long-term is profitability. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make efforts toward soil preservation or time efficiency, but does improving organic matter by 0.5% over 15 years matter if you go out of business doing it? Is the carbon program making the payment for your recently purchased land? The roller coaster of markets will continue into eternity as it always has. Your focus should be what is most profitable for your business.
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Oct 9, 2024 | 
agweb.com | Shay Foulk |Jack Heffron |Jim Wiesemeyer |Michelle Rook
In times of tight margins, every purchase must have a purpose with ROI top of mind. As you optimize your equipment, crop inputs, farmland and business intellect for the year ahead, take the time to plan your work, and then you work your plan. I will spend hundreds of millions of dollars in my lifetime — and I’m just an average-sized Illinois farm with a growing seed conditioning business. How do we use those dollars effectively and strategically? We purchase with a purpose.
