Dairy Profit Friday
An (almost) daily recap of dairy information:
Dec. 18, 2009
Take the survey, win $100 gift card
Western DairyBusiness and Eastern DairyBusiness editors will explore topics related to manure management in a dairy producer survey. Dairy producers completing surveys by Dec. 30 will be entered into a drawing for a $100 VISA gift card. To complete the 10-question survey, please visit:
November milk production down 1.0%
November 2009 milk production in the 23 major states totaled 14.0 billion lbs., down 1.0% from November 2008, according to USDA’s Milk Production report released this afternoon. October revised production, at 14.3 billion lbs., was down 1.2% from October 2008. The October revision represented a decrease of 12 million lbs. or 0.1% from last month’s preliminary production estimate.
Production per cow in the 23 major states averaged 1,679 lbs. for November, 25 pounds more than November 2008.
The number of milk cows in those states was 8.31 million head, 209,000 head less than November 2008, and 6,000 head less than October 2009.
Total U.S. milk production for November 2009 is estimated at 15.060 billion lbs., down 1.0% from a year ago. Cow numbers nationwide declined 7,000 head from October, to 9.091 million head, and are now down 242,000 from November 2008.
January 2010 Class I base
The January 2010 federal order Class I base price is $15.01/cwt., up $1.04 from December 2009, but still 71¢ less than January 2009.
IDFA: Standards a concern
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) reports the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other government agencies jointly announced tentative new nutrition standards that will restrict the type of foods that can be marketed to children ages 2-17. These proposed guidelines could restrict how the dairy foods industry, retailers and entertainment companies promote food products to children. Find the “SNAC PAC Draft Nutritional Standards” at http://ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/sizingup/SNAC_PAC.pdf.
Friday’s CME cash dairy product prices
Cheddar blocks: up 0.25¢, to $1.7025/lb.
Cheddar barrels: down 2¢, to $1.44/lb.
Butter – down 2.25¢, to $1.3250/lb.
Extra Grade nonfat dry milk – unchanged, at $1.40/lb.
Grade A nonfat dry milk – unchanged, at $1.37/lb.
Class III milk futures prices were mixed.
Corn futures prices were mixed; soybean and soybean meal futures were lower.
For today’s market activities on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Chicago Board of Trade, visit http://www.dairybusiness.com/dairybusiness_markets.php.
Monday on DairyLine Radio
An old football strategy says, “A good offense makes a good defense” and that could be the rationale behind the “Telling Your Story” program of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI). The checkoff-funded program provides dairy farmers training to address the questions and challenges they face from consumers. California dairyman and DMI board member Brad Scott, who participated in the program, is the guest in Monday’s “DMI Update” on DairyLine Radio. He said the program made him and other producers more aware of the urgency and need to communicate to their urban neighbors about the positive things dairy farmers do. For more details, and to listen to the conversation with DairyLine’s Lee Mielke, visit www.dairyline.com.
For a sample copy of Dairy Profit Weekly, or subscription information, visit www.dairyprofit.com or phone: 800-334-1904, ext. 244.
Dave Natzke, Editor