Dairy Profit Tuesday, March 2
An (almost) daily recap of dairy information:
March 2, 2010
California 4a-4b prices
California’s February 2010 4b cheese milk price is $12.95/cwt., up 23¢ from January 2010, and $2.84 more than February 2009. The February 2010 4a butter-powder price is $12.84/cwt., down 91¢ from January, but $3.44 more than a year ago.
Federal order Class II, III & IV prices for February will be announced Friday morning, March 5.
Final 2009 ag banking numbers mixed in the Heartland
Fourth-quarter 2009 surveys of Federal Reserve Bank district lenders indicate ag credit conditions stabilized, although livestock producers continue to suffer. Dairy regions remain the hardest hit. To read a summary of Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City and Dallas district Federal Reserve Banks, visit http://dairywebmall.com/dbcpress/?p=5504.
CWT strategic planning effort expanded; meetings scheduled
The charge of the Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) subcommittee that is part of the overall National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Strategic Planning effort has been expanded to include a thorough review of supply-demand approaches, as well as an examination of ways to expand CWT’s programs. Because of this change, the name of the CWT Subcommittee has been changed to Production Management Subcommittee.
NMPF member representatives whose board of directors have endorsed a supply management approach will be given the opportunity to present those ideas to the subcommittee, and respond to questions from subcommittee members and staff. Following the presentations, the subcommittee will develop pros and cons for each approach presented, and will make a recommendation to NMPF’s Strategic Planning Task Force regarding each presentation.
The NMPF board of director’s spring 2010 meeting is scheduled for March 8-9, at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City hotel in Arlington, Va.
Committee meetings will begin at 8:30 a.m. on March 8, including the Dues & Budget Committee Meeting, the Political Action Committee (PAC) Meeting, the Officers Meeting, and the Strategic Planning Task Force Meeting. The full board of directors meeting will start at 7 a.m. on March 9.
MARKETS: Closing on Tuesday, March 2
Cheddar blocks – unchanged at $1.3400/lb.
Cheddar barrels – unchanged at $1.2900/lb.
Butter – up 0.25¢, to $1.4250/lb.
Extra Grade nonfat dry milk – down 12¢, to $1.12/lb.
Grade A nonfat dry milk – unchanged, at $1.12/lb.
Class III milk futures prices were higher through December 2010, mixed thereafter.
DAIRYLINE RADIO: Wednesday
Vivian Godfrey marked her one-year anniversary as CEO of MilkPEP, discussing the program on DairyLine’s “Processor’s Perspective.” She said that one of her most important accomplishments has been making sure MilkPEP works closely with producer groups, such as Dairy Management Inc., National Dairy Council and National Milk Producers Federation to “align our activities and messages.”
The single objective of MilkPEP is to encourage American consumers to drink more milk. She said two main target groups with the biggest impact are mothers with children at home, and teen-agers.
“In 2010 we are using the message of ‘Building Strong Families’ to talk to mothers,” Godfrey said. Two 30-second TV commercials will air for much of the year, plus a single version in Spanish. Listen to the conversation with DairyLine’s Lee Mielke.
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Dave Natzke, Editor