Financial assistance available for milk losses due to HPAI

The USDA will begin accepting applications on July 1 through its updated Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to provide financial assistance to eligible dairy producers who incur milk losses due to highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as H5N1, infection in their dairy herds.

Lee karen
Karen Lee
Managing Editor / Progressive Dairy

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) expanded ELAP through the rule-making process to assist with a portion of financial losses resulting from reduced milk production when cattle are removed from commercial milking in dairy herds having a confirmed positive H5N1 test.

The per-cow milk loss payment will be determined based on an expected 21-day period of no milk production when a cow is removed from the milking herd, followed by seven days when the cow has returned to milking but produces 50% of the normal amount of production.

ELAP payments are determined using a per-head payment rate calculated based on the monthly all-milk price and national milk production published by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and a standard number of days with reduced or no production – (per-head payment rate x number of eligible adult dairy cows x producer’s share in milk production x 90%).

Eligible adult dairy cattle must be:

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  • Part of a herd that has a confirmed positive H5N1 test from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL)
  • Initially removed from commercial milk production at some point during the 14-day time period before the sample collection date for the positive H5N1 test date through 120 days after the sample collection date for the positive H5N1 test
  • Milk-producing, currently lactating
  • Maintained for commercial milk production, in which the producer has a financial risk, on the beginning date of the eligible loss condition

To apply, producers need to submit the following to the FSA:

  • Proof of herd infection through a confirmed positive H5N1 test (based on USDA’s APHIS H5N1 case definition) on individual animal or bulk tank samples confirmed by NVSL
  • A notice of loss indicating the date when the loss is apparent, which is the sample collection date for the positive H5N1 test
  • An application for payment certifying the number of eligible adult dairy cows, the month the cows were removed from production and the producer’s share in the milk production

The final date to file a notice of loss and application for payment for eligible losses is 30 days after the end of the prior calendar year, which is Jan. 30.

To apply, producers should contact the FSA at their local USDA Service Center.

Four states begin voluntary HPAI testing program

Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas were announced last week as the first four states where dairy producers will have the option to enroll their herds in a modified testing plan.

In late May, the USDA launched a voluntary H5N1 dairy herd status pilot program to give dairy producers more options for testing and animal movement related to the federal order that took effect on April 24.

Under this program, herds that test negative for H5N1 for three consecutive weeks using on-farm bulk tank milk samples or similar representative milk samples tested at a NAHLN laboratory will be able to move animals across state lines without additional premovement testing currently required under the federal order. These producers must also comply with continued regular weekly monitoring and testing of the herd for H5N1.

Herds not enrolled in the pilot program will have to continue to follow the interstate testing and movement requirements published in the federal order.

Other states are likely to be added to this testing program following observation of this initial round.

Latest research finds HPAI stays stable on milking equipment for at least one hour

New research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Emory University in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases shows that the H5N1 virus remains stable on commercial milking equipment for at least one hour, increasing its potential to infect people and other animals.

To understand the potential for spread from cattle to dairy farm workers, researchers looked at the stability of infectious flu virus particles in unpasteurized milk droplets on metal and rubber components of commercial milking equipment.

“Our data supports that milking equipment surfaces can stay contaminated for a long time, increasing the potential spread from a sick animal to a person,” said lead author Valerie Le Sage, research assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics with Pitt’s Center for Vaccine Research.

“These findings underscore the importance of face shields, masks and eye protection, and enhanced sanitization of equipment between cows to reduce the risk to workers and to minimize the spread between the animals.”

FARM Program releases new versions

The FARM Program released new versions of the Animal Care and Workforce Development Programs, refining, updating and improving agriculture-leading benchmarks for animal care and workforce best practices.

“This summer is an opportunity to showcase FARM’s commitment to continuous improvement. Through combined efforts, we are positioning dairy producers to be prepared for the years ahead” said Emily Yeiser Stepp, executive director of the FARM Program, an industry collaboration managed by the National Milk Producers Federation.

Formally reviewed every three years, the Animal Care and Workforce Development program areas underwent revisions to ensure appropriate standards and processes are conducted via the FARM Program’s second party on-farm evaluations.

Animal Care version 5 updates focus on refining and clarifying previous standards surrounding euthanasia, fitness for transport, calf management and continuing education among others. With the consultation of industry stakeholder groups including farmers, animal scientists and veterinarians, Animal Care version 5 aims to provide consistency and improvement across the program. Version 5 standards will be in effect until June 30, 2027.

Workforce Development version 2 updates the evaluation tool used to assess and encourage the adoption of HR and safety best practices. In version 2, the evaluation has been restructured to better group questions of similar themes and contains seven additional questions to further strengthen the tool surrounding communication and performance management.

Environmental Stewardship version 3 is also set to launch later this summer. The update will integrate a new greenhouse gas (GHG) model to offer updated science and the ability to run what-if scenarios to assess practice and technology options. The Ruminant Farm Systems (RuFaS) model, led out of Cornell University, will be the new engine for FARM Environmental Stewardship. The new platform will be flexible, with minimum data inputs closely matching version 2 and optional data inputs – like details on feed production practices – to get more tailored results. This exciting upgrade will support dairy industry efforts to reach GHG neutral by 2050 as well as to respond to growing customer requests. With the initial launch scheduled for late July, the FARM Program is hoping producers and FARM evaluators give constructive feedback so improvements can be made in 2025, when RuFaS model updates are also expected.

For version development details and more information, visit the FARM Program website.

USDA announces $12 million in grant funding to support dairy initiatives

The USDA announced $12 million in grant funding is available to support processing capacity expansion, on-farm improvements and technical assistance services to producers through the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives. The funds will be awarded noncompetitively to the DBI Initiatives at the California State University – Fresno; the University of Tennessee; Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets; and the University of Wisconsin. Through the request for applications, the initiatives will have an opportunity to submit proposals for this year’s funding.

“The Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives utilize a unique approach of providing both technical assistance and subawards to small and midsized dairy businesses,” said USDA Undersecretary Jenny Lester Moffitt. “Through this, the businesses are able to diversify markets and income, develop higher value uses for their milk products and achieve higher returns.”

Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives provide valuable technical assistance and subgrants to dairy farmers and businesses across their regions, supporting them with business plan development, marketing and branding, as well as, increasing access to innovative production and processing techniques to support the development of value-added products. Since its inception in 2019, the initiatives have invested over $64 million and awarded over 600 subrecipients in 40 states to provide valuable support to dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing and distribution of dairy products.

Dairy farmers and businesses interested in the program must contact the appropriate initiative to be considered for direct technical assistance or a subaward. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) encourages applications to identify activities that benefit smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, low-income, minority individuals and underserved communities. The AMS also encourages partnerships with minority-serving institutions of higher education. For projects intending to serve these entities, applicants should engage and involve those beneficiaries when developing projects and applications.

The request for applications, information about grant eligibility and a list of previously funded projects are available on the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives webpage. Applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. ET on Aug. 27.

Corn planted acreage down 3%, soybean acreage up 3%

The USDA’s NASS estimated 91.5 million acres of corn planted in the U.S. for 2024, down 3% from last year, according to the Acreage report released last week. Soybean area planted is estimated at 86.1 million acres, up 3% from last year.

Following up on the Prospective Plantings report released in March, NASS surveyed approximately 9,000 segments of land and nearly 64,000 farm operators during the first two weeks of June to gather information on what farmers actually planted.

In addition to corn and soybeans, all cotton planted area for 2024 is estimated at 11.7 million acres, 14% above 2023, while all wheat planted area for 2024 is estimated at 47.2 million acres, down 5% from last year.

In storage, corn stocks totaled 4.99 billion bushels, up 22% from the same time last year; soybeans stored totaled 970 million bushels, also up 22%; and wheat stored totaled 702 million bushels, up 23% from a year ago.

Add Milk! program expands in 500 Meijer stores across the Midwest

A nutrition incentive program that helps low-income families purchase healthy milk is expanding in more than 500 stores across six states. Midwest retailer Meijer recently doubled the Add Milk! program discount it offers to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-eligible participants – upping it to 40% off any brand or size of low-fat or nonfat milk.

The Add Milk! program is made possible by a $4 million cooperative agreement between the USDA and Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences Hunger Solutions Institute (HSI) through a program named Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives (HFMI) Projects. The HFMI pilot program was established as part of the 2018 Farm Bill to promote milk as part of a healthy, balanced diet consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

HFMI pilot projects will be operating in more than 700 locations across 18 states by the end of 2024, and Congress recently appropriated an additional $3 million to expand the program to more stores and more locations in the coming years.

The Add Milk! program operating in Meijer stores provides an automatic 40% discount to SNAP participants to purchase nonfat and low-fat (1%) milk, including lactose-free options. The program is operating in all Meijer stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Public comment period open for BASF’s proposed dicamba label new use

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in the Federal Register a notice making available a 30-day comment period, as required by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), for BASF Corporation’s proposed label and endangered species use limitations allowing a new use pattern for its dicamba-based Engenia herbicide on dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton.

The proposed label would allow application of the product to dicamba-tolerant soybeans at all stages after planting and “over the top” application on soybean plants “through the ‘V2’ growth stage … but no later than June 12 of each year.” For use on cotton plants, the new label would allow the same application, and “over the top” application “no later than July 30 of each year.”

The label is available for public comment until July 5, 2024.

Read also: EPA issues existing stocks order for dicamba use in the 2024 growing season