With improving milk prices and margins and tightening cow numbers, average prices for U.S. replacement dairy cows moved to an eight-year high in October.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its latest Ag Prices report on Oct. 31, including factors used to calculate September 2023 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) margins and indemnity payments.

USDA organic dairy programs, production data collection and risk management support would increase under a bill introduced in the Senate.

The Federal Reserve Board’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted to maintain the interest rate for federal funds at 5.5%.

At the ranch level, once the calves are gone, an additional focus producers need to keep in mind will be the decision to cull a cow or help her recover nutritionally and remain in the herd.

High summer culling rates are helping kick off better milk prices this fall.

Despite weakening milk prices this summer, U.S. average prices for replacement cows moved higher, while strong beef prices continued to push market cow prices to an eight-year high.

Those looking for bright spots in this year’s dairy outlook have found their search increasingly challenging.

After setting a three-decade high in March, April U.S. dairy cull cow marketing returned to a more normal pace.

Since October 2022, drought conditions have improved for much of the country, to the point where less than 24% of the U.S. is under drought conditions.