Healthy growths in cheese and whey sales buoyed U.S. dairy product exports in June as nonfat dry milk and skim milk powder, lactose and milk protein concentrates took hits. At the midpoint of 2024, U.S. dairy product exports were down 1.7% in milk solids equivalent. Here’s Progressive Dairy’s 30,000-foot view at dairy-related export categories.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its Agricultural Prices report July 31, which includes feed costs used to calculate June Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program margins and indemnity payments. June’s margin was $11.66 per hundredweight (cwt).

Dairy cull cows marketed through U.S. slaughter plants lowest since July 2006 and may lead to increases in July milk production and cow numbers.

With a leap day adjustment in February 2024, monthly U.S. milk production has now been lower than the same month a year earlier for 12 consecutive months.

The USDA’s World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report offers forecasts for dairy, beef and feedstuffs.

U.S. beef export values reached $902.4 million in May, 3% higher than last year and the highest point since June 2023, according to USDA data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

The latest trade reports reveal another month of poor markets with U.S. dairy product exports slipping 5% from the modest growth seen in April. Despite concerns for the relatively flat U.S. dairy export performance in 2024, cheese continues to impress. Here’s Progressive Dairy’s 30,000-foot view at dairy-related export categories.