Digest highlights

• ‘Dairy states’ alfalfa hay production lower
• FMMO issues topic of Farm Bureau forum
• AFBF releases dairy policy priorities for 2023 Farm Bill
• GDT product prices decline
• Lawsuit seeks EPA Clean Water Act action on regulating CAFOs
• August fluid sales post uptick
• CDFA awards methane reduction grants
• DairyAmerica named U.S. Dairy Exporter of the Year

Despite economic headwinds, U.S. dairy products remain popular in global markets, spurring a fifth straight month of year-over-year growth.

For the January-August period, dairy embryo exports totaled 10,918, the highest eight-month total to start the year in the past five years, already surpassing the 2021 annual total.

Just when milk and dairy product prices appear to be headed lower, September prices have started to trend higher. Markets are wrestling with the prospect of lower global milk production as well as unsettled energy availability in Europe, which could hamper output this fall and winter should shortages or costs prevent manufacturers from processing dairy products. 

Elevated whey and lactose sales provided a boost to July’s global marketing volumes and values.

CWT export assistance efforts focus on dairy products that positively impact producers’ milk checks: American-type cheeses, anhydrous milkfat, butter containing 82% butterfat, cream cheese and whole milk powder. All these products are moving the components of U.S. dairy farmer milk overseas.

Krysta Harden was named president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) in February 2021, becoming just the third chief executive – and the first female – to lead the organization since its founding by Dairy Management Inc., in 1995.