Farm lending activity at commercial banks slowed through the first half of 2023 as interest rates continued to push higher.

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.

As record-breaking inflation continues to make headlines, few consumers or industries aren’t feeling the impact of higher prices and interest rates. But even during times of incredible market volatility, producers can mitigate their risk and create staying power for the future.

January-May DMC payments averaged $36,147 per dairy operation enrolled in 2023.

In this episode, Clay Burtrum, a commercial cow-calf producer in Oklahoma, shares his experience with a two-year virtual fencing project with Oklahoma State University.

The USDA established an Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP) designed to help mitigate milk market volatility, higher input and transportation costs, and unstable feed supply and prices.

March 2023 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program indemnity payments will top $126 million, boosting payments for the first three months of the year to more than $305 million.

Factoring into dairy feed costs, 2023 dry hay acreage is expected to rebound slightly from last year’s 115-year low.

Class I milk prices are headed lower but interest rates aren’t. A district court issues a limited Waters of the U.S. injunction.

Nervous, guarded and cautiously optimistic is how several dairy producers across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and western Montana described their attitudes coming into 2023.