The USDA’s monthly World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, released Feb. 8, reduced both 2022 and 2023 U.S. milk production estimates from last month, but also cut 2023 price projections.

October 2022 “mailbox” prices averaged about $1.04 per cwt less than announced average “all-milk” price for the same month.

The number of milk cows on U.S. farms was estimated at 9.4 million head in December, the smallest number since February.

While most of NMPF recommendations were approved last October, a specific recommendation related to Class I pricing differentials has taken longer to develop.

Class IV pooling across all FMMOs represented about 8% of the total milk pooled. It was the 10th month in 2022 that Class IV pooling was below 10% of total milk pooled.

The USDA’s January World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates and Crop Production reports provide production and price forecasts.

The spread between December Class IV and Class III FMMO milk prices tightened.

Progressive Dairy summarizes issues in the news and attempts to describe how they might affect dairy farmers.

The enrollment period for 2023 DMC and Supplemental DMC programs closes on Jan. 31.