The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed a third human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) virus infection. The USDA is adding an additional $824 million in emergency funding to continue to provide critical rapid response activities and is launching a pilot program to give dairy producers more testing options prior to interstate movement of dairy cattle.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its Agricultural Prices report May 31, which includes feed costs used to calculate April Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program margins and indemnity payments. A $9.60 per hundredweight (cwt) margin was the result of a rally in milk during the second half of the month to offset the steady feed markets.

From methane reduction and greenhouse gas programs to nutrition programs and NASS surveys, here is the week's news to wrap up May 2024.

Led by Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pennsylvania), the House Committee on Agriculture approved its version of the 2024 Farm Bill with a 33-21 vote during the scheduled markup on May 23. Next, the bill will advance out of committee to the U.S. House of Representatives before the August recess.

Monthly dairy cull cow market trends downward in early 2024.

The dairy landscape is seeing rapid, much-welcomed improvements as milk markets rallied in May with Class III futures surpassing $20 per hundredweight (cwt), $4 above April’s prices. Coupled with feed costs receding, dairy margins are looking better for the remainder of the year.

Here is a look at news affecting your dairy's bottom line before the Memorial Day weekend.

Here’s an update on interest rates from quarter four of 2023 and quarter one of 2024 as reported by four Federal Reserve districts that share data impacting dairy finances.

The USDA revised the March 2024 milk production estimate slightly higher. With the revisions, both U.S. and major state U.S. production were up about 0.4% from USDA’s preliminary estimates a month earlier.