Here’s a summary of news impacting your dairy as we approach the middle of February 2024.

December 2023 U.S. agricultural export numbers revealed that despite limited growth in the dairy products sector, replacement heifer exports finished the year at the second-highest total since 2018. Here’s Progressive Dairy’s 30,000-foot view at dairy-related export categories.

The USDA’s World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report identifies milk and feed factors potentially impacting dairy producer income in the year ahead.

This week, parents weighed in on their support for bipartisan legislation to provide whole and 2% milk in public schools, the dairy checkoff announced a pilot project for hot chocolate milk in schools, and a California congressman called for supply chain changes to ensure the availability of school milk.

Here’s an update on news and economic factors impacting your dairy entering the first full week of February 2024.

Tightening cow and heifer numbers pushed average prices for U.S. replacement dairy cows to a nine-year high in January, according to latest USDA quarterly estimates.

The USDA’s semiannual estimate of cattle inventories indicates the number of dairy cows to start 2024 are the lowest in four years.

On Jan. 30, the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) public hearing came to a close. The national hearing, which took place in Carmel, Indiana, began back on Aug. 23, 2023, and included 12 weeks of testimony and cross-examination. Dairy groups are calling for swift action to change the Class 1 mover formula.

Here’s an update on economic factors impacting your dairy’s financial picture as we turn the calendar to February 2024.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its latest Ag Prices report on Jan. 31, including factors used to calculate the December 2023 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) margin.