• Requirement for electronic ID tags now in effect
• Utah becomes 15th state with HPAI in dairy, following mandatory surveillance
• GDT index up 4.8%
• November FSA interest rates continue to low
• Farmer sentiment bounced back in October

Quarterly average prices in October hit a new all-time high of $2,600 per head according to estimates from the USDA.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its Agricultural Prices report Oct. 31, which includes feed costs used to calculate the September Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program margins and indemnity payments. The month’s margin was $15.57 per hundredweight (cwt).

Here’s an update on news impacting your dairy as October 2024 comes to an end.

After peaking last month, U.S. dairy producer milk checks in many marketing areas are likely headed lower during the fourth quarter of the year.

Dairy cull cows marketed through U.S. slaughter plants in September lowest since 2007.

Here are some updates in dairy news this week.

Milk futures remain high as feed costs drop to levels last seen in 2020, yet other market pressures such as lower butter and cheese prices and waning holiday demand, as well as recent milk production reports revealing gains for the first time in more than a year, complicate the matter.