Several big initiatives are making headlines. Here is the latest news affecting dairy producers across the country.

The USDA’s World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report offers forecasts for dairy, beef and feedstuffs.

From lower bankruptcy filings and interest rates to slight increases in farmer sentiment and the Global Dairy Trade, news for the first week of August is fairly positive.

Dairy cull cows marketed through U.S. slaughter plants lowest since July 2006 and may lead to increases in July milk production and cow numbers.

In the news this week, Colorado is mandating weekly bulk tank testing for HPAI in milk for all commercial dairy herds. More than 500 organizations call for action on the new farm bill and reports are released for dairy markets and beef-on-dairy.

Margin outlook has significantly improved from a few months ago as sustained high cheese and butter prices drive milk prices higher and lower feed costs all contribute to the positive outlook.

With a leap day adjustment in February 2024, monthly U.S. milk production has now been lower than the same month a year earlier for 12 consecutive months.

Here is a look at news affecting dairy operations that occurred over the last week.