 |
| CLICK HERE TO VIEW CURRENT ISSUE |
 |
| Best of NAMA 2026 |
|
 |
|
DAIRY HERD UP 37,000 COWS FROM YEAR AGO
Aug. 22, 2014
BrownfieldAgNews reports:
More proof that dairy farmers are hanging-on to their cows to take advantage of high milk prices and low feed costs.
USDA's National Ag Statistics Service reports dairy cow slaughter in July totaled 232,000 head, 19,000 less than went to slaughter in July of 2013. January-through-June dairy cow slaughter is 1.6 million head, 195,000 less than the same period a year ago.
The nation's dairy herd was at 9.27 million cows in July, 5,000 more than in June and 37,000 more than July of 2013.
Thanks to lower cull-rates, pleasant weather and lower feed prices, milk production is steady to slightly higher in the Midwest. Dairy Market News says spot loads of milk are still garnering 50 cents to $2 over Class price. Cream multiples are $1.19 to $1.36.
Milk production is declining seasonally in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states. Triple-digit heat indexes for 10 days in the southeast. Florida imported 120 loads this week.
California milk production is steady-to-lower but still running ahead of year-ago levels. Temperatures have actually cooled from the 100's to the 90's in the Central Valley.
New Mexico's production is trending lower but there are reports a shortage of truck drivers is slowing delivery of milk loads to manufacturing plants.
|
|
|
|
|
