As January 2025 gets underway, here is a look at the news affecting a dairy producer’s bottom line:

• Dairy producers reminded of disaster assistance deadline for 2024 losses
• Farmer sentiment drifts lower, but optimism remains
• GDT index drops again
• FARM Program seeking task force nominations
• Port strike averted
• 34th butter sculpture unveiled in Pennsylvania
• Boozman to serve as chairman of Senate Agriculture Committee
• Additional appointments

Dairy producers reminded of disaster assistance deadline for 2024 losses

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers, including dairy producers impacted by H5N1, that the deadline to apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) is Jan. 30, 2025, for losses due to specific adverse conditions that occurred in 2024.

ELAP provides emergency relief to assist with losses due to disease, adverse weather or other conditions, such as wildfires, that are not covered by other FSA disaster assistance programs. In July 2024, the USDA established ELAP eligibility for dairy producers who incur milk losses resulting from reduced milk production when cattle are removed from commercial milking in dairy herds due to positive H5N1 tests.

To date, the USDA has provided more than $80 million in ELAP assistance to help H5N1-impacted dairy producers offset the cost of lost milk production. As of Jan. 8, there are active known detections of H5N1 in dairy herds in two states (California and Texas), though ELAP assistance has reached producers in 16 states who have faced infections at some point during the outbreak.

Dairy producers are reminded eligible adult dairy cattle under this new H5N1 provision of ELAP must be maintained for commercial milk production and be currently lactating. Assistance is available for up to 120 days after the sample collection date for the positive H5N1 test. Producers submitting an application for assistance under this provision, if their 120-day impact period starts in 2024 and extends into 2025, will need to submit a notice of loss and application for payment by Jan. 30 for the days impacted in 2024, and then submit a notice of loss and application for payment for the remainder of the 120 days that occur in 2025. Producers must submit two applications for payments based on the applicable calendar-year losses.

Eligible adverse weather or loss conditions under ELAP include, but are not limited to, blizzards, drought, winter storms, excessive wind, floods, hail (grazing loss only), hurricane, lightning, tidal surge and tornado. Not all eligible loss conditions are applicable to all categories of ELAP assistance, and producers are encouraged to visit with their county FSA office for more information.

Producers interested in applying for ELAP assistance for calendar-year 2024 should contact FSA at their nearest USDA Service Center by the Jan. 30 deadline.

Farmer sentiment drifts lower, but optimism remains

Farmer sentiment drifted lower in December but remained above index values seen over the past few years, according to the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.

“Although the barometer weakened somewhat in December compared to November, producers still retained much of their post-election optimism about the future,” said James Mintert, the barometer’s principal investigator and director of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture.

Expectations among farmers for more favorable regulatory, estate tax and income tax policies over the next several years explain much of the optimism about the future. However, the possibility that a “trade war” could break out that would negatively impact U.S. agricultural exports is a rising concern among farmers, with more farmers expressing concerns about agricultural trade in December than in November.

The Ag Economy Barometer provides a monthly snapshot of farmer sentiment regarding the state of the agricultural economy. The survey collects responses from 400 producers whose annual market value of production is equal to or exceeds $500,000. Minimum targets by enterprise are as follows: 53% corn/soybeans, 14% wheat, 3% cotton, 19% beef cattle, 5% dairy and 6% hogs. Latest survey results, released Jan. 7, reflect ag producer outlooks as of Dec. 2-6.

GDT index drops again

The price index of dairy product prices sold on the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) platform is down 1.4% in the auction held Jan. 7. After moving upward in November and early December, it has fallen lower in the last two events.

Compared to the previous auction, prices for individual product categories were mixed. Mozzarella and butter were up 3.6% and 2.6%, respectively. Cheddar cheese and buttermilk powder were both up around 1%. However lactose, skim milk powder and whole milk powder fell by 2.1% to 2.4%. Anhydrous milkfat was down 1.6%.

The GDT platform offers dairy products from several global companies: Fonterra (New Zealand), Darigold, Valley Milk and Dairy America (U.S.), Arla (Denmark), Arla Foods Ingredients (Denmark), BMI (Germany), Kerry Dairy (Ireland) and Solarec (Belgium).

The next GDT auction is Jan. 21.

FARM Program seeking task force nominations

The FARM Program is seeking nominations for open seats on its Animal Care, Environmental Stewardship and Workforce Development task forces. Nominations will open mid-January and close March 31, with new members announced during NMPF’s board of directors meeting June 9.

FARM task force members serve as program ambassadors and experts in their designated field. Each task force reviews, recommends and provides insight on program implementation for its respective program pillar. Recommendations are presented to the appropriate NMPF board committee for final review and approval.

Candidates can be nominated by a cooperative or processor, fellow dairy farmer, veterinarian, themselves or others. Nominations must be submitted via the online form. The FARM Farmer Advisory Council will review all nominations and recommend a proposed slate of new FARM task force members to the NMPF executive committee for final approval.

Visit the FARM Program website for the full list of eligibility and criteria.

Port strike averted

As we entered 2025, the deadline of the tentative agreement that ended a three-day strike at 36 ports along the East and Gulf coasts was looming.

The agreement reached in October between members of the International Longshoreman’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance extended their contract until Jan. 15.

On Jan. 8, another tentative agreement was reached to avoid closure of the ports. The two groups agreed on a six-year deal that will not be considered complete until ratified by the union’s membership.

34th butter sculpture unveiled in Pennsylvania

“From Moo to Marvel: Dairy Cows Power Pennsylvania” is the theme of the 34th butter sculpture at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, unveiled by the American Dairy Association North East, the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture earlier this month.

This year’s stunning creation celebrates the dairy industry’s rich traditions and groundbreaking environmental innovations. The sculpture features a life-sized dairy cow alongside a methane digester set against a Pennsylvania farm backdrop, with a vibrant cityscape nestled in the distance.

Renowned artists Jim Victor and Marie Pelton of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, spent several weeks crafting this masterpiece using over 1,000 pounds of butter generously donated by Land O’Lakes in Carlisle, Cumberland County.

The butter sculpture is proudly displayed in the Main Hall of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, where it is expected to attract half a million visitors during its eight-day run from Jan. 4-11. After the Farm Show concludes, the butter will embark on its own sustainability journey – recycled at Reinford Farms in Juniata County and converted into renewable energy through the farm’s methane digester.

Boozman to serve as chairman of Senate Agriculture Committee

U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-Arizona), the top Republican on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, was formally named chairman of the committee upon the Senate’s approval of its organizing resolution.

As chairman, Boozman will establish the agenda of the Senate Agriculture Committee for the 119th Congress.

Boozman served as ranking member of the committee in both the 117th and 118th Congress, where he worked across the aisle to enhance food assistance programs and modernize the USDA’s summer meals program to permanently allow states flexibilities to reach more food-insecure children. He successfully fought for economic assistance to help producers minimize market losses, helped elevate the importance of securing new export markets for U.S. agriculture commodities and met with farmers, ranchers and agriculture stakeholders in more than 20 states to get their input as the committee crafts the next farm bill.

Additional appointments

• Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, a cooperative of 180 dairy farmer families that produces award-winning cheese in Wisconsin, announced the appointment of Kevin Pieh to CEO by its board of directors, effective Dec. 18, 2024.
• Lindsey Worden assumed her official duties as CEO of Holstein Association USA (HAUSA) on Jan. 1, 2025, succeeding John Meyer as the 10th CEO of the association. In addition, HAUSA announced several promotions: Dr. Jeffrey Bewley, executive director of genetic programs and innovation; Jason Ewing, Western region sales manager; Jenifer Levisee, senior director of herdbook services; and Daren Sheffield, senior director of performance programs, membership and governance. Sarah Sarbacker joined the HAUSA team in November 2024 as director of sales and market development.
• The USDA and U.S. trade representative announced the reappointment of Michael Dykes, DVM, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA); and Becky Rasdall Vargas, IDFA senior vice president of trade and workforce policy, to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) for Trade and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Processed Foods, respectively.