The change in the formula back to “higher of” calculations – along with zone differential adjustments and other changes – is included in the FMMO referendum announced on Jan. 16. Most of those changes will be implemented on June 1.

GDT index bounces back up

The price index of dairy product prices sold on the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) platform is up 1.4% in the auction held Jan. 21.

Compared to the previous auction, prices for individual product categories were mixed. Whole milk powder was up 5%, while cheddar cheese, butter and skim milk powder were up between 2% and 3%. Anhydrous milkfat was down 7.8%. Lactose and mozzarella fell by less than 1%. Buttermilk powder was not traded.

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 Feb. 4.

November fluid milk sales down 1.5% from last year

Fluid milk sales for November 2024 are lower than the same month a year earlier. According to data from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

• Total sales: November sales of packaged fluid milk products were estimated at 3.65 billion pounds, down 1.5% from the same month a year earlier. At 39.2 billion pounds, year-to-date sales of all fluid products are up 0.7%.
• Conventional products: Monthly sales totaled 3.4 billion pounds, down 2.2% from the same month a year earlier. Sales of flavored whole milk were down by 12%. Year-to-date 2024 sales were estimated at 36.5 billion pounds, up 0.2% from this time last year. Whole milk year-to-date sales are 1.9% higher than 2023.
• Organic products: November sales totaled 249 million pounds, up 7.7% from a year earlier. Flavored whole milk more than doubled from the same month last year, while whole milk and fat-reduced milk (2%) were each up 10.4%. Year-to-date organic fluid milk sales were estimated at 2.8 billion pounds, up 6.9% from this time last year. Organic represented about 6.8% total fluid product sales in November and 7.1% in total sales year to date.

The U.S. figures are based on consumption of fluid milk products in FMMO areas, which account for approximately 92% of total U.S. fluid milk sales, and adding the other 8% from outside FMMO-regulated areas. Sales outlets include food stores, convenience stores, warehouse stores/wholesale clubs, nonfood stores, schools, the food service industry and home delivery.

USDA invests $2 million to provide risk management training to farmers

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced up to $2 million is available for cooperative agreements for risk management training programs that support American farmers and ranchers.

This funding provides the needed resources for organizations such as universities, county cooperative extension offices and nonprofit organizations, to develop education tools to help producers learn how to effectively manage long-term risks and challenges.

Since 2021, RMA has funded more than $17.1 million in risk management education, providing information and training to more than 1.25 million producers at more than 2,200 workshops and presentations across the U.S. These investments and efforts informed new initiatives, providing better hurricane insurance products and expanding coverage of more commodities, including specialty crops, aquaculture and controlled environments.

Interested organizations may apply for funding by submitting documentation required as part of the Risk Management Education Partnerships Notice of Funding Opportunity. The applications are reviewed and the organizations that receive funding will enter a partnership with RMA to deliver training.