HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Center for Dairy Excellence’s monthly “Protecting Your Profits” call will be held Feb. 20 at noon. The call will be led by Zach Myers, Risk Education Manager with the Center.
Class III and IV dairy prices continue to show improvement. Class III futures price in the second half of the year is averaging nearly $2 per hundredweight more than the first half. Class IV prices remain higher than Class III all year and are averaging around $0.75/cwt more in the second half of the year compared to the first.
Years of depressed milk prices are taking their toll with 2018 dairy cow slaughter up 5.4 percent over 2017. Even though price is expected to be better this year, they are not expected to support major expansion across the country. Global powder price continues to rally and is significantly higher than the US powder price.
LGM-Dairy and Dairy Revenue Protection sales have resumed, for now. Another second government shutdown after Feb. 15 would suspend LGM-Dairy and DRP sales again. Rules for new Farm Bill programs are still being developed. Dairy Margin Coverage will not be available until the rules are finalized.
Join the Center to look at the dairy industry today from a regional, national and global perspective. Myers will speak to how these new programs and the conventional price risk management tools can fit in to a dairy farm’s marketing plan. All are welcome to participate at no cost in the upcoming “Protecting Your Profits” conference call. To register and obtain the conference line information, please call 717-346-0849 or email Myers at zmyers@centerfordairyexcellence.org.
The call will start promptly at noon and last approximately 15 minutes. Calls are recorded and posted on the Center for Dairy Excellence website under the “Dairy Information” tab for those who are unable to join the live session.
— Center for Dairy Excellence