Milk output increases nearly 4%

In the 24 major dairy states, October milk production was up 3.9% from a year ago. In Wisconsin, milk production increased by 2.8%. Wisconsin milk cow numbers rose 14,000 head.

Rollins blames Biden administration for tight cattle supplies

During an appearance on Fox Business, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins placed the blame for low cattle supplies on the Biden administration. “We are suffering from the last administration’s literal war on cattle,” Rollins said. “If you remember, they wanted to reduce the herd sizes because they believed that cattle caused climate change. I mean, that wasn’t that long ago that that was sort of a common narrative.” Rollins also blamed high beef prices on the drought, the closure of the U.S. border to Mexican beef and strong protein demand. The U.S. Department of Agriculture leader said the Trump administration has a plan in place to address consumer beef prices.

Trade talks to resume ‘when appropriate’

According to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, trade talks with the U.S. will resume “when it is appropriate.” While at the G20 meeting in Johannesburg, Carney said those negotiations may happen within the next two weeks. Trade talks shut down last month after the Ontario province aired an anti-tariff message in U.S. media.

Praise for new trade framework agreements

The U.S. Dairy Export Council and the National Milk Producers Federation are praising the new U.S. trade framework deals with Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and Guatemala. USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden said the frameworks strengthen opportunities in key Central American markets and could open new doors in Ecuador, where nontariff rules have limited growth. U.S. dairy exports last year totaled $127 million to Guatemala and $50 million to El Salvador.

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. The bill expands the options available to schools, including whole milk and 2% options. NMPF President/CEO Gregg Doud, said “the bill helps children get back on solid nutritional footing.” “This is a win-win for kids and dairy farmers because the nutritional benefits of whole milk are now broadly known,” said Zippy Duvall, president, American Farm Bureau Federation. “Because school milk accounts for almost 8% of fluid milk demand, it’s a significant market driver, too.”

Public comment sought on the Endangered Species Act

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed a revamp of the Endangered Species Act regulations bringing the policy back to the rules adopted during President Trump’s first term. The plan eliminates the so-called blanket rule that gives threatened species the same protection as endangered species. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the plan restores the Endangered Species Act to its original intent while respecting “the livelihoods of Americans who depend on our land and resources.”

Adapt to financial realities

Faced with tight margins and rising costs, Agricultural Economic Insights co-founder and managing partner David Widmar says careful financial planning is more important than ever. Widmar emphasizes the need to track profitability, working capital and debt obligations: “So, if you think about this as profits as the water going into the barrel and then the cost of debt service, family living and the capital purchase, those are the draws on that barrel; we’ve got to make sure those get in the balance.” Widmar said operations must adapt to the realities of the current economy to regain financial stability; “You have to maintain your resolve that this is going to happen, but you can’t lose focus. You can’t just blindly hope that it’s going to improve.”

Enroll in disaster programs

Signup is underway for the second round of disaster payments covering 2023 and 2024. The Farm Service Agency is also taking applications for the Milk Loss Program until April 30.

Butter over margarine

A bipartisan bill has been introduced in the Wisconsin Senate to tighten the state’s restrictions on margarine. The current law prohibits the serving of margarine as a substitute for table butter for students, patients or inmates. The new proposal expands the ban to all butter, rather than just table butter. If passed, violating this law would be a criminal offense and lead to a fine and prison time.

BelGiosio Cheese expansion

BelGioiso Cheese is investing $23 million in its dairy processing facilities in Campbell and Glenville, New York. BelGioiso Cheese is based in Green Bay.

The Land of Oz

Land O’Lakes and Microsoft are partnering to fast-track artificial intelligence innovation in agriculture. With the alliance, they will work together to develop AI tools, including a digital assistant called Oz. WinField United President Leah Anderson says Oz is different from other AI platforms. “I think the important piece here is that the data that’s going into Oz is not just any old data that you can find on the internet; this is structured, scientifically backed, sound, standardized data that’s been collected over 20 years with agronomy experts in the field in a consistent manner,” Anderson said. “When you’re using something like Oz, you know that you’re getting high-quality data that’s feeding that AI assistant.” Oz is being beta-tested now and is expected to be released to retail agronomists in 2026.

Hall of fame honors for Schoenike

Retired Dodge County 4-H Youth Development Educator Sally Schoenike has been inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame.

Wisconsin cheesemaker wins global award

Hanna Lee is the first U.S. cheesemaker to win the Young Cheesemonger of the Year Award from the Academy of Cheese competition in Bern, Switzerland. Lee, 28, is with Uplands Cheese Company of Dodgeville. Lee’s trip was sponsored by the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

Trivia challenge

In the holiday movie, The Polar Express, the conductor serves hot chocolate to the children on the train. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, what are the traditional ingredients in eggnog? We’ll have the answer in our next edition of the Dairy Star.

Don Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red River Farm Network of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Wick has been recognized as the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year and served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Don and his wife, Kolleen, have two sons, Tony and Sam, and five grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.