In politics, plant-based dairy alternatives are being told to stop milking the dairy industry. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) stated in a June 23 news release that last week’s European Court of Justice ruling upholding European Union regulations that prevent plant-based dairy alternatives from using terms like milk, cheese and yogurt “is a victory for the same battle occurring in the United States.

 

“During a visit Friday with French dairy cooperative Sodiaal and the French Dairy Interbranch Organization, NMPF’s board officers applauded the European court’s ruling that upholds the standards of identity and labeling for milk products.

“The European Court of Justice did just what we’re asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to do: uphold and enforce current standards of labeling for milk and milk products,” said Jim Mulhern, NMPF president. NMPF is leading efforts on Capitol Hill to pass the DAIRY PRIDE Act, which would require FDA to develop a timetable for enforcing standards of identity for dairy foods.”

“It’s encouraging and appropriate that the court soundly rejected the argument that consumers understand the inherent composition and nutritional differences between real dairy products and plantbased imitators,” Mulhern said. “None of the fake milk products provides the same high-quality nutrition package as real milk. It is past time that manufacturers of these products, which are concoctions of powdered plant ingredients and water, abide by existing standards, whether in Europe or the United States.”

In other news, the International Dairy Foods Assoc. (IDFA) praised the nomination of Gregg Doud as the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s chief agricultural negotiator.

Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO, stated in a news release, “We are so pleased to support the nomination of Gregg Doud as the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) chief agriculture negotiator. I have worked with Gregg on the Ag Roundtable,when he served as a senior staffer for Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and as a staffer with the Senate Agriculture Committee under chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), and know that he will work both with us and for us.

“Ambassador Lighthizer has pledged that agriculture ‘will be front and center’ in any trade deal the U.S. negotiates, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

I can’t think of a better person than Gregg Doud to be on those front lines. He has the experience and expertise to represent America’s agricultural interests.”

Milk output

Preliminary USDA data shows May milk output in the U.S hit 18.9 billion pounds, up 1.8 percent from May 2016. Revisions added 36 million pounds to the original April total, now put at 18.3 billion pounds, up 2.2 percent.

May cow numbers totaled 9.39 million head, up 2,000 from April and 71,000 more than a year ago. Output per cow averaged 2,016 pounds, up 63 pounds from April and 19 above a year ago.

California trailed year-ago output for the fifth consecutive month, down 1.1 percent, on 11,000 fewer cows and 10 pounds less per cow. Wisconsin was below a year ago for the first time in three years, off 0.7 percent, on a 15-pound loss per cow but cow numbers were unchanged.

Texas remained the undisputed leader in growing milk output, up a whopping 14.7 percent, thanks to 43,000 more cows and 100 pounds more per cow.

New Mexico, was up 6.9 percent, on 18,000 more cows and a 20-pound gain per cow. Michigan was up 4 percent, on a 40 pound gain per cow and 9,000 more cows.

 

New York was up 2.3 percent, on a 35-pound gain per cow and 4,000 more cows. Idaho was down 0.2 percent on a 20-pound loss per cow not offsetting 4,000 more cows. Pennsylvania was up 2.1 percent, on a 55-pound gain per cow, but cow numbers were down 5,000.

Minnesota was up 2.6 percent, thanks to a 55-pound gain per cow, but cow numbers were down 2,000. Washington State was down 1.4 percent, with 3,000 fewer cows and 5 pounds less per cow.

Analysts see the report as neutral to slightly bullish.

Meanwhile, HighGround Dairy reports that April EU milk production was up just 0.4 percent from a year ago. Ireland was up 12 percent, but the EU’s three largest milk producers – Germany, France, and the UK – showed declines.

More and more dairy cows are retiring from the dairy business. USDA’s latest Livestock Slaughter report shows May culling was up from April and 2016.

An estimated 237,200 head were slaughtered under Federal inspection, up 9,100 head from April and 22,600 head above May 2016. Culling in the first five months of 2017 totaled 1.26 million head, up 33,000 from a year ago or 2.7 percent.

Global Dairy Trade auction The Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction ended six consecutive sessions of gain Tuesday, June 20, as the weighted average for all products offered inched 0.8 percent lower, following a 0.6 percent move to the upside on June 6.

Lactose led the declines, down 11.1 percent, followed by rennet casein. Cheddar was down 3.8 percent, after leading the gains with a 14.5 percent jump June 6. Whole milk powder was down 3.3 percent, following a 2.9 percent descent.

Anhydrous milkfat led the gains, up 4.4 percent, following a 1.2 percent decline last time. Butter was next, up 2.9 percent, following a 3.3 percent rise, and skim milk powder was up 1.4 percent, following a 7.9 percent advance.

FC Stone equated the average 80 percent butterfat GDT butter price to $2.5527 per pound U.S. CME butter closed Friday, June 23, at $2.59 per pound. GDT Cheddar cheese equated to $1.8693 per pound U.S. and compares to Friday’s CME block Cheddar at $1.54. GDT skim milk powder averaged $1.0062 per pound, and whole milk powder averaged $1.3710 per pound U.S. CME Grade A nonfat dry milk price closed Friday, June 23, at 84.75 cents per pound.