R.F.D. NEWS & VIEWS

By Tim Alexander for Chronicle Media

World Milk Day is June 1. The average dairy cow produces about 55 pounds of milk per day.

Prices negative as June Dairy Month arrives

PEORIA — June Dairy Month 2017 arrives for milk producers at a time when consumers are paying historically low prices for their products in the supermarket. In fact, producers have faced negative economic profit margins due largely to the low cost of milk since at least 2015, according to University of Illinois agricultural economists. Though she interacts primarily with consumers in her role as integrated communications director for the Midwest Dairy Association, Samantha Carter is impressed with the resilience and optimism shown by today’s milk producers, especially those who have witnessed many cycles of economic profit and loss.

“Milk prices are currently very challenging, but what I’m seeing from our producers is an upbeat attitude. What I admire most is their passion in sharing their stories about what they do on the farm with the public, despite the price of milk right now. It is very inspiring how they continue to get dairy’s message out to the public in such a positive manner,” said Carter.

“What’s important for consumers to know is that they can still get a safe, healthy and nutritious product in dairy at their supermarket for their families. The importance of that message does not change with prices, and producers are aware of that.”

For those of you at home or on the farm looking to spread dairy’s message during June Dairy Month, Midwest Dairy recommends attending a local event — such as a sponsored farm breakfast — or meeting a dairy farm family online through the MDA website. Another way families can participate is to take the “Dairy 3 For Me” pledge to enjoy three servings of dairy every day.

For June Dairy Month events in Illinois, dairy recipes, dairy nutrition and farming information, visit www.MidwestDairy.com.

Farmers strive for 15 percent N loss reduction

BLOOMINGTON — The Illinois Council on Best Management Practices (CBMP) has issued a news release detailing conservation practices farmers can adapt to help reach the 15 percent reduction in nitrate in rivers and streams set forth by the 2015 Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS). In order to meet the stated goal of 15 percent reduction by the year 2025, agriculture must reduce its N footprint in waterways by an estimated 50 million pounds, or 25,000 tons. The Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association’s nutrient stewardship director, Dan Schaefer, and others say the goal is attainable through voluntary actions by following certain BMPs, including using the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) rate recommendation for corn.

The MRTN is based on actual N rate and corn yields, over a multitude of years and varying environmental conditions, and is seen as the best recommendation existing to ensure farmers apply N evenly to attain the maximum return-on-investment. Using MRTN helps reduce excess N in the soil, experts agree.

Illinois CBMP and the Illinois NLRS also espouse splitting N applications, rather than making a single yearly application. “Take the rate recommended by the MRTN and split it with at least two different timings on N application,” Illinois CBMP advised in their news release. “That way, no matter what happens with rainfall or drought, not all of your N is susceptible to loss at once. That can mean a fall application with N-Serve after soil temperature falls to 50 degrees at the four-inch level, followed by a spring or side-dress application, or an early spring application followed by a side-dress application.”

It is also recommended that farmers consider a cereal rye cover crop following corn, and ahead of soybeans. Research shows that cereal rye after corn reduces N loss through field tile compared to fields with no cover crop. Cereal rye is also known to not adversely affect soybean yields and provides other soil benefits, as well.

The NLRS also calls for a 25 percent reduction in phosphorous losses by 2025, though the majority of phosphorous reductions will come from the point source sector, including waste water systems. Agriculture can help reduce phosphorus loss from crop fields by not applying P-based fertilizers or manure on soils that exceed maintenance levels based on current soil tests, using reduced or no-till, planting cover crops and installing buffer strips to protect streams, ditches and waterways to reduce soil loss.

China importing U.S. beef; corn, beans benefit

BLOOMINGTON — The recent announcement that China will again begin accepting imports of U.S. beef come this July is good news not only for the state’s beef cattle producers, but corn and soybean farmers as well. That’s because an increase in herd size to help meet Chinese demand for beef translates to more feed required to feed the cattle.

“The market stands to have big implications for U.S. grain and livestock farmers. The exact implications are hard to forecast as a few negotiations remain, but certainly, the announcement will support prices farmers are seeing here in the U.S.,” reported Lindsay Mitchell of Illinois Corn, in a Daily Update to members. “We welcome the opportunity to again compete in the Chinese marketplace, knowing that U.S. beef is a strong competitor and that there is only gain in store for U.S. corn and livestock farmers.”

Ten dairy factoids for June Dairy Month

You can wow your city-dwelling friends and non-farming neighbors with the following 10 dairy-related factoids on World Milk Day June 1 and during June Dairy Month, courtesy the St. Louis District Dairy Council and Illinois Ag in the Classroom:

  • The average dairy cow produces about 55 pounds of milk per day.
  • It takes more than 21 pounds of whole milk to make a pound of butter.
  • It takes 10 pounds of milk to make a pound of cheese.
  • There are six dairy cow breeds in the U.S.
  • Each cow produces more than six gallons, or 100 glasses, of milk per day.
  • It takes just two days for milk to go from the cow to the store.
  • Cows are milked twice a day, every day.
  • All 50 U.S. states have dairy farms.
  • A typical dairy cow weighs about 1,400 lbs.
  • Each person in the U.S. purchases cheese products at least 15 times per year and consumes an average of 46 slices of pizza per year.

–R.F.D. NEWS & VIEWS–