If you’ve been wondering about the changes released in the FARM 5.0 Program and how they impact dairy producers, Beverly Hampton Phifer, Senior Director of Animal Care from the National Dairy FARM Program, joined us to talk through key changes and updates. From animal care standards to best practices for human resources, farm safety and overall workforce development, Beverly Hampton Phifer gave a detailed overview of some of these standards and how they can be part of producers’ day-to-day risk management strategies. With new versions (Version 5.0) of the Animal Care and Workforce Development Programs just released on July 1, 2024, she reviewed some of the key updates and how they impact dairy producers — including updates focused on refining and clarifying previous standards surrounding euthanasia, fitness for transport, calf management, and continuing education among others.

In our June "Protecting Your Profits" discussion, facilitated by Valerie Mason-Faith, Risk Education Manager at the Center, we featured Kathleen Noble Wolfley and Colin Kadis from Ever.Ag. They provide an overview of April’s Pennsylvania Scorecard numbers, Class III and Class IV prices and futures, milk production dynamics, domestic demand, dairy exports, macro markets, and Dairy Revenue Protection.

We held a special "Protecting Your Profits" webinar in March. Jayne Sebright, Executive Director at the Center, led the webinar and invited Cynthia Walters, Agricultural Program Specialist with the USDA, to provide an overview of changes in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program for 2024. With the Farm Bill extended through December, DMC enrollment is now open, with dairy farmers having until April 29 to enroll in the margin-based insurance coverage program.

Jayne Sebright also shared a short recap on where dairy markets are and what factors could influence the margins going forward in 2024.