I read an article at the end of July that said cattle feeding margins were slowly improving to a loss as of July 24 of $141. Further, it said packer profits were estimated at $302. That’s a $443 swing. And not in the cattleman’s favor.

Corn and soybeans carpet the rolling cropland of the Dan and Marlene Rempe farm through the summer, a treat to an observer viewing the panorama. The Corning, Kansas, area farm belonged first to Dan’s grandfather,

(Ames, Iowa) August 10, 2020 — National Farmers Organization dairy leaders say it’s time for the elimination of bloc voting by co-ops, when it comes to Federal Milk Marketing Order hearings. Currently, only dairy farmers who are independent and not members of cooperatives may cast individual ballots.

On South-Mont Farms, nestled into the hills of eastern Pennsylvania, the Shedden family farmers tend to a 375-head milking herd that’s two-thirds Holstein cows and one-third Jersey. A decision based on the farm’s facility, when the milk check arrives, the blend of dairy breeds also rewards the Sheddens in component premiums and healthy production level payoffs. Scott Shedden, sons Mark and Bryan, and Mark’s sons, Lance and Eric farm together.

Normalcy. When do we expect that again in cattle markets? After COVID-19, we may never look at consumer demand and uncertainty the same way again.But, if you really think about it, we still know the same things we always know. The cattle on feed numbers have been calculated and we have a tremendous back log, nearly one million head.

USDA has noted that crop year 2020’s planting progress was swift, as corn acres were 97 percent planted by June 8. Neutral weather did not create dramatic yield reduction prospects, and prices appear to have a difficult climb past previous price highs from the past six months.

The changes we have seen since we gathered in Minneapolis for our national convention have been staggering. However, one thing has not changed, our commitment to do what they say can’t be done. Momentum is building for everything we are doing, to make a better life for family dairy farmers.

As I reflect on the last 120 days, it’s hard to put into words what Americans have endured, and the lessons we can learn. One of the first thoughts that comes to mind is I hope as a nation, we have learned something about national security, and in particular, food security.

National Farmers Organization onApril 28, endorsed the Relief for America’s Small Farmers Act introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y.
For more than six years, farmers and ranchers operating at a wide range of scales and producing a variety of commodities have received prices consistently below…

A long time National Farmers national board member passed away April 19.
Wayne Forder, Highwood, Mont., was born April 25, 1944, along with his twin brother, Dwayne. They were adopted by Conn R. and Rose Mary Forder in 1946.

National Farmers signed onto a June 10 letter to Congress by the Organic Farmers Association and National Organic Coalition supporting the Origin of Livestock rule.
It will close loopholes by specifying that organic dairy animals must be raised organically from the last third of gestation or be raised organically…

According to Bloomberg News, the Justice Department has delivered civil investigation requests to the largest four meatpackers, Tyson Foods, JBS SA, Cargill and National Beef Marketing.
State attorneys general from Missouri, Idaho, Arizona, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota requested…

If the dairy commodity markets stay at the higher levels of June, we will see an enormous negative Producer Price Differential in several Federal Orders. For some reason, negative PPD’s make most dairy people cringe. If you’re a dairy farmer and your milk is pooled under the Federal Order system, you should want to see negative PPDs.

(Ames, Iowa) May 7, 2020 — National Farmers Organization dairy leader says it’s time for milk regulators to recognize U.S. milk markets should be treated as one national system, rather than the regional approach USDA’s Federal Milk Marketing Orders uses now.

Farming for decades, Tom and Karen Wencl, on their Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, organic dairy farm, in 2012, launched the transition process of integrating their sons, Wayne and Chris, into the operation as partners.
“We operate as an LLC, where the sons are taking some ownership…

As dairy farmers are pounded by rock-bottom pay prices because of COVID-19, National Farmers is calling for a moratorium on farm foreclosures. And one federal milk marketing order to help assist with extreme farmer financial distress.
“We must have a national…

At national convention, I talked about one of my favorite movies: ‘Smokey and the Bandit’. The theme song particularly sticks in my mind: “We’ve got a long way to go, and a short time to get there.”
I think that line pretty much says where we are in today’s dairy industry. Since convention, COVID-19…

By using the Grain Marketing Plus framework, farmers can achieve better revenues. The framework recommends being active marketers during the spring through early summer planting season. Looking back at historical yearly price action, the board has rallied…

At NForganics, we recognize a great deal of potential for the organic grain marketing program, and even better, for the farmers we intend to help, having gained a substantial number of bushels to work with, and new people.

Brutal. That sums up cattle markets since COVID-19 began dominating the nation.
Roller coaster volatility rules markets. The first quarter of 2020 averaged 74 percent in negotiated transactions on a weekly basis compared to 59 percent the year before.

National Farmers President Paul Olson was re-elected as the organization’s leader for a four-year term Feb. 12, at the 20/20 Marketing Vision Convention in Bloomington, Minnesota. Bruce Shultz, Raynesford, Montana, was elected vice president.

At National Farmers 2020 convention in Bloomington, Minnesota Feb. 11, members passed policy recommendations on a wide range of farm topics.
Members supported re-enactment of a farmer-owned grain reserve program. The plan calls for the reserve to be isolated from the market and would only…