Swine & U

Is it time to look at how we price milk in the U.S.?

This column was written for the market- Dec. 7 “Dairy Radio Now” broadcast if it’s is something that can be done to even those out beting week ending Dec. 4. time to restructure how we price milk in ter on a month to month basis and allow farmers to this country. He said it’s a decades-old question; and one of the issues is the complexity of the Federal order program. “When dairy farmers don’t understand exactly how their milk is being priced, there is some resistance to the system,” he said. Federal orders also make export contracts more difficult, according to Fuess, and “Exports will be a key driver of dairy product disappearance and higher prices for farmers. Hopefully, in the future, federal orders can be The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced the November Federal order Class III milk price at $23.34 per hundredweight. This is up $1.73 from October, $2.89 above November 2019, and the highest Class III since July. The 2020 Class III average stands at $18.39, up from $16.74 at this time a year ago and $14.69 in 2018. The Dec. 4 late morning Class III futures contract was trading at $15.38, which would portend an $18.14 average for 2020. MIELKE MARKET WEEKLY By Lee Mielke MARKETING receive the higher value of that cheese milk, maybe there is something that could be looked at there.” The system has been around since the 1930s, he said, and has prioritized Class I milk. “Perhaps a discussion can be had around having just one manufacturing class to allow milk to move to its highest value overall.” “Federal orders have not been revised in any sort for more than 10 years,” Fuess said, “with make allowances being the same since prior to 2010, and there’s a question there as to what those numbers should be as well.”

The Class IV price is $13.30, down tweaked to allow longer term con- It’s important for dairy farmers to consider every 17 cents from October and $3.30 below a year ago. tracts to happen.” risk management tool available, Fuess concluded. That put the 11-month average at $13.50, down from $16.26 a year ago and compares to $14.15 in 2018. The large gap between October and November As to negative PPDs, Fuess said, “They’re a reflection of volatility in milk; and for some farmers who are not necessarily seeing those negative PPDs, depending on the region, they have been extremely “Farmers also have the power to vote orders out or processors can take a look at make allowances to see if there are other tweaks that could be made to the system that would benefit everyone.” Class III and Class I prices again likely led to pro- thankful for record high cheese prices.” n cessor de-pooling and huge producer price differentials — resulting in dairy farmers in many regions losing millions of dollars in revenue. I asked HighGround Dairy’s Lucas Fuess in the “Ultimately, it’s the hope — and the system is designed — so PPDs average out close to the zero mark over the long term,” Fuess reasoned. “If there See MIELKE, pg. 14 You’ll recall October milk output hit 18.56 billion pounds, up 2.3 percent from 2019. The October Transportation stressors can impact the quality of meat

SWINE & U, from pg. 12

and can do so in a few different ways.

One of the major ways to reduce cold stress or the potential for frostbite would be closing trailer vents and gaps with boarding or paneling. Even on the calmest of days, traveling down the road at speed will create a chilling effect within an unprotected trailer. Again, the TQA handbook has a table with truck set-up procedures — including recommendations for side-slat coverage over different temperature conditions. It is important to note these recommendations never exceed 95 percent closure. Even on the coldest of days, some air exchange is necessary to improve air quality within the trailer, decrease humidity, and decrease the potential for suffocation.

Information about bedding can also be found within the TQA handbook. In the previously mentioned wind chill table, recommendations for appropriate amounts of bedding during specific outdoor temperatures will achieve the primary goal of keeping animals dry, in addition to absorbing moisture and providing footing to reduce the amount of slips or injury.

While 50-pound bales are used as standard measure for bedding, the addition of straw will provide an added layer of insulation during the trips. Chutes and other load-out alleys are often overlooked areas in the transportation process. Producers and transporters should work cooperatively to make sure these locations are bedded in a manner which provides proper footing to animals as they enter and exit the trailer. The National Pork Board has been at the forefront AD COPY INSTRUCTIONS Please read attached email of the livestock industry when it comes to establishing producer and consumer standards. Programs like Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA+) and Transport Quality Assurance (TQA) provide caretakers, handlers and haulers with the resources to build a stronger industry and define the best practices for production, management and transportation of swine in the United States. This all impacts pig well-being and pork quality for the consumer. Hauling and transporting pigs is a process which involves many new experiences to pigs. They face physical requirements such as moving up and down alleys, chutes and through doorway thresholds. They can be mixed with other animals without a previously-established hierarchy, and can be subject to handling techniques or equipment different from that to which they are accustomed. CODE AND REP NAMES ALREADY ON AD THE LAND 3.7461 x2” For more information about the PQA+ and TQA Programs, or to locate a local quality assurance certification advisor, visit pork.org. On top of that, like humans, pigs can experience motion sickness — with some being more tolerant to transport than others. When combined with processes associated with transportation stress, the environmental stressors such as exposure to cold tem- Refer to an updated TQA manual for further inforperatures can increase their levels of discomfort and mation about cold weather transportation. The have effects on meat quality. manual can be found at www.pork.org/certifications/

In a U.S. National Pork Benchmarking Study, transport-quality-assurance/ v packers indicated weather was the largest influence upon carcasses or wholesale cuts exhibiting undesirable pale, soft exudative pork. This research serves as a reminder that while efficiency or convenience may be important in transportation practices, producers and transporters need to consider the effects these stressors will have on the pigs, and in how those results will be passed on to the consumer.

By following some of the concepts described above, we can ensure the safety and quality of the pork entering the food chain, and provide consumers with the pleasurable eating experiences which keep them returning to the pork section of the meat case.

Local Sales Rep