MILKER’S MESSAGE www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
PAGE 12
THE LAND — APRIL 15/APRIL 22, 2022
Dairy prices mixed during first week of April
This column was written for the marketing week ending April 8. The U.S. Department of Agriculture raised its estimate for 2022 milk production in April 8’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, citing expected higher dairy cow numNews and information for Minnesota and Northern Iowa dairy producers bers. lion pounds, but was up 11.8 million pounds down 2.5 percent. MIELKE MARKET Price forecasts for cheese and butter or 3.9 percent from February 2021, ending WEEKLY Dry whey stocks climbed to 63 million pounds, up were raised from the previous month on four consecutive months that cheddar out6.4 million or 11.4 percent from January, but were tighter stocks and firm demand. NonBy Lee Mielke put was below that of a year ago. 6.9 million pounds or 9.9 percent below those a year fat dry milk prices were raised fractionButter churns produced 183.6 million ago. ally while whey prices were lowered, as U.S. prices are expected to become competitive with pounds, down 10.4 million pounds or 5.4 percent Nonfat dry milk output totaled 171 million from January, and 2.7 million or 1.4 percent below a pounds, up 700,000 pounds or 0.4 percent from international prices. Milk price projections were year ago — the eighth consecutive month output also raised. January, but was down 12.6 million or 6.9 percent was below a year ago. Year-to-date, butter stands at from a year ago. Year-to-date, powder was at 341.3 2022 production and marketings were estimated 377.7 million pounds, down 4.6 percent from a year million pounds, down 10.6 percent. Stocks climbed at 226.3 and 225.3 billion pounds respectively, up ago. Butter stocks were down 26 percent from to 288.8 million pounds, up 27.2 million pounds or 300 million pounds on both. If realized, 2022 proFebruary 2021. 10.4 percent from January, but were down 54.9 milduction would mirror output in 2021. Yogurt output totaled 373 million pounds, down lion pounds or 16 percent below those a year ago. Meanwhile, U.S. cheese vats “got milk” in Skim milk powder output fell to 29.6 million February, despite milk output being down 1 percent 2.1 percent from a year ago, with year-to-date output at 745.9 million pounds, down 2.7 percent. pounds, down 13.8 million pounds or 31.8 percent from February 2021. The Dairy Products report Dry whey production fell to 75 million pounds, from January, but were down 2 million or 6.4 pershows total cheese production slipped to 1.109 bildown 5.4 million pounds or 6.7 percent from cent below a year ago. Year-to-date, skim milk powlion pounds, down 5.3 percent from January, but January and 300,000 pounds or 0.4 percent below a was up a bearish 6.3 percent from February 2021. See MIELKE, pg. 13 year ago. Year-to-date is at 155.4 million pounds, Cheese stocks were up 2 percent from a year ago, according to the month’s Cold Storage report. Cheese output for the first two months of 2023 totaled 2.3 billion pounds, up a hefty 4.7 percent from the same period a year ago. roots. If that crown stays consistently wet in the soil, SWENSON, from pg. 9 it’ll rot. It’s called crown rot and the plant will die,” Italian cheese totaled 469.9 million pounds, down planted in the same spot immediately following a she explained. 6.7 percent from January but 6 percent above a harvest because the plant will not thrive. Becky said year ago. Year-to-date, Italian stands at 973.5 milThe only day the Swensons water is the day they their practice is to harvest the bare roots, fertilize lion pounds, up 5.3 percent from a year ago. plant bare roots. Becky said that by keeping the root with cow manure, and plant a cover crop of mixed dry, it causes the root system to send out feeder roots American-type cheese, at 444.4 million pounds, annual grasses. Swensons then allow the ground to was down 5.8 percent from January but 4.3 percent lie fallow for three years. According to Becky, this very quickly which helps with plant vigor and disabove a year ago. Year-to-date output, at 916 million provides challenges in managing the land well — yet ease resistance because of the fast growth. pounds, was up 1.7 percent. Mozzarella output it also helps with soil health, minimizes erosion and Swenson Gardens invites the public to come and totaled 360.8 million pounds, up 4.4 percent from a suppresses weeds. walk through the peony fields when they are in full year ago, with year-to-date at 755.6 million, up 4.9 Another challenge they face is proper drainage. bloom during the month of June. “We just love sharpercent. Peonies do not like wet roots. “We have to be really ing peonies with people! Come and enjoy the peoCheddar, the cheese traded at the Chicago careful how we steward those fields. We’ve got some nies!” Becky offered. Field days are free. Mercantile Exchange, totaled 312.3 million pounds, really low spots and peonies don’t like water. They You can find out more about Swenson Gardens on down 20.2 million pounds or 6.1 percent from like to stay fairly dry. That is because the root system their website, www.swensongardens.com, as well as January’s output, which was revised down 4.9 milhas two parts to it. Thicker roots, a crown and feeder social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.v
Swensons enjoy showing fields to public
50
Save now with
Get the most out of your lawn this spring. SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!
%
OFF*
Your First Application
1-833-912-3666
*Requires purchase of annual plan. Special price is for first Lawn application only. Requires purchase of annual plan, for new residential EasyPay or PrePay customers only. Valid at participating TruGreen locations. Availability of services may vary by geography. Not to be combined with or used in conjunction with any other offer or discount. Additional restrictions may apply. Consumer responsible for all sales tax. †Purchase of annual lawn plan required for Healthy Lawn Analysis, which is performed at the first visit. ◆Guarantee applies to annual plan customers only. BBB accredited since 07/01/2012. ©2022 TruGreen Limited Partnership. All rights reserved. In Connecticut, B-0153, B-1380, B-0127, B-0200, B-0151.
Schauer has added tulips to offerings MILKHOUSE FLOWERS, from pg. 10 each year to help boost nutrients and organic matter. Another challenge all specialty cut flower farmers face is making sure there is a market. “(Cut flowers) are a perishable crop. I can only hold them so long and then they need to move.” The future looks bright for Dawn and Milkhouse Flowers. She hopes to add her own hoop house in the future to extend her growing season and she will
continue to add different varieties of flowers. For instance, Dawn said she planted 500 tulip bulbs for the first time last fall which will hopefully allow her to offer flowers earlier in the growing season. For more information on Milkhouse Flowers you can find them online at www.milkhouseflowers.com and Facebook. You can also look for Milkhouse Flowers’ telltale milk bottle logo featuring Dawn’s favorite flower, the zinnia, at your local grocer. v
