Milk price outlook trimmed again
Washington Ag Today April 13, 2010 In its April supply and demand report the USDA increased its estimate of milk production this year as the pace of herd reduction was reduced from the previous month. Department Outlook Board Chairman Gerry Bange says that means softer milk prices too. Bange: “We’ve taken our Class III price down 15 cents to $14.35; the Class IV down to $13.70, which is a drop of 30 cents, and the All-Milk Price down 15 cents. Now having said that, we are looking now at $15.70 for the All-Milk Price per hundredweight.” And that is nearly 23 percent above 2009. Meanwhile, in its latest Market Snapshots publication Northwest Farm Credit Services says dairy producers’ financial positions remain significantly stressed. It is expected that many dairies will take three to five years to recover the equity they lost in 2009. That Market Snapshots publication does say two bright spots in northwest agriculture are apples and onions, which are both experiencing strong prices. The Washington State Department of Transportation is seeking proposals from railroads, port districts, rail districts, private companies and local governments to compete for 7.75 million dollars in funding under the Freight Rail Assistance Program and the Freight Rail Investment Bank. The Department of Transportation will be holding free workshops around the state in June to help potential applicants with proposals. To register or find out more go to
I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net.
