The reduction in milk yields is driving up raw milk prices in most EU member states. Meanwhile, a slight slowdown in demand for dairy fats and skimmed milk powder allows dairy processors to allocate existing raw milk volumes toward producing cheese and other more profitable products. The delicate balance of milk supply and demand helps stabilize purchasing prices in Europe, reports Georgiy Kukhaleishvili, an analyst with the Ukraine Milk Producers Association.

The dairy cow population in Germany decreased by 2.8% to 3.67 million head from June 2023 to June 2024, which is 0.5 percentage points faster than the EU average, according to data from the European Union's Statistical Office (Eurostat), reported by Agrarheute on October 10.

Animal health authorities in the Netherlands have identified the presence of a bluetongue variant, BTV12, in livestock, marking the first known cases of this variant in the country, according to a statement from the Dutch government.

The president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, Gregg Doud, expressed skepticism about the prospects for passing a new farm bill in the near future. Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City at Kansas State University-Olathe, Doud emphasized the challenges facing both the current Congress and the incoming 2025 legislative session.

Lakeland Dairies has announced a base milk price increase for September, citing a favorable outlook in global dairy markets through the third quarter. Farmers in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) will receive a base price of 49 cents per litre for milk with 3.6% butterfat and 3.3% protein, which includes a 0.5c/l Sustainability Incentive Payment. This represents a 2.5c/l increase from the previous month.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an $11 million investment aimed at strengthening the resiliency of the country’s dairy sector. This funding, part of the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI) grant program, will benefit small to mid-sized dairy businesses, providing resources for the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products.

U.S. cheese exports demonstrated remarkable strength in August 2024, with a total of 42,459 metric tons (MT) shipped internationally, marking a 15% increase year-over-year (YOY) according to the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). Cumulative shipments through the first eight months of the year are up by 21% YOY (+60,146 MT), underscoring sustained demand across key global markets.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture of Kyrgyzstan, from January to September 2024, the import of pasteurized milk into the country totaled 159.3 tons.