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Dairy Today	Dairy News	AgWeb.com	Dairy Calendar	Weather
February 17, 2009

Dairy Talk

Jim Dickrell

CWT positions for (big) buyout
Last week's announcement that the Cooperatives Working Together program was asking members to commit for two years is a clear sign the boys in Arlington, Va., are gearing up for the big one. For dairy producers across the country, it can't come too soon.

Rick Lundquist	Animal Health & Nutrition
	Balancing for amino acids with low milk prices Amino acid balancing can be confusing, and the results are not always successful. Dr. Bob Patton explained why and tried to make the concept of amino acid balancing more user friendly to practicing dairy nutritionists last week at the Florida Ruminant Nutrition Symposium.

Robin Schmahl

AgDairy Market Update

Is there light at the end of the tunnel?
Cheese prices have been on the rebound since mid-January, making things look a little more positive. Cheese buyers have been more aggressive following discussions of a significant dairy herd buyout this year that could eliminate upwards of 300,000 cows.

Milk:	Futures	Weekly	Monthly
Butter:	Futures	Weekly	Monthly
Corn:	Futures	Weekly	Monthly

	Dairy Interactive Question
	Will you consider bidding your herd into the next CWT buyout?
	Dairy Interactive Results
	Should federal bail-out money be used to subsidize another CWT round of culling? "Yes. In spite of my preference to keep government out of the business, I would like to see the price improve and having another bailout would encourage a better bottom line." ...250 head in Virginia "No subsidy, but low interest loan to be paid over time by all CWT participants."...4,000 head in California "No way. There is too much greed in Texas. Large dairies are still being built in the Panhandle-two more are being built in the next few months." ... 540 head in Texas "No, let the market work." ... 600 head in Iowa.

	In The News
	DMI/Domino's partnership could sell 100 million lb. more cheese Dairy Management, Inc. and Domino's Pizza are partnering to promote six new pizzas being introduced nationally this week. Federal Order discussions bog down Most agree that the Federal Milk Marketing Orders need to be streamlined and simplified. Yet deep, meaningful reform is years away--if it ever comes at all. $700 million in MILC payments projected USDA projects it will send out $700 million in Milk Income Loss Contract payments this year to dairy producers. Dairy exports climb 25% in 2008 Though U.S. dairy export sales slowed considerably in the fourth quarter of 2008, total sales for the year were still up 25% over 2007 and double sales of 2006.