• In USDA’s Farm Labor report released last week, farm operators reported paying their hired workers an average gross wage of $19.11 per hour during the October 2024 reference week. That was up 2% from the same week last year.
• Field workers earned an average of $18.36, which was up 2% from last year. Livestock workers received an average of $17.36, also up 2%. Hired employees worked an average of 40.6 hours during the October 2024 reference week, which was down 1% year-over-year. Find wages for specific regions here.
• Milk production during October totaled 18.7 billion pounds, according to USDA’s latest Milk Production report. Of the top dairy states, California saw the steepest decline in milk production, tumbling 3.8% year-over-year in response to the H5N1 outbreak there. Texas had the greatest uptick in milk production, up 8.8%.
• Milk production per cow in October was up slightly at 1,997 pounds. The national dairy herd was also on the rise at 9.37 million head, which was up nearly 19,000 from the month prior and 10,000 more head compared to October 2023.
• Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 12 million head on November 1, according to USDA’s Cattle on Feed report. Placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.29 million head. Marketings of fed cattle totaled 1.85 million head.
• New this year, the Mid-Atlantic Grazing Conference will be held December 16 to 18 in Boonsboro, Md. Find more information and registration details here.
• Register now for these winter workshops hosted in-person and online by the Alliance for Grassland Renewal.
• Feeding corn silage to beef cows? Here’s what you need to know.
• Think ahead to how you can tackle buttercup next spring.
• Jog your memory with the definition of these feed analysis terms.
November 12, 2024
• Alfalfa hay exports totaled 143,218 million tons (MT) in September, according to USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. That was down nearly 9% month-over-month and roughly 33% year-over-year. Of the top export markets, both China and Japan were bigger buyers month-over-month, but Saudi Arabia imported nearly 60% less alfalfa hay.
• Hay exports other than alfalfa totaled 83,815 MT. The largest grass hay export market, Japan, brought in 52,406 MT in September, up 7% from the month prior.
• The grand total of all U.S. hay exports in September was 227,033 MT. This was about 8% less than total exports the same time last year.
• Cope with drought and dry pasture conditions by following these tips.
• Consider the pros and cons of these three winter bale-feeding strategies.
November 5, 2024
• Recordings of the Dairy Forage Seminars presented at World Dairy Expo last month are available here.
• Save the bats: These insect feeders are important to pest management.
• Here’s what to do about silage that tests high in mycotoxins.
• These cool-season weeds can be detrimental to warm-season perennial pastures.
• Stop and smell the alfalfa flowers.
