Monday May 4 Ag News

SDS and BSR Infections Start in Spring
John Wilson, Nebraska Extension Educator , Burt County

Cool wet soils in spring can lead to increased chances for sudden death syndrome (SDS) or brown stem rot (BSR) in soybeans. While foliar symptoms for both of these diseases won't appear until later this summer, initial infection occurs in the spring. Later in the summer rains or irrigation around flowering time flush a toxin, formed by the infection in the roots, up to the leaves, creating the foliar symptoms.

If you've had problems with sudden death syndrome or brown stem rot in the past, you should be aware that cool, wet soil conditions are favorable for disease development in spring. Compaction, high yield environments, and having soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) are other factors favorable to disease development.

A field can have either SDS or BSR and not have SCN, or it can have SCN and not have SDS or BSR. However, if a field has SCN, the likelihood of an SDS or BSR infection increases. That's because when SCN feeds, it causes microscopic injuries to the root that create sites where either of these diseases can easily enter and infect the root.

If you have pockets of either of these diseases, it would be good to pull a soil sample to test for SCN. Take one sample from the areas where the disease is present and another sample about 50 yards into healthy soybeans. Often the level of SCN infestation will be higher in the diseased areas. Samples can be submitted to the UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic in Lincoln for diagnosis. Bags for free SCN analyses, funded by the Nebraska Soybean Board, are available at your local Nebraska Extension office.

Managing Sudden Death Syndrome and Brown Stem Rot
The best way to differentiate between brown stem rot (left) and sudden death syndrome (right) in late summer is to split the stem and check the internal color. Then next year select a variety with resistance to the disease(s) present.

The first step in controlling either SDS or BSR is selecting a soybean variety with genetic resistance. Visit with your seed dealer about varieties with resistance or tolerance to SDS or BSR. Remember, a variety may be resistant to one disease or the other, but not both, so it is important to know which disease is present in your field. This is particularly important and a little tricky because the symptoms of both diseases are very similar. If you have SCN in your field, also select a soybean variety with good SCN resistance.

If you have fields with a history of being severely affected by either SDS or BSR, consider rotating away from soybeans for two or three years. If that won't fit your operation, or if the incidence of either of these diseases has been light to moderate in the past, consider planting these fields last so the soil has a chance to warm. This will reduce the likelihood of these diseases developing.

Also, do not do tillage in wet fields in an attempt to "open up" the soil or dry it out. Rather than improve the situation, you are likely to cause compaction which will actually increase the probability of either of these diseases developing.

In the past, seed or foliar fungicide treatments have not been effective in controlling SDS or BSR. In 2015, Bayer Crop Science is launching a new seed treatment, ILeVO®, which has shown some promise in fields with sudden death syndrome.



HARVESTING SUNLIGHT
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

               Free for the taking.  Free lunch.  Absolutely no cost.  Something for nothing.  Don’t you love it when you can get something for free?

               Input costs keep rising.  Seed, fertilizer, pesticides, fuel, hay, supplements, trucking – everything seems to get more expensive.  But miraculously, the most important input is still free.  The input I’m talking about is sunlight.

               Grassland managers need to capitalize on free sunlight to be profitable.  That’s especially important after receiving good rains.  With good moisture and the return of warm temperatures, pastures and rangeland are poised to grow rapidly.

               Just because sunlight is free, though, don’t take it for granted.  Instead, take advantage of as much free sunlight as possible.  As you capture more solar energy, your grazinglands become more productive and your livestock more profitable.

               The only way to capture solar energy is with healthy, green leaves.  The more land area completely covered by green leaves, the more sunlight that’s captured and converted into more grazable forage.

               This season, as you check your livestock and pastures, don’t just look over the pastures.  Also look down.  Straight down.  How much bare ground do you see?  How much dead litter or brown, dying leaves?  How much healthy, green leaf area?  The more green, the better.

               Improving the amount of green leaves capturing sunlight begins with proper stocking rate.  Once that’s accomplished, avoid grazing too short.  Move animals to new pastures while you still have lots of green leaves remaining to capture sunlight.

               Then your plants will capture more sunlight, regrow more rapidly, and produce more forage for your animals to graze later on.



Farm Finance and Legal Aid Clinics in May

One-on-one, confidential Farm Finance Clinics are held across the state each month. An experienced ag law attorney and ag financial counselor will be available to address farm and ranch issues related to financial planning, estate and transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, water rights, and other relevant matters.

May Clinic Sites and Dates
    Grand Island — Thursday, May 7
    North Platte — Thursday, May 14
    Valentine — Friday, May 15
    Norfolk — Friday, May 21
    Lexington —Thusday, May 21
    Fairbury Wednesday, May 27

To sign up for a clinic or to get more information, call Michelle at the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.  The Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Legal Aid of Nebraska sponsor these clinics.



NU president, ag leader to address NCTA graduates May 7

A Nebraska cattle producer will join University of Nebraska administrators including President Hank M. Bounds in saluting Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture graduates on May 7 at commencement in Curtis.

Bill Rishel, founder of RIshel Angus of North Platte, has mentored dozens of NCTA students over the past decades for internships and ranch employment. He will present the keynote address at the 1:30 p.m. ceremony at the Curtis Memorial Community Center, announced NCTA Dean Ron Rosati.

Rishel and his wife, Barb, have been instrumental as advisors to the ag production and livestock management programs at NCTA. They recently helped launch the new Heifer Link program, which provides a bred heifer to Nebraska students graduating from the 100 Cow Ownership Advantage.

Returning to campus three weeks after his first visit to NCTA’s campus is President Bounds, to be joined by Regent Bob Phares of North Platte and Vice President Ronnie Green of Lincoln. Each will deliver remarks.

“The NCTA community enjoyed becoming acquainted with President Bounds when he spoke with us in mid-April,” said Rosati. “We are looking forward to welcoming him again to NCTA along with families and guests.”

Students and faculty receiving awards, scholarships, graduation recognitions and other honors will be featured at the 2015 Awards Night the preceding evening. The public is invited to attend the 7 p.m. event at NCTA’s Nebraska Agricultural Industry Education Center.

“We are very proud of all our students, and look forward to announcing the salutatorian and valedictorian, as well as honor graduates on May 6,” Rosati said.  Also, at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Phi Theta Kappa two-year college scholastic honorary will host initiation of new members.

Graduates from NCTA include two-year students receiving an Associates of Science degree or Associates of Applied Science in majors of agronomy or horticulture, animal science and ag education, agribusiness management or veterinary technology systems.

Certificates will be conferred for the first time for the new irrigation technician program which trains employees for the mechanized irrigation industry, and is hosted in partnership with Reinke Manufacturing of Deshler, Neb.

Additional information about NCTA’s graduation activities on May 6 and May 7 can be gained from Dean Rosati’s office at (308) 367-5200.  Also, the NCTA web site at http://ncta.unl.edu outlines all academic programs and other details about the college.



Branstad declares state of emergency in Iowa

Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad today was joined by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Mark Schouten to provide an update on the ongoing efforts to stop the avian influenza outbreak in Iowa. In addition, Gov. Branstad announced that he is declaring a state of emergency in Iowa. The disaster proclamation can be viewed here.

“While the avian influenza outbreak does not pose a risk to humans, we are taking the matter very seriously and believe declaring a state of emergency is the best way to make all resources available,” said Branstad. “Even before the virus began in Iowa, our office was monitoring the outbreak in other states. We’ll continue our work – as we’ve been doing since the first outbreak in Buena Vista County – in hopes of stopping the virus’ aggressive spread throughout Iowa.”

At time of press, 21 sites spanning 10 Iowa counties have cases that are either presumed positives or confirmed positives. The counties include: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Kossuth, Madison, O’Brien, Osceola, Pocahontas, Sac and Sioux.

“Iowa’s poultry farms are an important part of our state’s agriculture industry.  This disease is having a far reaching impact and, unfortunately, it has continued to spread.  We have seen tremendous support and coordination from state, federal and local partners and this emergency declaration will allow the state to continue to respond aggressively to this disease outbreak,” Northey said.

In addition, Gov. Branstad today declared a state of emergency due to the outbreak. The proclamation is effective immediately and will continue until May 31, 2015, at 11:59 p.m., unless sooner terminated or extended by the governor.

The proclamation of disaster emergency can be read below and does the following:
    Activates the disaster response and recovery aspect of the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department’s (HSEMD) Iowa Emergency Response Plan.
    Authorizes the use and deployment of all available state resources, supplies, equipment, and materials as are deemed reasonably necessary by the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and Iowa HSEMD in order to do the following:

    Track and monitor instances of confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza  throughout the state of Iowa and the country,
    Establish importation restrictions and prohibitions in respect to animals suspected of suffering from this disease,
    Rapidly detect any presumptive or confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza within Iowa’s borders,
    Contain the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza within our state through depopulation, disinfections, and disposal of livestock carcasses,
    Engage in detection activities, contact tracking, and other investigatory work to stop the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza within our state, and
    Eliminate the disease in those disaster counties where it has been found and lessen the risk of this disease spreading to our state as a whole.
    Temporarily authorizes the Iowa HSEMD, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), other state agencies, and local law enforcement agencies and private contractors employed by the same to remove and/or dispose of live animals and animal carcasses on publicly or privately owned land when those live animals and/or carcasses threaten public health or safety.
    Authorizes the Iowa HSEMD, the Iowa DOT, the Iowa DPS, the Iowa DNR, IDPH, other state agencies, and local law enforcement agencies to implement stop movement and stop loading restrictions and other control zone measures as are reasonably deemed necessary, including establishing buffer zones, checkpoints, and cleaning and disinfecting operations at checkpoints and borders surrounding any quarantine areas established by the IDALS or at any other location in the state of Iowa, in order to stop the spread of this contagious disease.
    Authorizes state agencies to assist the IDALS in disinfection, depopulation, and livestock carcass disposal efforts.
    Temporarily waives restrictions to allow for the timely and efficient disposal of poultry carcasses.
    Temporarily suspends the regulatory provisions pertaining to hours of service for commercial vehicle drivers hauling poultry carcasses infected with or exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza or while hauling loads otherwise related to the response to this disaster during its duration, subject to certain conditions outlined in the disaster proclamation.
    
UPDATE ON ACTIVIES OF STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN RESPONSE TO AVIAN INFLUENZA

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS)
    Quarantined all infected sites
    Subject to facilities implementing nationally approved biosecurity measures, the Dept. permits the movement of materials such as feed and other supplies on and off of infected sites
    Leading efforts to monitor all poultry within a 10 kilometer circle of each infected site
    Coordinating state communication efforts on the disease
    Working with federal and state officials to ensure the humane depopulation and disposal of all birds from infected sites

Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department (HSEMD)
    Conducted coordination meetings with IDALS, the governor’s office and other partner agencies to bring all up to date, and to brainstorm planning and coordination needs. Other agencies at the meeting included Iowa Dept. of Public Health, Iowa Dept. of Transportation, Iowa Dept. of Corrections, Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources, Iowa Dept. of Public Safety, Iowa National Guard, Iowa Dept. of Human Services, Iowa Dept. of Inspections and Appeals.
    Provide resource support coordination as requested.
    Regularly providing information for situational awareness with county emergency management coordinators.
    Providing support for IDALS communications activities.

Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) – in conjunction with local public health officials
    Shared CDC recommendations on the use of personal protective equipment by persons working directly with sick chickens and carcasses.
    Followed up with workers who had direct contact with sick birds without the use of personal protective equipment.
    Provided sound risk information, making sure the public understands that the virus presents no food safety concern or risk to the general public.
    Participated in media conference calls with Sec. Northey and USDA.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
    The DNR’s primary concern is that disposal methods protect surface water, groundwater and air quality and does not result in further spreading of the AI virus
    Investigating the feasibility and the potential benefits and problems associated with various disposal options including landfilling, composting, incinerating, rendering and burying.
    Looking at potential criteria for emergency air permits if needed for an incineration process.
    Made contacts with several landfills to determine the ability of those operations to take dead poultry as well as being able to wash and disinfect transport vehicles on site.
    Investigating and been in contact with wastewater treatment facilities on the ability to accept and adequately treat leachate  produced by any landfill for the AI virus that may take dead poultry.
    Developed solid waste acceptance criteria for landfills willing to accept AI infected poultry.
    Contacted numerous potential sources of wood chips that can be used if composting becomes an option. The wood chips would be used as part of the composting process.
    Prepared maps of infected facilities that show quarantine boundaries and to determine the proximity of other poultry operations and neighbors.
    Investigating the geology involved with operations to determine the optimum potential locations for burial if needed.
    Working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct sampling of waterfowl for AI.



IPPA announces 2015 scholarship winners

The Iowa Pork Producers Association has awarded scholarships to 14 Iowa college students who are majoring in an agriculture field and have interest in a pork industry career.

Six high school students who will enter a two- or four-year Iowa college as a freshman this fall have been awarded $1,000 scholarships for the 2015-16 school year. They are:
-    Chance Cook, Independence, Iowa State University, agronomy
-    Riley Paysen, Wall Lake, Iowa Lakes Community College, agriculture production technology
-    Hannah Reisinger, Osceola, Graceland University, animal science
-    Nicholas Schroeder, Le Mars, Iowa State University, animal science/agronomy
-    Jolee Wessling, Grand Junction, Iowa State University, agriculture business
-    Trent Westhoff, Dyersville, Iowa State University, animal science/pre-vet

A half-dozen students who are already attending a college or university have been awarded $1,500 scholarships for the 2015-16 school year. The recipients are:
-    Caleb Beer, DeWitt, Iowa State University, animal science
-    Levi Cook, Hubbard, Iowa State University, agriculture business
-    Abigail Collison, Rockwell City, Iowa State University, animal science
-    Garret Gourley, Webster City, Iowa State University, animal science
-    Mary Heiller, Ames, Iowa State University, animal science
-    Mitchell Juhl, Ames, Iowa State University, agriculture business

The incoming and returning undergraduate scholarships are awarded annually by IPPA through the Iowa Pork Foundation. Recipients must be Iowa residents who maintain a 2.5 grade point average and major in an ag-related field with an emphasis on swine production.

Each year, two current Iowa State University graduate students are presented $2,500 Nelda Christian Graduate Fellowships from IPPA and the Iowa Pork Foundation. One is presented to a student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the other to a College of Veterinary Medicine student. The 2015 winners are:
-    Emily Mauch, Ames, PhD, interdepartmental genetics
-    Chris Sievers, Albert City, degree of vet medicine, master's in preventative animal medicine

The fellowships were renamed in honor of the late Nelda Christian of Ames who served on the IPPA Restaurant and Foodservice Committee for several years and helped develop the annual IPPA Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest and was a passionate supporter of the annual IPPA Taste of Elegance culinary contest.



Study: Swine Farming Risk Factor for Drug-Resistant Staph Infections

Swine farmers are more likely to carry multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus or "staph") than people without current swine exposure, according to a study conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Iowa, Kent State University, and the National Cancer Institute.

The study, published online in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, is the largest prospective examination of S. aureus infection in a group of livestock workers worldwide, and the first such study in the United States.

S. aureus is a type of bacteria commonly found on the skin as well as in the noses and throats of people and animals. About 30 percent of the U.S. population carries these bacteria, which can cause a range of skin and soft tissue infections. Although most infections are minor, S. aureus can sometimes cause serious infections.

Increasingly, drug-resistant strains of S. aureus are emerging, including methicillin-resistant (MRSA), tetracycline-resistant (TRSA), or multidrug-resistant (MDRSA) strains. And while previous studies have shown that certain strains of S. aureus are often associated with swine, cattle, and poultry exposure, little is known about livestock-associated staph carriage and infection in the United States.

The study authors note the research helps keep farmers safe by raising awareness about a potential health issue in swine operations. S. aureus does not present an economic concern for swine farmers since pigs generally are unaffected by staph infections.

"S. aureus does not typically make pigs sick, but they can act as carriers and transmit the bacterium to farmers," says Tara Smith, corresponding author on the study. "While carriage of S. aureus isn't itself harmful, individuals who harbor the bacterium in their nose, throat, or on their skin are at risk of developing an active staph infection, and they can also pass the bacterium to other family or community members. Individuals who may be immunocompromised, or have existing conditions such as diabetes, are especially at risk from staph infections."

For the study, the researchers followed a group of 1,342 Iowans, including individuals with livestock contact and a community-based comparison group, for 17 months. The participants were recruited from 53 of Iowa's 99 counties and lived in rural areas or small towns. Nose and throat swabs were collected from participants at the beginning of the study to determine if they carried S. aureus. Participants who experienced skin infections during the study period also were assessed for S. aureus.

Overall, 26 percent of the participants carried S. aureus. However, the investigators found that farmers with livestock exposure, particularly swine exposure, were more likely to carry MDRSA, TRSA, and livestock-associated S. aureus than those who weren't exposed to livestock.

"Current swine workers were six times more likely to carry multidrug-resistant S. aureus than those study participants without current swine exposure," says Smith. The study is based on research that Smith, currently an associate professor at Kent State University, conducted while she was a faculty member at the UI College of Public Health.

"Swine workers are also at risk of becoming infected with these organisms," Smith adds. "One hundred and three potential S. aureus infections were reported, and included infections with livestock-associated strains of this bacterium."

There currently is no method to prevent or eliminate carriage of S. aureus in animals or their human caretakers, meaning constant re-exposure and possibly transmission can occur between livestock and farm workers. Those workers can then pass staph to their family or community members.

"Iowa ranks third nationally in overall livestock production and first in swine production," notes Smith. "Transmission of staph between pigs and farmers and into the broader community could complicate efforts to control S. aureus transmission statewide, and have effects nationally due to the travel of pigs and people carrying these bacteria."

Study co-investigators included Shylo E. Wardyn, Brett M. Forshey, Sarah Farina, Ashley E. Kates, Rajeshwari Nair, Megan Quick, James Y. Wu, Blake Hanson, Sean O'Malley, Hannah W. Shows, Ellen M. Heywood, Charles F. Lynch, and Margaret Carrel from the University of Iowa and Laura E. Beane-Freeman from the National Cancer Institute.



Ag Committee Chairman Rejects Generic Label Option

Friday, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (R-TX) rejected the latest recommendation to establish a generic mandatory label option, an option typically referred to as a “Product of North America” label, should the U.S. lose its World Trade Organization (WTO) appeal regarding country of origin labeling (COOL) in the coming weeks.

Earlier today, the Department of Agriculture released two reports regarding country of origin labeling.  One report acknowledges no measurable consumer benefits, but does in fact cite significant costs associated with this label mandate, and the other outlines options to comply with previous WTO decisions, which rejected the U.S. law as being trade distorting.  In the report concerning compliance options, USDA acknowledged if the U.S. loses its latest WTO appeal, we will have no choice but to repeal the law or amend it by establishing a generic mandatory label for meat.  No other options are offered.

“The call for a new generic mandatory meat label identifying meat as a product of North America does nothing to help producers, provides no useful information to consumers, and worse, it does nothing to mitigate the threat of retaliation since the idea has already been rejected by our trading partners,” Chairman Conaway said. “If the governments of Canada and Mexico do not accept this option, retaliation would continue. Our trading partners have already said this option is unacceptable, so it is perplexing that USDA would ignore basic facts and put forward an approach that would only serve to exacerbate the current situation. It is apparent that the Department is void of a workable, trade-compliant solution and producers, consumers and targeted industries deserve a straight-forward response stating as much. In order to avoid what could be devastating retaliatory sanctions against U.S. businesses if we lose, the starting point needs to be that mandatory COOL for meat is a failed experiment which should be repealed. The House Agriculture Committee is prepared to lead on this issue. Our goal, which is shared by industry and consumers alike, is to provide stability, not to create uncertainty.”

Under a generic North American label mandate, if an animal is born, raised and slaughtered in Mexico, Canada, or the United States, or any combination thereof, the meat derived from that animal would be labeled as being a product of North America. This idea has been floated and rejected by proponents and opponents of mandatory COOL. Ironically, this is the one aspect of the debate over COOL that both sides agree.  Furthermore, since any action taken by the U.S. to come into compliance would have to be agreed to by Canada and Mexico, previous statements by the Canadian government rejecting a generic North American label mandate should have been factored into USDA’s legislative recommendations.  The WTO is expected to issue its ruling on the latest US – COOL dispute no later than May 18, 2015.



USDA Announces $235 Million Available for Innovative New Conservation Partnerships

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today an investment of up to $235 million to improve the nation's water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. The funding is being made available through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), the newest conservation tool of the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

RCPP, created by the 2014 Farm Bill, empowers local leaders to work with multiple partners—such as private companies, local and tribal governments, universities, non-profit groups and other non-government partners—along with farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to design solutions that work best for their region. Local partners and the federal government both invest funding and manpower to projects to maximize their impact. This will be the second round of projects funded through RCPP. The RCPP program helps USDA build on already-record enrollment in conservation programs, with over 500,000 producers participating to protect land and water on over 400 million acres nationwide.

"This is a new, innovative approach to conservation," said Vilsack. "This initiative allows local partners the opportunity to design and invest in conservation projects specifically tailored for their communities. These public-private partnerships can have an impact that's well beyond what the Federal government could accomplish on its own. These efforts keep our land and water clean, and promote tremendous economic growth in agriculture, construction, tourism, and other industries."

Vilsack continued, "We had tremendous interest from local partners when we first launched this program last year. In this new round of applications, we'll be looking for even greater emphasis on expanding partnerships that break down barriers, work across boundaries, leverage resources and create new opportunities for innovation."

Secretary Vilsack made the announcement at a signing ceremony in Denver for the Colorado Pressurized Small Hydropower Partnership Project, a 2015-funded project that focuses on water quantity resource concerns in Colorado. The project, which will receive $1.8 million in NRCS support alongside local partner investments, will facilitate the conversion of flood irrigation systems to more resource-efficient pressurized irrigation systems with integrated hydropower.

"USDA continues to look for new opportunities to address drought across the West. RCPP projects like this one in Colorado highlight the work the NRCS is doing with partners to increase efficiency while supporting production," Vilsack said.

In January, USDA delivered first round funding to 115 high-impact projects, including the Colorado project, across all 50 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.



CWT Assists with 1.7 Million Pounds of Cheese and Whole Milk Powder Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 9 requests for export assistance from Agri-Mark, Dairy Farmers of America, and Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) who have contracts to sell 604,067 pounds (275 metric tons) of Cheddar, Colby and Monterey Jack cheese and 1.102 million pounds (500 metric tons) of whole milk powder to customers in Asia and the Middle East. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from May through October 2015.

Year-to-date, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 29.485 million pounds of cheese, 24.388 million pounds of butter, and 9.841 million pounds of whole milk powder to twenty eight countries on five continents. The amounts of Cheese, Butter and Whole Milk Powder in these sales contracts represent the equivalent of 892.705 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program, in the long-term, helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the U.S. farm milk that produces them. This, in turn, positively impacts U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.