Author: VFB Governmental Relations

Cattle Pulse: Records Are Made To Be Broken

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CattlePulse is a monthly update from Virginia Farm Bureau on the Virginia feeder cattle markets, the national trends that affect them and stories of cattle producers across the commonwealth.

The host, Virginia Farm Bureau’s Elijah Griles, covers economics, market trends and stories about Virginia’s cattle industry from across the Commonwealth. CattlePulse is the home for regular market updates about Virginia feeder cattle sales, timely and relevant production advancements, and interviews with producers and industry professionals.  

Listen to the latest episode

New Year's Reflections – CattlePulse

In this month’s episode of CattlePulse, host Elijah Griles looks back at 2025’s price trends and breaks down what they could mean for Virginia herds in 2026. He also dives into the worsening drought conditions and highlights the month of January's low prices.We want to hear from you!Have a question or a topic you'd like us to cover in a future episode? Email Elijah at elijah.griles@vafb.com.
  1. New Year's Reflections
  2. 'Tis the Season for Seasonal Trends?
  3. Beef Imports & Market Mayhem
  4. Demand vs. Dollars
  5. Where Are The Calves Coming From?

Virginia to offer nutrient management training in June

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The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation will offer a two-part agriculture nutrient management training in June. The training is for anyone interested in learning about the development of agricultural nutrient management plans or how to become a certified plan writer.

The first session, June 11-12, is a lecture series by Virginia Tech professors on soil science, soil fertility and crop production. This is a virtual course hosted through Microsoft Teams and will run from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each day. Registration is $150 with a deadline of June 3.

The second session, June 25-27, will cover nutrient management plan writing using a case-study farm. The training will be held in the Bioscience Building of Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave. Each day will run from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Registration is $150 with a deadline of June 17.

Nutrient management continues to be an important factor in a farmer’s decision-making process when considering application of materials to supply nutrients to crops and forages. Nutrient management plans determine rates for applying manure, fertilizers, biosolids and other soil amendments so that yields are maximized, and nutrient loss to ground and surface waters is minimized. Application rates are determined by a process using actual yield records or soil productivity when yield records aren’t available.

To register and for more information on nutrient management certification please visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/nmtrain.

Dairy Producers in Virginia Reminded to Enroll in 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage by April 29  

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is encouraging dairy producers to enroll by April 29, 2024, for 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC), an important safety net program that helps offset milk and feed price differences. This year’s DMC signup began Feb. 28, 2024, and payments, retroactive to January, began in March 2024. So far, DMC payments triggered in January and February of 2024 at margins of $8.48 and $9.44 respectively.   

2024 DMC Coverage and Premium Fees   

FSA revised DMC regulations to extend coverage for calendar year 2024, which is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024, and to provide an adjustment to the production history for dairy operations with less than 5 million pounds of production. In previous years, smaller dairy operations could establish a supplemental production history and receive Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage.

For 2024, dairy producers can establish one adjusted base production history through DMC for each participating dairy operation to better reflect the operation’s current production.  

For 2024 DMC enrollment, dairy operations that established supplemental production history through Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage for coverage years 2021 through 2023, will combine the supplemental production history with established production history for one adjusted base production history.    

For dairy operations enrolled in 2023 DMC under a multi-year lock-in contract, lock-in eligibility will be extended until Dec. 31, 2024. In addition, dairy operations enrolled in multi-year lock-in contracts are eligible for the discounted DMC premium rate during the 2024 coverage year. To confirm 2024 DMC lock-in coverage or opt out in favor of an annual contract for 2024, dairy operations having lock-in contracts must enroll during the 2024 DMC enrollment period.        

DMC offers different levels of coverage, even an option that is free to producers, minus a $100 administrative fee. The administrative fee is waived for dairy producers who are considered limited resource, beginning, socially disadvantaged or a military veteran. To determine the appropriate level of DMC coverage for a specific dairy operation, producers can use the online dairy decision tool.    

Congress passed a 2018 Farm Bill extension requiring these regulatory changes to the program. DMC is also authorized through calendar year 2024. 

DMC Payments   

DMC payments are calculated using updated feed and premium hay costs, making the program more reflective of actual dairy producer expenses.  These updated feed calculations use 100% premium alfalfa hay.    

More Information  

DMC is a voluntary risk management program providing protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed price (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.  In 2023, DMC payments triggered in 11 months including two months, June and July, where the margin fell below the catastrophic level of $4.00 per hundredweight, a first for DMC or its predecessor Margin Protection Program. 

USDA also offers other risk management tools for dairy producers, including the Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) plan that protects against a decline in milk revenue (yield and price) and the Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) plan, which provides protection against the loss of the market value of milk minus the feed costs. Both DRP and LGM livestock insurance policies are offered through the Risk Management Agency. Producers should contact their local crop insurance agent for more information.   

For more information on DMC, visit the DMC webpage or contact your local USDA Service Center.

Is a Forest Carbon Program Right for You?

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Forests play a critical role in the global carbon cycle, absorbing and storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In Virginia, over 16 million acres (62%) of the state is forested, with the majority owned by nonindustrial private landowners. These forests sequester approximately 40% of the state’s annual carbon emissions under standard management practices.

Is a Forest Carbon Program Right for You?

A number of forest carbon project developers are operating in Virginia. As opportunities to take part in forest carbon markets increase, woodland owners are faced with many questions.

Click the button below to learn more about forest carbon credit opportunities in Virginia.

Forest Carbon Credit Programs

HP Hood to Expand Operations in Frederick County

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HP Hood LLC, will invest more than $83.5 million to expand its dairy processing operations in Frederick County. The expansion project includes upgrades to production and packaging equipment and construction of additional cooler and warehouse space. The project will enable the company to further grow its business while continuing to provide a local market for Virginia dairy farms through its milk cooperative network which includes the Dairy Farmers of America and the Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association.

“I commend HP Hood for their continued investment in Frederick County and in Virginia’s dairy industry, the state’s fourth largest sector in the agriculture industry,” said Gov. Glenn Youngkin. “Supporting companies like HP Hood is vitally important to Virginia’s dairy producers and spurs economic development in this area of the Commonwealth.”

Hood’s Winchester facility, which was constructed in 2000, employs more than 600 people and processes extended-shelf-life fluid milk and nondairy products for Hood’s own brands, private label partners, licensed brands and co-packing partners. The facility expansion will provide increased production capacity that is critical to the company’s operations and fund technology that will enable Hood to produce new products in response to growing customer demand.

“HP Hood has played a vital role in Frederick County’s food manufacturing sector for more than 20 years, providing employment opportunities and contributing to our economic growth,” said Josh Ludwig, Chairman of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors. “We are grateful for their continued investment and confidence in our community.”

“As a lifelong dairy farmer in the Shenandoah Valley, I’m excited to see this level of investment in dairy processing in the Commonwealth. I welcome HP Hood’s investment in the community and look forward to growing Virginia’s dairy supply to meet their needs,” said Senator Timmy French.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) worked with Frederick County and the Frederick County Economic Development Authority to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Youngkin approved a $50,000 Infrastructure Grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund, which Frederick County will match with local funds.

“I am pleased that the Commonwealth will continue its partnership with Frederick County and HP Hood to increase market opportunities for Virginia dairy producers. This announcement is certainly a win-win for Frederick County, the state’s dairy producers and Virginia agriculture,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr.

“We proudly selected this location to build a greenfield plant more than 24 years ago and have been grateful for the ongoing support of Frederick County and the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Gary Kaneb, President and CEO of HP Hood. “This expansion enables us to continue to grow Hood’s business and accommodate the everchanging needs of our customers and continue to provide a market for local dairy farms through our local milk cooperative network.”

Founded in 1846 in Charlestown, Massachusetts as a milk delivery service, HP Hood is a nationally branded dairy processor with more than 3,000 employees and annual sales revenues of approx. $3.5 billion. The company manufactures conventional, extended-shelf life (ESL) and shelf stable dairy and non-dairy beverages cultured products, as well as ice cream and frozen desserts. The company’s broad portfolio of retail consumer product brands include Hood, Heluva Good!, Lactaid, Blue Diamond Almond Breeze, and Planet Oat, to name a few. In addition to selling its products through traditional retail and wholesale channels, the company also manufactures private-label products and provides co-packing services.