MD_DA902 Organic Dairy Fluid Overview Report 40 - Released on October 4, 2019 ORGANIC DAIRY FLUID OVERVIEW Eliminating the Organic Dairy Loophole. On October 1, 2019 the USDA NOP re-opened the public comment period for the "Origin of Livestock" rule, initially published in 2015. The rule regulates the transitioning of dairy cow herds from conventional to organic milk production. There may be some ambiguity in the currently published information, regarding the number of times whole conventional herds can transition over a 12-month period. Some organic dairy stakeholders see this as a loophole undermining the integrity of organic. The comment period is open from October 1-December 2, 2019. The USDA will consider the cost- benefits of limiting dairy transitions to once for a given producer, the procedures certifying agents use to determine if a producer is eligible, and the proposed implementation approach for the rule. Additional info can be viewed at: https://www.regulations.gov/searchResults?rpp=25&po=0&s=AMS-NOP-11-0009&fp=true&ns=true U.S. Organic Milk Farm Gate Pay Price. A national organic dairy cooperator's October 2019 pay price, per cwt. is $29.24. The organic milk pay price received by organic dairy producers is based on the geographic area where the milk is produced, with a twelve-month average price of $31.30, based on a 12.9 percent representation of total solids. Producers continue to feel the impact of the organic milk price drop from last year. Dutch Organic Milk Pay Price Unchanged. In the Netherlands, a large processor of organic milk announced the October 2019 pay price for organic milk is 47.50 EUR/100lt (currently $52.01 USD) unchanged from September 2019. The price applies to those organic milk producers supplying an average of 600,000 kilograms of milk, containing a fat content of 4.41 percent, protein content of 3.47 percent and a lactose content of 4.51 percent, on an annual basis. Monthly Retail Organic Milk Prices for Selected U.S. Cities. The September 2019 in-store surveys of selected supermarkets in twenty-nine U.S. cities reveal that the price of organic whole milk, half gallon containers, range from $3.10 in Louisville, KY. to $5.84 in Pittsburgh, PA. The U.S. simple average price for September is $4.04. ORGANIC GRAIN FEEDSTUFF OVERVIEW Organic Grain and Feed Market. This report period, markets for organic feed grade corn display moderate trading on light demand. The bulk of trade activity occurred in spot markets with limited activity from forward contracts. Feed grade corn traded steady, with several transactions below 8.00 FOB. Stocks are readily available. While organic feed grade soybeans exchanges were steady, organic feed wheat trading was limited with lower price undertones noted. Trade activity was less than active on feed soybean meal due to struggles to compete with imported meal prices. Organic Dairy Pastures. While rain delayed a good part of the year's harvest of organic grains, sources indicate that although challenging, pastures in the Northeast area of the country have been viable for grazing. Current reports indicate adequate corn silage yields. For more additional information, access the link: https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/lsbnof.pdf Information for the period September 23 - October 4, 2019, issued biweekly Published by: Dairy Market News - Madison, WI DANIEL JOHNSON, 608-422-8605 Email: daniel.johnson4@usda.gov Additional Dairy Market News Information: Dairy Market News (DMN) by Phone: (608)422-8602 DMN Website: https://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/dairy DMN MARS (My Market News): https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov