Tim Koester

USDA recently released June fluid milk sales data. Organic milk purchases rose 4.5% year-over-year in June. That brought first half sales up 6.1% compared to 2023. Meanwhile, whole milk sales for the month eased 2.4% year-over-year. But thanks to stronger performances in prior months, first half purchases increased 2.2% versus 2023. Overall, how are fluid milk sales performing across different categories? Find out in the latest edition of “The Dairy Bar: Powered by Ever.Ag”: https://lnkd.in/ewvPdXu3 #DairyBar #marketinsights #dairy #sales

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This week the market started off quite firm with more buyers and fewer sellers. Butter prices traded significantly higher, and speaking to partners other commodities should logically follow. It's not the demand side that is pushing prices up quickly, but its the concern about the milk intake that seems to be pushing prices up. While most end users decided to wait for flush milk to put pressure on prices, those who waited might now be looking at higher offers due to a lack of milk. Yesterday we saw the first buyers enter the party, pushing up prices. A few more might cause the market to rally up quickly! Do you want to read our update, please click the link below. Want to receive this update every day, please sign up for free via the link below. #milk #dairy #butter #cheese #powders #gouda #mozzarella #cheddar #smp #whey

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The American People Are Hungry for a New Farm Bill By Grant Colvin Executive Director of the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *   As lawmakers return to Washington after a month back home with their constituents, they have a golden opportunity to address the top voter priority of lowering food costs by passing a bipartisan farm bill.   Extensive ongoing coverage and polling prove that Americans are frustrated with stubbornly high grocery bills. The fact that both presidential campaigns have placed food prices at the center of their economic policy proposals speaks to the potency of this issue for voters in all corners of the country and across the political spectrum.    How can the sugar program be reformed to lower food costs? In short, our outdated sugar program restricts domestic sugar production and imports, which in turn creates unnecessary ingredient shortages and cost increases for American food manufacturers. Given the prevalence of sugar as an ingredient in many grocery store staples—peanut butter, pasta sauce, bread, yogurt, and so many more—these same outdated policies also weigh down the budgets of families and small businesses.   This bipartisan, problem-solving action by Congressional agriculture leaders is commendable and should be recognized as the most promising momentum for sugar program modernization in decades. Notably, the emerging consensus on this package of reforms is backed by both sugar producers and food manufacturers. With that key support locked in, lawmakers are now positioned to land a defining blow in the country’s fight against high food costs. But they need to pass the farm bill in the weeks ahead.   That’s why food manufacturers and farm groups from across the country have been imploring lawmakers to pass a farm bill that delivers targeted reforms and provides relief for consumers. Manufacturers, small businesses, and families deserve the certainty of a five-year farm bill reauthorization, rather than falling back on yet another short-term extension that falls short on much-needed changes to the sugar program and other key areas.   Days may be running short for the 118th Congress, but there’s still time for lawmakers to bring food price relief to the overwhelming number of Americans yearning for Washington to come together and focus on this issue. To do so, let’s get the farm bill over the finish line.   Grant Colvin is the executive director of the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy, a large coalition of food companies, trade associations, consumer groups, free market organizations, and many others united in pursuit of a fairer, simpler U.S. sugar program.  

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The natural high in sales when you get a win and/or have a great review meeting...is worth ALL of the stress we absorb daily. #sales #cpg #wins #plantbasedmilk #organic #malkorganics

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Since 2019, roughly 27% of the U.S. milk supply has been covered under Dairy Revenue Protection. The insights gleaned from the last five years of DRP data highlight the importance of strategic decision-making and a long-term perspective in managing risk. HighGround Dairy https://lnkd.in/gwQK6pqA

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What’s driving soybean herbicide choices across the U.S.? Stratus’ newly released Brand Focus360 study dives into the motivations behind farmer decisions for pre-emergent herbicides like Authority Edge, BroadAxe, and Fierce XLT. The study segments farmers into groups based on what they value most—whether it's controlling resistant weeds, getting the best ROI, or focusing purely on performance. For companies looking to refine their marketing campaigns and target specific farmer needs, Brand Focus360 provides actionable insights to stay ahead in a competitive market. Learn more by reaching out to Nicole Langdon today! #AgResearch #Agriculture #BrandFocus360

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🧈📉 Brace yourselves—the butter market just took a slippery turn! After a whirlwind two days, butter prices have nosedived, and everyone's feeling the churn. Producers are pointing fingers, while all sellers we see are dropping prices faster than seen in recent months. All this while, buyers are enjoying a taste of revenge. Is karma making its rounds in the dairy world? 🐮 Dive into why this bear trend is different and what it could mean for Q1 demand. Let's explore the twists and turns together! 🔄

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Versatility and cross-utilization. A short rib like entree from a beef pot roast.

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📈 Standoff Intensifies: Who Will Blink First? The market remains tight, with buyers delaying decisions and sellers standing firm. Prices are holding steady for cream, butter, and cheese, but there's a clear tension in the air. Are we on the brink of a major move? 🔹 Cream prices staying strong, ranging from €9,700 to €10,200. 🔹 Butter quotes fluctuating but still holding up across Europe. 🔹 Cheese market shows little activity but expect a potential squeeze. Full insights include detailed bid/offer breakdowns for NL/DE/BE, Irish butter, Gouda, Mozzarella, and more. Get ahead of the trends before the next big shift! #MarketTrends #TradingInsights #CommodityUpdate #ButterAndCheese #IndustryAnalysis

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🍂 Curious about this season's trending fall flavors? Is the classic Pumpkin Spice Latte still reigning supreme? 🎃 Check out our latest blog post where we uncover "Surprising Fall Favorites" 👉 https://lnkd.in/e-TRjtk3 Learn about anything and everything here at www.Pollfish.com #marketresearch #falltrends #consumerinsights #PSL #pollfish #prodege

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Today on the Fresh Takes on Tech podcast, we're joined by Peter Wells, Chief Strategy Director at Elevated Foods, who shares insights into the company's innovative approach to agriculture. Listen in as Peter discusses the challenges faced by family farms and the importance of data gathering in market development. Discover how Elevated Foods navigates enrollment processes, provides technical assistance to growers, and fosters collaboration and partnerships in climate-smart agriculture. International Fresh Produce Association #climatesmartag #innovation USDA

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Over the past two days, the market has been creaking and groaning under the pressure of the milk flush. It's a common annual occurrence; the market experiences this every year, and the next six weeks will likely follow the same pattern. The EU milk peaks present a recurring challenge in allocating the surplus of milk, cream, concentrate, and extra raw milk produced by EU farmers. Yet, this year the pressure feels more intense than in previous years. Could it be that the market has forgotten the strain of the flush period, or is there an additional factor exacerbating the pressure? We believe there are several contributing factors. Read our view on the market in the article below.

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🚨 New USDA Policy Alert! 🚨 The USDA is stepping up efforts to reduce salmonella in raw poultry—great news for consumers, but it means food brands must be more vigilant than ever. 🛡️ That’s where our Trade Name Restoration (TNR) program comes in. Unlike traditional policies. TNR activates: 💥 - without proof of actual contamination - without requiring store closures - without a government recall Whether it's due to an employee, customer, or supplier, your brand can act swiftly and stay protected. Don’t wait for a crisis—be prepared. #FoodSafety #BrandProtection #InsuranceInnovation #plisinc #TNR #TNRInsurance #foodborneillness #foodborneillnessinsurance #foodborneinsurance #restaurants #hospitality Read more about the USDA policy here: https://lnkd.in/gFrmRNvF

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The Dairy Sustainability Alliance® meeting continued today with a panel led by Leah Dorman, DVM, that explored how dairy farmers partner with industry experts such as bankers, nutritionists, and veterinarians to identify innovative solutions that will make their farms more sustainable and financially viable. #DairySust24

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UNFI just reported a surprisingly good Q3. Everyone in our industry should be celebrating. Their earnings call outlined how their larger Natural/Organic/Specialty accounts (WFM/TFM/GFH) are performing well. It’s a good thing, that these accounts are continuing to perform well and showing consumer resilience against persistently high pricing. This opens more innovation into more doors, and allows for the transfer of market share from Big CPG to emerging brands. It’s also a good thing their simplified fee structure (SSA) is paying off and producing more sustainable EBITDA rates for them because the stability of their supply chain network is important for retailers. There’s a nascent cottage industry built around helping small brands navigate UNFI’s “deduction” process. It’s important to understand that this 7% “Inside Income” forms the basis of their core profitability model. Nobody is going to “outsmart” or “outhustle” that 7% model long-term. Every brand signs the Policies and Procedures document and the details are all in the minutiae there. It’s important to understand that UNFI does not make its profits selling product…they earn more than 100% of their EBITDA by BUYING product. Their fees aren’t “predatory” they are just optimized for mature, larger brands who make up more than 80% of their sales. If you want a simplified no deduction model, and you don’t want to have to patchwork together 5-10 smaller distributors to reach national scale, you should work with us instead. We only make money when we sell product and we only work with emerging, growth brands. ALL of our fees are posted on our website, and we explain them to every brand that onboards with us in a 30 minute call. We can onboard you by the end of the day today if you want. Otherwise, UNFI is a very competent incumbent, and they are here to stay. Pod Foods #innovation #unfi #grocery

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