Experts: USDA buy won't relieve dairy oversupply

Experts say the federal government’s purchase of 11 million pounds of cheese might put a few more dollars in farmers’ pockets, but the buy won’t help much amid the biggest cheese glut in 30 years. By JON O’CONNELL.

MPP Milk-Feed Margin Soars

What a difference a few months make. In May and June, the U.S. All-Milk price tumbled below $15 and whole herd feed costs soared to $9. The result was a milk-feed margin that averaged $5.76/cwt, triggering the largest MPP indemnity payments in the program’s history. BY JIM DICKRELL

The Bear Market in Butter

Americans’ renewed appetite for full-fat foods pushed butter prices to a record peak above $3 a pound in 2014 and that high again in 2015, but they’ve softened so far this year. Prices for spot butter traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange are down 8.8% this year, to $1.8975 at the close on Friday, Sept. 30. Analysts warn the decline probably has further to go. By CHELSEY DULANEY.