In dairy politics, the Department of Labor (DOL) withdrew its proposed rule restricting the work that children could do on farms. The DOL issued a statement indicating that the proposed rule would not be pursued ‘for the duration of the Obama Administration,’ according to a National Milk press release.

The press release stated; “the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is encouraged by the Department’s recognition that the path it was on with this proposal was an affront to millions of family members on farms and ranches across America. Many of them had objected to what the Labor Department was planning to do, and they voiced their concerns to the DOL, as well as to Congress. The withdrawal of the proposal is a victory for common sense.”

The proposed child labor rule would have changed the definition of the ‘parental exemption,’ changed the student learner exemption, and significantly redefined what practices would be acceptable for youth under the age of 16 to participate in. Instead, the DOL says it will” work with rural stakeholders to develop education programs to reduce accidents to young workers and promote safer agricultural working practices.”

The nation’s benchmark farm milk price took a breather following four months of decline. The USDA announced the April Federal order (FO) Class III price at $15.72 per cwt., unchanged from March, but $1.15 below April 2011, $2.29 above California’s comparable 4b cheese milk price, and equates to about $1.35 per gallon. That put the 2012 Class III average at $16.14, down from $16.69 at this time a year ago, and compares to $13.62 in 2010 and meager $10.33 in 2009. The April Class IV price is $14.80, down 55 cents from March and $4.98 below a year ago.

Class III futures portend further declines in May and June and were trading late Friday morning as follows: May, $15.06; June, $14.19; July, $14.27; August, $14.73; September, $15.33; October, $15.45; November, $15.60; and December at $15.39 per cwt.

The AMS-surveyed cheese price averaged $1.5361 per pound, up 1.1 cent from March. Butter averaged $1.4634, up 2.9 cents. Nonfat dry milk averaged $1.2514, down 8 cents, and dry whey averaged 59.21 cents, down 1.9 cents.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced its April 4b cheese milk price at $13.43 per cwt., down 24 cents from March, 91 cents below April 2011 and as stated above well below the FO Class III. Taking a quick look back, it has lagged the Class III from as little as 8 cents in February 2011 to as much as $3.63 in December 2011. The 4b 2012 average now stands at $13.69, down from $15.13 at this time a year ago, but above the $12.28 in 2010. 

The 4a butter-powder price is $14.72, down 61 cents from March, the eighth consecutive month of decline, and $4.73 below a year ago. The 4a average now stands at $15.44, down from $18.22 a year ago but up from $13.23 in 2010. 

Readers with questions or comments for Lee Mielke may write to him in care of this publication.