Milling & Baking News Corporate Profiles - November 2013 - (Page 46)

Dairy Dairy Milk production grows amid industry struggles A fter nearly stalling in 2013, U.S. milk production is forecast to grow 1.3% in 2014, which still lags 2012 growth of more than 2%. At the same time, the dairy industry continues to face obstacles, not the least of which is declining fluid milk consumption. In its Sept. 12 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast 2014 U.S. milk production at 204.5 billion lbs, up 1.3% from 201.8 billion lbs estimated for 2013, when output eked out an increase of less than a half per cent from 196.2 billion lbs in 2012. 46 \ November 2013 The gain in milk production roughly mirrors U.S. population growth, with use aided by strong dairy product exports. The U.S. Dairy Export Council said exports of U.S. dairy products in the first six months of 2013 were a record $3,168 million, up 16% from the same period in 2012. "Aggregate U.S. shipments of milk powder, whey proteins, cheese and butterfat grew 9% compared to a year ago, and the United States gained global market share," the Export Council said. "Through the first six months of the year, U.S. suppliers exported 14.7% of milk production (total solids basis), a significant increase from the 13.5% shipped in the first half of 2012." Strong exports have helped the U.S. dairy industry cope with high feed costs, "below guideline" consumption of dairy products and decades of declining per capita fluid milk consumption in the United States. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 recommend 3 cupequivalents per day of dairy products for Americans older than age eight. "Per capita dairy consumption has long held steady at about 1.5 cupequivalents, despite rising cheese consumption," the U.S.D.A.'s Economic Research Service said in a report on milk consumption. "This stasis in per capita dairy consumption results directly from the fact that Americans are drinking progressively less fluid milk. Since 1970 alone, per capita fluid milk consumption has fallen from 0.96 cup-equivalents to about 0.61 cup-equivalents (down 36%) per day." The U.S.D.A. concluded in the report titled "Why are Americans consuming less fluid milk? A look at generational differences in intake frequency," that the main cause of lower milk consumption was less frequency as "people have become less apt to drink fluid milk at mealtimes." The study found that portions have remained constant at about 8 oz per serving. "All else constant, succeeding generations of Americans born after the 1930s have consumed fluid milk less often than their preceding generations," the U.S.D.A. said. But there are bright spots for the dairy industry. In addition to strong exports, specific categories of dairy Milling & Baking News * Food Business News * Baking & Snack * Meat & Poultry Corporate Profiles

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Milling & Baking News Corporate Profiles - November 2013

Milling & Baking News Corporate Profiles - November 2013