USDA’s $3-billion for Natural Disasters and US Milk Production Down

**The USDA will provide more than $3 billion to commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disasters in 2022.

Eligible producers can apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Relief Program.

ERP 2022 covers losses to crops due to qualifying natural disasters including wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, tornadoes, winter storms, smoke exposure, excessive moisture, qualifying drought and related conditions.

The application process is now open.

**USDA’s latest Milk Production report shows production in the 24 major states during September totaled 17.5 billion pounds, down slightly from September of 22.

Production per cow averaged 1,960 pounds for September, three pounds above September 2022.

The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.91 million head, 16,000 head less than September 2022, and 2,000 head less than August 2023.

**A Farmdoc report says China is set to import “record volumes” of wheat this year.

Industry sources say rain damage to China’s wheat crop and subsequent worries over dry weather in exporting nations are driving Beijing’s appetite while prices are low.

Traders also say China’s frantic wheat buying is likely to support global prices, which have dropped more than a quarter through this year due to abundant Russian supplies.