Bird Flu Slows Dairy Cattle Travel, Hits Profits: Farm Brief (1)

Welcome back from last week’s recess, Farm Brief readers, and get ready for a busy month ahead.

On the horizon: Senate Republicans are gearing up to release a farm bill framework this month with an increase in reference prices and support for commodity crops, I reported first for Bloomberg Government earlier this week.

But first: June is dairy month, yet milk producers’ celebrations are being tempered as bird flu outbreaks make business more difficult and drag on profits.

Apart from battling milk output loss and the health risks to workers, some dairy farmers say they’re losing profit under federal testing ...