S4E33: “Getting Involved in CMAB” | Melissa Lema
The Skim:
In this episode of the "Seen and Herd" podcast, Allison Tristao interviews Melissa Lema, Director of Producer Relations of the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB). Here's a summary of the key points discussed:
**CMAB Elections and Process**: Melissa shares that there are positions available on the CMAB Board, including multiple director and alternate roles. She explains the importance of producer input in how funds are used to market California dairy products.
The nomination period is open until Friday, September 8th.
The term for newly elected producers will start March 1st.
Reach out to Melissa if interested by email, MLema@cmab.net
Visit the California Dairy Farmers Facebook page to view a list of available positions from each district – https://www.facebook.com/groups/407653786066433/
**Board Member Commitment**: The interview touches on the responsibilities and commitments of board members, with two-day quarterly meetings held primarily in the Central Valley. Melissa describes the agenda of these meetings, including detailed reports from various CMAB departments.
**Encouraging Producer Engagement**: Throughout the interview, Melissa emphasizes the importance of producer engagement in CMAB. She encourages dairy producers to get involved, either by running for board positions or attending meetings to understand how their products are marketed.
Market Update by Tiffany LaMendola:
Tiffany LaMendola mentions that the dairy markets have improved compared to the previous month.
**Cheese Market**: Cheese prices increased earlier in the week due to tighter milk supplies caused by hot weather in key production regions, particularly in the Midwest. Spot block cheese prices reached 195 cents per pound, up by half a percent from the previous week.
**Butter Market**: Butter prices remained stable, closing the week at 266 cents per pound, with adequate butter stocks. Cream supplies were slightly looser.
**Nonfat Market**: Nonfat dry milk faced downward pressure due to weak global demand conditions, with domestic prices dropping to their lowest since November 2020, reaching as low as $1.07 a quarter.
**Upcoming Events**: Tiffany mentions the upcoming Global Dairy Trade event on Tuesday, which will provide insights into pricing and competition with Oceana for dairy exports. The upcoming week is expected to be relatively quiet as they head into mid-September.
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For questions about this episode, please contact Allison at allison@wudairies.com
To learn more about Western United Dairies, visit https://westernuniteddairies.com.
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Podcast | Seen and Herd
Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seen-herd/id1508160620
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6esjAxuQ3fM8U4hfURhYt8
