U.S. dairy prices looked very different in the first half of 2026 than market analysts expected at the start of the year. Class IV values, in particular, outperformed expectations as supply constraints in the nonfat dry milk market and healthy export demand pushed prices higher. But over the past 30 days, dairy pricing has shifted…
Based on the most recent Milk Production report, the U.S. dairy industry continues its rapid upward growth. The U.S. production totaled 20.6 billion pounds for May, a 2.3% increase from May 2025. Averaging 2,128 pounds, May’s monthly output per cow experienced a modest 8-pound growth year over year, and the U.S. milking herd reached a…
The one thing that is inevitable in commodity markets is what goes up must come down, and what comes down will go up again. That is holding true as 2026 continues to unfold. In January, we saw Class III and IV milk prices fall dramatically, with the all-milk price dropping to $17.50 per hundredweight (cwt)…
“One of our greatest strengths is the group of people sitting around this table!” This statement came from Harold, a dairy farmer in Pennsylvania. The people sitting around his table included his veterinarian, nutritionist, banker, accountant, agronomist, Harold and his wife, and me.
For the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, the USDA an nounced April’s margin to be $10.54 per hundredweight (cwt), a high for program year 2026 so far. With the margin being $1.04 per cwt above the $9.50 trigger, no indemnities were paid out to participating dairies.
Every dairy farmerrecognizes the problems with heat stress: reduced milk production, depressed feed intake, and panting cows. These signs appear quickly, and the production loss can be easily measured. As heat stress persists, it becomes difficult to get cows pregnant, and lameness often increases. Current practices do not eliminate heat stress but aim to minimize…
So far, May is shaping up to be much different than last year, providing a mix of sun and rain, the perfect blend for getting crops in the ground. USDA’s latest Crop Progress Report has 43% of the corn crop planted in Pennsylvania as of the week ending May 17th, up from 27% the previous…
Milk prices in 2026 are off to a much stronger start than expected with second half Class III values sitting near $18.45 per hundredweight, while Class IV is trading closer to $19.35. The market continues to weigh robust global milk production against less-than-exciting domestic consumer demand and evolving export dynamics, leaving industry participants wondering how…
The USDA announced March’s margin is $9.57 per hundredweight (cwt) for the Dairy Margin Coverage program. At the $9.50 coverage level, participating dairies did not receive indemnities. For program year 2026, this will be the first month when the margin was above the $9.50 trigger, resulting in no payments. March’s margin was up $1.11 per…
If you’re in dairy, you already know that stress isn’t an occasional visitor – it can often feel like a full-time partner. Between milk prices, feed costs, weather, labor, and 24/7 livestock care, there’s always something demanding your attention. Stress in itself isn’t all bad, but when it becomes chronic, it can take a serious…
