Over the past few years, we’ve seen an incredible increase in butterfat tests at the farm
level, providing yet another reason why to not bet against the
U.S. dairy farmer. By January 2025, average U.S. butterfat tests
hit 4.46% – up from 4.35% in January 2024 and 4.03% in January
2020. Combined with the 0.1% increase in milk production,
total January 2025 butterfat production (just off the farm) increased
by 22 million pounds. That’s enough extra fat to make
27 million pounds of extra butter – the equivalent of … let’s
just say, a lot of chocolate chip cookies.