Latest News From Butter

Butter Prices Rebound, Milk Prices Fall Lower
Butter Prices Rebound, Milk Prices Fall Lower

Another weak Class III performance was experienced on Monday following last week's downturn in price.

Will Class IV Prices Actually Be Higher Than Class III This Year?
Will Class IV Prices Actually Be Higher Than Class III This Year?

There is great optimism that butter prices will be higher than cheese prices this year.

Milk Prices See Little Recovery: Weaker Supply Balanced by Slower Demand
Milk Prices See Little Recovery: Weaker Supply Balanced by Slower Demand

While the calendar flipped to 2024 weeks ago, there has been little change in dairy market sentiment since the beginning of this year. Globally, the industry continues to walk a tightrope of limited ‘new’ milk.

2024 Milk Production Forecast Reduced, All-Milk Price Looks More Encouraging
2024 Milk Production Forecast Reduced, All-Milk Price Looks More Encouraging

Recently, the USDA lowered its milk production forecast for 2024 due to lower expected output per cow, which is partly offset by higher cow inventories.

Class IV Prices Push Over the $20 Mark
Class IV Prices Push Over the $20 Mark

Milk markets continue to widen the Class IV/III spread as Class IV holds over $20 for 2024 calendar and Class III milk bounces around.

Milk Markets Finally See Some Excitement
Milk Markets Finally See Some Excitement

Futures values ended up rallying 40 cents in the February contract while March and April were up 50+ cents.

Butter Drives Milk Markets Higher
Butter Drives Milk Markets Higher

Butter drove the dairy markets higher Thursday with the CME spot trade gaining 11 cents to finish at $2.68 3/4.

Production Remains Strong Despite Fewer Cows, Just Take a Look
Production Remains Strong Despite Fewer Cows, Just Take a Look

Producers want to know: “Why is milk production remaining high even with lower milk prices and farms going out of business?”

Dairy Farmers Could Face Another Year of Disturbingly Low Milk Prices
Dairy Farmers Could Face Another Year of Disturbingly Low Milk Prices

The hope is that depressed milk prices will be short lived. However, without a significant increase in demand or tighter milk supply or both, low prices may be with us for a longer duration.

Are Milk Prices Ready to Rebound?
Are Milk Prices Ready to Rebound?

Just how low will milk prices go? Slower exports, weaker demand and global inflation have all been an anchor on the potential for higher dairy product prices. Will we finally start to see some relief in 2024?

Milk Prices Continue to Fall Ahead of Holidays
Milk Prices Continue to Fall Ahead of Holidays

Dairy markets continued their descent on Monday following another day of weak cheese performance on the CME spot dairy auction. 

Mexico’s Dairy Demand to Grow in 2024
Mexico’s Dairy Demand to Grow in 2024

A growing population and an increase in consumer purchasing power in Mexico will support U.S. exports

The Grinch Gets Ahold of Butter Prices, Milk Prices Find Some Strength
The Grinch Gets Ahold of Butter Prices, Milk Prices Find Some Strength

CME product markets on Monday tilted to the negative side to kick off the week.

Butter Prices: What Goes Up, Must Come Down
Butter Prices: What Goes Up, Must Come Down

Price movement in butter over the past 2 1/2 months has been a sight to behold.

A Bright Future Ahead for Cooperatives Working Together
A Bright Future Ahead for Cooperatives Working Together

Launched in 2003, the Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) program is designed to promote the sale of U.S. dairy products to oversee customers and a program that NMPF says moves a billion lbs. of product annually.

Butter and Milk Prices Hold Steady
Butter and Milk Prices Hold Steady

Wednesday markets may lull us to sleep. After a strong couples in butter, we have treaded water the last few sessions at current level.

Did the Holiday Butter Price Rally Strike Early This Year?
Did the Holiday Butter Price Rally Strike Early This Year?

The holiday butter rally is underway, and it may even be a little early.

Springers and Butter Prices Gain Ground
Springers and Butter Prices Gain Ground

Butter and springer prices caught the dairy industry by surprise in late September.

Checkoff’s Pizza Partnerships Engage in Cheese-Growth Efforts
Checkoff’s Pizza Partnerships Engage in Cheese-Growth Efforts

Programs projected to drive an additional 12 million pounds in sales.

Holiday Rally Sends Butter Prices to Unexplored Highs
Holiday Rally Sends Butter Prices to Unexplored Highs

Shellshocked buyers push butter prices to new heights ahead of the holidays

Butter Stocks Shrink, Prices Increase
Butter Stocks Shrink, Prices Increase

Butter stocks shrank to 289 million pounds, down 40.3 million pounds from July. 

Will Seasonal Demand Support an Uptrend for Milk Prices?
Will Seasonal Demand Support an Uptrend for Milk Prices?

Seasonal buying is taking place, but sellers continue to offer product on the spot market leaving buyers unaggressive.

Minnesota Dairy Community Crowns 70th   Princess Kay of the Milky Way
Minnesota Dairy Community Crowns 70th Princess Kay of the Milky Way

Emma Kuball, a 19-year-old college student from Waterville, Minnesota, representing Rice County, was crowned the 70th Princess Kay of the Milky Way in an evening ceremony Aug. 23 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. 

A Record Day for Butter
A Record Day for Butter

Butter had 49 loads trading hands on the CME spot trade. Here's what that meant for dairy prices.

Three Famous Athletes Join the Famous Butter Cow at the Iowa State Fair
Three Famous Athletes Join the Famous Butter Cow at the Iowa State Fair

A few things you can count on if you make your way to Des Moines, Iowa for the Iowa State Fair—corn dogs, livestock shows and the iconic Iowa State Fair butter cow. 

Butter Prices Get Beat Up
Butter Prices Get Beat Up

Class IV milk saw August fall 13 cents to $18.81/cwt, September fell 19 to $18.91, and October plummeted 39 cents to $18.95/cwt.

Dairy Markets Continue to Be At Risk
Dairy Markets Continue to Be At Risk

Dairy markets continue to be in peril. On the CME Dairy Spot Call, the block-barrel spread shrunk some more as barrels came down over 3 cents while blocks were the same.

Commodity Markets Continue to Prove Volatile
Commodity Markets Continue to Prove Volatile

Volatility continues to run rampant through commodity markets. Rains in the Midwest have given dairy producers a breather on the run for higher corn and soybean meal prices, but it also fizzles out the support in milk.

How Long Will Butter Remain Rangebound?
How Long Will Butter Remain Rangebound?

The sideways price range of butter has been able to hold Class IV prices and futures at a better level than Class III.

Midwest Dairy Producers Forced to Dump Milk
Midwest Dairy Producers Forced to Dump Milk

With much of the Upper Midwest processing capacity maxed out in terms of milk production, finding a new home for milk is not an easy task. This is causing dairy farms to dump milk due to the oversupply. 

NMPF’s Jim Mulhern Discusses Federal Milk Marketing Orders Modernization Proposal
NMPF’s Jim Mulhern Discusses Federal Milk Marketing Orders Modernization Proposal

Recently, NMPF president and CEO, Jim Mulhern, spoke to AgriTalk’s host, Chip Flory, about federal milk marketing orders. NMPF has requested a national hearing to amend five pricing provisions under the FMMO.

Here Ye, Here Ye, King Charles Loves Cheese
Here Ye, Here Ye, King Charles Loves Cheese

Buckingham Palace recently announced that the Coronation of His Majesty the King will take place this coming Saturday, May 6. As a result, there is an expected surge in both dairy and meat sales in the United Kingdom.

What is the Current Grade of Dairy Conditions in 2023?
What is the Current Grade of Dairy Conditions in 2023?

The 2023 calendar year is off to a fast start and 90 days into the New Year leading economists say that milk production has been weaker than anticipated.

Fueled by Passion and Commitment, Dairy Exports Grow
Fueled by Passion and Commitment, Dairy Exports Grow

One reason dairy exports showcased record values in 2022 and overcome hefty challenges like inflations and supply chain hiccups was because of the steadfast passion and commitment backed behind it.

Dairy Max Forges NIL Deals with Collegiate Athletes
Dairy Max Forges NIL Deals with Collegiate Athletes

While the NCAA rules regarding the NCAA name, image, and likeness (NIL) policies have caused a controversy, this monumental shift presents an incredible opportunity for brands to target a wide demographic of consumers.

U.S. Dairy Exports Crosses $9 Billion
U.S. Dairy Exports Crosses $9 Billion

Despite challenges, U.S. dairy exports set new volume and value records again in 2022. Export volume in 2022 reached an all-time high. Following suite, export value finished the year up 25% to $9.6 billion.

PA Farm Show Recycles 1,000 Lb. Butter Sculpture – Here’s How
PA Farm Show Recycles 1,000 Lb. Butter Sculpture – Here’s How

A bit of butter makes everything better – including farm shows. Here's how the PA Farm Show Recycled their 1,000 lb. sculpture.

The Butter Blues: Prices Fall Even Lower Than Expected
The Butter Blues: Prices Fall Even Lower Than Expected

The recent decline of butter price has been a surprise. But there have been other years of substantial price weakness for various reasons.

Butter Inventory Remains Flat, Cheese Inventory Drops
Butter Inventory Remains Flat, Cheese Inventory Drops

The U.S. butter inventory finished November at 200 million pounds.

The Grinch Stole Today's Butter Prices
The Grinch Stole Today's Butter Prices

The Grinch stole the butter buyers and helped push Spot CME Butter down 12 ½ cents on Wednesday to $2.47 1/2/lb.

One-on-One with U.S. Dairy Export Council’s CEO, Krysta Harden
One-on-One with U.S. Dairy Export Council’s CEO, Krysta Harden

President and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), Krysta Harden shares that even through the toughest of times, U.S. dairy exports grew, and she believes that number will continue to rise. 

U.S. Set to Host the World Dairy Summit for the First Time in 30 Years
U.S. Set to Host the World Dairy Summit for the First Time in 30 Years

At a moment when U.S. dairy exports are increasing, the light shines big on the United States, as it was announced the International Dairy Federation (IDF) World Dairy Summit will be held in Chicago Oct. 16-19, 2023.

Recession or Not: The Consumer Has Reached Their Breaking Point
Recession or Not: The Consumer Has Reached Their Breaking Point

The consumer no longer can absorb higher costs. Tanner Ehmke with CoBank says that lighter foot traffic is seen in some grocery stores, while discount retailers have seen a significant increase in foot traffic.

Midwest Dairy Awarded Vendor of the Year by Cub
Midwest Dairy Awarded Vendor of the Year by Cub

Connecting dairy’s story and products with consumers is a key ingredient when partnering with retail stores. Midwest Dairy was recognized for its efforts in this area by a leading Midwest retailer earlier this fall.

O’Brien Delivers First-Year Outcomes: A Refreshed Checkoff Strategy
O’Brien Delivers First-Year Outcomes: A Refreshed Checkoff Strategy

DMI is modernizing the checkoff strategy with a fresh organizational structure and a new three-year plan and budget that delivers immediate results and lays ground for long-term benefits for farmers and importers.

Milk Fat vs. Milk Yield: Which is More Profitable?
Milk Fat vs. Milk Yield: Which is More Profitable?

As the monetary worth of milk fat grows, so does the pay price for the per hundredweight of milk. But what number is more important for a dairy farm’s income – milk fat percentage or milk yield?

Butter Boards Reign as Butter Values Gain
Butter Boards Reign as Butter Values Gain

Butter prices currently are near all-time highs, so it might seem an unlikely time for a butter-consuming craze to be lighting up social media. But that’s exactly what is happening with the advent of butter boards.

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Dairy Checkoff Serve’s Up Big Win’s with Restaurant Partnerships

National Dairy Checkoff marketing strategy took a 180 turn about 15 years ago, and partnering with companies like these have played a crucial role in building the demand for dairy products.

December Milk Price Futures Start to Look Concerning
December Milk Price Futures Start to Look Concerning

Despite higher spot cheese prices, class III milk futures moved lower and may be potentially concerned after holiday demand season comes to an end.

Profit Margins Tighten
Profit Margins Tighten

Cheese and butter prices continue to hold a large price difference with butter around $1.00 higher than cheese. One reason for this is the substantial difference in inventory levels between cheese and butter.