Zisk is a downloadable app now used by more than 4,500 dairy farms, representing over 4.9 million cows—more than half of the U.S. herd. In its fourth annual report, it shows that dairy producers once again anticipate a strong year ahead, with average profitability rising across much of the country. Yet the gains will not be evenly distributed. With producers relying on the app an average of 1.5 times per day, spending about 1.7 minutes per weekday reviewing profitability updates. On a weekly basis, users log an average of 36 visits and 3.75 minutes in the app. Zisk delivers an unusually detailed and timely snapshot of what to expect in 2026. The report is available for free online at ziskapp.com.
Larger herds are projecting far higher profits than smaller ones, pushing the scale gap wider than we have seen in previous reports. Large farms continue to outperform, the 2026 predictions makes it unmistakably clear that operations above 5,000 cows sit at the top of the profitability curve. At the other end of the spectrum, herds with fewer than 250 cows are again expected to struggle, often posting negative or marginal returns despite favorable milk prices. The expansion in herd size across Zisk users also continues; as a result, the economies of scale benefiting the largest herds are clear, strong, and influential in shaping national.
The Midwest once again leads all regions with the strongest projected profitability, averaging $588 per cow. While the region benefits from robust production and stable basis levels, the most striking differences emerge across herd sizes. Farms under 250 cows expect just $20 per cow in profit, while those with 250–1,000 cows anticipate $228. Profitability rises sharply for larger operations, with 1,000–5,000 cow herds forecasting $684 and herds above 5,000 cows expecting $776 per cow. Wisconsin stands out with exceptional projections of $924 per cow, followed by strong expectations in South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska.
The Southeast will be the second most profitable overall, posting an average of $464 per cow and marking one of the region’s strongest years in recent memory. Yet, as elsewhere, small farms continue to face difficulty. Profitability improves to $129 for farms with 250–1,000 cows and climbs significantly for larger operations; those above 5,000 cows see $534. Florida leads the region followed by strong performance in Georgia and North Carolina. May other southeastern states, in contrast, post negative expectations.
The Northwest follows closely with an average profit of $405 per cow, maintaining the region’s reputation for stability. Small herds under 250 cows expect slight losses of $15 per cow, while those above 5,000 cows see $481. Idaho, Utah, and Colorado all post solid returns exceeding $400 per cow, while Washington remains steady. Oregon and Montana continue to face challenges.
The Northeast posts moderate expectations, averaging $374 per cow for 2026. Smaller farms remain under pressure: herds under 250 cows anticipate losses of $35 per cow. Performance varies widely across states. Rhode Island leads with an unexpected $778 per cow, while Vermont, Maryland, and Virginia all exceed $380. New Hampshire and Massachusetts project losses, due to challenges in areas dominated by small, high-cost operations.
The Southwest rounds out the regional overview with an average of $339 per cow. The region remains heavily influenced by large commercial operations, yet small herds continue to struggle, forecasting losses of $119 per cow. Arizona stands out with one of the highest profits nationally at $771 per cow, followed by California at $462. New Mexico again posts weak expectations at $34 per cow, while Texas anticipates modest gains of $153.
Across all regions, the message remains consistent. Larger herds significantly outperform smaller ones, with the largest operations often earning several hundred dollars more per cow than farms milking fewer than 250 cows. Differences in production efficiency, cost distribution, and basis management all reinforce the structural advantage of scale. As dairy producers prepare for 2026, the Zisk Report once again highlights both the opportunities and the growing divide across the industry.
