Milk Prices
Three market analysts and dairy leaders break down what’s pressuring milk prices, what’s driving cattle prices and why grain markets can’t find clarity.
RaboResearch senior dairy analyst Lucas Fuess says booming milk output in the U.S. and other major exporters is tipping markets into oversupply — and signaling tougher price terrain heading into early 2026.
The October Milk Production report had a surprising change from the September report released earlier this month. Cow numbers declined a shocking 7,000 head. The first time we have seen a pull back in cow numbers since December 2024.
Despite further opening its markets to imports, Canadian output hits record highs.
The USDA released the long-awaited Milk Production Report Monday, releasing data from September 2025. Milk Production is up 4.2 percent from September 2024, and demand is not keeping up.
Federal government will cut the bureaucracy to support the dairy industry, focused on tougher measures to stop major animal disease problems and improve labor availability.
A tight dry whey market and robust demand are both working to raise CME spot whey prices.
By understanding the economic landscape, engaging with financial partners and exploring diverse revenue streams, dairy farmers can navigate the challenges ahead with greater confidence and resilience.
China on track to buy record volumes of cheese and butter in 2025
The potential for a Chinese/U.S. trade deal centered around agriculture is plastered all over the headlines this week as we approach the highly anticipated meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi later this week. What could this mean for dairy trade, and more importantly, the producer’s bottom line?
We cannot ignore that it’s time to once again tighten our management belts and find ways to increase cash flow while decreasing our cost of production.
It might take several months for the world to work through this abundant milk supply, preventing milk prices from climbing in the near term.
Historical marketing events are happening in dairy right now. Class III and Class IV have drifted apart. Meanwhile, butter has fallen below the price of cheese, a rare market anomaly, signaling an imbalance in market prices.
From beef-on-dairy calves fetching record prices to $11 billion in new processing plants, U.S. dairy is riding a wave of momentum fueled by consumer demand for protein and historic levels of investment.
The dairy industry is on the brink of significant price shifts as milk and dairy futures predict a decline in milk prices in the coming months. However, a simultaneous drop in feed costs is offering a glimmer of hope to balance these changes
Strategic growth in cow numbers, innovative revenue streams, and expanding export markets signify a promising future.
Dairy markets are falling through support levels as the overabundance of milk supply weighs heavily on prices. At the same time, changes in the Federal Milk Marketing Order are beginning to roll out.
The tidal wave will likely continue to grow through the end of 2025 before a correction occurs.
The buzz in the dairy countryside is palpable — more milk is needed with $8 billion in dairy processing coming onboard. This excitement has spread from boardrooms to barns, driving remarkable growth in milk production across the U.S.
Alternative revenue sources are becoming more and more common to help producers financially stay afloat. The goal moving forward is clear: striking a delicate balance that ensures longevity and relevance in an ever-changing industry.
In what has been a rollercoaster year for dairy markets, with plummeting prices evoking scenes of freefall, last week’s USDA September WASDE Report delivered much-needed fragments of optimism.
Slow demand from the world’s largest importers of milk powder is expected to add to the downturn.
The current assessment of the CME markets reveals a largely range-bound status, yet this doesn’t mask the underlying shifts and trends that we should be mindful of.
The movement of butter prices is intricately tied to the calendar. In the short term, global supply is abundant, overshadowing a demand that — while inherently strong — shows signs of weakening. This scenario paints a picture of potential volatility, with an immediate downside risk in butter prices.
The CME spot butter market continues to steal the attention as prices dropped another few cents. Can this market break $2?
The dairy market experienced a notable turn of events as butter futures managed to claw back from their previous losses, caught in the wake of yesterday’s chaotic trading.
Butter plunged to a new year-to-date low, while cheese prices continue to bounce.
The big question that remains is how much of the holiday demand has already been accounted for and is that what’s eating into those inventories on top of record exports?
The combination of bullish storage data, steady production and incremental price gains paints an intriguing picture for the butter market.
Economics suggest producers will keep cull rates low.