Latest News From Milk Prices

Dairy Markets enjoyed a positive today for Class III and a negative day for Class IV. 

September through December 2023 Class III milk futures ranged from 7-12 cents lower with the last four months of the year averaging around $18.50/cwt. 

A strong finish for Class III milk even though Cheese was sideways.

Economic issues and demographic changes don’t bode well for Global dairy demand.

USDA cold storage completed a quiet but softer dairy trade day. 

The July 2023 USDA Milk Production report spotlighted difficult conditions in the Southwest and California. The report showed a 0.6% decrease in year-over-year milk production. Cow numbers also dropped year-over-year.

CME futures prices rallied following USDA's report.  September closed 39 cents higher while October was up 22. 

August milk prices will be much better than July, but still far from where we would like them to be. Here's what to expect in the coming months.

After a long stretch of low milk prices, the USDA has raised the 2023 all-milk price projection for the first time in months.

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

Milk prices have improved slightly, but dairy producers continue to face difficult profit margins.

Alyssa Badger with HighGround Dairy shares that producers have felt the whiplash milk prices have delivered, swinging from record highs last spring to extreme lows this summer which was caused by a combination of events.

Class III milk prices retreated a bit as September 2023 milk lost 15 cents, October dropped 16 cents, November weakened 21, and December was off 13.

Dairy producers and industry professionals who register before Sept. 30th for the Milk Business Conference will earn a chance to win three concert tickets to see Garth Brooks live in concert at Caesar’s Palace on Dec. 1.

The state of U.S. dairy industry in 2023 may later be recalled as the year of “the correction,” “the valley,” or “the crash,” as milk prices have plummeted by as much as half from record-setting highs in 2022.

As we move into the end of summer and look ahead to cooler temperatures of fall, most of our commodities have settled in to a tight range.

Class III milk markets were able to return some of the value lost late last week. 

The seasonal decrease of milk production, higher culling, and inventory of cheese not exceeding the levels of last year, may increase buyer interest on the spot market as they look ahead to later demand.

For the first half of the year, nearly $612 million in government payments have been issued, a vastly different picture compared to last year.

Bad times don’t last forever. Neither do good days. The mood of the industry quickly changed from an upbeat tone in 2022 to a sad melancholy note this summer.

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 resumed their rally on Monday with Class III prices closing 40 cents stronger in the August and September months. 

As predicted, a very large Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) payment is coming to producer’s mailboxes. In fact, June’s DMC income over feed cost calculation set a new record low at just $3.65/cwt.

After giving back some of last week's big gains in Class III Milk, prices bounced back on Friday.

The USDA failed to deliver good news to dairy producers in it’s recent U.S. Milk Production Report.

Class III markets continue to be confused on which direction they want to go.

Cheese prices made a dramatic turn over the past month as buyers turned aggressive.

July ag economists’ monthly monitor reveals milk price expectations into 2024.

Changing demographics could eventually diminish China’s Importance in global dairy markets.

Class III milk continued its aggressive rally trading limit higher in August, September, October, and November

The hearing, which will take place in the Indianapolis suburb of Carmel, Indiana, could potentially result in the first significant reform of milk marketing orders since 2000.

There are 22 proposals for consideration during the Federal Milk Marketing Order system hearing process that will be assembled on Aug. 28 at 9 a.m. EST in Carmell, Ind.

The American Dairy Coalition is asking legislators to restore the previous ‘higher of’ pricing method as soon as possible. Here's why.

Phil Plourd with Ever.Ag says that combine miserable weather in key growth areas such as Texas with shrinking farm margins and you get a Milk Production report showing the worst performance that we’ve seen in a while.

A limit move-up in September Class III milk came from the result of a bullish milk production report coupled with a second consecutive healthy cheese spot trade.

Producers are challenged paying the bills with the lack-lusting prices that have shown up on milk checks this summer. Dairy financial leaders share tips on what to do and not to do to survive tough financial times.

Those in Class III markets will feel the brunt of some of the lowest prices in years. While relief is coming in the form of lower feed prices, a drop in costs won’t be enough to offset their declining milk checks.

The roller coaster continues in our commodity markets.

With the milk price not looking promising compared to last year, Ben Laine says that taking advantage of some opportunities elsewhere will help producers push past what we hope is the bottom of the milk market in 2023.

All markets seemed to retrace their steps from yesterday's pullback.

The saga of lower milk prices is forecasted to continue for dairy farmers as the USDA once again cut 2023 all-milk price projections in its July World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report.

Negativity breeds negativity, right? Remember that. But the same can be said about positivity. Positivity can grow if we choose it too. Flip a switch on your mind, that will turn up cheerfulness on the farm. 

Lower milk prices and higher beef prices are enticing many farmers to cull more dairy cows. But is it making a dent?

The first half of Summer 2023 in dairy markets will be noted for breaking records, and not in a good way.

Lower prices may eventually stimulate exports. However, the current market struggles to find a bottom as supply exceeds demand.

Cheese found some life the day after the second biggest volume day of Barrels traded on the CME.

CME dry whey prices set all-time lows.

One by one poor-performing cows are exiting herds as lackluster milk price makes it easier for producers to cull cows. The big question remains - have we culled enough cows to boost milk price?

July 4th fireworks have settled down and so have the markets.

Another round of Dairy Margin Coverage payments will be coming to producer’s mailboxes, making this the largest payment yet.