Archive for milk price outlook

USMCA 2026: The $200M Question – Why Only 42% of U.S. Dairy Access to Canada Gets Used

USMCA gave us access to dairy markets in Canada. We’re using 42% of it. New Zealand just showed it can be fixed. The 2026 review is our window.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: USMCA promised U.S. dairy approximately $200 million in new annual access to Canada’s market. We’re using less than half. TRQ fill rates averaged just 42% in 2022/23, with Canada’s allocation system still favoring domestic processors—despite two dispute panels that exposed loopholes in the agreement’s original language. There’s reason for cautious optimism, though: New Zealand just pushed Canada past cosmetic adjustments through CPTPP, securing $157 million in annual export value. The 2026 USMCA review, combined with the ITC’s nonfat solids report due March 2026, gives U.S. dairy its clearest window to turn paper access into real orders. With consolidation accelerating—Wisconsin and Minnesota each lost 7.4% of their dairy farms in 2023—what happens in this review will ripple from trade policy down to your milk check. Here’s what happened, what’s possible, and what producers should watch as 2026 approaches.

You know how it goes. You’re out in the barn at 4 a.m., making sure the fresh cows are settling in, keeping an eye on that heifer that’s been off her feed. And somewhere in the back of your mind, you’re wondering what decisions being made in Ottawa or Washington might mean for next month’s milk check.

Trade deals get signed, politicians shake hands, there’s talk about “wins”—and then we wait to see if any of it actually turns into orders that need our milk.

Here’s what’s interesting about USMCA when you dig into the numbers. The University of Wisconsin Extension put out a detailed review earlier this year that adds up all the dairy tariff-rate quotas. They conclude that once everything’s fully phased in, U.S. exporters can ship up to about 3.6% of Canada’s annual dairy consumption into that market tariff-free. We’re talking milk, cream, cheese, butter, yogurt, powders—the works. Canadian trade law firms looking at the same schedules land on essentially that same number.

Now, Canada’s domestic dairy market runs around $17 billion, according to Dairy Reporter’s coverage earlier this year. So that 3.6% works out to roughly $200 million in potential new annual access for American dairy, based on Wisconsin Extension’s analysis.

And here’s the thing—total U.S. dairy exports to Canada have already climbed to an estimated $877 million in 2024, up from around $525 million back in 2021. That’s 67% growth in three years, which isn’t nothing.

But—and this is important—there’s a real difference between access on paper and orders that actually show up at the plant. That gap is where this whole story gets complicated, and honestly, where it starts to matter most for your operation.

USMCA Dairy at a Glance

  • Market access: 3.6% of Canada’s dairy market (~$200M in new annual access)
  • Total U.S. exports to Canada (2024): $877 million (up 67% since 2021)
  • TRQ fill rate (2022/23): Just 42% average; 9 of 14 quotas below 50%
  • Key date: ITC nonfat solids report due March 23, 2026
  • U.S. farm losses: 15,000+ dairies gone since 2017

The Spring That Changed Everything

You probably remember hearing about this, or maybe you lived through it yourself. Spring of 2017, when Canada’s policy changes stopped being something you heard about at meetings and started showing up in mailboxes.

Grassland Dairy sent letters to dozens of producers in Wisconsin and neighboring states saying their milk wouldn’t be picked up after May 1. Wisconsin Public Radio reported at the time that Grassland officially ended contracts with around 58 Wisconsin farms after giving them about a month’s notice. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection confirmed those numbers.

Grassland’s leadership told reporters the trigger was Canada’s new Class 7 pricing for ultra-filtered milk, which suddenly made Canadian-sourced protein ingredients cheaper and essentially squeezed out U.S. exports overnight.

What happened next showed something about our industry, though. State officials and dairy groups moved fast to line up alternatives. Dairy Farmers of America signed contracts with a significant number of the affected farms, and the Dairy Business Milk Marketing Cooperative helped coordinate other placements. By late spring, all but two of those Wisconsin herds had found new buyers—though many landed on shorter-term or trial contracts, which isn’t exactly the same as having that steady relationship you’d built over years.

I’ve spoken with producers who lived through that period, and many still describe it as a turning point. The frustration runs deep. You can do everything right in the barn—strong butterfat levels, solid fresh cow management, healthy transition periods—and then a milk pricing class in another country decides whether the truck shows up.

Stories like that are a big part of why dairy ended up so prominent in the USMCA negotiations.

What USMCA Actually Put on the Table

So what did the agreement really change?

First, Canada agreed to eliminate its Class 7 milk category—and, in some provinces, the related Class 6—and fold those volumes back into the existing pricing system. Analysis points out that this was specifically designed to prevent another situation like the ultra-filtered milk mess that had undercut U.S. exports.

Second, USMCA created new dairy tariff-rate quotas specifically for American products. Wisconsin Extension’s 2025 analysis goes line by line through the agreement and concludes that when all those TRQs are phased in over roughly six years, they add up to about 3.5–3.6% of Canada’s dairy market reserved for U.S. exporters. That covers milk, cream, cheese, butter, skim milk powder, yogurt, whey, and other products.

Now, most of us aren’t sitting around with calculators figuring out percentages of another country’s market. But here’s how I think about it: if Canada’s dairy sector runs around $17 billion domestically, and the agreement carved out roughly 3.6% for U.S. access, we’re talking about approximately $200 million a year in potential new trade value if it’s actually used. That’s real money for the processors and co-ops that handle our milk.

Canadian farmers noticed too. Dairy Farmers of Canada president Pierre Lampron called the signing of USMCA “a dark day in the history of dairy farming in Canada.” DFC’s statement said that, taken together, CETA, CPTPP, and USMCA had opened approximately 18% of Canada’s domestic dairy market to foreign competition, which they argued would destabilize supply management.

So from the U.S. side, USMCA’s dairy chapter looked like a major opportunity. From the Canadian side, it felt like one more cut into a carefully managed system. Both reactions are rooted in the same numbers—just different perspectives on what those numbers mean.

The Quota Puzzle: Access vs. Gatekeeping

Here’s where things get frustrating, and honestly, where the agreement shows its limitations.

On paper, USMCA’s dairy TRQs are pretty clear—they spell out how many tonnes of each product category can come into Canada each year at low or zero tariffs, and how those volumes grow over time. In practice, what matters just as much is who gets those quotas inside Canada.

Canada has the right to design its own TRQ allocation system, provided it complies with the agreement’s general rules. In its first go-round, Global Affairs Canada set up allocation rules that reserved a significant share of many dairy quotas for Canadian processors and “further processors.”

You can probably see where this is going. U.S. negotiators and dairy groups argued that this effectively put much of the access in the hands of companies that already had every reason to run Canadian milk through their plants, leaving less opportunity for importers, retailers, or food-service companies that actually wanted to bring in American product.

The United States requested a USMCA dispute panel. In early 2022, that panel released a report agreeing with the U.S. and Canada’s practice of reserving quota pools exclusively for processors, which conflicted with Article 3.A.2.11(b), which says countries shouldn’t limit access to allocations to processors. Hoard’s Dairyman described that panel result as an important step toward making the dairy quotas actually usable.

Canada rewrote its allocation policies. They removed the explicit processor-only set-asides and introduced “neutral” eligibility criteria based on market share and dairy trade activity. On paper, that was a shift.

In reality—and this is the part that still bothers many people—since large processors already dominate the market, they continued to receive most of the quota anyway.

The U.S. wasn’t satisfied and requested another panel in late 2022. This time, the second panel concluded that Canada’s usage of market-share calculations, while still favoring processors, didn’t technically violate the specific text of USMCA. It exposed a loophole in the original drafting of the agreement.

USTR Katherine Tai said she was “very disappointed by the findings,” and U.S. dairy organizations called the ruling a dangerous precedent.

So you end up with this real gap between a legal win and a commercial win. The first panel forced Canada to drop explicit processor-only pools, which mattered. The second panel showed that even with those pools gone, Canada can design rules that keep most of the quota in processor hands—and unless the agreement’s language is tightened, there’s not much the dispute system can do about it.

What’s the practical result? The International Dairy Foods Association reported that the average tariff fill rate was only 42% across all 2022/23 quotas, with 9 of the 14 TRQs falling below half the negotiated value. That’s a lot of access sitting unused.

The Protein Side: Export Caps and What’s Coming

Alongside TRQs into Canada, USMCA also tried to address something many of us worry about—the impact of surplus skim solids and proteins flooding world markets.

Under the agreement, Canada accepted limits on exports of skim milk powder and certain milk protein products. Reports breakdown notes that Canada agreed to cap combined exports of skim milk powder and milk protein concentrates at 55,000 tonnes in the first year and 35,000 tonnes in the second, with exports above those thresholds facing hefty charges.

For infant formula, the limits start at 13,333 tonnes in year one and rise to 40,000 tonnes in later years. The idea is to keep a supply-managed system from dumping excess solids into global markets at prices that drag down everyone’s Class IV.

In the early years after USMCA took effect, Canadian export volumes stayed under those caps—at least on paper. But Wisconsin Extension’s 2025 review points out that some processed food and blend categories containing milk solids have grown. U.S. analysts have raised questions about whether some of those flows are consistent with the spirit of USMCA’s export rules, even if they technically fit within defined product categories.

Why the ITC Report Matters

To move beyond questions and into actual evidence, USTR asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to conduct a deep dive. In May 2025, the ITC announced a new investigation into competitive conditions for nonfat milk solids covering 2020–2024. The report is due to USTR by March 23, 2026.

This is worth paying attention to. In July 2025, senior staff from the U.S. Dairy Export Council and the National Milk Producers Federation testified before the ITC, outlining how they believe foreign export policies—including Canada’s—shape global nonfat solids markets.

By the time USMCA’s formal review gets going, negotiators won’t just be leaning on anecdotes. They’ll have a thorough, independent dataset on how nonfat solids have actually moved under current rules.

What New Zealand Just Demonstrated

Sometimes, to see what’s actually possible, it helps to watch how another dairy-heavy country handled the same trading partner.

New Zealand brought a dispute under CPTPP over Canada’s dairy TRQ administration. They argued Canada’s allocation system was so restrictive that it effectively blocked much of the access promised on paper. A CPTPP panel sided with New Zealand, finding that several elements of Canada’s system breached its obligations.

At first, Canada made minimal adjustments. New Zealand officials—including Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay—publicly said those changes didn’t go far enough and signaled they were prepared to keep pressing, including toward potential retaliatory steps.

That persistence paid off.

In July 2025, New Zealand announced it had reached a settlement with Canada. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Canada is committed to modify how it manages dairy TRQs, including how quota is allocated and reallocated when it goes unused. McClay stated that the agreement would deliver “up to $157 million per year in export value” for New Zealand’s dairy industry.

Cheese Reporter covered the announcement, noting that Canadian officials described the changes as “technical policy changes” that maintain the core of supply management. The modifications to Canada’s TRQ process will be published on October 1, 2025, for implementation with the 2026 calendar year quotas.

What jumps out to me in that story is the combination: clear panel rulings, solid data, and a government willing to push hard enough to get beyond cosmetic tweaks. It shows Canada can and will move further on quota administration when a trading partner builds a strong case and sticks with it.

For U.S. dairy, that’s an encouraging precedent heading into the 2026 review.

Why 2026 Is the Inflection Point

USMCA includes a formal six-year joint review. The three countries agreed to return to the table to assess how the agreement is working, where it’s falling short, and what needs updating.

That review isn’t limited to dairy—it’ll likely touch autos, labor provisions, dispute mechanisms, and supply-chain concerns tied to China.

On dairy specifically, U.S. groups have already sketched out their priorities. Looking at policy statements from the National Milk Producers Federation, U.S. Dairy Export Council, and regional organizations, a few themes keep coming up:

  • TRQ allocation rules that don’t effectively ring-fence most access for Canadian processors
  • Stronger “use-it-or-lose-it” provisions so unused quota gets reallocated in time, actually to be used
  • Clearer language on export disciplines so products that act like skim milk powder can’t bypass caps by shifting tariff codes
  • More responsive tools for resolving dairy disputes before they drag on for years

At the same time, dairy has to compete with other sectors for attention. Trade specialists note that autos and labor enforcement could dominate parts of the review.

That’s where the ITC report and farm-state congressional engagement become critical. Brownfield has reported that dairy-state lawmakers are asking for clear resolutions to cross-border disputes and signaling that they want USMCA’s renewal tied to stronger enforcement.

The Consolidation Reality Behind All This

While policy discussions play out in hearing rooms, the structure of our own industry keeps changing in ways you can see when driving from one township to the next.

USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture shows that U.S. farms with milk sales fell from 39,303 in 2017 to 24,082 in 2022—a loss of over 15,000 dairies in five years. Dairy Reporter’s analysis of that data, drawing on Rabobank research, notes that “almost 12,000” of those losses came from smaller operations.

Over that same period, total milk output grew, and the milking herd held near 9.4 million cows. The cows moved; they didn’t vanish.

Rabobank estimates that farms with more than 1,000 cows now produce about 67–68% of U.S. milk, up from around 60% in 2017. Reports essentially the same number. Cheese Reporter’s summary of the Rabobank work notes that the very largest operations—those with more than 2,500 cows—are a small slice of all dairies but produce close to half the milk.

In Wisconsin, the story is obvious. DATCP data shows the state lost 455 dairy farms in 2023, a 7.4% drop in licensed herds, while cow numbers and total production stayed roughly steady. That left Wisconsin with 5,895 dairies at the start of 2024.

Minnesota lost 146 dairies in the same period—also about 7.4% of its dairy farm base. Many of those exits were smaller family herds under 200 cows.

USDA’s Economic Research Service has tracked this “fewer but bigger” trend for years. Their research shows that economies of scale in feed handling, housing, and labor help explain why larger operations often have lower costs per hundredweight. Rabobank’s analysis reaches a similar conclusion and notes that newer technologies—from milking systems to data-driven management—tend to favor bigger herds that can spread the costs.

In many Midwest and Northeast communities, you can see it in the farm auction ads and the empty milk houses. In Western states, you see it in new freestall and dry-lot systems being built near export-oriented plants.

Trade policy isn’t the only driver—not by a long shot—but it’s part of the environment we’re all trying to navigate.

How It Looks from the Canadian Side

From our side of the border, Canadian supply management can look like a wall. From their side, the story has more layers.

Under supply management, Canada uses national and provincial quotas to align production with domestic demand, sets target prices through cost-of-production formulas, and relies on high over-quota tariffs—up to 300% —to limit imports, according to Dairy Reporter.

Dairy Global’s discussion of the system notes that it has historically provided more stable milk cheques than U.S. producers typically see, and it’s often credited with helping keep dairy herds across multiple provinces rather than allowing rapid regional hollowing out.

But Canadian economists have been pointing to serious weaknesses within that system.

Sylvain Charlebois, professor and director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, has written that Quebec now produces close to 40% of Canada’s milk even though its share of the population is just over 20%. Roughly 90% of the country’s dairy farms are concentrated in a small number of provinces.

In a column earlier this year, he warned that if current trends continue, Canada could lose nearly half of its remaining dairy farms by 2030—even with supply management—because high quota costs and structural pressures make it harder for smaller and younger producers to enter or stay in.

On the other side, Dairy Farmers of Canada and provincial organizations stress that supply management has shielded their farmers from the worst price collapses. It’s also allowed the federal government to design compensation programs tied directly to trade concessions.

Government of Canada announcements confirm that total compensation measures to dairy farmers for market access granted under CETA, CPTPP, and USMCA amount to $3.2 billion CAD—roughly $330,000 per dairy farm, according to USDA Foreign Agricultural Service analysis. DFC has argued these payments, combined with controlled borders, are essential to preserving viable dairy farms in rural communities.

As Canada heads into the 2026 review, its negotiators are trying to protect a system many producers view as vital, while also facing internal voices calling for modernization. That context matters when we think about how far they can realistically move on TRQs and export rules.

What This Means on Your Farm

From a practical standpoint, here are three things worth keeping in mind:

  • USMCA created real, measurable access—about 3.6% of Canada’s dairy market, worth approximately $200 million annually in new opportunities—but TRQ design has limited how fully that access gets used. Fill rates averaged just 42% in 2022/23.
  • U.S. dairy is consolidating fast—over 15,000 farms gone since 2017, with large herds now producing most of the milk.
  • Wisconsin and Minnesota’s 7.4% herd losses in 2023 show how intense the pressure remains on small and mid-size dairies, even when total production holds steady.

Smaller Herds (Under ~200 Cows)

In many Midwest and Northeast operations of this size, the daily focus is on keeping feed costs in line, managing labor, and getting fresh cows through the transition period without problems. You’re working on butterfat performance, trying to keep cows out of the hospital pen, because every health issue shows up on the milk check.

For herds this size, trade policy usually shows up as background volatility in the pay price rather than something you feel directly every week. A better-functioning USMCA can’t fix tight local basis or labor headaches, but it can help support more stable demand for cheese, powders, and butterfat—which, over time, makes planning a little easier.

It’s often helpful for operations this size to ask your buyer or co-op how much of their volume ends up in export channels, including Canada. And risk-management tools that fit your scale—such as Dairy Margin Coverage and simple forward contracts through your co-op—can help cushion the impact when global markets shift.

Mid-Size Herds (Roughly 200–800 Cows)

In Wisconsin or New York, a 400-cow freestall herd might ship somewhere around 9 million pounds of milk per year. A $0.50 per hundredweight swing in average price adds or subtracts roughly $45,000 annually; a $1.00 swing is about $90,000.

That’s the kind of money that can decide whether you move ahead with a parlor upgrade, improve transition-cow facilities, or keep nursing along older infrastructure.

Conversations I’ve had with mid-size producers across the Northeast and Upper Midwest often come back to a similar theme—they’re not big enough to ride out a bad year on volume alone, and not small enough to just tighten the belt and wait it out. A $0.75 swing per hundredweight can mean the difference between reinvesting and treading water.

For these farms, the way USMCA performs becomes a meaningful piece of the margin puzzle. Worth considering: sitting down with your lender or financial adviser and running a couple of “what if” scenarios for pay price over the next five years, especially around the 2026 review window.

And talking with your processor or co-op about how they’re currently using USMCA access and where they see Canada fitting into long-term plans.

Large Herds (800+ Cows)

In Idaho, California, the Texas Panhandle, and eastern New Mexico—large freestall and dry lot systems often ship to plants that rely heavily on exports. USDEC data and industry coverage indicate that these plants depend on markets such as Mexico, Canada, and various Asian and Middle Eastern countries to balance their solids.

Operations at this scale already treat trade policy as a central piece of their risk map, alongside water, labor, and environmental regulations.

The sentiment I hear from managers running these larger operations is that they watch USMCA the way they watch their water supply. It’s not the only thing that matters, but when it moves, it affects everything downstream.

For large herds, a stronger USMCA dairy chapter can reduce uncertainty about where incremental solids can go, encourage processors to invest in new dryers and cheese capacity that need dependable outlets, and lower the risk that policy shocks derail expansion plans.

It won’t change the need for good cow comfort or people management, but it does affect how risky that next big capital project feels.

What to Watch as 2026 Approaches

With everything else on your plate, here are three signals worth tracking—plus a few questions you can take straight to your next co-op or lender meeting.

The ITC’s Nonfat Solids Report

When the ITC releases its report, look at whether it clearly documents how foreign support and export practices—including Canada’s—are influencing nonfat solids markets.

Does it identify specific product categories that appear to be carrying milk solids in ways that don’t match USMCA’s intent? Does it quantify competitive effects on U.S. Class IV and powder markets?

The more concrete and specific it is, the more leverage U.S. negotiators will have.

Dairy-State Lawmakers’ Engagement

Brownfield and other outlets are already reporting that dairy-state legislators are asking for stronger enforcement on Canadian TRQs and export caps.

Watch for formal hearings or bipartisan letters tying USMCA’s long-term renewal to measurable improvements in dairy access.

When elected officials start using the same numbers you see in farm papers—like the 7.4% herd losses in Wisconsin and Minnesota—that’s a sign dairy is on their radar.

How Canadian Officials Frame the Review

Canadian ministers and Dairy Farmers of Canada have typically described past trade-driven dairy changes as “technical” or “administrative” adjustments while insisting supply management’s core remains untouched.

It’ll be telling to see whether they talk about the 2026 review purely as housekeeping, or whether you start hearing language about making quotas “function commercially” for trading partners—similar to the framing that emerged after the New Zealand settlement.

Questions to Ask Your Processor

To bring this closer to where your own milk truck turns in, here are three questions worth asking your plant or co-op:

  1. How important is Canada in your current and planned export mix compared to Mexico and Asia?
  2. Are you using USMCA dairy quotas now? If not, what would need to change—on TRQ rules or export caps—to make them worth pursuing?
  3. If USMCA’s dairy chapter gets stronger or weaker in 2026, how would that change your investment plans over the next five to ten years?

Their answers will tell you a lot about what the review might mean for your milk check.

The Bottom Line

When you step back from all the numbers and panel rulings, the picture is reasonably clear.

USMCA did open a real, quantified slice of Canada’s dairy market—around 3.6%, worth approximately $200 million in new annual access—to U.S. exporters and forced the elimination of Class 7. Total U.S. dairy exports to Canada have grown to an estimated $877 million in 2024, up 67% from 2021. That’s genuine progress.

The first USMCA panel showed that Canada’s original processor-heavy allocation wasn’t acceptable under the agreement. The second panel showed the limits of what legal text alone can achieve when the specific wording leaves loopholes.

New Zealand’s CPTPP experience demonstrated that a combination of solid evidence, favorable rulings, and persistent follow-through can push Canada into changes with real commercial value—not just cosmetic adjustments.

At the same time, consolidation on both sides of the border is a reality, not a forecast. U.S. data show over 15,000 dairies gone since 2017, with most milk now coming from herds over 1,000 cows. Wisconsin and Minnesota’s 7.4% herd losses in 2023 are just one sharp snapshot.

In Canada, economists like Sylvain Charlebois are warning they could lose nearly half their remaining dairy farms by 2030 if nothing changes—even under supply management.

The honest takeaway is this: USMCA isn’t going to decide, all by itself, whether you milk cows next year. That still comes down to your forage program, butterfat performance, fresh cow management, your debt load, your labor situation, and the people around your kitchen table.

What this agreement can do—especially if the 2026 review delivers targeted improvements—is narrow the range of bad surprises. It can make it less likely you wake up to another shock like those Grassland letters, or find that the access that looked good in a press release never made it past the quota gatekeepers.

In a business where we’re already juggling weather, feed, labor, and regulations, having one more piece of the puzzle behave a bit more predictably is worth paying attention to.

And as many of us have seen over the years, when producers speak up—to co-ops, to farm organizations, to lawmakers—it does shape how these agreements evolve. As 2026 gets closer, it’s not a bad time to think about what you’d like this deal to do for the people who actually care for the cows, and to make sure those voices are heard.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

  • The Access Gap: USMCA promised U.S. dairy $200 million in new annual access to Canada. Fill rates average just 42%—more than half goes unused because of how Canada allocates quota to domestic processors
  • The Enforcement Limit: The first dispute panel ruled in our favor. The second exposed a loophole: Canada can design allocation rules that favor processors without technically violating USMCA’s language
  • New Zealand’s Playbook: Their CPTPP settlement forced Canada past cosmetic fixes, securing $157 million in annual export value. Persistent, evidence-backed pressure works
  • The 2026 Window: The formal USMCA review and the ITC’s nonfat solids report (due March 2026) give U.S. dairy its clearest shot at turning paper access into real orders
  • Your Move: Ask your processor about their Canada strategy. Run price scenarios with your lender around the 2026 timeline. Make sure dairy-state lawmakers hear from producers—not just lobbyists

Complete references and supporting documentation are available upon request by contacting the editorial team at editor@thebullvine.com.

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Record Dairy Exports Hide a Brutal Truth: You’re Selling at a Loss

Your co-op newsletter: ‘RECORD EXPORTS!’ Your milk check: -$2/cwt. Your banker: ‘We need to talk.’ The disconnect has never been wider.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The U.S. dairy industry’s record cheese exports are actually distress sales, with producers losing $2/cwt as milk prices sit at $16.91 against $19 production costs. Mexico—buying 29% of our exports—is spending $4.1 billion to become self-sufficient, while China’s 125% tariffs have already destroyed our powder markets. The Class III-IV price spread has exploded to $4.06/cwt, the widest since 2011, forcing all production toward cheese that’s selling below profitability. Mid-size farms (500-1,500 cows) face extinction-level losses of $400,000+ annually, with survival limited to mega-dairies with 50% or less debt or premium operations near cities. Producers have 90 days to make irreversible decisions: scale massively, find niche markets, or exit before equity evaporates. The 800,000-head heifer shortage guarantees milk production will contract 3-5% through forced exits, but recovery won’t arrive until mid-2027—and only for the operations structured to survive.

dairy farm profitability 2025

On the surface, the numbers look fantastic. We exported 119.3 million pounds of cheese in August 2025—up 28% from last year, according to the Dairy Export Council. Butter exports nearly tripled. Processing plants are announcing $11 billion in new investments.

But check your bank account. The milk checks aren’t matching the celebration. The headlines say “Record Exports,” but the market reality says “Distress Sale.”

I’ve been talking with producers from Wisconsin down to Texas, and what I’m hearing doesn’t line up with these export headlines. Understanding this disconnect could be the difference between successfully navigating the next 18 months or becoming another casualty of industry restructuring.

The “record export” headlines your co-op newsletter celebrates tell only half the story. Yes, August 2025 cheese exports jumped 28% to 119.3 million pounds—but prices collapsed 13% to $1.82/lb. This is classic distress sale economics: moving volume at any price to avoid even bigger losses. When production costs sit at $18-19/cwt and you’re selling below $2/lb equivalent, every shipment deepens the red ink.

When Being the Cheapest Isn’t Actually Winning

The US dairy industry’s “record exports” mask a brutal reality: American cheese trades at $1.82/lb while European producers command $2.35/lb—a 45-60 cent disadvantage that signals desperation rather than competitive strength. When you’re underselling New Zealand butter by a full dollar per pound, you’re not winning global markets; you’re liquidating inventory below cost.

Here’s what’s bothering me about these export records. Global Dairy Trade auction results from November show American butter trading at $1.57 a pound. New Zealand? They’re getting $2.57. Our cheese is moving at $1.82 while Europeans fetch $2.27 to $2.42.

That 45 to 60 cent spread on cheese isn’t a competitive advantage. It’s desperation.

Penn State Extension’s 2025 dairy outlook shows that a typical 500-cow operation in Wisconsin or Minnesota has production costs running $18 to $19 per hundredweight. But milk prices? We’re at $16.91 for Class III according to CME October data. That’s annual losses of $32,000 to $62,000 for operations that size.

These record exports everyone’s celebrating are happening because we’re willing to sell at prices that don’t cover our costs. South Korean and Japanese buyers see cheap American dairy, and they’re stocking up. Can’t blame them. But volume at a loss isn’t success.

The Time Lag Trap We’re All Stuck In

The breeding decisions you made two years ago—when milk was over $20 per hundredweight—those heifers are just entering the milking herd now.

According to USDA’s latest milk production reports, we’ve added 200,000 cows to U.S. herds over the past 18 months. Every one of those additions made sense when the decision was made. But September production jumped 4.2% year-over-year, and we’re producing 18.3 billion pounds of milk at exactly the moment when global markets are saturated.

Your operation has maybe $300,000 to $500,000 in annual fixed costs—infrastructure doesn’t get cheaper just because milk prices drop. Equipment auction data from Machinery Pete shows you’re looking at 30 to 50% discounts from what things were worth two years ago if you try to sell now.

So we keep producing. We try to spread those fixed costs over more volume. It’s rational for each of us individually, but when everyone does it, oversupply drives prices even lower.

The Mexico Situation Nobody Wants to Talk About

While you’re focused on tariff headlines, Mexico is spending $4.1 billion to eliminate $1+ billion in US dairy imports by 2030. They’re not negotiating—they’re building processing plants in Campeche and Michoacán with 600,000-liter daily capacity and importing Holstein heifers from Australia. Mexico takes 29% of US dairy exports; losing even half that market erases profits for thousands of farms overnight.

While we’re celebrating that Mexico takes 29% of our dairy exports according to USDA Foreign Ag Service data, they announced last July that they’re spending $4.1 billion to become 80% self-sufficient in dairy by 2030.

They’re building processing facilities in Campeche and Michoacán that’ll handle 600,000 liters a day. They’ve imported 8,000 Holstein heifers from Australia—Dairy Australia confirmed that shipment. The Mexican government is guaranteeing their producers 12 pesos per liter.

Mexico buys 51.5% of all our nonfat dry milk exports, according to Export Council trade data. If they achieve even half their plan, we’re talking about losing a billion dollars or more in annual exports. This isn’t a trade dispute that’ll blow over. They’re building the infrastructure right now.

Why Powder Is Collapsing While Cheese Keeps Moving

Class III-IV pricing spread explodes to $4.06/cwt—matching 2011’s record gap and exposing dairy’s new geography of pain. Same cows, same work, but if your milk goes to butter and powder plants instead of cheese, you’re losing $15,000 monthly on a 500-cow operation. This isn’t market volatility; it’s structural divergence that’s rewriting the profitability map.

August export data shows cheese exports up 28%, but powder exports down 17.6%—the lowest August volume since 2019.

The October CME Spread tells the story:

  • Class III (Cheese): $17.81/cwt
  • Class IV (Powder/Butter): $13.75/cwt
  • Spread: $4.06/cwt—widest since 2011

For a 500-cow dairy, that’s a $50,000 swing in annual income depending purely on which plant takes your milk.

China put 125% tariffs on our dairy products back in March. We used to send them 70-85% of our whey exports. That market disappeared overnight. Processors are pushing every pound they can toward cheese because at least there’s still some margin there. Powder production? They’re running the minimum.

Different Operations, Different Realities

The dairy industry’s brutal bifurcation in one chart: mega-dairies break even at scale, mid-size operations hemorrhage $62K annually, while premium niche players bank $120K. If you’re running 500-1,500 conventional cows, you’re in the kill zone—producing milk at $17.05/cwt and selling it at $16.91. The math doesn’t work, and hoping for better prices won’t save you.

Based on the Center for Dairy Profitability at Madison and the Farm Credit System data:

Mega-dairies (3,500+ cows): Costs around $14.20 to $15.80/cwt thanks to automation and efficiency, according to Michigan State’s benchmarking study. If debt’s under 50% of equity, they can weather this storm. Some are buying out struggling neighbors at 30 to 50 cents on the dollar.

Mid-size operations (500-1,500 cows): The toughest spot. Production costs $16.30 to $17.80 based on Kansas State farm management data. With current milk prices, annual losses could exceed $400,000. Without a path to massive scale or premium markets, options are limited.

Premium niche (organic/grass-fed): Capturing $36 to $50/cwt through outfits like CROPP Cooperative are doing okay. But you need established customers near a city. Operations that went organic without premium market access are worse off than conventional farms due to higher feed costs.

Decision Time: The Next 90 Days Matter


Decision Path
Capital RequiredTimelineEquity RetainedSuccess RateKey Requirements
Exit Now (Controlled)$090-120 days85-95%95% (preserve wealth)Act before March 2026
Scale to Mega (3500+ cows)$8-15 million18-36 months20-40% (high debt)60% (if debt <50%)Low debt + expansion capital
Pivot to Premium Niche$500K-1.2M36 months (organic)70-85%70% (w/ city proximity)Within 50-100mi of major city
Status Quo / Wait & Hope$0Indefinite bleeding0-50% (forced exit by 2027)15-20% (statistically)Hope for market recovery

Based on Purdue’s Commercial Ag projections and USDA’s long-term outlook, you’ve got critical decisions to make in the next three to six months.

Considering expansion? Interest rates are 7.5 to 9% according to the Fed, ag credit conditions. Kansas State data shows that expanding when prices are falling rarely works. Maybe pay down debt instead.

Considering exit? Asset values today versus 18 months from now could be the difference between keeping most of your equity or losing it all. Equipment markets have declined for 25 straight months, according to Equipment Manufacturers data.

Considering organic/grass-fed? It’s a three-year conversion with negative cash flow. You need to be within 50 to 100 miles of a major city, based on consumer research. Penn State Extension says you need off-farm income during transition.

The Heifer Shortage Silver Lining

Here’s your silver lining in a crisis: an 800,000-head heifer shortage over two years mathematically guarantees milk production will contract 3-5% by 2027. Replacement inventory sits at 20-year lows while heifer prices exploded from $1,140 to $3,010—a 164% jump that makes expansion impossible. This forced contraction is exactly what balances supply-demand and triggers recovery. The question: will you survive to see it?

CoBank’s latest report shows we’re at 20-year lows for dairy replacement heifers. We’re short about 800,000 replacements over the next two years.

When you can get $3,500 to $4,500 for a beef-cross calf versus keeping a dairy heifer worth $800 to $1,200 in this market, the math is obvious. Progressive Dairy’s breeding survey shows most producers are making that same decision.

The dairy herd has to shrink—probably 3 to 5% by 2027, according to USDA projections. That might balance supply and demand. Rabobank and CoBank project stabilization by mid-2027, with gradual improvement into 2028.

How Geography Changes Everything

California’s Central Valley faces water costs up 40% according to UC Davis Cost Studies. Meanwhile, South Dakota State University Extension’s 2025 Feed Cost Analysis shows operations there seeing feed costs $1.50 to $2.00/cwtbelow the national average.

Texas added 50,000 cows while Wisconsin stayed flat. That’s economics playing out in real time.

What This All Means for You

Those record export numbers? They don’t mean what the headlines suggest. Moving volume at a loss is a distress sale on a national scale.

The decisions you make in the next 90 days are more important than what you do over the next year. By March 2026, many options available today won’t exist.

Mexico’s self-sufficiency plan is real. We need to plan for our biggest customer becoming a competitor. The Export Council knows it, but I’m not seeing contingency planning at the farm level.

Scale alone won’t save anyone. I’ve seen big operations with too much debt go under, and small operations with good positioning thrive. It’s about your total situation—debt levels, geographic location, market access.

The bifurcation—where you’re either huge or niche—is accelerating. If you’re in that middle range, especially 200 to 1,000 conventional cows, you need to decide which direction you’re heading.

Recovery is coming through contraction. The heifer shortage guarantees that. The question is whether you’ll be around to see it.

Looking Down the Road

By 2028, based on projections from Texas A&M and Cornell, we’ll have fewer, larger operations handling commodity production and smaller, specialized operations serving premium markets. That middle ground where many of us operated for generations is disappearing.

This isn’t random volatility. It’s industry restructuring in response to global competition, changing consumer preferences, as the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy has tracked, and the reality of 2025 production costs.

When you see export headlines in your co-op newsletter and wonder why your milk check keeps shrinking, remember—it’s not about volume. It’s about margins. The difference between acting strategically now versus hoping things improve could be the difference between preserving or losing your family’s equity.

The herd is heading off a cliff. The record exports are just the dust they’re kicking up. Don’t follow the volume—follow the margin. The next 90 days will decide if you’re a casualty of the restructuring or one of the few left standing to see the recovery.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Your daily reality: At current prices, a 500-cow dairy loses $175/day ($62,000/year). The Class III-IV spread of $4.06/cwt means the same milk yields $50,000 in different income based purely on plant destination.
  • The export trap: Record volumes are happening BECAUSE we’re desperate—selling cheese at $1.82/lb while New Zealand gets $2.42/lb isn’t winning, it’s liquidation.
  • 90-day decision window: By March 2026, you must choose—scale to 3,500+ cows, secure premium markets at $36+/cwt, or exit, preserving 85% equity (vs 0-40% if forced out later).
  • Geographic survival map: Texas/South Dakota operations save $1.50-2.00/cwt on feed. California faces +40% water costs. Location now determines viability as much as management.
  • The guarantee: 800,000-heifer shortage forces 3-5% production cut by 2027, ensuring recovery for survivors—but 40-50% of current operations won’t make it.

Complete references and supporting documentation are available upon request by contacting the editorial team at editor@thebullvine.com.

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Beyond Efficiency: Three Dairy Models Built to Survive $14 Milk in 2026

When$14milk becomes the new normal, efficiency alone won’t save you.Discover three dairy models built for the market ahead

Executive Summary: The North American dairy sector is facing a reckoning as production increases, exports decline, and processing capacity surpasses consumer demand. According to the USDA, Chinese imports have fallen nearly 50 percent since 2021, while the IDFA notes $11 billion in new U.S. plant investment through 2027. This has led to Class III milk prices lingering around $14 per hundredweight for extended periods. Producers who adapt most effectively are not necessarily those working harder but those managing smarter: large farms are focusing on water resilience, smaller operations are developing their own brands, and mid-size herds are diversifying into beef and energy. Even Canada’s supply-managed system is feeling pressure as CUSMA provisions allow cheaper U.S. dairy components to enter the country. The key question for every dairy leader is whether their operation is prepared to survive by strategic management rather than relying solely on scale.

If you’ve noticed an edge in conversations at meetings or the feed store lately, you’re not imagining it. The industry’s uneasy. Sure, milk prices fall and climb like they always do—but what we’re facing heading into 2026 feels different. What’s interesting is that this shift isn’t about a single bad year. It’s structural.

The data coming from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural ServiceCoBank’s Dairy OutlookTexas A&M AgriLife Research, and Cornell PRO‑DAIRY all paint a similar picture: we’ve built a milk production system that’s outpaced the market’s ability to absorb it. The overcapacity problem isn’t just an economic story—it’s become an operational one.

But here’s what’s encouraging: the farms reading the signals now will still be standing when the next upturn comes. Let’s break down what’s driving this reset and, more importantly, what dairies can do about it.

Exports: When America’s Safety Valve Starts Closing

For years, exports balanced our market, but that pressure valve is tightening. According to the USDA’s foreign trade data, China’s dairy imports dropped nearly 50 percent from 2021 to 2024. That’s not a blip. It’s largely the result of New Zealand’s complete tariff elimination on dairy through its free trade agreement with China, finalized in 2024. New Zealand now supplies close to half of China’s imported milk powder.

Export market collapse visualization showing China’s 55% import decline from 2021-2026 while New Zealand captures 50% market share through tariff-free access. Mexico, representing 25% of US exports, faces $4B domestic investment threatening future demand. Andrew’s Take: This isn’t a temporary dip—it’s a structural realignment that rewrites 40 years of export strategy. Farms betting on an export rebound are playing a losing hand.

Mexico remains the anchor buyer—taking roughly 25 percent of U.S. dairy exports—but the country’s government has already committed more than $4 billion to reduce that dependency by 2030 through feed, processing, and genetic improvements (USDA FAS Mexico). It’s a reminder that even friendly trade partners are prioritizing domestic capacity.

Domestically, per‑capita dairy consumption has hovered around 650 pounds for half a decade (USDA ERS). Cheese and butter continue inching upward, but fluid milk keeps sliding. Meanwhile, IDFA projects $11 billion in new processing capacity—mostly cheese and powder—coming online through 2027. Taken together, it means more milk will be chasing fewer high‑value markets.

It’s why UW–Madison economist Mark Stephenson expects Class III milk to linger near $14 for much of 2026 unless production adjusts. That’s tough news for balance sheets built on $18 milk assumptions.

MetricValueTrend
% US Milk from <700 Herds70%Rising
H5N1 Production Loss (Some Herds)25%Event Risk
Herds Lost per Year (est)2-3%Accelerating
Average Herd Size Growth3-5%/yrContinuing

When Efficiency Turns on You

We’ve spent a generation tightening feed efficiency, refining fresh‑cow management, and maximizing butterfat performance. But when every operation does it at once, collective output outpaces demand. Stephenson’s work shows exactly that: efficiency saves individual farms but extends low‑price cycles industry‑wide.

CoBank’s 2025 outlook says lenders have started factoring this reality into their models, advising clients to treat $14–$15 milk as a planning baseline. They’re less interested in herd size and more in liquidity and diversification—two words that used to sound cautious but now mean survival.

It’s worth noting that some operations are already adapting faster than expected. Instead of ramping production, they’re building buffer zones—feed inventories, beef programs, or renewable energy income—that buy time when markets slump. That’s a quiet, practical form of resilience.

Three Business Models Leading the Next Era

Beef-on-dairy crossbred calves command $1,400 premiums compared to $150 for Holstein bulls—adding $3.50 per hundredweight to dairy revenue without increasing milk production. This diversification strategy is reshaping farm economics across North America. Andrew’s Reality Check: Three years ago, consultants said beef-on-dairy was a fad. Today it’s adding more per-cwt value than most efficiency gains combined. The market voted with its wallet.
Revenue SourceValue per HeadAdditional Revenue per cwt
Beef-on-Dairy Calf14003.5
Holstein Bull Calf1500.15
Cull Cow (reduced)8000.8
Traditional Dairy Only00.0

Looking around North America, I see three dairy models redefining success—and interestingly, none of them depend solely on volume.

1. Scale with Resource Discipline

Large dairies (2,500 cows and up) still enjoy supply‑chain leverage and efficient overheads, keeping costs near $13–$14 per cwt. But as Texas A&M AgriLife has documented, Ogallala Aquifer drawdowns of several feet per year are already limiting western expansion. Efficient dry lot systems still hinge on water, not on technology. The winners in this space will be those securing long‑term water rights and investing in traceable sustainability systems that gain processor preference.

2. Premium Differentiators

Smaller operations in Wisconsin, Vermont, and New York are thriving by selling distinctiveness. The Dairy Business Innovation Alliance granted $27 million last year to help farmers launch on‑farm processing or branded lines. Cornell’s marketing research shows that these operations can gross nearly twice the revenue per gallon of bulk milk, even after accounting for labor and packaging. It’s not an easy switch—but it’s proof that price control still exists for those who own their story.

3. Diversified Mid‑Tier Enterprises

Mid‑sized farms (400–1,000 head) are finding stability through hybrids: beef‑on‑dairy programs, digesters, custom fieldwork, and even agritourism. USDA AMS reports cross calves averaging $1,300–$1,500—steady income that doesn’t depend on milk checks. A producer in western New York summed it up well: “We stopped trying to be the biggest and started aiming to be the most stable.” That’s the pivot shaping 2028’s survivors.

Business ModelLarge-Scale (2,500+ cows)Premium Direct (Small-Mid)Diversified (400-1,000 cows)
Cost per cwt$18.50$22.00$20.25
Revenue per gallon$3.20$5.50$4.10
Key AdvantageEconomies of scalePremium pricingRisk spread
Key RiskCapital intensiveMarket dependentComplex mgmt
2026 ViabilityStrongModerateGood

Regional Realities to Watch

Southwest: Managing Heat and Water

The Southwest’s production advantage is shrinking under the pressure of climate change. NOAA data shows that regional summer highs have increased by nearly 2°F since 2005. Sustained 105°F temperatures drop butterfat 0.25 points and drag conception rates 10–15 percent. Cooling systems can recover performance but raise feed and energy costs—a balance every dry lot system must now manage deliberately.

Midwest: Cooperatives Reinventing Identity

In the Upper Midwest, co‑ops aren’t just merging for size—they’re merging for marketing power. By uniting under shared premium labels, regional processors can command higher prices while keeping milk local. “Made in Wisconsin” and “Minnesota Heritage” brands are now marketing assets that translate directly into net returns.

Northeast: Proximity to the Plate

Closer to metro areas, direct bottlers and farmstead processors are rewriting the economics of small dairies. Cornell Extension documents farms earning $4.50–$5 per gallon retail versus roughly $2.00 through commodity channels. The tradeoff? Long hours, daily distribution. But for these herds, proximity beats volume.

RegionPrimary_ChallengeTemp_IncreaseButterfat_ImpactStrategic_Response2026_Outlook
SouthwestWater + Heat Stress2°F since 2005-0.25 pts at 105°FWater rights + coolingConstrained growth
MidwestCo-op ConsolidationModerateMinimalPremium brandsConsolidation continues
NortheastCompetition + LaborModerateMinimalDirect retail + proximityNiche strength

Consolidation Without Cushion

Here’s what concerns many analysts, myself included. USDA ERS data shows 70 percent of U.S. milk now comes from fewer than 700 herds. Economies of scale made U.S. dairy globally competitive, but that concentration also magnifies disruption.

When USDA APHIS chronicled this year’s H5N1 outbreaks, some mega‑herds lost a quarter of production temporarily. A single event like that can ripple nationwide when production is so consolidated. Efficiency has been our calling card—but efficiency without redundancy is a structural risk.

Policy Reality: The Market Leads

Don’t hold your breath for government rescue via supply management. Lawmakers shelved those proposals years ago, and the odds of revival are slim. The playing field instead relies on program updates like Dairy Margin Coverage and Dairy Revenue Protection.

Some cooperatives are experimenting with “soft cap” base systems that reward milk sold inside quotas while reducing incentives for extra volume. As Cornell’s Ch is Wo f explains, production discipline rarely starts in Congress—it begins when lenders align credit with profitability, not throughput.

Canada’s Connection Under CUSMA

For Canadian producers, this U.S. reset carries ripple effects. Under CUSMA/USMCA, American exporters filled about 42 percent of tariff‑rate quota (TRQ) volumes in 2024 (USDA GATS). If U.S. milk stays cheap, industrial users north of the border could see downward price pressure on powders, even within supply management.

On the flip side, cheesemakers importing U.S. components might gain a cost advantage. It shows how intertwined our systems have become: Canada’s quota stability protects producers, but processors share exposure to North American market cycles.

A 90‑Day Plan for Staying Liquid

  1. Stress‑Test Your Numbers.
    Model 18 months of $14 milk , including all liabilities: feed, debt, family living, and depreciation. Knowing the breakeven point beats guessing.
  2. Six Months of Liquidity.
    Whether feed, credit, or cash reserves, that’s now the lender’s preferred benchmark. It buys you choices when margins vanish.
  3. Diversify Intentionally.
    Beef‑on‑dairy returns, renewable‑energy partnerships, or manure composting programs provide steady non‑milk income and nitrogen‑value recycling.
  4. Align Your Advisors.
    Bring your lender, accountant, and co‑op rep to one table. Coordinated strategy beats reaction every time.

What Success Will Look Like by 2028

MetricVulnerableAt_RiskResilient
Debt-to-Asset Ratio>35%25-35%<25%
Non-Milk Income %<10%10-20%25-30%
Liquidity Reserve<3 months3-4 months6+ months
Breakeven Price>$16/cwt$14-16/cwt<$14/cwt
Risk LevelHIGHMEDIUMLOW

The most resilient operations typically maintain debt-to-asset ratios below 25 percent, generate 25 to 30 percent of their income from sources other than milk, and use integrated data systems that connect cow performance with overall cash flow.

A Pennsylvania producer told a USDA panel recently, “We stopped calling ourselves milk producers—we’re opportunity managers who milk cows.” That’s optimism shaped by hard truth—and it’s probably the right mindset for the next cycle.

The Bottom Line: Strategy Outlasts Size

The next few years won’t favor the farms that produce the most milk, but rather the ones that manage risk  best. Markets—just like herds—reward adaptation more than brute strength.

What’s encouraging is that dairy already has the tools necessary for a successful transition, including precision nutrition, component payouts, renewable energy credits, co-op innovation, and data integration. The real challenge lies in timing—taking action now while there is still an opportunity. By leveraging these resources and making proactive decisions, dairy producers can position themselves to thrive in a changing market, ensuring their operations remain resilient and adaptable for the future.

History shows that producers who adapt quickly are the ones who shape the future of the industry. While the upcoming transition may be challenging, it also presents a valuable chance to build a dairy sector that is more efficient, knowledgeable, and prepared for whatever changes the market may bring.

Key Takeaways

  • Dairy’s next chapter starts with a reset: rising production, shrinking exports, and processing capacity that’s outgrown demand.
  • Producers can’t count on price rebounds—planning for $14 milk means focusing on liquidity, strategy, and controlled risk.
  • The farms built to last aren’t the biggest—they’re the smartest at diversifying their income streams.
  • From Texas dry lots to Midwestern co-ops, success means pivoting from efficiency to adaptability.
  • Even Canada feels the ripple as CUSMA imports pressure processors and test supply management’s limits.

Complete references and supporting documentation are available upon request by contacting the editorial team at editor@thebullvine.com.

Learn More:

Join the Revolution!

Join over 30,000 successful dairy professionals who rely on Bullvine Weekly for their competitive edge. Delivered directly to your inbox each week, our exclusive industry insights help you make smarter decisions while saving precious hours every week. Never miss critical updates on milk production trends, breakthrough technologies, and profit-boosting strategies that top producers are already implementing. Subscribe now to transform your dairy operation’s efficiency and profitability—your future success is just one click away.

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U.S. Dairy Supply Surge: USDA Forecasts Higher Production, Mixed Price Outlook Through 2026

USDA forecasts rising milk production and changing export patterns through 2026. What’s driving the $21.60 milk price, and why might it drop? Find out now.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The latest USDA Supply and Demand report signals significant shifts ahead for dairy markets, with expanding U.S. milk production expected to continue through 2026 despite slightly lower projected prices. While strong export demand is currently offsetting supply growth and supporting a $21.60/cwt all-milk price for 2025, farmers should prepare for potential challenges as fat-basis exports decline and imports rise in 2026, pushing prices down to $21.15/cwt. The double impact of growing dairy herds and increasing per-cow productivity creates a compounding effect on total milk supply that will fundamentally shape market conditions over the next two years, requiring strategic planning and robust risk management from producers looking to maintain profitability.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Window of opportunity: Strong prices projected for 2025 ($21.60/cwt) provide a chance to strengthen financial position before potentially softer markets arrive in 2026 ($21.15/cwt)
  • Export dependency increasing: Current price strength is heavily supported by international demand for butter, cheese, and whey products, making your operation more vulnerable to global market shifts
  • Domestic consumption growth: Increasing U.S. consumption for both fat and skim-solids components provide a stable foundation even as international markets fluctuate
  • Component value divergence: Different export patterns for fat versus protein products mean optimizing your herd for higher components could provide advantages as markets evolve
  • Risk management critical: With expanding U.S. production meeting evolving international markets, implementing forward contracts and other protection strategies now could safeguard your operation from the volatility ahead
USDA dairy forecast, milk production increase, dairy export demand, milk price outlook, dairy market analysis

According to the USDA’s latest Supply and Demand report released yesterday, U.S. dairy farmers can expect expanding milk production, export growth, and moderate price declines by 2026. The May 12th update confirms the trend of growing dairy herds and increasing per-cow productivity, setting the stage for significant market developments over the next two years.

The USDA projects the all-milk price for 2025 at $21.60 per hundredweight (cwt), with a slight dip to $21.15 per cwt in 2026 as increased supply weighs on markets despite growing domestic and export demand.

Production Expansion Continues

U.S. dairy herds are growing, and that’s not slowing down anytime soon. The May report confirms what many producers have observed firsthand – more cows are entering production, and each cow is giving more milk.

This double-whammy of larger herds and better productivity creates a compounding effect on total milk supply, shaping market dynamics through 2026.

For producers making expansion decisions, this trend signals the need for caution. While prices remain relatively strong in the near term, the growing national herd suggests increased competition is coming.

Export Markets Providing Short-Term Support

International demand is currently the dairy industry’s best friend. The USDA has raised its forecast for exports fatally, pointing specifically to “competitively priced butter and cheese” driving international sales.

Exports of whey products, lactose, and cheese are all projected to increase, providing crucial market support that’s helping offset the production increases.

This export strength explains why the USDA raised its price forecasts for butter, cheese, nonfat dry milk (NDM), and whey from last month’s projections – international buyers are absorbing much of the additional production.

Long-Term Price Pressures Building

Looking ahead to 2026, the picture becomes more complex. Fat-basis exports are expected to decline compared to 2025, potentially adding pressure to butter and cheese markets.

Meanwhile, imports are projected to rise, with more butter and skim solids entering the U.S. market. Reduced exports and increased imports could create more challenging market conditions.

The forecasted milk price drop from $21.60 to $21.15 per cwt between 2025 and 2026 reflects this building pressure, though strong domestic consumption should prevent more dramatic declines.

Domestic Consumption Provides Foundation

A key bright spot in the report is the projection for domestic dairy consumption, which is expected to increase for both fat and skim-solids in 2026.

This growth in home market demand creates a more stable foundation for the industry even as international markets fluctuate. American consumers continue embracing dairy products across multiple categories, providing a reliable customer base.

For farmers concerned about market volatility, this domestic growth represents perhaps the most sustainable pillar of long-term demand.

What This Means for Your Operation

If you’re making plans for your dairy operation, the USDA report suggests a window of opportunity now, with potential challenges ahead.

The current price strength for 2025 offers a chance to strengthen your financial position before the projected softer markets 2026 arrive. Smart producers will use this period to reduce debt, invest in efficiency improvements, or build cash reserves.

Component values will likely increase divergence as different export markets favor fat versus protein products. Farms that optimize production for higher components may find advantages in this environment.

Risk Management Becomes Critical

Price volatility is almost guaranteed with expanding U.S. production, growing but uneven export markets, and changing import patterns. Now is the time to evaluate your risk management strategy.

Forward contracting, futures markets, and government programs should all be on the table as you plan for the next 24 months. The relatively strong prices projected for 2025 provide an opportunity to lock in margins while they’re available.

Remember that the entire industry sees these same projections, which means many producers may be expanding simultaneously, accelerating the supply growth beyond the forecast.

The Bottom Line

The dairy landscape is shifting beneath our feet. Growing U.S. production will meet evolving international markets and steady domestic consumption, creating opportunities and challenges.

Near-term price strength masks the pressure of expanding supply, giving smart producers a window to prepare. Those who understand these market dynamics and position their operations accordingly will navigate the coming changes most successfully.

What’s your plan for capitalizing on stronger 2025 prices while preparing for potential softening in 2026? Share your thoughts in the comments or contact our market analysts for personalized guidance.

Learn more:

Join the Revolution!

Join over 30,000 successful dairy professionals who rely on Bullvine Weekly for their competitive edge. Delivered directly to your inbox each week, our exclusive industry insights help you make smarter decisions while saving precious hours every week. Never miss critical updates on milk production trends, breakthrough technologies, and profit-boosting strategies that top producers are already implementing. Subscribe now to transform your dairy operation’s efficiency and profitability—your future success is just one click away.

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