2025
Dairy Data Highlights
1 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
2 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
About Us The Dairy Economics Team, a collaborative effort between the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), provides comprehensive market analysis for stakeholders within America’s dairy industry. This specialized team combines the expertise of both organizations to offer unparalleled insights into the ever-evolving dynamics of dairy markets in the United States and around the world. Leveraging data analytics and industry intelligence, the team produces quality, timely reports to assist dairy farmers, cooperatives, proprietary processors and U.S. dairy exporters in making informed decisions and navigating the complexities of the global dairy landscape. By fostering collaboration and providing reliable market intelligence, the team plays an instrumental role in driving the success and resilience of American dairy in both domestic and international markets.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
3
Table of Contents About Us
3
Glossary
88
Common Conversion Factors
89
Dairy Product Consumption and Production U.S. Milk Production Statistics U.S. Production of Milk, Milkfat and Solids-Not-Fat
6
U.S. Milk Cow Numbers, Dairy Farms and Herd Size
8
Dairy Farms and Milk Production by Herd Size
10
U.S. Production Per Cow of Milk, Milkfat and Solids-Not-Fat 12
Structure of the Dairy Industry by State
Annual Commercial Disappearance of Dairy Products, Milk Equivalent 48 Per Capita Commercial Disappearance of Dairy Products, Milk Equivalent 49 Shares of Commercial Disappearance by Product
50
Fluid Milk Sales by Products
52
Per Capita Fluid Milk Sales, Selected Products
53
Sales of Cream and Other Products
54
Cheese Production, Selected Varieties
56
Milk Production by State
15
Per Capita Cheese Consumption, Selected Varieties
57
Cow Numbers, Dairy Herds and Herd Size by State
17
Production of Butter, NFDM and Other Products
58
Milk and Milkfat Production by State
18
Importance of the Dairy Sector by State
19
Per Capita Consumption of Butter, Cottage Cheese, NFDM and Other Products 59
Producer, Wholesale and Retail Prices of Milk and Dairy Products Farm Level Milk Prices by State
21
Selected Farm Level Annual Average Milk Prices
22
Monthly Seasonality of U.S. All-Milk Price and Milk Production 24 Annual Wholesale Prices of Dairy Products
26
Monthly Prices of Dairy Products on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange 27 Annual Retail Prices for Selected Dairy Products
Production of Frozen Dairy Products
60
Per Capita Consumption of Frozen Dairy Products
61
Cheese, Butter, and NFDM Production, by State
62
Plants Processing Dairy Products and Volumes Per Plant
64
Government Cost of Farm Commodity Programs CCC Net Outlays by Commodity
66
U.S. Dairy Trade
28 U.S. Fresh Milk and Cream Exports
Costs of Milk Production Indicators
70
U.S. Butter and Cheese Exports
71-72
U.S. Milk Powder Exports
73-74
Milk Production Costs and Returns by Herd Size
31
U.S. Ice Cream and Yogurt Exports
75-76
U.S. Milk Production Costs and Returns
33
U.S. Whey and Lactose Exports
77-78
Monthly Milk-Feed Price Ratio
34
Monthly DMC/MPP Calculated Feed Cost
34
Commercial Exports and Domestic Disappearance, Milk Equivalent, Total Milk Solids Basis
79
Monthly DMC/MPP Margin
36
Dairy Imports, Quota and Non-Quota
81
Average Prices Received for Livestock
38
Average Prices Received for Crops
40
Crop Production
41
Scope of Federal Milk Marketing Orders Federal Milk Marketing Order Statistics by Market
43
Measures of Growth in Federal Milk Marketing Orders
44
Sales and Butterfat Content of Fluid Milk Products in Federal Milk Marketing Orders 45
4 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
U.S. Economic Indicators and Other Statistics Price Indices: Annual Average, Not Seasonally Adjusted
83
Minutes of Work Required to Purchase Selected Dairy Products
84
Commodity Receipts from Marketings
85
Nation’s Top Dairy Cooperatives
86
Number & Net Volume of Products, Supplies and Services by Cooperatives 87 International Milk Production Statistics
88
U.S. Milk Production Statistics
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
5
TABLE 1
U.S. Production of Milk, Milkfat and Solids-Not-Fat NONFAT
SOLIDS
PER CAPITA MILK
SOLIDS
TEST
PRODUCTION
(%)
(Million Lbs)
(%)
(Lbs)
3,929
3.92%
8,994
8.98%
814
2.5%
4,343
3.97%
9,705
8.87%
829
116,602
0.4%
4,618
3.96%
10,203
8.75%
768
1960
123,109
0.9%
4,628
3.76%
10,600
8.61%
684
1970
117,007
0.8%
4,284
3.66%
10,063
8.60%
574
1980
128,406
4.1%
4,692
3.65%
11,030
8.59%
565
1985
143,012
5.7%
5,244
3.67%
12,299
8.60%
600
1990
147,721
2.7%
5,390
3.65%
12,704
8.60%
591
1995
155,292
1.1%
5,681
3.66%
13,505
8.70%
583
2000
167,393
3.0%
6,164
3.68%
14,596
8.72%
593
2005
176,931
3.6%
6,480
3.66%
15,481
8.75%
599
2010
192,877
1.9%
7,054
3.66%
16,979
8.80%
624
2011
196,255
1.8%
7,284
3.71%
17,317
8.82%
630
2012
200,642
2.2%
7,463
3.72%
17,750
8.85%
639
2013
201,260
0.3%
7,558
3.76%
17,853
8.87%
637
2014
206,048
2.4%
7,698
3.74%
18,273
8.87%
647
2015
208,508
1.2%
7,810
3.75%
18,481
8.86%
650
2016
212,451
1.9%
8,054
3.79%
18,874
8.88%
658
2017
215,527
1.4%
8,272
3.84%
19,190
8.90%
663
2018
217,584
1.0%
8,466
3.89%
19,405
8.92%
666
2019
218,444
0.4%
8,560
3.92%
19,508
8.93%
665
2020
223,282
2.2%
8,817
3.95%
19,972
8.94%
674
2021
226,238
1.3%
9,067
4.01%
20,333
8.99%
681
2022
226,416
0.1%
9,247
4.08%
20,438
9.03%
679
2023
226,311
0.0%
9,380
4.14%
20,459
9.04%
676
2024
225,868
-0.2%
9,573
4.24%
20,502
9.08%
664
YEAR
MILK PRODUCTION
MILKFAT
FAT TEST
(Million Lbs)
(% Change)
(Million Lbs)
1930
100,158
1.2%
1940
109,412
1950
Sources: USDA/NASS; USDA/ERS; U.S. Census Bureau
6 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
FIGURE 1
Growth in U.S. Milk Production
Sources: USDA/NASS; USDA/ERS; U.S. Census Bureau
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
7
TABLE 2
U.S. Milk Cow Numbers, Dairy Farms and Herd Size YEAR
JAN. 1 INVENTORY
AVERAGE
FARM NUMBERS
HERD SIZE
Dairy
Milk Cows
Heifers Kept for Replacement
(1,000 head)
(#)
(per 100 Cows)
(Thousand)
1950
23,853
5,394
23
5,648
3,648
7
1955
23,462
5,786
25
4,654
2,936
8
1960
19,527
5,079
26
3,963
1,792
11
1965
16,981
4,149
24
3,356
1,108
15
1970
12,091
3,881
32
2,949
648
19
1975
11,220
4,087
36
2,521
444
25
1980
10,758
4,159
39
2,440
334
32
1985
10,777
4,770
44
2,293
269
40
1990
10,015
4,171
42
2,146
193
52
1995
9,482
4,121
43
2,196
112.0
140
85
2000
9,183
4,000
44
2,167
83.0
105
111
2015
9,312
4,710
51
2,064
43.5
N/A
214
2016
9,312
4,814
52
2,055
41.8
N/A
223
2017
9,369
4,754
51
2,042
40.2
N/A
233
2018
9,432
4,768
51
2,023
37.5
N/A
252
2019
9,353
4,674
50
2,008
34.2
N/A
273
2020
9,344
4,610
49
1,992
31.7
N/A
295
2021
9,450
4,498
48
1,960
29.8
N/A
317
2022
9,381
4,222
45
1,901
27.9
N/A
336
2023
9,398
4,074
43
1,895
26.3
N/A
357
2024
9,347
3,951
42
1,880
24.8
N/A
377
Total
Licensed
(Number)
Sources: USDA / NASS: Cattle; Milk Production; Farms and Land in Farms. *Licensed dairy herds beginning in 1995 Farm: Any establishment with at least $1,000 in annual sales of agricultural products. Dairy: Any farm having one or more milk cows on hand during the year. Discontinued by NASS after 2012. Licensed dairy: A farm with a public health license to sell milk.
8 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
All
FIGURE 2
U.S. Dairy Farms and Average Herd Size
Sources: USDA / NASS: Cattle; Milk Production; Farms and Land in Farms.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
9
TABLE 3
Dairy Farms and Milk Production by Herd Size YEAR
NUMBER OF COWS IN HERD
1 - 49
50 - 99
100 - 199
200 - 499
500 - 999
1000 - 1999
2000+
Total
Number of Farms1 by Size Group 1980
266,341
49,793
18,046
2
2
2
2
334,180
1985
193,716
55,155
20,179
2
2
2
2
269,050
1990
126,022
47,113
20,745
2
2
2
2
193,880
1995
79,180
39,280
14,290
6,920
3
3
3
39, 303
2000
53,030
31,190
12,835
5,340
1,700
690
270
105,055
2005
37,325
23,185
10,055
4,662
1,700
850
523
78,300
2010
30,800
15,800
8,600
3,950
1,670
920
760
62,500
2012
28,500
14,500
7,900
3,800
1,570
950
780
58,000
4
2017
13,125
12,131
6,753
3,830
1,511
1,239
714
39,303
2022
6,765
6,048
4,147
3,671
1,438
1,179
834
24,082
% of U.S. Milk Production by Size Group 1980
36.4
30.4
33.2
2
2
2
2
100
1985
30.6
33.1
36.3
2
2
2
2
100
1990
24.2
31.5
44.3
2
2
2
2
100
1995
14.4
26.1
19.8
39.7
3
3
3
100
2000
9.5
19.4
17.2
18.0
13.8
11.6
10.5
100
2005
6.4
15.2
13.5
15.3
14.3
13.4
21.9
100
2010
4.6
10.6
11.3
12.6
12.7
15.5
32.7
100
2012
4.2
9.5
10.7
12.6
12.4
15.9
34.7
100
20174
3.6
7.3
8.9
12.6
12.2
14.5
41.0
100
2022
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Source: USDA / NASS; Milk Production. 1 Farms are defined as operations with at least one milk cow through 2012, and as licensed dairy herds in 2017. 2 Included in 100-199; greater detail for herd sizes above 100 cows not available prior to 1993. 3 Included in 200-499; greater detail for herd sizes above 200 cows not available prior to 1998. 4 Discontinued by NASS between quinquennial census years after 2012. 2017 from Agricultural Census and NMPF.
10 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
FIGURE 3A
Percent of U.S. Dairy Farms by Herd Size
FIGURE 3B
Percent of U.S. Milk Production by Herd Size
Source: USDA / NASS; Milk Production. DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
11
TABLE 4
U.S. Production Per Cow of Milk, Milkfat and Solids-Not-Fat YEAR
MILK PRODUCTION PER COW
MILKFAT PRODUCTION PER COW
SOLIDS-NOT-FAT PRODUCTION PER COW
Lbs
% Change
Lbs
% Change
Lbs
% Change
1925
4,218
1.2%
165
1.2%
385
1.2%
1930
4,508
-1.6%
177
-1.7%
404
1.0%
1940
4,622
0.7%
183
1.1%
411
2.0%
1950
5,314
0.8%
210
0.5%
467
2.2%
1960
7,029
3.1%
263
2.7%
607
3.9%
1970
9,751
3.4%
357
3.0%
838
3.3%
1980
11,891
3.5%
434
3.4%
1,021
3.4%
1985
13,024
3.9%
478
3.9%
1,120
3.9%
1990
14,782
3.2%
539
2.1%
1,271
3.2%
1995
16,405
1.4%
600
1.4%
1,427
2.5%
2000
18,197
2.4%
670
2.8%
1,587
2.4%
2005
19,550
3.1%
716
2.9%
1,711
3.1%
2010
21,142
2.8%
774
2.5%
1,861
3.1%
2011
21,334
0.9%
791
2.2%
1,882
1.1%
2012
21,722
1.8%
808
2.1%
1,922
2.1%
2013
21,819
0.4%
820
1.5%
1,935
0.7%
2014
22,249
2.0%
832
1.5%
1,973
1.9%
2015
22,372
0.6%
839
0.8%
1,983
0.5%
2016
22,761
1.7%
863
2.9%
2,022
2.0%
2017
22,914
0.7%
880
2.0%
2,040
0.9%
2018
23,152
1.0%
901
2.4%
2,065
1.2%
2019
23,401
1.1%
917
1.8%
2,089
1.2%
2020
23,764
1.6%
939
2.4%
2,126
1.7%
2021
23,943
0.8%
960
2.2%
2,152
1.2%
2022
24,087
0.6%
983
2.4%
2,174
1.0%
2023
24,117
0.1%
998
1.5%
2,180
0.3%
2024
24,178
0.3%
1,025
2.7%
2,195
0.7%
Sources: USDA/NASS; USDA/ERS.
12 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
FIGURE 4
Growth In U.S. Milk Production Per Cow
Sources: USDA/NASS; USDA/ERS.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
13
Structure of the Dairy Industry by State
14 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 5
Milk Production by State STATE
MILK PRODUCTION 2000
RANK OF 2024 PRODUCTION
2010
2020
2024
Share of U.S.
156 7 4,151 153 40,385 2,816 364 90 2,133 1,395 25 12,773 1,840 3,416 4,342 2,497 1,152 235 587 1,001 242 8,333 9,102 223 1,445 289 1,168 664 294 140 7,881 12,713 866 384 5,270 959 2,399 32 10,737 20 286 1,884 850 8,828 1,927 2,521 1,719 5,902 157 26,035 120 192,877
44
27
0.0%
46
5
4,889 64 41,311 5,150 438 71 2,286 1,770
4,692 26 40,283 5,256 424 47 2,030 1,951
15 47 1 13 34 45 21 22
619 8 1,034 894 115 45 87 177
16,240 1,791 4,334 5,374 4,026 939 134 591 881 200 11,667 10,166 131 1,087 254 1,460 785 236 101 8,169 15,296 895 328 5,609 731 2,637 5 10,279 11 187 3,120 542 14,855 2,230 2,603 1,522 6,817 89 30,749 189 223,282
17,023 1,699 4,513 6,014 4,226 846 93 544 819 180 12,124 10,392 65 798 198 1,247 778 204 84 5,932 16,102 857 228 5,694 738 2,452 8 9,782 9 145 4,950 449 17,037 2,120 2,479 1,397 6,248 59 32,351 248 225,868
2.1% 0.0% 17.8% 2.3% 0.2% 0.0% 0.9% 0.9% 0.0% 7.5% 0.8% 2.0% 2.7% 1.9% 0.4% 0.0% 0.2% 0.4% 0.1% 5.4% 4.6% 0.0% 0.4% 0.1% 0.6% 0.3% 0.1% 0.0% 2.6% 7.1% 0.4% 0.1% 2.5% 0.3% 1.1% 0.0% 4.3% 0.0% 0.1% 2.2% 0.2% 7.5% 0.9% 1.1% 0.6% 2.8% 0.0% 14.3% 0.1% 100.0%
4 23 16 10 17 27 41 32 28 39 6 7 43 29 38 25 30 37 42 11 5 26 36 12 31 19 49 8 48 40 14 33 3 20 18 24 9 44 2 35
8,664 135 658 1,875 1,437 187 20 390 133 26 1,208 1,811 22 129 175 630 244 146 9 2,806 823 79 291 483 182 579 4 755 8 27 5,384 63 559 620 3,829 160 800 33 5,473 425 674
(Million Pounds) Alabama Alaska¹ Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii¹ Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Other States¹ Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming United States
348 13 3,033 485 32,245 1,924 480 146 2,463 1,433 116 7,223 2,094 2,419 3,934 1,540 1,695 698 668 1,351 376 5,705 9,493 541 2,258 338 1,255 476 312 244 5,236 11,921 1,189 686 4,461 1,314 1,640 129 11,156 28 370 1,474 1,405 5,743 1,687 2,683 1,900 5,593 265 23,259 76 167,393
Rank
(Percent)
Per Capita (Pounds)
Sources: Milk Production Disposition and Income; Bureau of Census. ¹ Alaska and Hawaii combined into ”Other States” beginning in 2019.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
15
FIGURE 5
Regional Milk Production U.S. Milk Production, 2024
U.S. Milk Production, 1980 AK & HI 0.13%
AK & HI 0.003%
Northeast 20%
Northeast 14%
Midwest 24%
Midwest 30%
Southeast 3%
Southeast 10%
California 18% Wisconsin 14%
California 11%
Wisconsin 18% Southwest 4%
16 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
West 7%
Southwest 12%
West 15%
TABLE 6
Cow Numbers, Licensed Dairy Herds and Herd Size, by State STATE
COWS 2013
RANK OF 2024
LICENSED DAIRY HERDS
AVERAGE HERD SIZE
2024
2013
2024
2013
2024
2.3
40 2 100 75 1,485 120 130 40 130 230
10
200 150 1,960 93 1,199 1,200 146 120 946 352
230
26
2,743 105 1,717 2,137 206 173 2,200 1,063
1 43 7 5 29 35 4 11
1,917 188 277 345 1,106 124 136 171 134 90 518 263 183 146 243 625 1,550 119 98 2,526 219 362 380 181 615 836 56 96
6 32 21 20 10 41 39 36 40 46 17 23 33 38 24 15 9 42 44 2 28 19 18 34 16 13 47 45
267 1,578 200 2,266 700 233 189 925 160 230
22 8 30 3 14 25 31 12 37 27
AVERAGE HERD SIZE
1,000 Head Alabama Alaska¹ Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia
8.0 0.3 196 7.0 1,780 144 19 4.8 123 81
Hawaii¹ Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Other States¹ Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming United States
2.2 575 94 178 207 141 63 15 30 50 13 390 460 13 90 14 54 29 14 7.0 323 615 46 16 267 40 124 530 0.9 16 97 46 463 95 132 93 273 9.0 1,271 6.0 9,261
192 2.1 1,708 203 18 2.6 99 85 671 78 190 243 177 42 7.5 24 39 9.0 438 444 5.5 57 8.5 50 31 10 3.9 240 630 38 10 253 40 117 0.9 465 0.5 8.0 213 24 657 91 114 67 259 4.0 1,269 9.0 9,342
2 530 690 1,265 1,370 315 720 120 280 450 150 1,950 3,605 85 1,230 70 190 20 120 70 150 4,950 250 100 2,810 170 250 6,810 15 80 255 370 440 210 880 630 480 75 10,290 10 44,809
70 20 995 95 85 15 45 80 350 415 685 705 160 340 55 140 290 100 845 1,690 30 390 35 80 20 80 40 95 2,880 105 25 1,395 65 140 16 4,850 30 135 120 290 130 490 355 280 25 5,520
Source: USDA/NASS: Milk Production.
17¹ Alaska NMPF/USDEC DAIRYcombined ECONOMICS and Hawaii into ”Other States” beginning in 2019.
24,811
1,100 1,085 136 141 151 448 88 125 107 111 87 200 128 153 73 200 284 1,450 117 100 2,153 124 184 160 95 235 496 78 60 200 380 124 1,052 452 150 148 569 120 124 600 207
377
TABLE 7
Milk and Milkfat Production by State STATE
ANNUAL MILK PER COW 1990
MILKFAT
RANK OF 2024
PER COW
MILK PER COW
2000
2010
2020
2024
12,214 14,000 17,500 11,841 18,456 17,182 15,606 13,667 14,033 12,973 13,604 16,475 14,707 14,590 15,118 12,576 10,947 11,605 14,619 13,461 14,871 15,394 14,127 12,081 13,632 13,542 13,866 16,400 15,100 13,538 18,815 14,658 15,220 12,624 13,767 12,327 16,273
13,920 14,500 21,820 12,436 21,130 21,618 17,778 14,747 15,688 16,284 14,358 20,816 17,450 16,568 18,298 16,923 12,841 12,034 17,128 16,083 17,091 19,017 17,777 15,028 14,662 17,789 16,513 19,000 17,333 15,250 20,944 17,378 16,746 14,292 17,027 14,440 18,222
14,182 11,833 23,452 12,750 23,025 23,664 19,158 16,981 18,711 17,658 13,316 22,647 18,400 20,094 20,676 20,983 14,769 11,750 18,344 18,537 17,286 23,277 19,366 13,118 14,596 20,643 19,797 23,714 19,600 17,500 24,551 20,807 19,682 18,286 19,446 17,125 20,331
14,667
11,739
455
48
24,445 12,800 23,990 26,142 23,053 18,553 20,230 21,852
24,438 12,381 23,585 25,892 24,229 18,154 20,505 22,953
995 482 991 1,038 1,020 764 804 914
12 46 18 4 13 40 35 23
14,726 14,250 12,771 12,257 11,825 14,350 15,838 14,528 14,213 18,532 11,250 13,973 12,337 14,782
18,081 15,667 16,087 15,516 14,789 16,503 17,573 17,199 15,833 22,644 15,588 17,306 13,571 18,197
19,847 17,727 17,875 20,478 16,346 21,375 21,898 18,537 18,095 23,514 15,700 20,630 20,067 21,142
25,178 21,321 23,554 24,651 23,682 19,563 13,400 21,889 20,976 20,000 27,070 22,692 16,375 14,303 21,167 24,746 23,788 21,455 20,200 24,755 24,435 21,829 21,867 21,996 17,829 20,929 5,333 21,326 21,800 18,700 22,941 18,067 24,966 23,229 21,336 20,293 24,346 14,833 24,423 25,173 23,764
25,370 21,782 23,753 24,749 23,876 20,143 12,400 22,667 21,000 20,000 27,680 23,405 11,818 14,000 23,294 24,940 25,097 21,474 21,538 24,717 25,559 22,553 24,000 22,506 18,450 20,957 8,778 21,037 17,200 18,125 23,239 18,708 25,932 23,297 21,746 20,851 24,124 14,750 25,493 27,578 24,178
1,096 917 976 1,099 1,029 826 471 945 884 844 1,151 1,051 451 581 955 1,080 1,052 908 851 999 1,079 918 1,082 925 804 920 330 871 774 770 1,081 763 1,136 967 929 851 1,037 612 1,076 1,114 1,025
7 27 17 10 16 36 45 24 32 37 1 19 47 44 21 9 8 30 29 11 5 25 15 26 39 33 49 31 42 41 22 38 3 20 28 34 14 43 6 2
(Lbs) Alabama Alaska¹ Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii¹ Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Other States¹ Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming United States
Source: USDA/NASS: Milk Production, Disposition, and Income. ¹ Alaska and Hawaii combined into ”Other States” beginning in 2019.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
18
TABLE 8
Importance of the Dairy Sector by State, 2024 STATE
FARM RECEIPTS Total
California Wisconsin Idaho Texas New York Michigan Pennsylvania Minnesota Washington New Mexico Iowa Ohio Colorado Arizona Indiana South Dakota Kansas Oregon Vermont Georgia Florida Utah Illinois Virginia Nebraska Kentucky Missouri North Carolina Maryland Oklahoma Nevada Maine Tennessee Connecticut North Dakota Wyoming New Hampshire Montana Massachusetts South Carolina Louisiana Mississippi New Jersey West Virginia Delaware Arkansas Alabama Rhode Island Hawaii Alaska United States
DAIRY SHARE
RANK OF
OF TOTAL
DAIRY
FIRST IN INCOME
RECEIPTS
Dairy
(Thousand Dollars)
(Percent)
$61,217,039 $15,319,004 $30,283,096 $11,794,206 $7,324,516 $10,856,100 $22,205,967 $9,092,844 $12,636,635 $13,210,978 $37,586,276 $4,186,374 $9,606,808 $13,111,113 $15,232,621 $5,299,972 $23,868,182 $7,093,781 $991,662 $9,208,184 $12,639,422 $2,581,645 $22,451,173 $4,552,075 $31,970,233 $3,130,898 $14,766,439 $7,919,510 $9,739,509 $13,641,990 $1,046,327 $901,024 $5,219,836 $733,092 $2,044,596 $11,120,303 $262,428 $4,951,708 $541,668 $3,381,313 $4,309,445 $1,621,144 $7,168,163 $978,739 $2,080,754 $7,821,557 $12,694,846 $110,223 $724,479 $52,568 $511,282,472
14.1% 45.5% 13.0% 32.8% 51.7% 25.2% 10.4% 24.9% 11.6% 10.0% 3.5% 29.9% 12.4% 8.6% 6.9% 20.0% 3.8% 8.3% 59.3% 5.8% 4.1% 18.3% 1.7% 8.0% 0.9% 6.2% 1.3% 2.4% 1.9% 1.4% 16.3% 13.7% 1.9% 13.5% 2.8% 0.5% 18.2% 0.9% 7.7% 1.1% 0.5% 1.1% 0.2% 1.3% 0.5% 0.1% 0.05% 1.9% 0.3% 1.3% 9.9%
$8,614,570 $6,966,134 $3,946,552 $3,872,580 $3,784,024 $2,732,340 $2,306,080 $2,259,634 $1,465,460 $1,319,479 $1,313,124 $1,250,800 $1,193,580 $1,127,004 $1,057,988 $1,057,906 $914,004 $591,219 $588,418 $532,575 $516,838 $471,520 $376,647 $363,132 $285,660 $194,640 $194,028 $192,360 $186,660 $185,640 $170,060 $123,120 $101,447 $99,120 $56,741 $51,968 $47,874 $43,618 $41,772 $35,642 $20,610 $17,876 $15,309 $12,312 $11,344 $6,448 $5,807 $2,074 $2,054 $660 $50,726,452
(Thousand Dollars) 1 1 2 1 1 1 5 1 3 4 6 2 2 4 5 2 5 3 1 6 7 3 6 4 7 5 13 11 7 13 2 3 9 3 5 16 3 14 5 12 14 12 16 10 8 17 19 6 9 7 3
Milk and dairy products Milk and dairy products Cattle and calves Milk and dairy products Milk and dairy products Milk and dairy products Corn Milk and dairy products Cattle and calves Soybeans Corn Cattle and calves Cattle and calves Cattle and calves Corn Cattle and calves Cattle and calves Miscellaneous crops Milk and dairy products Miscellaneous crops Broilers Cattle and calves Corn Broilers Cattle and calves Broilers Broilers Cattle and calves Cattle and calves Cattle and calves Cattle and calves Potatoes Broilers Miscellaneous crops Cattle and calves Soybeans Chicken eggs Cattle and calves Miscellaneous crops Broilers Sugarcane Miscellaneous crops Broilers Cattle and calves Broilers Broilers Broilers Miscellaneous crops Miscellaneous crops Miscellaneous crops Cattle and calves
$8,614,570 $6,966,134 $13,628,383 $3,872,580 $3,784,024 $2,732,340 $5,854,728 $2,259,634 $2,487,644 $2,983,951 $11,056,992 $1,890,332 $5,347,154 $3,879,349 $4,338,098 $1,502,702 $14,784,251 $2,179,284 $588,418 $1,772,030 $6,092,914 $825,908 $9,638,417 $1,254,235 $17,796,436 $1,457,719 $6,029,599 $1,513,628 $5,242,017 $3,296,291 $563,560 $218,109 $1,282,135 $306,598 $1,460,196 $2,386,914 $68,216 $2,089,836 $236,380 $1,307,580 $1,006,995 $739,889 $3,338,849 $303,368 $1,605,775 $4,781,093 $5,625,607 $69,958 $357,926 $19,469 $112,093,129
Sources: USDA/ERS: Farm Income and Wealth Statistics DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
19
Producer, Wholesale and Retail Prices of Milk and Dairy Products
20 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 9
Farm Level Milk Prices by State STATE
1990
Alabama Alaska¹ Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii¹ Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Other States¹ Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming United States
$15.90 $20.30 $14.10 $15.00 $12.02 $14.50 $14.70 $14.90 $16.70 $15.80 $20.70 $12.20 $12.90 $14.10 $13.30 $13.30 $14.30 $15.40 $15.20 $14.90 $14.80 $14.10 $13.22 $15.10 $13.60 $13.70 $13.10 $13.20 $14.80 $15.30 $13.40 $14.60 $15.80 $12.50 $13.90 $14.30 $13.20 $15.00 $14.80 $16.10 $13.00 $14.70 $14.70 $12.90 $14.40 $15.00 $13.30 $14.30 $13.47 $12.80 $13.74
2000
% CHANGE
2024 CASH
FROM 2023
RECEIPTS
2010
2020
2023
2024
(Percent)
(Thousand Dollars)
$14.20 $20.30 $11.90 $13.60 $11.50 $11.80 $14.10 $13.50 $15.60 $12.90 $24.50 $10.60 $12.30 $12.90 $11.70 $11.60 $13.80 $13.90 $14.10 $13.50 $14.10 $12.90 $12.00 $13.90 $12.10 $12.80 $11.70 $11.00 $14.00 $13.20 $12.40 $13.10 $14.90 $11.30 $12.60 $13.60 $12.80
$19.50 $24.40 $15.90 $17.10 $14.69 $16.40 $18.00 $18.40 $20.70 $18.40 $35.00 $14.90 $17.10 $17.30 $16.50 $17.30 $17.90 $18.00 $18.60 $18.40 $18.00 $17.00 $16.10 $18.40 $16.60 $16.90 $17.30 $16.90 $17.80 $16.80 $15.80 $17.40 $19.30 $15.90 $17.80 $18.00 $17.30
$18.30
$23.30
$24.80
6%
$6,448
$16.20 $17.80 $17.60 $17.40 $18.00 $17.10 $21.30 $19.80
$20.10 $22.20 $19.90 $20.90 $21.90 $22.30 $24.80 $24.20
$22.60 $23.70 $21.40 $22.80 $23.60 $24.50 $26.30 $26.60
12% 7% 8% 9% 8% 10% 6% 10%
$1,057,906 $5,807 $8,614,570 $1,193,580 $99,120 $11,344 $532,575 $516,838
$13.70 $14.20 $14.10 $12.80 $13.80 $13.40 $11.20 $13.80 $14.80 $12.80 $13.30 $11.70 $11.00 $12.40
$18.30 $18.00 $19.90 $16.50 $17.90 $17.10 $16.20 $17.70 $19.40 $16.10 $16.90 $16.10 $16.50 $16.35
$18.40 $18.00 $17.40 $19.50 $17.10 $18.70 $18.70 $19.40 $17.40 $18.30 $16.40 $20.10 $19.00 $17.90 $18.60 $18.20 $18.50 $18.00 $17.20 $16.30 $17.70 $18.80 $19.90 $18.30 $19.00 $21.20 $26.50 $18.20 $17.50 $19.30 $20.60 $18.80 $18.60 $18.20 $18.30 $19.70 $17.50 $17.50 $18.90 $16.90 $18.16
$20.60 $20.50 $21.30 $18.90 $19.10 $21.60 $21.90 $21.50 $21.90 $21.60 $20.00 $19.30 $22.20 $21.80 $21.20 $20.00 $20.80 $21.80 $20.40 $18.60 $21.80 $21.70 $19.40 $21.40 $23.40 $23.40 $36.60 $21.40 $22.30 $23.50 $20.30 $21.80 $20.30 $20.30 $21.90 $24.10 $21.40 $20.20 $19.30 $20.50 $20.38
$22.80 $22.30 $23.60 $21.90 $21.70 $22.90 $22.90 $22.80 $24.00 $23.60 $22.60 $22.40 $24.30 $23.80 $22.60 $23.00 $22.00 $23.70 $21.80 $21.20 $23.60 $22.80 $23.20 $23.30 $25.50 $24.30 $36.70 $23.30 $24.40 $25.10 $22.80 $22.90 $23.20 $22.40 $23.90 $26.20 $23.50 $21.60 $21.70 $23.00 $22.56
11% 9% 11% 16% 14% 6% 5% 6% 10% 9% 13% 16% 9% 9% 7% 15% 6% 9% 7% 14% 8% 5% 20% 9% 9% 4% 0% 9% 9% 7% 12% 5% 14% 10% 9% 9% 10% 7% 12% 12% 11%
$3,872,580 $376,647 $1,057,988 $1,313,124 $914,004 $192,360 $20,610 $123,120 $194,640 $41,772 $2,732,340 $2,306,080 $15,309 $185,640 $43,618 $285,660 $170,060 $47,874 $17,876 $1,250,800 $3,784,024 $194,028 $51,968 $1,319,479 $186,660 $591,219 $2,714 $2,259,634 $2,074 $35,642 $1,127,004 $101,447 $3,946,552 $471,520 $588,418 $363,132 $1,465,460 $12,312 $6,966,134 $56,741 $50,726,452
(Dollars per Cwt.)
Source: USDA/NASS: Milk Production, Disposition, and Income. ¹ Milk prices for Alaska and Hawaii combined into “Other States” beginning in 2019. DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
21
TABLE 10
Selected Farm Level Annual Average Milk Prices YEAR
CLASS III PRICE @
CLASS IV PRICE
MANUFACTURING
ALL-MILK
% CHANGE IN
3.5%
@ 3.5%
GRADE MILK
WHOLESALE
ALL-MILK PRICE
(Dollars Per Cwt.)
1965
$3.27
n/a
$3.34
$4.23
1.9%
1970
$4.66
n/a
$4.70
$5.71
4.0%
1975
$7.62
n/a
$7.63
$8.75
4.9%
1980
$11.88
n/a
$12.01
$13.05
8.4%
1985
$11.50
n/a
$11.72
$12.76
-2.2%
1990
$12.21
n/a
$12.34
$13.74
1.3%
1995
$11.83
n/a
$11.79
$12.78
-1.8%
2000
$9.74
$11.83
$10.52
$12.30
-14.6%
2005
$14.05
$12.88
$14.42
$15.10
-6.2%
2010
$14.41
$15.09
$14.56
$16.30
27.3%
2011
$18.37
$19.04
n/a
$20.10
23.3%
2012
$17.44
$16.01
n/a
$18.50
-8.0%
2013
$17.99
$19.05
n/a
$20.10
8.6%
2014
$22.34
$22.09
n/a
$24.00
19.4%
2015
$15.80
$14.34
n/a
$17.10
-28.8%
2016
$14.87
$13.77
n/a
$16.30
-4.7%
2017
$16.17
$15.16
n/a
$17.70
8.6%
2018
$14.62
$14.24
n/a
$16.30
-7.9%
2019
$16.97
$16.30
n/a
$18.70
14.7%
2020
$18.17
$13.48
n/a
$18.10
-3.2%
2021
$17.09
$16.10
n/a
$18.50
2.2%
2022
$21.96
$24.47
n/a
$25.30
36.8%
2023
$17.01
$19.12
n/a
$20.30
-19.8%
2024
$18.90
$20.75
n/a
$22.60
11.3%
Sources: USDA/AMS; USDA/NASS: Milk Production, Disposition, and Income. Note: Class III and Class IV price at 3.5% milkfat; all others at test. NASS discontinued reporting manufacturing grade and fluid grade milk prices in 2011.
22 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
FIGURE 6
All-Milk Price and Class III Price
Sources: USDA/AMS; USDA/NASS: Milk Production, Disposition, and Income.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
23
TABLE 11
Monthly Seasonality of U.S. All-Milk Price and Milk Production MONTH
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
U.S. All-Milk Price, Dollars Per Cwt. at Average Test Jan
$16.20
$16.60
$19.50
$17.10
$23.90
$22.90
$19.90
Feb
$15.30
$16.80
$18.80
$16.70
$24.50
$21.40
$20.40
Mar
$15.60
$17.60
$17.80
$17.30
$25.60
$21.00
$20.60
Apr
$15.80
$17.70
$14.30
$18.30
$27.00
$20.60
$20.40
May
$16.20
$18.00
$13.60
$19.10
$27.20
$19.10
$22.00
Jun
$16.30
$18.10
$18.10
$18.20
$26.70
$17.80
$22.80
Jul
$15.50
$18.70
$20.50
$17.80
$25.50
$17.30
$22.80
Aug
$16.10
$18.90
$18.50
$17.60
$24.10
$19.60
$23.60
Sep
$16.90
$19.30
$17.60
$18.30
$24.10
$20.90
$25.50
Oct
$17.50
$20.20
$19.80
$19.60
$25.60
$21.50
$25.10
Nov
$17.20
$21.20
$21.00
$20.70
$25.40
$21.60
$24.20
Dec
$16.60
$20.70
$18.10
$21.70
$24.50
$20.40
$23.30
All Year
$16.30
$18.70
$18.10
$18.50
$25.30
$20.30
$22.60
U.S. Milk Production, Million Pounds Jan
18,431
18,613
18,876
19,361
19,055
19,318
19,083
Feb
16,976
16,968
17,900
17,693
17,523
17,723
18,185
Mar
18,988
18,842
19,394
19,800
19,711
19,815
19,675
Apr
18,425
18,433
18,666
19,352
19,143
19,207
19,082
May
19,122
19,062
18,980
19,851
19,751
19,856
19,624
Jun
18,280
18,227
18,396
18,933
18,917
18,949
18,627
Jul
18,331
18,379
18,738
19,097
19,184
18,977
18,918
Aug
18,247
18,283
18,629
18,716
18,998
18,817
18,906
Sep
17,396
17,599
18,032
18,020
18,236
18,171
18,261
Oct
17,872
18,138
18,601
18,624
18,812
18,633
18,775
Nov
17,330
17,499
18,107
18,017
18,191
18,042
17,988
Dec
18,170
18,401
18,963
18,774
18,895
18,803
18,744
All Year
217,568
218,444
223,282
226,238
226,416
226,311
225,868
Source: USDA/NASS: Prices Received and Milk Production.
24 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
FIGURE 7
660
$27.00
650
$25.00
640
$23.00
630
$21.00
620
$19.00
610
$17.00
600
$15.00
590
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Average Daily Milk Production
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Dollars Per Cwt.
Million Pounds Per Day
Seasonality of Milk Supply and Price
$13.00
U.S. All-Milk Price
Source: USDA/NASS: Prices Received and Milk Production.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
25
TABLE 12
Annual Wholesale Prices of Dairy Products YEAR
CME GRADE AA BUTTER1
NCE/CME2/CHEDDAR CHEESE
NONFAT DRY MILK
Barrels
West (Low/Med)
Central³ (Low/Med)
40 Lb Blocks
(Annual Average, Cents per Pound)
1975
79.4
82.6
86.6
n/a
62.9
1980
139.3
127.0
133.0
n/a
88.6
1985
141.1
117.8
121.8
n/a
84.1
1990
102.1
127.9
131.5
n/a
100.6
1995
75.6
126.3
130.4
105.5
108.6
2000
117.7
111.1
114.7
100.6
101.5
2010
172.8
147.5
149.6
119.1
125.0
2011
196.2
178.7
180.6
150.9
155.3
2012
160.3
166.0
169.8
134.2
137.9
2013
155.6
171.7
176.4
172.4
174.1
2014
216.4
207.5
210.9
171.9
174.1
2015
208.9
157.6
161.0
90.3
94.3
2016
208.2
155.6
158.0
84.2
85.4
2017
232.8
153.4
161.1
87.1
87.6
2018
225.0
142.0
154.6
80.5
80.9
2019
223.0
168.9
177.8
105.6
106.1
2020
157.8
171.9
199.8
105.6
105.4
2021
174.5
156.9
171.4
130.9
131.2
2022
286.0
205.3
207.4
169.0
169.9
2023
259.4
162.1
174.0
118.1
117.5
2024
286.5
182.9
179.5
124.5
124.7
Source: USDA / AMS: Dairy Market Statistics ¹ Grade A butter price is reported before 1998. Grade A butter trading ended July 1, 1998. ² Cheese prices: National Cheese Exchange through April 1997, then CME. CME Grade A beginning 2004. 3 Central (low/medium) June 1998 - 2001; Central/East (low/medium) 2002 - 2004; CME Grade A beginning 2004.
26 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 13
Monthly Prices of Dairy Products on Chicago Mercantile Exchange MONTH
GRADE AA BUTTER
2023
40# BLOCK CHEDDAR
2024
Year-Over-Year Change
2023
Year-Over-Year
2024
Change
(Monthly Average, Cents per Pound)
(Percentage)
(Monthly Average, Cents per Pound)
(Percentage)
Jan
235.5
262.6
11.5%
200.2
151.7
-24.2%
Feb
240.2
276.5
15.1%
189.0
157.7
-16.5%
Mar
236.9
282.2
19.1%
193.7
145.4
-25.0%
Apr
236.6
294.1
24.3%
175.7
160.6
-8.6%
May
242.9
305.0
25.6%
157.2
187.5
19.3%
Jun
239.0
309.5
29.5%
140.4
189.4
34.9%
Jul
256.0
311.0
21.5%
162.1
191.3
18.0%
Aug
267.6
314.3
17.5%
197.5
203.0
2.8%
Sep
288.3
302.6
5.0%
185.5
223.3
20.4%
Oct
338.1
267.4
-20.9%
172.2
192.9
12.0%
Nov
271.9
260.0
-4.4%
162.8
171.8
5.6%
Dec
259.5
253.4
-2.3%
151.1
179.5
18.8%
Source: USDA / AMS: Dairy Market Statistics
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
27
TABLE 14
Annual Retail Prices for Selected Dairy Products YEAR
WHOLE MILK
($ per Gallon)
CHEDDAR CHEESE
FARM PRICE AS BUTTER
ICE CREAM
PERCENT OF RETAIL1
($ per Lb)
($ per Lb)
($ per Half Gallon)
(Percent)
1945
$0.36
$0.51
1950
$0.52
$0.73
1955
$0.58
$0.71
1960
$0.69
$0.75
$0.87
1965
$0.75
$0.75
$0.79
1970
$1.01
$0.87
$0.85
1975
$1.54
$1.03
$1.22
1980
$2.23
$1.88
$1.82
52%
1985
$3.09
$2.12
$2.30
44%
1990
n/a
$1.99
$2.60
39%
1995
$3.39
$1.61
$2.65
33%
2000
$2.78
$3.83
$2.52
$3.45
30%
2005
$3.19
$4.38
$3.28
$3.74
31%
2010
$3.26
$4.71
$3.13
$4.47
32%
2015
$3.42
$5.38
$3.86
$4.74
28%
2016
$3.20
$5.23
$3.91
$4.76
27%
2017
$3.23
$4.89
$4.03
$4.69
30%
2018
$2.90
$5.14
$4.07
$4.74
28%
2019
$3.04
$5.31
$3.98
$4.81
31%
2020
$3.32
$5.50
$3.62
$4.92
29%
2021
$3.55
$5.44
$3.58
$4.89
29%
2022
$4.09
$5.76
$4.39
$5.43
36%
2023
$4.03
$5.82
$4.56
$5.90
28%
2024
$3.98
$5.66
$4.74
$6.13
31%
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. ¹ Source: USDA / ERS Agricultural Outlook; all dairy. Beginning 2011, NMPF estimate.
28 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
FIGURE 8
Farm Value of Milk as Percent of Retail Value 40%
35%
30%
25%
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
29
Cost of Milk Production Indicators
30 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 15
Milk Production Costs and Returns by Herd Size1 SIZE OF OPERATION
1-99 cows
100-199 cows
200-499 cows
500-999 cows
1,0001,999 cows
2,000 or more cows
All Sizes
(Dollars per Cwt.) Gross value of production Milk sold Cattle Other income² Total, gross value of production Operating costs Purchased feed Homegrown harvested feed Grazed feed Total, feed costs Other Operating Costs Veterinary and Medicine Bedding and litter Marketing Custom services Fuel, lube, and electricity Repairs Other operating costs³ Interest on operating capital Total, operating costs Allocated Overhead Hired labor Opportunity cost of unpaid labor Capital recovery of machinery and equipment⁴ Opportunity cost of land Taxes and insurance General farm overhead Total, allocated overhead Total, costs listed
$24.41 $2.65 $0.82 $27.88
$23.09 $2.02 $0.71 $25.82
$22.27 $1.79 $0.60 $24.66
$23.05 $2.04 $0.61 $25.70
$22.50 $2.13 $0.59 $25.21
$21.72 $1.71 $0.65 $24.07
$22.44 $1.94 $0.64 $25.02
$4.51 $7.71 $0.19 $12.41
$4.85 $5.73 $0.09 $10.68
$5.00 $5.46 $0.03 $10.48
$6.30 $4.16 $0.04 $10.50
$6.81 $3.05 $0.01 $9.87
$7.59 $2.33 $0.00 $9.92
$6.49 $3.80 $0.03 $10.32
$0.84 $0.36 $0.07 $0.82 $1.22 $1.27 $0.06 $0.41 $17.44
$0.83 $0.37 $0.12 $0.98 $1.07 $1.08 $0.02 $0.36 $15.50
$1.01 $0.36 $0.16 $0.75 $1.00 $1.03 $0.00 $0.35 $15.14
$0.87 $0.30 $0.22 $0.98 $0.83 $0.81 $0.00 $0.35 $14.86
$0.67 $0.14 $0.22 $1.01 $0.64 $0.90 $0.00 $0.32 $13.77
$0.67 $0.12 $0.24 $0.80 $0.50 $0.55 $0.00 $0.30 $13.11
$0.76 $0.22 $0.20 $0.87 $0.73 $0.81 $0.01 $0.33 $14.26
$0.77 $10.90
$1.46 $4.20
$2.59 $1.46
$2.72 $0.62
$2.58 $0.29
$2.34 $0.09
$2.27 $1.58
$9.37
$7.38
$7.29
$4.21
$3.94
$2.77
$4.65
$0.12 $0.44 $1.08 $22.67 $29.76
$0.07 $0.32 $0.83 $14.26 $29.76
$0.05 $0.32 $0.61 $12.32 $27.46
$0.02 $0.35 $0.59 $8.50 $23.36
$0.01 $0.22 $0.51 $7.55 $21.32
$0.00 $0.14 $0.46 $5.81 $18.92
$0.03 $0.24 $0.58 $9.35 $23.61
Value of production less total costs listed
-$12.24
-$3.95
-$2.81
$2.33
$3.89
$5.16
$1.41
Value of production less operating costs
$10.43
$10.31
$9.52
$10.83
$11.44
$10.96
$10.76
Supporting Information Milk cows (head per farm) Output per cow (pounds)
60 17,086
136 19,991
304 23,479
680 24,596
1,411 24,895
4,011 22,978
283 22,653
Source: USDA / ERS. ¹ Developed from survey base year, 2016. ² Income from renting or leasing dairy stock to other operations; renting space to other dairy operations; co-op patronage dividends associated with the dairy; assessment rebates, refunds, and other dairy-related resources; and the fertilizer value of manure production. ³ Costs for third party organic certification ⁴ Machinery and equipment, housing, manure handling, feed storage structures, and the dairy breeding herd.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
31
FIGURE 9
Share of Cash Expenses by Size of Operation 100-199 Cows
1-99 Cows Total Feed 67%
Total Feed 62%
Veterinary and Medicine 5%
Veterinary and Medicine 4%
Fuel, Lube & Electricity 6%
Fuel, Lube & Electricity 6%
Hired Labor 4%
Other Operating Costs 12%
Repairs 7%
Repairs 6% Other Operating Costs 13%
Hired Labor 8%
200-499 Cows
500-999 Cows
Total Feed 58%
Total Feed 59% Veterinary and Medicine 6%
Veterinary and Medicine 5% Fuel, Lube & Electricity 5%
Fuel, Lube & Electricity 5%
Repairs 4%
Repairs 6%
Hired Labor 14%
Other Operating Costs 11%
Hired Labor 15%
Other Operating Costs 12%
2,000+ Cows
1,000-1,999 Cows Total Feed 64%
Total Feed 60% Veterinary and Medicine 4%
Veterinary and Medicine 4%
Fuel, Lube & Electricity 4%
Fuel, Lube & Electricity 3% Repairs 4%
Repairs 5%
Hired Labor 16%
Other Operating Costs 11%
Hired Labor 15%
Source: USDA / ERS. Does not show allocated overhead costs, except hired labor.
32 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
Other Operating Costs 10%
TABLE 16
U.S. Milk Production Costs and Returns 2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
(Dollars per Cwt.) Gross value of production Milk sold Cattle Other income¹ Total, gross value of production
$19.26 $1.23 $0.53 $21.02
$18.87 $1.27 $0.51 $20.65
$18.44 $1.06 $0.55 $20.05
$25.18 $1.26 $0.90 $27.35
$25.18 $1.26 $0.90 $27.35
$20.24 $1.54 $0.73 $22.50
Operating costs Purchased feed Homegrown harvested feed Grazed feed Total, feed costs
$7.20 $3.33 $0.07 $10.60
$6.93 $3.11 $0.07 $10.10
$7.99 $3.91 $0.03 $11.93
$9.92 $4.82 $0.03 $14.77
$9.92 $4.82 $0.03 $14.77
$8.79 $4.74 $0.03 $13.56
Other Operating Costs Veterinary and Medicine Bedding and litter Marketing Custom services Fuel, lube, and electricity Repairs Other operating costs² Interest on operating capital Total, operating costs
$0.78 $0.20 $0.19 $0.67 $0.69 $0.66 $0.00 $0.14 $13.93
$0.78 $0.20 $0.18 $0.67 $0.58 $0.67 $0.00 $0.03 $13.21
$0.62 $0.18 $0.16 $0.71 $0.63 $0.70 $0.01 $0.00 $14.95
$0.70 $0.20 $0.18 $0.80 $0.91 $0.77 $0.01 $0.22 $18.57
$0.70 $0.20 $0.18 $0.80 $0.91 $0.77 $0.01 $0.22 $18.57
$0.74 $0.21 $0.19 $0.84 $0.79 $0.80 $0.01 $0.43 $17.57
Allocated Overhead Hired labor Opportunity cost of unpaid labor Capital recovery of machinery and equipment³ Opportunity cost of land Taxes and insurance General farm overhead Total, allocated overhead
$2.10 $1.88 $4.10 $0.02 $0.18 $0.57 $8.86
$2.20 $1.92 $4.13 $0.02 $0.18 $0.58 $9.02
$1.94 $1.34 $4.00 $0.02 $0.20 $0.50 $8.01
$2.11 $1.43 $4.43 $0.02 $0.22 $0.56 $8.77
$2.11 $1.43 $4.43 $0.02 $0.22 $0.56 $8.77
$2.23 $1.50 $4.59 $0.03 $0.24 $0.58 $9.16
Total, costs listed
$22.79
$22.24
$22.96
$27.34
$27.34
$26.73
Value of production less total costs listed Value of production less operating costs
-$3.20 $5.37
-$1.77 $7.09
-$1.59 $7.44
-$2.91 $5.10
$0.01 $8.78
-$4.23 $4.93
Supporting information: Milk cows (head per farm) Output per cow (pounds)
245 21,698
245 21,698
283 22,653
283 22,653
283 22,653
283 22,653
Source: USDA / ERS. ¹ Income from renting or leasing dairy stock to other operations; renting space to other dairy operations; co-op patronage dividends associated with the dairy; assessment rebates, refunds, and other dairy-related resources; and the fertilizer value of manure production. ² Costs for third party organic certification ³ Machinery and equipment, housing, manure handling, feed storage structures, and the dairy breeding herd.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
33
TABLE 17
Monthly Milk-Feed Price Ratio1 YEAR
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JULY
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
AVG
2000 2005 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
3.07 3.49 2.33 2.00 1.71 1.58 2.46 2.10 2.18 2.71 2.20 2.06 2.42 2.00 2.13 1.71 1.96
2.94 3.48 2.34 2.00 1.55 1.52 2.58 2.06 2.18 2.61 2.03 2.07 2.35 1.80 2.04 1.57 2.11
2.88 3.33 2.18 2.10 1.48 1.48 2.54 2.01 2.12 2.40 1.98 2.13 2.25 1.76 2.02 1.55 2.15
2.84 3.18 2.19 1.80 1.41 1.54 2.42 2.00 1.99 2.22 1.90 2.11 1.85 1.75 1.95 1.47 2.13
2.72 2.96 2.18 1.70 1.34 1.54 2.23 1.99 1.90 2.20 1.90 2.12 1.77 1.65 1.91 1.41 2.24
2.97 2.94 2.26 1.90 1.37 1.52 2.19 2.06 1.92 2.31 1.97 2.09 2.37 1.56 1.87 1.35 2.36
3.31 2.98 2.30 1.90 1.33 1.53 2.36 2.00 2.16 2.27 1.93 2.16 2.7 1.52 1.77 1.37 2.50
3.37 3.08 2.36 1.80 1.37 1.69 2.63 2.11 2.44 2.50 2.06 2.26 2.52 1.48 1.69 1.66 2.79
3.36 3.27 2.36 1.80 1.59 1.88 2.96 2.25 2.49 2.46 2.13 2.34 2.3 1.66 1.71 1.88 3.00
3.12 3.39 2.40 1.80 1.74 2.12 2.92 2.30 2.38 2.48 2.22 2.42 2.51 1.84 1.90 2.01 2.95
3.05 3.46 2.23 1.90 1.74 2.27 2.75 2.46 2.59 2.54 2.21 2.65 2.60 1.92 1.92 2.10 2.88
3.04 3.29 1.98 1.80 1.65 2.30 2.40 2.29 2.73 2.38 2.07 2.57 2.19 1.96 1.83 1.97 2.73
3.06 3.24 2.26 1.87 1.52 1.75 2.54 2.14 2.26 2.42 2.05 2.25 2.32 1.74 1.89 1.67 2.48
TABLE 18
Monthly Dairy Margin Coverage/Margin Protection Program Calculated Feed Cost ($ per Cwt. of milk)2 YEAR
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JULY
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
AVG
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
$4.66 $5.08 $5.58 $4.80 $4.80 $6.21 $8.57 $8.96 $7.76 $9.67 $11.44 $13.61 $10.81 $9.26 $8.00 $7.84 $7.98 $8.89 $9.15 $10.60 $12.66 $15.16 $11.62
$4.57 $5.13 $5.86 $4.61 $4.81 $6.80 $9.30 $8.27 $7.49 $10.46 $11.82 $13.78 $11.01 $9.14 $7.79 $7.92 $8.42 $8.89 $9.10 $11.13 $13.72 $15.41 $11.16
$4.63 $5.11 $6.34 $4.90 $4.87 $6.85 $9.45 $8.17 $7.40 $10.42 $12.24 $13.86 $11.10 $9.07 $7.83 $7.95 $8.83 $8.84 $9.05 $11.14 $14.35 $15.02 $11.05
$4.65 $5.17 $6.66 $5.00 $5.03 $6.77 $9.94 $8.32 $7.33 $11.50 $12.58 $13.50 $11.65 $9.02 $8.17 $7.95 $9.18 $8.88 $8.56 $11.63 $14.81 $14.86 $10.90
$4.76 $5.37 $6.77 $5.15 $5.18 $7.15 $10.47 $8.87 $7.49 $11.91 $12.80 $13.90 $11.94 $8.87 $8.73 $8.09 $9.42 $9.00 $8.44 $12.53 $14.79 $14.47 $11.48
$4.75 $5.30 $6.49 $5.24 $5.13 $7.35 $11.12 $9.05 $7.55 $11.93 $12.75 $14.12 $11.55 $8.74 $9.05 $7.97 $8.93 $9.47 $8.27 $12.37 $14.98 $14.25 $11.14
$5.03 $4.99 $6.13 $5.29 $5.06 $7.06 $11.11 $8.19 $7.75 $12.05 $14.23 $14.11 $10.62 $9.15 $8.51 $8.22 $8.68 $9.43 $8.21 $12.43 $15.78 $13.88 $10.47
$5.31 $4.96 $5.38 $5.03 $4.91 $6.95 $10.71 $8.04 $7.97 $12.64 $15.12 $12.81 $10.36 $8.76 $7.84 $7.73 $8.47 $9.05 $8.11 $12.67 $16.22 $13.24 $9.88
$5.40 $5.20 $4.99 $4.78 $5.12 $7.24 $10.36 $7.77 $8.34 $12.03 $14.10 $12.13 $10.30 $8.55 $7.82 $7.81 $8.44 $8.89 $8.65 $11.71 $15.78 $12.56 $9.93
$5.14 $5.15 $4.81 $4.61 $5.59 $7.31 $8.95 $7.76 $8.62 $11.16 $13.77 $10.87 $9.28 $8.48 $7.76 $7.90 $8.44 $9.02 $9.23 $11.16 $15.19 $12.16 $10.03
$5.03 $5.33 $4.63 $4.49 $6.00 $7.62 $8.80 $7.82 $9.00 $11.05 $13.89 $10.58 $9.61 $8.19 $7.62 $7.71 $8.34 $8.79 $9.66 $11.66 $14.71 $12.12 $9.91
$5.03 $5.37 $4.64 $4.80 $6.08 $8.21 $8.46 $7.81 $9.42 $11.03 $13.72 $10.94 $9.74 $8.10 $7.70 $7.84 $8.55 $8.75 $9.96 $12.27 $14.94 $12.16 $9.92
$4.91 $5.18 $5.69 $4.89 $5.22 $7.13 $9.77 $8.25 $8.01 $11.32 $13.21 $12.85 $10.66 $8.78 $8.07 $7.91 $8.64 $8.99 $8.86 $11.78 $14.83 $13.76 $10.62
Sources: USDA / NASS, Agricultural Prices and USDA / AMS. ¹ Pounds of feed equal in value to one pound of whole milk cost formula defined in the 2014 and 2018 farm bills. 34² Feed NMPF/USDEC DAIRYas ECONOMICS
FIGURE 10
Average Annual Dairy Margin Coverage/Margin Protection Program Calculated Feed Cost $17.00
$15.00
Dollars per Cwt. Of Milk
$13.00
$11.00
$9.00
$7.00
$5.00
$3.00
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
FIGURE 11
Monthly Dairy Margin Coverage/Margin Protection Program Calculated Feed Cost
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
35
TABLE 19
Monthly DMC/MPP Margin ($ per Cwt.)1 YEAR
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JULY
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
AVG
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
$7.71 $8.28 $8.94 $6.72 $7.62 $11.30 $9.60 $8.29 $11.93 $4.34 $8.34 $7.03 $7.46 $6.39 $12.69 $8.34 $8.10 $11.06 $8.12 $7.71 $10.45 $6.90 $11.54 $7.94 $8.48
$7.37 $8.50 $8.53 $6.17 $7.74 $10.79 $8.69 $8.10 $9.80 $3.33 $8.31 $8.64 $5.78 $5.72 $13.79 $7.66 $7.91 $10.58 $6.88 $7.91 $9.80 $5.97 $10.98 $6.19 $9.44
$7.27 $9.35 $7.97 $5.89 $9.16 $10.60 $7.73 $8.75 $8.65 $3.53 $7.40 $9.98 $4.96 $5.24 $14.10 $7.53 $7.47 $9.35 $6.77 $8.66 $8.95 $6.26 $11.55 $6.08 $9.65
$7.30 $9.97 $7.85 $5.83 $11.44 $10.20 $6.97 $9.73 $8.16 $3.58 $7.27 $8.10 $4.22 $6.00 $13.65 $7.48 $6.83 $8.55 $6.62 $8.82 $5.84 $6.77 $12.29 $5.84 $9.60
$7.14 $10.84 $7.34 $5.63 $12.53 $9.55 $6.72 $10.85 $7.93 $2.73 $7.51 $7.69 $3.40 $5.80 $12.26 $7.83 $5.77 $8.61 $6.78 $9.00 $5.16 $6.67 $12.51 $4.83 $10.52
$7.78 $11.62 $6.75 $5.70 $11.71 $9.16 $6.77 $12.85 $8.18 $2.25 $7.85 $9.17 $3.45 $5.38 $11.65 $8.16 $5.75 $9.33 $7.37 $8.63 $9.83 $6.03 $11.92 $3.65 $11.66
$8.50 $11.41 $6.07 $7.11 $9.97 $9.51 $6.64 $14.54 $8.29 $3.11 $8.15 $9.75 $2.67 $4.99 $12.68 $7.45 $7.59 $9.08 $6.72 $9.27 $12.29 $5.47 $9.92 $3.52 $12.33
$8.55 $11.71 $5.99 $8.34 $9.52 $9.77 $7.09 $14.65 $7.69 $4.06 $8.73 $9.46 $3.08 $6.79 $13.74 $7.94 $9.26 $10.27 $7.43 $9.85 $10.69 $5.03 $8.08 $6.46 $13.72
$8.71 $12.31 $6.20 $9.30 $10.51 $10.52 $7.88 $14.56 $7.84 $5.23 $9.36 $9.07 $5.60 $7.97 $15.40 $8.95 $9.48 $9.99 $8.26 $10.41 $9.25 $6.69 $8.62 $8.44 $15.57
$8.15 $10.96 $6.96 $9.85 $10.79 $10.89 $7.91 $14.09 $8.85 $6.54 $9.88 $8.84 $7.83 $10.03 $15.62 $9.22 $8.84 $10.00 $8.96 $10.88 $10.97 $8.54 $10.71 $9.44 $15.17
$7.98 $9.77 $6.87 $9.07 $11.57 $10.61 $7.90 $14.28 $8.30 $7.58 $8.90 $9.45 $8.21 $11.02 $13.39 $10.01 $9.98 $10.39 $8.66 $12.21 $11.64 $9.14 $10.89 $9.58 $14.29
$8.22 $8.80 $6.87 $8.43 $11.76 $10.00 $8.12 $13.29 $7.04 $8.69 $7.28 $8.67 $7.08 $11.06 $10.66 $9.10 $11.10 $9.36 $7.85 $11.95 $8.54 $9.53 $9.76 $8.44 $13.38
$7.89 $10.30 $7.19 $7.34 $10.37 $10.24 $7.66 $12.02 $8.55 $4.59 $8.25 $8.82 $5.31 $7.21 $13.30 $8.31 $8.18 $9.71 $7.54 $9.62 $9.45 $6.92 $10.73 $6.70 $11.99
Source: USDA / NASS and USDA / AMS. ¹ Margin as defined in the 2014 and 2018 farm bills.
36 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
FIGURE 12
Average Annual Dairy Margin Coverage/Margin Protection Program Margin
FIGURE 13
Monthly Dairy Margin Coverage/Margin Protection Program Margin
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
37
TABLE 20
Average Prices Received for Livestock MARKETING
BEEF AND DAIRY
STEERS AND
YEAR
COWS
HEIFERS1
ALL CATTLE1
ALL CALVES
(Dollars per Cwt.)
REPLACEMENT MILK COWS (Dollars per Head)
1975
$19.80
$36.30
$32.30
$27
$412
1980
$45.70
$66.90
$62.40
$77
$1,190
1985
$36.50
$57.70
$53.70
$62
$860
1990
$51.50
$78.80
$74.60
$96
$1,160
1995
$35.70
$65.10
$61.80
$73
$1,130
2000
$37.90
$72.30
$68.60
$104
$1,340
2005
$51.70
$94.30
$89.70
$135
$1,770
2010
$54.80
$97.70
$92.20
$117
$1,330
2011
$71.20
$117.00
$113.00
$142
$1,420
2012
$81.70
$123.00
$121.00
$172
$1,430
2013
$82.30
$126.00
$125.00
$181
$1,380
2014
$107.00
$153.00
$152.00
$261
$1,830
2015
$103.00
$148.00
$147.00
$247
$1,990
2016
$74.30
$121.00
$119.00
$158
$1,760
2017
$69.10
$122.00
$120.00
$168
$1,620
2018
$63.50
$117.00
$115.00
$170
$1,360
2019
$62.00
$118.00
$116.00
$159
$1,200
2020
$64.20
$111.00
$109.00
$161
$1,300
2021
$70.20
$124.00
$121.00
$171
$1,360
2022
$83.70
$145.00
$142.00
$195
$1,590
2023
$102.00
$177.00
$173.00
$261.00
$1,760
2024
$129.00
$189.00
$187.00
$324.00
$2,240
Source: USDA / NASS, Agricultural Prices. ¹ At least 500 pounds
38 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
FIGURE 14
Average Price Received for Replacement Milk Cows
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
39
TABLE 21
Average Prices Received for Crops MARKETING YEAR
1
CORN (BU)
OATS (BU)
BARLEY (BU)
SOYBEANS
SOYBEAN
ALFALFA HAY²
(BU)
MEAL (TON)
(DRY TON)
(Dollars per Unit)
1975
$2.54
$1.45
$2.42
$4.92
n/a
$52.10
1980
$3.11
$1.72
$2.79
$7.60
n/a
$71.00
1985
$2.23
$1.23
$1.98
$5.05
n/a
$67.60
1990
$2.28
$1.14
$2.14
$5.74
n/a
$86.60
1995
$3.24
$1.67
$2.89
$6.72
n/a
$87.20
2000
$1.85
$1.10
$2.11
$4.54
$174.62
$88.90
2005
$2.00
$1.63
$2.53
$5.66
$188.17
$104.00
2010
$5.18
$2.52
$3.86
$11.30
$313.47
$123.00
2011
$6.22
$3.49
$5.35
$12.50
$335.07
$196.00
2012
$6.89
$3.89
$6.43
$14.40
$439.77
$211.00
2013
$4.46
$3.75
$6.06
$13.00
$466.54
$199.00
2014
$3.70
$3.21
$5.30
$10.10
$478.26
$196.00
2015
$3.61
$2.12
$5.52
$8.95
$341.20
$158.00
2016
$3.36
$2.06
$4.96
$9.47
$328.64
$136.00
2017
$3.36
$2.59
$4.47
$9.33
$315.00
$154.00
2018
$3.61
$2.66
$4.62
$8.48
$344.35
$180.00
2019
$3.56
$2.82
$4.69
$8.57
$305.78
$179.00
2020
$4.53
$2.77
$4.75
$10.80
$319.57
$171.00
2021
$6.00
$4.55
$5.31
$13.30
$386.46
$216.00
2022
$6.54
$4.57
$7.40
$14.20
$465.03
$273.00
2023
$4.55
$3.92
$7.39
$12.40
$447.67
$225.00
2024
$4.35
$3.40
$6.60
$10.10
$354.26
$178.00
Source: USDA / NASS: Agricultural Prices. Prices are season averages for crop years. ¹ Marketing years beginning: June (barley and oats); September (soybeans, corn, and May (hay). ² Prior to 1990, all hay. 5-state average premium alfalfa prices per ton: 2019: $213; 2020: $202; 2021: $234; 2022: $312; 2023: $299; 2024: $251. Soybean meal prices are calendar year averages of high protein soybean meal at Decatur-Central Illinois as reported by USDA/AMS. Unavailable prior to 2000.
40 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 22
Crop Production YEAR
CORN
SOYBEANS
ALL WHEAT
OATS
BARLEY
SORGHUM
(Million Bushels)
1975
5,841
1,548
2,127
639
379
754
1980
6,639
1,798
2,381
459
361
579
1985
8,875
2,099
2,424
518
590
1,120
1990
7,934
1,926
2,730
358
422
573
1995
7,400
2,174
2,183
161
359
459
2000
9,915
2,758
2,228
149
318
471
2005
11,112
3,068
2,103
115
212
393
2010
12,425
3,331
2,163
82
180
345
2011
12,314
3,097
1,993
50
155
213
2012
10,755
3,042
2,252
61
219
248
2013
13,831
3,357
2,135
65
217
392
2014
14,217
3,928
2,026
70
182
433
2015
13,602
3,927
2,062
89
218
597
2016
15,148
4,296
2,309
65
200
480
2017
14,609
4,412
1,741
50
143
362
2018
14,340
4,428
1,885
56
154
365
2019
13,620
3,552
1,932
53
172
341
2020
14,087
4,216
1,820
66
171
373
2021
15,018
4,464
1,646
40
121
448
2022
13,651
4,270
1,650
58
174
188
2023
15,341
4,162
1,804
57
186
318
2024
14,867
4,366
1,971
68
144
344
Source: USDA / NASS: Crop Production Annual.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
41
Scope of Federal Milk Marketing Orders
42 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 23
Federal Milk Marketing Order Statistics by Market FEDERAL ORDER
ORDER
PRODUCER
NUMBER
DELIVERIES
UNIFORM PRICE
UTILIZATION
Class I (Million #)
(Percent)
Class II
AT 3.5% BF Class III
Class IV ($ per cwt.)
Northeast (Boston)
1
26,949
29%
25%
31%
15%
$21.44
Appalachian (Charlotte)
5
5,301
70%
16%
7%
7%
$22.90
Florida (Tampa)
6
2,524
82%
15%
2%
1%
$24.83
Southeast (Atlanta)
7
3,497
74%
14%
5%
6%
$23.42
Upper Midwest (Chicago)
30
28,285
7%
2%
89%
2%
$18.79
Central (Kansas City)
32
14,608
29%
8%
50%
13%
$19.69
Mideast (Cleveland)
33
18,182
38%
14%
43%
6%
$20.36
California (Los Angeles)
51
23,224
20%
6%
62%
12%
$19.65
Pacific Northwest (Seattle)
124
7,231
21%
5%
47%
27%
$19.94
Southwest (Dallas)
126
12,641
30%
7%
56%
6%
$20.30
Arizona (Phoenix)
131
4,186
33%
17%
28%
22%
$20.73
146,628
28%
11%
51%
10%
$20.30
All Markets Average or Total Source: USDA / AMS
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
43
TABLE 24
Measures of Growth in Federal Milk Marketing Orders YEAR
NUMBER OF
PRICE AT 3.5% BF
FMMO DELIVERIES (BILLION POUNDS)
($ PER CWT.)
Producer
% of U.S.
Used in
% Class I
Deliveries
Production
Class I
Utilization
156,584
18.7
25.2%
11.0
1,483
188,611
28.9
31.8%
80
2,259
189,816
44.8
1965
73
1,891
158,077
1970
62
1,588
1975
56
1980
Markets
Handlers
Producers
1950
39
1,101
1955
63
1960
Class I
Blend
58.9%
$4.51
$3.93
18.0
62.3%
$4.67
$4.08
43.1%
28.8
64.2%
$4.88
$4.47
54.4
48.3%
34.6
63.5%
$4.93
$4.31
143,411
65.1
59.2%
40.1
61.5%
$6.74
$5.95
1,315
123,855
69.2
62.8%
40.1
57.9%
$9.36
$8.64
47
1,091
117,490
84.0
67.4%
41.0
48.9%
$13.77
$12.86
1985
44
884
116,765
97.8
70.2%
42.2
43.2%
$13.88
$12.61
1990
42
753
100,397
102.4
70.5%
43.8
42.8%
$15.55
$13.78
1995
33
571
88,717
108.5
71.1%
45.0
41.5%
$14.19
$12.79
2000
11
346
69,585
116.9
69.8%
46.0
39.3%
$14.24
$12.11
2005
10
302
53,032
114.7
64.8%
44.6
38.9%
$17.13
$15.07
2010
10
251
45,918
126.9
65.8%
45.0
35.4%
$18.25
$16.07
2011
10
241
43,650
126.9
64.7%
44.4
35.0%
$21.97
$19.87
2012
10
237
40,745
122.4
61.0%
43.5
35.5%
$20.39
$18.05
2013
10
225
40,043
132.1
65.6%
42.7
32.4%
$21.80
$19.44
2014
10
223
39,146
129.4
62.8%
41.4
32.0%
$26.14
$23.54
2015
10
214
36,112
126.1
60.5%
41.2
32.7%
$19.21
$16.70
2016
10
216
34,689
133.8
63.0%
41.1
30.7%
$17.70
$15.38
2017
10
217
32,981
135.5
62.9%
40.6
30.0%
$19.31
$16.96
20181
11
233
32,061
141.7
65.1%
40.9
28.9%
$17.70
$15.51
2019
11
230
29,468
156.5
71.6%
43.9
28.0%
$19.74
$17.35
2020
11
228
24,906
137.8
61.7%
43.8
31.8%
$19.70
$16.12
2021
11
226
23,292
136.8
60.5%
42.1
30.8%
$19.56
$17.33
2022
11
213
23,108
151.6
67.0%
41.0
27.0%
$26.38
$23.68
2023
11
213
22,035
158.4
70.0%
40.4
25.5%
$22.00
$18.81
2024
11
220
20,168
146.6
64.9%
40.7
27.7%
$23.12
$20.30
Source: USDA / AMS, Dairy Market Statistics. ¹ Includes California order, effective November 1, 2018
44 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 25
Sales and Butterfat Content of Fluid Milk Products in Federal Milk Marketing Orders1 YEAR
WHOLE MILK ITEMS % of Total Fluid Sales
SKIM, LOW AND REDUCED FAT ITEMS
Average BF Test
% of Total Fluid Sales
ALL FLUID BEVERAGE
Average BF Test
Average BF Test
(Percent)
1960
89.3%
3.57%
7.7%
1.12%
3.38%
1965
86.4%
3.52%
11.1%
1.36%
3.28%
1970
77.0%
3.46%
21.1%
1.54%
3.05%
1975
68.8%
3.37%
29.2%
1.46%
2.75%
1980
59.4%
3.32%
38.5%
1.49%
2.60%
1985
50.4%
3.31%
44.9%
1.53%
2.47%
1990
37.6%
3.27%
57.0%
1.44%
2.13%
1995
33.4%
3.27%
62.9%
1.33%
2.00%
2000
33.6%
3.27%
62.0%
1.32%
1.98%
2005
30.6%
3.27%
63.1%
1.33%
1.94%
2010
27.3%
3.27%
72.7%
1.31%
1.81%
2011
27.1%
3.28%
72.9%
1.33%
1.80%
2012
27.1%
3.28%
72.9%
1.34%
1.79%
2013
27.8%
3.29%
72.2%
1.35%
1.82%
2014
28.6%
3.29%
71.4%
1.37%
1.85%
2015
30.7%
3.25%
69.3%
1.37%
1.95%
2016
32.6%
3.25%
67.4%
1.39%
2.00%
2017
34.2%
3.25%
65.8%
1.40%
2.05%
2018
35.6%
3.25%
64.4%
1.42%
2.08%
2019
36.9%
3.25%
63.1%
1.44%
2.12%
2020
38.0%
3.25%
62.0%
1.49%
2.17%
2021
37.8%
3.25%
62.2%
1.48%
2.17%
2022
39.2%
3.25%
60.8%
1.48%
2.20%
2023
40.2%
3.25%
59.8%
1.49%
2.22%
2024
41.0%
3.25%
59.0%
1.49%
2.25%
Source: USDA/AMS, Federal Milk Order Market Statistics, NMPF Calculations ¹ Fluid milk products: plain and flavored whole, lowfat and skim milk, buttermilk and drinkable yogurt, including organic products. Beginning 2015, estimated U.S. sales.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
45
FIGURE 15
Average Butterfat Content of Fluid Milk Products1
Source: USDA/AMS, Federal Milk Order Market Statistics, NMPF Calculations ¹ Fluid milk products: plain and flavored whole, lowfat and skim milk, buttermilk and drinkable yogurt, including organic products. Beginning 2015, estimated U.S. sales.
46 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
Dairy Product Consumption and Production
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
47
TABLE 26
Annual Commercial Disappearance of Dairy Products, Milk Equivalent YEAR
FLUID MILK
BUTTER
CHEESE1
FROZEN
NON-FAT
PRODUCTS
DRY MILK
OTHER 2
PRODUCTS
TOTAL MILK
(Million Pounds, Milk Equivalent, Total Milk Solids Basis)
1970
48,329
7,944
11,816
8,084
6,686
25,863
108,481
1975
47,870
8,409
15,416
8,692
4,741
22,209
111,872
1980
46,908
7,772
19,353
8,620
3,666
27,415
118,097
1985
47,149
8,121
23,980
9,651
2,959
31,489
128,084
1990
46,378
8,092
30,366
9,786
4,748
38,175
142,199
1995
47,507
7,849
32,072
10,693
7,282
48,569
153,972
2000
48,855
8,395
38,247
11,413
6,010
53,232
166,152
2005
48,253
8,994
42,676
10,934
12,420
60,134
183,410
2010
47,998
10,692
47,586
10,883
14,302
65,044
196,506
2011
47,120
11,794
48,623
10,550
14,815
67,145
200,049
2012
46,382
11,988
49,556
10,812
16,395
68,820
203,951
2013
45,286
12,489
50,385
10,502
16,510
70,565
205,736
2014
44,084
12,328
52,253
10,319
16,919
73,096
208,998
2015
43,563
12,019
53,504
10,753
17,640
75,636
213,115
2016
43,308
12,217
55,222
10,709
17,439
78,826
217,719
2017
42,291
12,293
56,778
10,539
17,221
79,647
218,768
2018
41,296
13,091
58,250
10,277
17,875
82,169
222,958
2019
40,595
13,252
58,767
10,539
18,500
82,136
223,787
2020
40,670
13,711
58,391
10,613
16,208
87,491
227,083
2021
38,858
14,194
60,657
10,366
17,428
89,951
231,455
2022
37,738
13,500
61,601
10,512
16,745
91,751
231,847
2023
37,170
14,047
61,560
9,834
15,650
95,145
233,406
2024
37,293
14,824
61,627
9,630
13,523
96,033
232,930
Source: NMPF and USDA / ERS: Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Situation and Outlook Excludes commercial exports beginning 1995 ¹ Excludes whey values ²Includes skim milk powder
48 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 27
Per Capita Commercial Disappearance of Dairy Products, Milk Equivalent YEAR
FLUID MILK
CHEESE1
TOTAL PRODUCTS
(ME Lbs)
% Change
(ME Lbs)
% Change
(ME Lbs)
% Change
1970
236.9
0.8%
58.2
-6.9%
531.8
8.8%
1975
222.2
0.1%
72.2
-1.5%
519.2
-0.4%
1980
206.4
-2.3%
88.0
1.8%
519.7
-1.7%
1985
197.7
0.7%
100.6
4.7%
537.1
1.4%
1990
185.4
-2.1%
121.4
3.1%
568.5
0.0%
1995
178.2
2.8%
120.3
-0.7%
560.6
-2.1%
2000
173.1
-0.8%
135.5
4.1%
588.9
1.0%
2005
163.3
-0.5%
144.4
1.4%
620.6
3.3%
2010
155.2
-1.9%
153.8
2.4%
635.3
1.3%
2011
151.2
-2.5%
156.1
1.4%
642.0
1.1%
2012
147.8
-2.3%
157.9
1.2%
649.8
1.2%
2013
143.3
-3.0%
159.4
1.0%
650.9
0.2%
2014
138.5
-3.4%
164.1
2.9%
656.4
0.8%
2015
135.8
-1.9%
166.8
1.6%
664.4
1.2%
2016
134.0
-1.3%
170.9
2.5%
673.9
1.4%
2017
130.1
-3.0%
174.6
2.2%
672.9
-0.2%
2018
126.4
-2.7%
178.2
2.0%
682.2
1.4%
2019
123.6
-2.1%
179.0
0.4%
681.6
-0.1%
2020
122.7
-0.8%
176.1
-1.6%
685.0
0.5%
2021
117.0
-4.6%
182.7
3.7%
697.1
1.8%
2022
113.2
-3.2%
184.8
1.2%
695.6
-0.2%
2023
111.0
-2.0%
183.8
-0.5%
696.9
0.2%
2024
109.6
-1.2%
181.2
-1.4%
684.9
-1.7%
Source: NMPF and USDA / ERS: Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Situation and Outlook Excludes commercial exports beginning 1995. ¹ Excludes whey values
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
49
TABLE 28
Shares of Commercial Disappearance by Product YEAR
FLUID MILK
BUTTER
CHEESE1
FROZEN
NONFAT DRY
OTHER
PRODUCTS
MILK 2
PRODUCTS
(Share of Milk Equivalent, Total Milk Solids Basis)
1970
44.6%
7.3%
10.9%
11.5%
6.2%
23.8%
1975
42.8%
7.5%
13.8%
11.8%
4.2%
24.2%
1980
39.7%
6.6%
16.4%
11.0%
3.1%
23.2%
1985
36.8%
6.3%
18.7%
11.2%
2.3%
24.6%
1990
32.6%
5.7%
21.4%
10.2%
3.3%
26.8%
1995
31.8%
5.3%
21.5%
10.5%
4.9%
31.5%
2000
29.4%
5.1%
23.0%
6.9%
3.6%
32.0%
2005
26.3%
4.9%
23.3%
6.0%
6.8%
32.8%
2010
24.4%
5.4%
24.2%
5.5%
7.3%
33.1%
2011
23.6%
5.9%
24.3%
5.3%
7.4%
33.6%
2012
22.7%
5.9%
24.3%
5.3%
8.0%
33.7%
2013
22.0%
6.1%
24.5%
5.1%
8.0%
34.3%
2014
21.1%
5.9%
25.0%
4.9%
8.1%
35.0%
2015
20.4%
5.6%
25.1%
5.0%
8.3%
35.5%
2016
19.9%
5.6%
25.4%
4.9%
8.0%
36.2%
2017
19.3%
5.6%
26.0%
4.8%
7.9%
36.4%
2018
18.5%
5.9%
26.1%
4.6%
8.0%
36.9%
2019
18.1%
5.9%
26.3%
4.7%
8.3%
36.7%
2020
17.9%
6.0%
25.7%
4.7%
7.1%
38.5%
2021
16.8%
6.1%
26.2%
4.5%
7.5%
38.9%
2022
16.3%
5.8%
26.6%
4.5%
7.2%
39.6%
2023
15.9%
6.0%
26.4%
4.2%
6.7%
40.8%
2024
16.0%
6.4%
26.5%
4.1%
5.8%
41.2%
Source: NMPF; Shares are based on a milk equivalent, total solids basis. Includes commercial exports. ¹ Excludes whey values ² Includes skim milk powder
50 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
FIGURE 16
Shares of Commercial Disappearance by Product 1980 Other Products 23%
2024 Fluid Milk 16%
Fluid Milk 40% Other Products 41%
Butter 6%
Nonfat Dry Milk 3%
Frozen Products 11%
Cheese 27%
Butter 7% Cheese 16%
Nonfat Dry Milk 6%
Frozen Products 4%
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
51
TABLE 29
Fluid Milk Sales by Product YEAR
PLAIN
FLAVORED
PLAIN
WHOLE
WHOLE
LAWFAT
FLAVORED PLAIN SKIM
LOWFAT/
TOTAL BUTTERMILK
SKIM
BEVERAGE MILK
(Million Lbs)
1970
41,363
1,144
6,082
2,368
611
1,130
52,698
1975
36,188
1,366
11,468
2,480
719
1,011
53,308
1980
31,253
1,075
15,918
2,636
1,197
927
53,101
1985
27,760
882
19,812
3,009
1,430
1,046
54,060
1990
21,333
691
24,509
5,702
1,657
879
54,894
1995
18,662
704
24,202
8,359
1,914
739
54,692
2000
18,696
925
23,697
8,348
2,736
623
55,240
2005
16,919
743
24,286
8,028
3,655
522
54,544
2010
14,412
551
26,598
8,385
3,981
454
54,870
2011
14,042
520
26,612
8,216
3,898
471
53,938
2012
13,854
519
26,460
7,740
3,853
477
53,083
2013
13,784
567
25,982
7,093
3,825
496
51,923
2014
13,848
534
25,218
6,318
3,781
486
50,368
2015
14,450
572
24,478
5,635
3,827
514
49,648
2016
15,241
613
23,862
5,014
3,915
512
49,349
2017
15,621
656
22,907
4,410
3,978
501
48,269
2018
15,901
708
22,110
3,966
3,830
478
47,235
2019
16,123
780
21,352
3,543
3,746
445
46,417
2020
16,652
766
21,648
3,068
2,876
421
46,366
2021
15,814
810
20,064
2,692
3,361
454
44,516
2022
16,038
765
18,853
2,461
3,466
449
43,444
2023
16,264
753
18,160
2,237
3,293
447
42,821
2024
16,754
755
17,643
2,012
3,286
444
43,179
Source: USDA / ERS: Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Situation and Outlook. Includes conventional and organic milk. Total includes miscellaneous fluid milk products, beginning 2003.
52 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 30
Per Capita Fluid Milk Sales, Selected Products YEAR
WHOLE MILK
LOWFAT/SKIM MILK
TOTAL BEVERAGE MILK
(Pounds)
(Gallons)
(Pounds)
(Gallons)
(Pounds)
(Gallons)
1970
207.3
24.0
44.2
5.1
257.0
29.8
1975
173.9
20.2
67.9
7.9
246.8
28.6
1980
142.0
16.5
86.7
10.0
233.2
27.0
1985
120.1
13.9
101.7
11.8
226.7
26.3
1990
88.0
10.2
127.4
14.7
219.5
25.4
1995
72.7
8.4
129.3
15.0
205.2
23.8
2000
69.5
8.1
123.2
14.3
195.6
22.7
2005
59.6
6.9
121.4
14.1
184.2
21.3
2010
46.6
5.4
113.1
13.1
177.4
20.6
2011
45.1
5.2
111.8
13.0
173.1
20.1
2012
44.1
5.1
109.0
12.6
169.1
19.6
2013
43.6
5.1
104.6
12.1
164.3
19.0
2014
43.5
5.0
99.0
11.5
158.2
18.3
2015
45.1
5.2
93.9
10.9
154.8
17.9
2016
47.2
5.5
89.4
10.4
152.8
17.7
2017
48.0
5.6
84.0
9.7
148.5
17.2
2018
48.7
5.6
79.8
9.2
144.5
16.7
2019
49.1
5.7
75.8
8.8
141.4
16.4
2020
50.2
5.8
74.6
8.6
139.8
16.2
2021
47.6
5.5
68.5
7.9
134.0
15.6
2022
48.1
5.6
64.0
7.4
130.1
15.1
2023
48.6
5.6
60.9
7.1
127.1
14.7
2024
49.3
5.7
57.8
6.7
127.0
14.7
Source: USDA / ERS: Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Situation and Outlook. Includes conventional and organic milk. Total includes miscellaneous fluid milk products, beginning 2003.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
53
TABLE 31
Sales of Cream and Other Products YEAR
HALF AND
LIGHT
HEAVY
HALF
CREAM
CREAM
SOUR CREAM/
TOTAL EGGNOG
YOGURT
DIP
CREAM & BEVERAGE
(Million Lbs)
PER CAPITA (Lbs)
1970
591
76
111
222
61
169
53,928
264.4
1975
514
87
119
350
76
425
54,803
254.3
1980
551
55
159
408
95
570
54,844
241.4
1985
714
85
243
544
121
940
56,586
237.8
1990
739
88
324
625
123
974
57,644
230.9
1995
831
95
402
767
112
1,646
58,423
219.4
2000
1,008
743
914
127
1,837
60,031
212.8
2005
2,352
1,034
147
3,058
61,476
208.0
2006
2,459
1,121
151
3,301
62,010
207.8
2007
2,475
1,135
141
3,476
62,020
205.9
2008
2,530
1,151
143
3,570
61,973
203.8
2009
2,660
1,195
142
3,839
62,677
204.3
2010
2,755
1,228
141
4,181
63,175
204.2
2011
2,835
1,255
141
4,271
62,440
200.4
2012
2,910
1,281
134
4,417
61,826
197.0
2013
2,900
1,281
133
4,715
60,953
192.9
2014
2,965
1,303
132
4,757
59,524
187.0
2015
3,025
1,326
126
4,646
58,769
183.3
2016
3,155
1,374
134
4,458
58,470
181.1
2017
3,190
1,387
146
4,478
57,470
176.8
2018
3,175
1,401
124
4,453
56,387
172.6
2019
N/A
1,424
121
4,378
N/A
N/A
2020
N/A
1,461
132
4,510
N/A
N/A
2021
N/A
1,493
141
4,744
N/A
N/A
2022
N/A
1,496
127
4,624
N/A
N/A
2023
N/A
1,519
141
4,590
N/A
N/A
2024
N/A
1,547
152
4,931
N/A
N/A
Source: USDA / ERS: Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Situation and Outlook and NMPF. Note: Light and heavy cream no longer separated, beginning 2000. Cream and half and half no longer separated, beginning 2002. Total includes miscellaneous fluid milk products, beginning 2003.
54 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
FIGURE 17
Per Capita Sales of Fluid Milk 35
30
Gallons of Milk
25
20
15
10
5
0
1970
1995
2012 Total Beverage Milk
Lowfat/Skim Milk
2017
2022
Whole Milk
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
55
TABLE 32
Cheese Production, Selected Varieties YEAR
AMERICAN
CHEDDAR
ITALIAN
OTHER
SWISS
TOTAL
MOZZARELLA
OTHER
TOTAL
ALL
TOTAL
OTHER
CHEESE
(Million Pounds)
1970
1,182
241
1,423
n/a
n/a
394
144
240
2,201
1975
1,205
450
1,655
458
214
672
174
311
2,811
1980
1,751
625
2,376
689
294
983
219
407
3,984
1985
2,292
564
2,855
1,104
387
1,491
223
512
5,081
1990
2,380
514
2,894
1,730
477
2,207
261
697
6,059
1995
2,415
716
3,131
2,125
550
2,674
222
889
6,917
2000
2,819
823
3,642
2,635
654
3,289
220
1,107
8,258
2005
3,046
762
3,808
3,019
784
3,803
300
1,238
9,149
2010
3,235
1,054
4,289
3,479
936
4,416
336
1,402
10,443
2011
3,096
1,130
4,227
3,574
1,011
4,585
329
1,454
10,595
2012
3,143
1,212
4,355
3,615
1,018
4,633
321
1,578
10,886
2013
3,190
1,230
4,420
3,700
1,035
4,735
294
1,652
11,102
2014
3,317
1,271
4,588
3,925
1,025
4,950
298
1,676
11,512
2015
3,393
1,301
4,694
3,989
1,093
5,082
312
1,743
11,831
2016
3,434
1,334
4,769
4,118
1,187
5,304
312
1,796
12,182
2017
3,721
1,351
5,072
4,167
1,228
5,395
317
1,856
12,640
2018
3,802
1,452
5,254
4,366
1,203
5,570
332
1,882
13,037
2019
3,737
1,495
5,232
4,495
1,176
5,671
338
1,896
13,137
2020
3,829
1,510
5,338
4,444
1,168
5,612
325
1,964
13,240
2021
3,971
1,644
5,615
4,497
1,272
5,769
330
2,047
13,761
2022
3,963
1,709
5,672
4,651
1,253
5,904
351
2,157
14,084
2023
3,995
1,755
5,749
4,606
1,251
5,857
335
2,214
14,156
2024
3,785
1,791
5,577
4,788
1,237
6,025
360
2,287
14,249
Source: USDA / NASS: Dairy Products
56 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 33
Per Capita Cheese Consumption, Selected Varieties YEAR
AMERICAN
CHEDDAR
ITALIAN
TOTAL
MOZZARELLA
SWISS
ALL
TOTAL
OTHER
CHEESE
TOTAL
CONSUMED AS
PROCESSED
NATURAL
(Pounds) 1970
5.79
7.00
1.19
2.05
0.88
1.44
11.37
4.42
6.95
1975
6.04
8.15
2.11
3.23
1.09
1.80
14.27
5.18
9.10
1980
6.84
9.62
3.01
4.42
1.32
2.16
17.52
5.52
12.01
1985
9.77
12.19
4.60
6.41
1.28
2.66
22.54
6.06
16.48
1990
9.05
11.13
6.88
8.92
1.35
3.21
24.61
6.81
17.80
1995
9.04
11.69
7.89
10.03
1.09
4.13
26.94
7.01
19.93
2000
9.88
12.70
9.06
11.42
1.02
4.68
29.82
6.47
23.35
2005
10.16
12.66
9.93
12.66
1.24
5.02
31.58
5.97
25.62
2010
10.06
13.30
10.58
13.54
1.18
4.90
32.92
5.20
27.72
2011
9.59
13.04
10.83
13.98
1.14
5.08
33.24
5.29
27.95
2012
9.59
13.26
10.69
13.80
1.09
5.37
33.52
5.23
28.29
2013
9.65
13.35
10.74
13.83
1.00
5.50
33.68
5.06
28.62
2014
9.86
13.66
11.17
14.20
1.02
5.55
34.43
5.91
28.52
2015
10.14
13.99
11.24
14.43
1.05
5.80
35.27
5.86
29.41
2016
10.36
14.30
11.69
15.17
1.06
6.03
36.56
5.61
30.95
2017
11.04
15.02
11.56
15.05
1.04
5.97
37.08
5.73
31.35
2018
11.16
15.32
12.15
15.62
1.07
6.03
38.04
5.73
32.31
2019
11.09
15.45
12.41
15.78
1.11
6.03
38.37
5.75
32.62
2020
11.13
15.46
12.19
15.50
1.04
6.11
38.12
5.31
32.81
2021
11.52
16.19
12.30
15.88
1.04
6.45
39.56
6.79
32.77
2022
11.35
16.26
12.58
16.10
1.07
6.69
40.12
6.12
34.00
2023
11.41
16.44
12.39
15.87
1.02
6.82
40.15
6.94
33.22
2024
10.85
15.97
12.53
15.92
1.05
6.97
39.91
6.85
33.06
Source: USDA / ERS: Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Situation and Outlook Tables and NMPF
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
57
TABLE 34
Production of Butter, NFDM and Other Products YEAR
BUTTER
NFDM AND SMP
DRY WHOLE MILK
DRY
MILK PROTEIN
BUTTERMILK
CONCENTRATE
DRY WHEY
WHEY PROTEIN
COTTAGE
CONCENTRATE
CHEESE1
(Million Lbs)
1970
1,137
1,444
69
60
n/a
621
n/a
726
1975
984
1,001
63
43
n/a
596
n/a
701
1980
1,145
1,161
83
44
n/a
690
n/a
667
1985
1,248
1,390
119
52
n/a
987
105
599
1990
1,302
879
175
56
n/a
1,143
168
493
1995
1,264
1,233
171
55
n/a
1,147
294
459
2000
1,256
1,452
111
56
n/a
1,188
334
461
2005
1,347
1,533
32
66
n/a
1,041
384
469
2010
1,564
1,816
71
82
89
1,013
428
433
2011
1,810
1,945
66
100
94
1,010
431
424
2012
1,860
2,145
58
109
102
999
459
424
2013
1,863
2,109
72
119
102
953
498
389
2014
1,855
2,308
103
111
126
870
540
381
2015
1,850
2,269
109
98
157
978
493
401
2016
1,839
2,312
98
110
126
955
468
406
2017
1,847
2,365
122
113
139
1,035
489
390
2018
1,968
2,338
144
118
147
999
514
402
2019
1,994
2,424
141
118
162
978
491
391
2020
2,146
2,647
138
127
206
959
478
379
2021
2,063
2,745
148
132
197
892
464
358
2022
2,059
2,613
137
138
221
915
451
362
2023
2,112
2,559
110
142
217
938
505
399
2024
2,236
2,268
111
152
333
853
495
452
Source: USDA / ERS: Dairy Products. ¹ Cottage cheese curd production.
58 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 35
Per Capita Consumption of Butter, Cottage Cheese, NFDM and Other Products YEAR
BUTTER
NFDM AND
DRY WHOLE
DRY
DRY WHEY
COTTAGE
SMP
MILK
BUTTERMILK
AND WPC
CHEESE
(Lbs)
1970
5.3
5.3
0.2
0.2
0.9
5.2
1975
4.7
3.3
0.1
0.2
2.2
4.6
1980
4.5
3.0
0.3
0.2
2.7
4.4
1985
4.9
2.3
0.4
0.2
3.5
4.0
1990
4.3
2.9
0.6
0.2
3.7
3.3
1995
4.6
3.4
0.4
0.2
4.2
2.7
2000
4.5
2.7
0.3
0.2
3.8
2.6
2005
4.5
4.2
0.2
0.2
2.9
2.7
2010
4.9
3.2
0.2
0.2
1.9
2.3
2011
5.4
3.0
0.2
0.3
1.5
2.3
2012
5.5
3.6
0.2
0.3
1.8
2.3
2013
5.5
2.9
0.2
0.4
1.9
2.1
2014
5.5
3.1
0.2
0.3
2.0
2.1
2015
5.6
3.2
0.3
0.3
2.4
2.1
2016
5.7
2.9
0.3
0.3
2.0
2.2
2017
5.7
2.8
0.3
0.3
2.0
2.1
2018
6.0
2.3
0.4
0.3
2.2
2.1
2019
6.2
2.7
0.2
0.3
2.2
2.1
2020
6.3
2.5
0.2
0.2
1.7
2.0
2021
6.4
2.5
0.2
0.2
1.5
1.9
2022
6.1
2.3
0.3
0.2
1.2
1.9
2023
6.5
2.4
0.2
0.2
1.9
2.1
2024
6.8
1.8
0.2
0.2
1.6
2.4
Source: USDA / ERS: Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Situation and Outlook and NMPF.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
59
TABLE 36
Production of Frozen Dairy Products YEAR
ICE CREAM
ICE CREAM
ICE CREAM
(REGULAR)
(LOWFAT)
(NONFAT)
SHERBET
FROZEN YOGURT
TOTAL OTHER1
FROZEN DAIRY2
(Million Gallons)
1975
837
299
N/A
48.5
N/A
11.1
1,195
1980
830
293
N/A
45.2
N/A
10.3
1,179
1985
901
301
N/A
48.2
N/A
51.4
1,302
1990
824
352
N/A
50.3
117.6
32.4
1,376
1995
862
357
43.9
53.5
152.1
19.1
1,488
2000
980
373
30.7
51.9
94.5
11.6
1,542
2005
960
360
20.8
56.4
66.1
7.8
1,471
2010
929
415
16.0
49.3
50.1
12.2
1,472
2011
888
415
17.2
45.4
62.7
12.3
1,441
2012
894
457
17.2
43.6
57.6
12.3
1,482
2013
897
401
14.2
46.1
74.5
12.2
1,445
2014
866
412
18.3
48.4
66.5
12.9
1,423
2015
897
439
13.6
44.7
74.2
14.2
1,482
2016
907
436
12.4
44.3
66.8
14.6
1,481
2017
871
461
11.4
43.0
62.9
22.6
1,472
2018
852
460
11.4
38.3
55.1
2.7
1,440
2019
879
474
9.9
44.4
56.9
19.6
1,484
2020
916
463
9.1
36.8
35.1
14.8
1,474
2021
880
478
10.7
35.0
40.5
11.5
1,456
2022
925
446
18.6
32.7
38.2
12.7
1,473
2023
863
441
10.6
28.3
40.0
13.3
1,396
2024
886
412
10.7
26.4
37.8
13.4
1,386
Source: USDA / NASS: Dairy Products. ¹ Excludes mellorine-based frozen desserts. Includes frozen yogurt prior to 1989 and nonfat ice cream prior to 1995. ² Excludes ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sherbet mixes.
60 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 37
Per Capita Consumption of Frozen Dairy Products YEAR
ICE CREAM (REGULAR)
ICE CREAM (REDUCED FAT)
SHERBET
OTHER
LBS
YOY CHANGE
LBS
YOY CHANGE
LBS
YOY CHANGE
1970
17.6
-0.6%
7.8
0.0%
1.6
0.0%
1.4
1975
18.2
4.6%
7.7
0.0%
1.3
-10.1%
1.8
1980
17.1
1.1%
7.1
-2.7%
1.2
-1.0%
1.3
1985
17.8
-0.1%
6.9
-1.4%
1.2
0.6%
2.7
1990
15.5
-2.0%
6.3
-24.6%
1.2
-5.6%
5.0
1995
15.0
-2.8%
7.0
10.4%
1.2
-1.9%
5.7
2000
16.1
-0.5%
6.6
-5.2%
1.1
-5.8%
3.7
2005
15.1
3.3%
6.0
-7.9%
1.1
1.6%
2.9
2010
14.0
0.2%
6.5
2.6%
1.0
-8.2%
2.6
2011
13.2
-5.3%
6.4
-0.7%
0.9
-7.8%
2.8
2012
13.2
-0.3%
7.0
8.6%
0.8
-4.5%
2.8
2013
13.0
-0.9%
6.0
-13.6%
0.9
4.7%
3.0
2014
12.5
-4.4%
6.2
2.7%
0.9
3.7%
2.9
2015
12.9
3.1%
6.5
4.8%
0.8
-9.2%
3.1
2016
12.9
0.5%
6.4
-1.6%
0.8
-0.9%
2.8
2017
12.3
-4.7%
6.7
4.6%
0.8
-3.3%
2.9
2018
12.0
-2.8%
6.6
-1.0%
0.7
-11.4%
2.8
2019
12.3
2.8%
6.8
2.2%
0.8
15.7%
2.8
2020
12.7
3.1%
6.5
-3.4%
0.7
-16.7%
2.3
2021
12.2
-4.1%
6.7
3.2%
0.7
-0.7%
2.6
2022
12.7
4.7%
6.4
-5.2%
0.7
-1.2%
2.6
2023
11.8
-7.5%
6.2
-3.5%
0.6
-16.8%
2.6
2024
12.0
1.8%
5.7
-7.2%
0.5
-11.0%
2.4
Source: USDA / ERS: Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Situation and Outlook and NMPF
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
61
TABLE 38
Cheese, Butter and NFDM Production, by State CHEESE
BUTTER
NONFAT DRY MILK (FOOD)1
STATE
MIL. LBS
SHARE
STATE
MIL. LBS
SHARE
STATE
MIL. LBS
SHARE
WI
3,586
25.2%
CA
667
29.8%
CA
698
41.8%
CA
2,481
17.4%
PA
81
3.6%
PA
129
7.7%
ID
1,043
7.3%
NM
925
6.5%
NY
856
6.0%
MN
817
5.7%
PA
464
3.3%
IA
388
2.7%
OH
255
1.8%
VT
148
1.0%
IL
115
0.8%
NJ
98
0.7%
MA
0.5
0.004%
11,175
78.4%
748
33.5%
827
49.6%
3,074
21.6%
1,488
66.5%
842
50.4%
842
50.4%
2,059
100.0%
1,968
100.0%
Reported States
Other States
Total
Reported States
Other States
Total
Reported States
Other States
Total
Source: USDA / NASS: Dairy Products Note: Some states with large production are not reported to avoid violating confidentiality. ¹ Does not include 698 million lbs of protein-standardized skim milk powders or 8 million lb of dry skim milk produced for animal feed uses.
62 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
FIGURE 18
Production Share of Manufactured Products by Region Cheese
Butter West 51.8% West 39.3%
Central 49.3%
Central 40.3% Atlantic 11.4%
Atlantic 7.8%
NFDM West 60.4%
Central 23.0% Atlantic 16.6%
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
63
TABLE 39
Plants Processing Dairy Products and Volume Per Plant, Selected Years PRODUCT
PROCESSING PLANTS 2010
2020
AVERAGE OUTPUT PER PLANT 2023
2024
(Number of Plants)
2000
2010
2020
2023
(Thousand Pounds)
Butter
76
102
93
97
20,579
21,038
22,704
23,047
Total Cheese
515
533
523
509
20,278
24,840
27,066
27,995
American Cheese
211
250
264
267
20,329
21,353
21,778
20,886
Cheddar
197
234
249
247
16,421
16,361
16,044
15,325
Italian Cheese
176
196
190
189
25,089
28,634
30,825
31,880
Mozzarella
121
122
114
118
28,756
36,427
40,406
40,581
Swiss Cheese
54
63
66
69
6,231
5,157
5,075
5,221
Cottage Cheese¹
67
54
48
47
6,461
7,022
8,303
9,624
Cream/Neufchatel Cheese
32
31
33
30
23,277
32,651
34,718
38,552
Processed Cheese
26
28
31
33
44,101
59,894
68,253
64,208
Sour Cream
116
102
97
92
10,586
14,322
15,697
16,813
Yogurt²
120
157
155
155
34,839
28,725
29,616
31,480
Evap/Condensed Milk³
6
7
4
4
83,778
77,886
116,096
122,765
Ice Cream⁴
393
401
390
390
2,083
1,912
1,816
1,889
Frozen Yogurt⁵
85
76
63
60
229
203
194
230
Sherbet⁶
177
130
110
105
263
256
193
194
Nonfat Dry Milk⁷
49
54
47
43
31,888
36,146
39,753
38,806
Skim Milk Powder⁸
10
18
18
17
25,380
38,624
38,385
35,256
Whole Milk Powder⁹
13
13
13
11
5,466
10,624
8,498
10,124
Milk Protein Concentrate¹⁰
9
13
11
11
9,846
15,870
19,730
30,273
Dry Buttermilk
26
22
21
22
3,155
5,764
6,757
6,928
Dry Whey¹¹
31
27
29
28
30,990
34,824
30,520
28,507
Whey Protein Concentrate¹²
41
49
44
45
9,591
9,554
11,190
10,712
Whey Protein Isolate¹³
13
17
20
19
4,717
6,616
7,158
10,135
Lactose
31
30
29
30
29,304
37,348
38,122
36,954
Fluid Milk
404
453
448
441
135,818
102,353
95,583
97,910
Total Manufacturing Plants
1,250
1,231
1,206
1,183
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
¹ Cottage cheese, curd. ² Yogurt, plain and flavored (non-frozen). ³ Canned evaporated and condensed whole milk. ⁴ Thousand Gallons, Hard regular ice cream. ⁵ Thousand Gallons, Hard regular and lowfat frozen yogurt. ⁶ Thousand Gallons, Hard sherbet. ⁷ Nonfat dry milk for food use, excludes protein-standardized skim milk powders. ⁸ Dry skim powders. ⁹ Dry whole milk. ¹⁰ 40% or more protein by weight. ¹¹ Dry whey for human consumption. ¹² Whey protein concentrate for human consumption. ¹³ 90% or more protein by weight.
64 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
Government Cost of Farm Commodity Programs
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
65
TABLE 40
Commodity Credit Corporation Net Outlays by Commodity, Fiscal Year COMMODITY PROGRAM
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
20201
2021
2022
2023
2024
(Million Dollars) Feed Grains
2,392
11,579
6,813
2,226
247
736
3,125
1,113
854
1,716
Wheat
803
5,321
1,232
1,280
143
470
1,848
926
95
253
Rice
814
1,774
473
535
18
635
686
494
151
257
Upland Cotton
99
3,809
4,245
1,668
1,013
118
2,179
2,059
2
12
Tobacco
(298)
657
(411)
21
(225)
0
0
0
0
0
Dairy
4
684
40
355
(66)
209
781
397
1,124
1,520
Soybeans
77
2,840
1,140
550
30
184
1,192
512
442
727
Peanuts
120
35
408
103
74
297
1,293
1,322
935
920
Sugar
(3)
465
(86)
0
0
0
1,050
930
1,025
1,015
Honey
(9)
7
8
0
0
2
4
2
2
4
108
(2)
7
8
N/A
0
0
0
0
0
1,361
216
(1,443)
405
230
196
563
392
655
561
0
1,774
1,851
1,919
1,741
1,854
2,090
1,814
1,895
1,987
Other
557
2,310
5,829
960
3,764
12,452
2,685
2,946
5,283
8,506
Total
6,030
32,265
20,187
10,015
6,969
17,153
17,496
12,907
12,463
17,478
Wool and Mohair
Export Programs Conservation Programs
Source: USDA/ERS, Agricultural Outlook Tables; USDA Budget Summary annual publications. ¹ Does not include 8,500 million dollars in Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments during Fiscal Year 2020. CFAP payments were not CCC outlays but supplemental funding under the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture. Dairy’s share of the 30,561 million dollars of total CFAP payments during fiscal years 2020 and 2021 was 3,027 million dollars, or 9.9% of the total.
66 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
FIGURE 19
Dairy Share Of Total Commodity Credit Corporation Outlays 50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
-10%
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
67
U.S. Dairy Trade
68 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
FIGURE 20
Share of U.S. Dairy Exports by Destination
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
69
TABLE 41
U.S. Fresh Milk and Cream Exports IMPORTING REGION/ COUNTRY
VOLUME
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
(Metric Tons)
SHARE
VALUE
2024
2024
(Percent)
(Thousand Dollars)
FRESH MILK AND CREAM (HTS 0401) North America
65,481
76,902
78,810
86,222
107,929
72.1%
$112,261
Canada
37,991
50,091
52,473
54,836
68,554
45.8%
$71,241
Mexico
27,338
26,683
26,173
31,149
39,138
26.1%
$40,091
Caribbean
4,188
4,936
7,228
4,059
4,485
3.0%
$8,330
Dominican Republic
1,398
1,272
1,252
1,307
1,606
1.1%
$2,770
Bahamas
1,361
2,965
4,916
1,274
912
0.6%
$1,230
Central America
550
205
355
557
868
0.6%
$1,721
South America
279
231
366
582
273
0.2%
$552
European Union-27
222
127
206
114
106
0.1%
$226
France
66
103
680
30
41
0.0%
$246
Other Europe
0
0
37
3
128
0.1%
$197
Russia/Central Asia
0
0
0
0
0
0.0%
$0
Middle East
10
161
151
0
32
0.0%
$124
North Africa
74
0
0
0
0
0.0%
$0
Subsaharan Africa
12
164
119
27
24
0.0%
$48
South Asia
6
5
0
25
17
0.0%
$31
Southeast Asia
2,157
1,469
875
857
799
0.5%
$1,603
East Asia
52,728
57,089
55,884
43,215
35,420
23.7%
$39,599
Taiwan
51,188
55,356
54,648
42,086
34,957
23.4%
$38,880
Oceania
190
147
219
233
415
0.3%
$601
Other
0
0
0
0
0
0.0%
$0
World Total
125,416
141,335
144,575
135,367
149,670
100.0%
$163,820
Source: USDA/FAS
70 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 42
U.S. Butter Exports IMPORTING REGION/ COUNTRY
VOLUME
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
(Metric Tons)
SHARE
VALUE
2024
2024
(Percent)
(Thousand Dollars)
BUTTER/OTHER MILKFATS North America
12,891
20,262
36,985
26,785
33,347
72.1%
$181,015
Canada
9,210
16,890
22,420
22,408
28,312
61.2%
$158,678
Mexico
3,643
3,320
14,480
4,290
4,961
10.7%
$21,843
Caribbean
1,051
2,925
3,242
1,548
3,122
6.8%
$11,088
242
1,987
1,402
174
1,855
4.0%
$3,705
Central America
738
1,888
1,977
2,334
3,483
7.5%
$15,400
Panama
360
914
955
868
1,194
2.6%
$4,838
South America
58
65
118
106
596
1.3%
$2,506
European Union-27
484
453
647
449
474
1.0%
$1,569
Other Europe
299
2,159
350
109
303
0.7%
$1,599
Russia/Central Asia
1
7
32
12
18
0.0%
$60
Middle East
0
230
0
0
0
0.0%
$0
Bahrain
6,282
11,939
11,599
584
1,140
2.5%
$4,895
Saudi Arabia
98
78
37
19
463
1.0%
$1,560
North Africa
87
4,030
1,591
19
0
0.0%
$0
Egypt
10
395
77
4
2
0.0%
$15
Subsaharan Africa
33
28
33
19
16
0.0%
$47
South Asia
253
2,050
957
637
1,020
2.2%
$3,534
Southeast Asia
17
39
171
69
658
1.4%
$1,847
East Asia
4,004
9,007
11,039
3,144
3,297
7.1%
$20,750
South Korea
1,824
3,422
8,755
1,999
2,256
4.9%
$15,330
Taiwan
958
1,021
1,335
595
580
1.3%
$2,085
Oceania
38
1,593
101
6
14
0.0%
$110
Other
0
10
0
0
0
0.0%
$0
World Total
26,170
56,976
68,630
35,653
46,235
100.0%
$240,082
Dominican Republic
Source: USDA/FAS
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
71
TABLE 42
U.S. Cheese Exports IMPORTING REGION/ COUNTRY
VOLUME
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
(Metric Tons)
SHARE
VALUE
2024
2024
(Percent)
(Thousand Dollars)
CHEESE (HTS 0406) North America
104,271
119,257
139,939
169,693
214,599
42.1%
$1,025,312
Mexico
92,896
104,543
123,574
148,303
192,579
37.7%
$896,094
Canada
10,764
13,993
15,681
20,742
21,431
4.2%
$124,801
Caribbean
15,381
17,453
22,057
23,167
25,282
5.0%
$143,579
7,208
8,492
11,104
11,937
13,274
2.6%
$70,676
Central America
23,130
35,002
40,556
44,819
54,278
10.6%
$279,527
Panama
6,998
9,900
12,022
17,300
19,136
3.8%
$93,771
Guatemala
6,775
10,606
13,456
10,296
12,748
2.5%
$65,557
South America
17,529
23,151
21,845
20,634
26,442
5.2%
$128,095
11,022
14,501
11,828
11,584
13,551
2.7%
$61,625
European Union-27
1,142
1,337
1,631
1,187
1,221
0.2%
$6,285
Other Europe
141
37
106
52
87
0.0%
$731
Russia/Central Asia
8
5
10
6
11
0.0%
$97
Middle East
15,521
20,584
28,607
20,002
25,462
5.0%
$118,226
5,492
8,183
12,781
8,959
11,472
2.2%
$51,502
North Africa
599
1,122
2,147
997
3,254
0.6%
$13,774
Subsaharan Africa
72
110
113
194
38
0.0%
$233
South Asia
50
113
32
26
106
0.0%
$427
Southeast Asia
24,714
23,541
24,362
15,189
17,045
3.3%
$83,320
East Asia
125,313
131,421
138,188
107,206
111,972
21.9%
$523,280
South Korea
70,168
69,387
75,789
45,346
56,048
11.0%
$261,831
Japan
37,000
41,244
48,361
40,785
41,533
8.1%
$181,788
Oceania
27,639
28,480
31,300
29,866
30,485
6.0%
$121,523
24,140
24,964
28,762
27,335
27,749
5.4%
$111,195
Other
2
0
3
0
0
0.0%
$0
World Total
355,511
401,613
450,896
433,038
510,282
100.0%
$2,444,413
Dominican Republic
Chile
Saudi Arabia
Australia
Source: USDA/FAS
72 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 43
U.S. Nonfat Dry Milk/Skim Milk Powder Exports IMPORTING REGION/ COUNTRY
VOLUME
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
(Metric Tons)
SHARE
VALUE
2024
2024
(Percent)
(Thousand Dollars)
NONFAT DRY MILK/SKIM MILK POWDER, Less Than 1.5% Fat (HTS 0402.10) North America
289,895
340,598
362,045
419,123
392,376
52.7%
$1,076,607
Mexico
287,099
337,575
359,719
417,022
389,886
52.4%
$1,069,440
Caribbean
9,637
13,456
15,252
12,722
14,540
2.0%
$41,476
7,493
11,902
12,111
10,164
10,300
1.4%
$28,119
Central America
16,733
20,022
27,668
30,159
25,141
3.4%
$69,010
South America
57,608
51,513
44,521
47,525
46,485
6.2%
$129,094
Colombia
28,828
24,333
21,139
22,616
19,201
2.6%
$52,261
Peru
15,780
15,261
16,093
15,452
18,190
2.4%
$51,216
European Union-27
948
7,332
1,710
676
2,887
0.4%
$9,567
Other Europe
286
231
197
265
4
0.0%
$13
Russia/Central Asia
2,763
265
421
1,188
0
0.0%
$0
Middle East
8,950
14,845
10,079
13,555
14,115
1.9%
$39,864
North Africa
27,053
38,622
6,290
6,966
5,095
0.7%
$13,801
Subsaharan Africa
5,320
2,115
773
336
136
0.0%
$339
South Asia
14,555
9,768
2,321
6,679
2,873
0.4%
$7,842
Southeast Asia
325,121
317,218
299,646
238,431
216,257
29.1%
$587,904
Philippines
115,670
112,475
115,542
86,339
87,312
11.7%
$237,155
Indonesia
97,383
76,621
80,120
64,508
49,281
6.6%
$132,449
Malaysia
41,081
36,088
44,949
28,301
31,682
4.3%
$87,935
Vietnam
52,453
71,912
39,636
36,887
28,055
3.8%
$75,364
Thailand
10,021
10,323
12,620
14,859
13,483
1.8%
$36,437
East Asia
43,015
59,198
59,826
28,078
22,543
3.0%
$61,838
China
26,681
52,822
51,208
21,090
11,717
1.6%
$33,321
Oceania
8,306
3,411
2,754
3,004
1,638
0.2%
$5,059
Other
0
0
0
0
0
0.0%
$0
World Total
810,190
878,594
833,502
808,706
744,088
100.0%
$2,042,417
Dominican Republic
Source: USDA/FAS
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
73
TABLE 43
U.S. Whole Milk Powder Exports IMPORTING REGION/ COUNTRY
VOLUME
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
(Metric Tons)
SHARE
VALUE
2024
2024
(Percent)
(Thousand Dollars)
WHOLE MILK POWDER, More Than 1.5% Fat (HTS 0402.21 and 0402.29) North America
5,141
8,062
8,265
7,641
8,954
35.2%
$26,503
Mexico
2,871
5,432
5,178
4,042
5,923
23.3%
$14,214
Canada
1,898
2,219
2,950
3,551
2,954
11.6%
$11,897
Caribbean
2,263
1,113
1,337
1,061
3,342
13.1%
$11,612
0
0
1
248
2,654
10.4%
$8,590
Central America
1,976
800
1,103
528
517
2.0%
$2,482
El Salvador
4,369
4,262
6,759
2,462
703
2.8%
$2,355
South America
578
937
1,281
685
362
1.4%
$1,204
Peru
2,968
2,586
3,288
1,705
236
0.9%
$752
Colombia
12,913
13,359
16,923
12,804
11,005
43.2%
$39,524
European Union-27
11,416
12,285
16,332
12,371
10,575
41.6%
$38,931
Other Europe
15
7
14
14
284
1.1%
$281
Russia/Central Asia
89
193
84
285
135
0.5%
$603
Middle East
78
10
0
16
0
0.0%
$0
0
2
11
0
0
0.0%
$0
North Africa
2,416
1,385
935
13
243
1.0%
$484
Algeria
2,490
2,934
1,857
0
133
0.5%
$121
463
187
55
82
9
0.0%
$72
1
0
96
0
0
0.0%
$0
Southeast Asia
3,131
2,274
840
873
88
0.3%
$267
East Asia
4,589
5,127
1,731
519
836
3.3%
$3,097
China
306
658
804
228
638
2.5%
$2,582
South Korea
4,184
4,393
910
277
171
0.7%
$468
Oceania
575
195
44
5
3
0.0%
$22
Other
0
0
0
0
0
0.0%
$0
World Total
38,517
39,102
38,935
25,761
25,451
100.0%
$84,657
Dominican Republic
United Arab Emirates
Subsaharan Africa South Asia
Source: USDA/FAS
74 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 44
U.S. Ice Cream Exports IMPORTING REGION/ COUNTRY
VOLUME
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
(Metric Tons)
SHARE
VALUE
2024
2024
(Percent)
(Thousand Dollars)
ICE CREAM (HTS 2105) North America
28,244
29,364
28,204
30,084
31,099
48.1%
$102,228
Mexico
22,536
23,125
21,672
23,640
26,421
40.9%
$83,067
Canada
5,104
5,558
5,938
5,862
4,042
6.3%
$17,061
Caribbean
4,958
4,917
5,812
5,201
5,414
8.4%
$19,668
754
676
1,088
915
1,110
1.7%
$4,021
Central America
1,012
1,014
987
1,072
1,050
1.6%
$4,036
South America
1,225
2,098
1,592
907
1,227
1.9%
$4,746
European Union-27
3,004
3,549
2,479
2,168
2,008
3.1%
$7,465
Other Europe
717
1,364
1,137
1,067
893
1.4%
$3,255
Russia/Central Asia
2,049
564
302
242
217
0.3%
$877
Middle East
164
120
40
29
0
0.0%
$0
Saudi Arabia
11,877
13,002
13,733
13,218
9,471
14.6%
$39,376
United Arab Emirates
5,732
5,909
6,094
6,199
4,402
6.8%
$18,543
Qatar
2,833
3,567
3,604
3,655
2,877
4.4%
$11,403
Kuwait
47
76
164
127
142
0.2%
$629
North Africa
832
1,123
471
256
150
0.2%
$537
Subsaharan Africa
266
469
347
351
211
0.3%
$953
South Asia
4,878
4,601
5,228
3,627
3,959
6.1%
$17,039
Southeast Asia
1,729
2,171
2,531
1,939
1,840
2.8%
$7,736
Malaysia
1,013
724
941
800
1,157
1.8%
$5,413
4,950
7,806
7,133
5,481
4,841
7.5%
$21,068
South Korea
3,251
3,956
4,152
2,527
2,369
3.7%
$9,445
China
430
2,103
1,890
2,067
1,787
2.8%
$8,413
Oceania
8,983
4,752
6,179
4,759
5,030
7.8%
$22,947
Australia
7,869
3,959
5,296
4,115
4,498
7.0%
$20,934
Other
0
0
0
0
2
0.0%
$7
World Total
72,195
73,805
72,819
67,515
64,663
100.0%
$240,797
Dominican Republic
East Asia
Source: USDA/FAS
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
75
TABLE 44
U.S. Yogurt Exports IMPORTING REGION/ COUNTRY
VOLUME
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
(Metric Tons)
SHARE
VALUE
2024
2024
(Percent)
(Thousand Dollars)
YOGURT (HTS 0403.10 and 0403.20) North America
4,885
6,701
6,674
9,801
13,585
48.9%
$37,157
Mexico
3,458
4,901
4,788
7,949
11,856
42.6%
$31,599
Canada
894
1,220
1,403
1,147
945
3.4%
$3,008
Bermuda
534
580
483
706
785
2.8%
$2,550
4,424
4,245
4,289
4,631
5,734
20.6%
$20,235
1,180
1,112
939
944
907
3.3%
$3,415
774
687
787
708
861
3.1%
$3,001
Bahamas
337
472
578
674
813
2.9%
$3,733
Dominican Republic
0
0
0
11
721
2.6%
$1,275
Central America
693
1,305
1,307
1,729
2,426
8.7%
$10,085
Panama
407
912
865
1,027
1,416
5.1%
$5,750
South America
156
340
612
613
813
2.9%
$2,720
European Union-27
178
197
193
117
151
0.5%
$467
Other Europe
0
0
0
0
0
0.0%
$0
Russia/Central Asia
0
0
0
0
12
0.0%
$25
Middle East
151
187
250
161
255
0.9%
$823
North Africa
7
37
0
0
8
0.0%
$25
Subsaharan Africa
6
39
0
6
24
0.1%
$52
South Asia
0
17
13
0
7
0.0%
$15
Southeast Asia
210
250
332
140
349
1.3%
$1,181
East Asia
2,579
5,526
4,073
3,004
2,798
10.1%
$7,121
South Korea
846
3,845
2,832
1,967
1,886
6.8%
$4,418
Taiwan
1,199
1,228
1,069
839
857
3.1%
$2,456
1,043
901
1,007
971
1,642
5.9%
$3,494
1,040
899
1,005
969
1,637
5.9%
$3,476
Other
0
0
0
0
0
0.0%
$0
World Total
14,334
19,745
18,749
21,172
27,805
100.0%
$83,397
Caribbean Trinidad and Tobago Windward and Leeward Islands
Oceania Australia
Source: USDA/FAS
76 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 45
U.S. Whey Exports IMPORTING REGION/ COUNTRY
VOLUME
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
(Metric Tons)
SHARE
VALUE
2024
2024
(Percent)
(Thousand Dollars)
WHEY (HTS 0404.10 and 3502.20) North America
74,434
82,647
99,456
89,323
89,507
14.9%
$273,775
Canada
38,877
43,322
41,546
45,546
47,214
7.8%
$73,732
Mexico
35,517
39,305
57,857
43,617
42,199
7.0%
$199,657
Caribbean
1,988
1,365
2,030
1,737
1,675
0.3%
$3,250
Central America
10,492
12,966
12,976
11,852
13,865
2.3%
$16,677
South America
16,229
15,882
24,735
28,753
30,251
5.0%
$127,494
European Union-27
2,371
2,804
4,733
9,849
8,145
1.4%
$83,159
Other Europe
8,796
6,033
8,736
6,608
7,195
1.2%
$107,382
Russia/Central Asia
4,299
4,978
2,910
4,230
2,852
0.5%
$17,763
Middle East
42
228
5
13
27
0.0%
$161
North Africa
1,280
1,298
4,618
3,769
5,060
0.8%
$7,550
Subsaharan Africa
2,621
2,784
1,793
1,804
1,951
0.3%
$2,992
South Asia
2,474
4,425
3,398
1,364
4,748
0.8%
$9,873
Southeast Asia
7,290
4,193
4,359
5,099
4,702
0.8%
$36,901
Indonesia
121,697
124,152
134,006
120,965
133,706
22.2%
$185,056
Vietnam
30,368
27,363
34,245
31,434
46,967
7.8%
$65,791
Philippines
24,893
33,763
34,003
31,259
32,184
5.3%
$28,321
Malaysia
30,903
29,035
32,082
28,390
28,354
4.7%
$32,308
Thailand
13,232
15,138
10,505
14,527
15,462
2.6%
$27,489
East Asia
270,468
325,742
367,658
282,930
301,599
50.1%
$606,826
China
222,566
272,962
307,327
232,985
245,017
40.7%
$370,672
Japan
26,816
26,927
31,754
28,136
31,952
5.3%
$158,008
South Korea
14,644
19,836
21,385
13,846
17,028
2.8%
$54,858
Oceania
33,066
24,123
9,876
4,754
4,492
0.7%
$21,790
Other
0
0
0
0
0
0.0%
$0
World Total
556,496
612,924
677,487
564,369
601,629
100.0%
$1,417,490
Source: USDA/FAS
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
77
TABLE 45
U.S. Lactose Exports IMPORTING REGION/ COUNTRY
VOLUME
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
(Metric Tons)
SHARE
VALUE
2024
2024
(Percent)
(Thousand Dollars)
LACTOSE (HTS 1702.11 and 1702.19) North America
43,895
41,201
42,139
50,092
53,813
12.5%
$52,590
Mexico
36,733
35,890
34,727
43,193
46,972
10.9%
$44,746
Caribbean
666
269
505
507
505
0.1%
$555
Central America
994
491
892
949
1,011
0.2%
$1,144
South America
18,513
19,875
22,645
26,246
31,343
7.3%
$35,779
European Union-27
5,583
7,555
6,683
7,853
13,778
3.2%
$14,587
Other Europe
4,921
3,558
6,138
6,852
5,641
1.3%
$12,423
Russia/Central Asia
136
92
161
216
1,280
0.3%
$1,946
Middle East
0
0
3
0
0
0.0%
$0
North Africa
2,173
1,385
1,424
2,124
1,881
0.4%
$3,764
Subsaharan Africa
953
952
709
1,219
1,860
0.4%
$2,895
South Asia
4,147
7,243
9,393
3,348
4,119
1.0%
$3,448
Southeast Asia
22,656
13,277
12,839
19,126
16,069
3.7%
$20,864
Indonesia
93,325
95,724
95,447
85,840
80,984
18.8%
$76,389
Vietnam
23,482
21,351
26,292
18,631
21,070
4.9%
$20,053
Philippines
14,377
15,607
14,394
18,162
14,886
3.5%
$14,645
Singapore
17,901
24,726
19,155
18,813
14,694
3.4%
$12,371
Thailand
16,040
17,519
14,528
13,903
14,569
3.4%
$13,718
East Asia
131,332
152,562
191,868
209,836
171,454
39.8%
$148,703
China
68,044
86,992
118,356
145,058
109,508
25.4%
$95,740
Japan
41,734
41,821
53,443
47,231
42,616
9.9%
$35,215
South Korea
17,327
19,029
15,952
13,190
15,388
3.6%
$13,396
53,228
52,972
66,996
63,586
61,055
14.2%
$60,885
45,963
45,585
56,582
58,517
56,576
13.1%
$57,430
Other
0
0
0
0
0
0.0%
$0
World Total
376,938
389,600
451,158
469,939
431,015
100.0%
$421,382
Oceania New Zealand
Source: USDA/FAS
78 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 46
Commercial Exports and Domestic Disappearance, Milk Equivalent, Total Milk Solids Basis YEAR
COMMERCIAL EXPORTS
DOMESTIC DISAPPEARANCE
COMMERCIAL DISAPPEARANCE
TOTAL
PER CAPITA1
TOTAL
PER CAPITA 2
TOTAL
PER CAPITA3
EXPORT %
(Million Lbs)
(Pounds)
(Million Lbs)
(Pounds)
(Million Lbs)
(Pounds)
(Percent)
1985
571
2.4
127,100
533.0
127,671
535.4
0.4%
1990
1,290
5.2
141,579
566.0
142,869
571.2
0.9%
1995
4,545
17.1
149,427
560.6
153,972
577.6
3.0%
2000
6,545
23.2
159,607
565.7
166,152
588.9
3.9%
2005
13,388
45.3
170,022
575.3
183,410
620.6
7.3%
2006
16,638
55.8
170,384
571.0
187,023
626.8
8.9%
2007
17,753
58.9
172,334
572.1
190,087
631.0
9.3%
2008
20,225
66.5
173,797
571.5
194,022
638.0
10.4%
2009
16,219
52.9
176,113
574.1
192,332
627.0
8.4%
2010
23,872
77.2
172,634
558.1
196,506
635.3
12.1%
2011
25,640
82.3
174,408
559.7
200,049
642.0
12.8%
2012
26,006
82.9
177,945
566.9
203,951
649.8
12.8%
2013
30,726
97.2
175,010
553.7
205,736
650.9
14.9%
2014
31,130
97.8
177,869
558.7
208,998
656.4
14.9%
2015
28,827
89.9
184,288
574.6
213,115
664.4
13.5%
2016
29,917
92.6
187,802
581.3
217,719
673.9
13.7%
2017
31,276
96.2
187,492
576.7
218,768
672.9
14.3%
2018
34,236
104.7
188,722
577.4
222,958
682.2
15.4%
2019
31,634
96.3
192,153
585.2
223,787
681.6
14.1%
2020
35,592
107.4
191,491
577.6
227,083
685.0
15.7%
2021
38,580
116.2
192,875
580.9
231,455
697.1
16.7%
2022
40,399
121.2
191,448
574.4
231,847
695.6
17.4%
2023
37,482
111.9
195,924
585.0
233,406
696.9
16.1%
2024
37,083
109.0
195,847
575.8
232,931
684.9
15.9%
Source: USDA/Economic Research Service, U.S. Census Bureau and NMPF. ¹ Total exports per U.S. resident. ² Per capita comsumption by U.S. resident population. ³ Total commercial disappearance per U.S. resident.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
79
FIGURE 21
Commercial Exports 45,000
40,000
Million Pounds (ME, TSB)
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
-
1985
1995
2005
80 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023
TABLE 47
Dairy Imports, Quota and Non-Quota PRODUCT
TRQ STATUS1
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
(Thousand Pounds) Cheese Subject to TRQ Cheddar
15,932 5,762 0 26 20,822 17,934 39,465 2,523 14,303 7,133 5,683 435 3,748 2,567 71,515 12,686 169,794 49,067
17,716 8,287 187 71 13,601 26,103 41,519 698 14,195 8,223 7,212 716 5,569 1,142 80,344 16,390 180,342 61,631
16,172 10,114 144 18 15,777 27,881 43,092 411 14,630 5,794 6,205 624 6,199 1,261 79,209 40,028 181,428 86,131
15,265 12,418 120 62 16,331 29,777 32,923 629 14,414 5,552 6,007 371 5,004 1,470 76,123 16,748 166,187 67,027
19,327 8,336 0 105 16,241 25,685 32,570 592 14,812 4,105 6,429 241 4,697 945 78,439 16,431 171,653 56,441
Non-TRQ Cheese2 Goya Pecorino Other Total
344 10,222 115,940 126,506
37 13,728 126,298 140,063
26 17,096 132,377 149,499
11 16,263 150,586 166,860
32 15,169 177,920 193,121
All Cheese³
365,900
414,090
415,338
424,498
472,794
2,237 19,984 11,704 44,239 14,867 66,028 12,555 2,810 203 2,455 10,929 1,165 37,496 45,905 26,537 83,034
2,241 22,005 12,231 31,588 15,028 84,663 8,780 685 175 304 8,896 3,818 37,797 33,973 4,124 80,075
2,241 32,479 12,313 68,849 15,229 94,169 13,219 11,095 878 1,424 9,136 15,698 34,986 17,998 19,273 115,509
2,241 80,634 13,045 56,175 15,138 103,530 13,370 4,305 1,633 234 10,159 10,808 35,541 29,711 31,444 139,307
2,295 88,938 12,292 76,277 15,016 114,186 13,375 3,156 314 1,047 10,021 12,321 33,675 34,646 88,022 164,870
130,121 109,854 64,799 7,060 705 38,355 388,577
147,387 105,478 76,940 7,382 331 37,192 358,345
172,980 134,362 72,819 8,228 51 37,523 366,747
133,848 124,793 71,221 9,022 25 32,340 373,069
121,251 123,126 81,193 7,540 1,102 41,864 396,074
Other American-type Italian Swiss/Emmentaler Edam/Gouda Gruyere Processed Blue-Veined Other Total
Other Dairy (TRQ) Milk and Cream Evap and Cond Milk Butter Butter Substitutes Nonfat Dry Milk Ice Cream Chocolate Preparations4 Other TRQ Products4
In quota Out of quota In quota Out of quota In quota Out of quota In quota Out of quota In quota Out of quota In quota Out of quota In quota Out of quota In quota Out of quota In quota Out of quota
In quota Out of quota In quota Out of quota In quota Out of quota In quota Out of quota In quota Out of quota In quota Out of quota In quota Out of quota In quota Out of quota
Other Dairy (Non-TRQ) Casein and Caseinates Milk Protein Concentrate Whey Lactose Butter Substitutes Chocolate Preparations⁴ Other Food Preparations⁴ Source: USDA/FAS; U.S. Bureau of the Census; NMPF.
¹ TRQ: Tariff Rate Quota. “Out of quota” includes all corresponding quota-type products entering the U.S. on an out-of-quota dutypaid basis. ² Includes non-cow’s milk cheeses. ³ All cheese, including TRQ and non-TRQ cheese. Totals will not add because in-quota TRQ cheese volumes are determined by Customs and Border Protection using different data. ⁴ Includes products whose composition consists only partly of dairy components.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
81
U.S. Economic Indicators and Other Statistics
82 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 48
Price Indices: Annual Average, Not Seasonally Adjusted YEAR
CONSUMER PRICE INDICES
ALL ITEMS
FOOD AND
DAIRY
INDICES OF PRICES PAID AND RECEIVED BY FARMERS
PRICES RECEIVED
BEVERAGES PRODUCTS ALL FARM PRODUCTS
(1982-1984 = 100)
PRICES PAID
LIVESTOCK & DAIRY
PRODUCTION
WAGES, ETC.
PRODUCTS
ITEMS
(PPITW)
PRODUCTS
FEED
(1910-1914 = 100)
1955
26.8
27.8
32.1
232
246
247
251
276
211
1960
29.6
30.0
35.4
239
296
259
265
300
194
1965
31.5
32.2
36.0
248
315
260
276
321
207
1970
38.8
40.1
44.7
280
405
350
314
390
216
1975
53.8
60.2
62.6
466
567
537
532
613
406
1980
82.4
86.7
90.9
624
878
798
822
978
479
1985
107.6
105.6
103.2
579
802
779
878
1,131
464
1990
130.7
132.1
126.5
660
1,088
837
958
1,310
501
1995
152.4
148.4
132.8
646
868
783
1,051
1,454
502
2000
172.2
167.8
160.7
611
955
757
1,117
1,588
497
2005
195.3
190.7
182.4
726
1,201
931
1,361
1,891
571
2010
218.1
219.6
199.2
850
1,256
1,000
1,825
2,434
879
2011
224.9
227.8
212.7
1,032
1,540
1,239
2,082
2,706
1,102
2012
229.6
233.7
217.2
1,083
1,633
1,140
2,193
2,824
1,270
2013
233.0
237.0
217.5
1,104
1,669
1,230
2,237
2,877
1,295
2014
236.7
242.5
225.3
1,113
2,049
1,475
2,376
3,031
1,266
2015
237.0
246.8
222.4
1,024
1,872
1,054
2,331
2,996
1,168
2016
240.0
247.6
217.3
935
1,530
1,003
2,179
2,863
1,118
2017
245.1
249.8
217.5
963
1,571
1,086
2,176
2,882
1,045
2018
251.1
253.4
216.5
934
1,497
1,001
2,229
2,966
1,113
2019
255.7
258.0
218.7
928
1,502
1,147
2,224
2,986
1,146
2020
258.8
266.6
228.3
980
1,406
1,116
2,201
2,980
1,169
2021
271.0
276.9
231.4
1,135
1,646
1,141
2,431
3,242
1,340
2022
292.7
303.4
259.3
1,344
1,892
1,560
2,842
3,720
1,522
2023
304.7
320.5
269.5
1,202
2,127
1,252
2,880
3,807
1,477
2024
313.7
327.7
268.9
1,234
2,262
1,387
2,827
3,783
1,286
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics and USDA/NASS, Agricultural Prices
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
83
TABLE 49
Minutes of Work Required to Purchase Selected Dairy Products AVERAGE YEAR
HOURLY
MINUTES WORKED TO EARN MONEY TO PURCHASE
EARNINGS WHOLE MILK
BUTTER
CHEESE
ICE CREAM
(Dollars per hour)
(1/2 Gallon¹)
(1 Pound)
(1 Pound)
(1/2 Gallon)
1960
$2.09
14.1
21.5
19.7
24.9
1965
$2.63
10.8
17.1
17.1
18.1
1970
$3.40
10.1
15.3
17.8
14.9
1975
$4.73
10.1
13.0
19.4
15.5
1980
$6.84
9.3
16.5
19.6
16.3
1985
$8.73
7.8
14.5
17.4
15.8
1990
$10.19
8.3
11.7
n/a
15.3
1995
$11.65
7.5
8.2
17.3
13.6
2000
$14.02
11.9
10.8
16.4
14.8
2005
$16.12
11.9
12.2
16.3
13.9
2010
$19.06
10.3
9.9
14.8
14.1
2011
$19.44
11.0
11.1
16.7
15.2
2012
$19.73
10.6
9.8
17.1
15.3
2013
$20.14
10.3
9.7
16.6
14.9
2014
$20.60
10.7
10.9
16.1
14.2
2015
$21.03
9.8
11.0
15.3
13.5
2016
$21.55
8.9
10.9
14.6
13.3
2017
$22.05
8.8
11.0
13.3
12.8
2018
$22.70
7.7
10.8
13.6
12.5
2019
$23.51
7.7
10.2
13.5
12.3
2020
$24.68
8.1
8.8
13.4
12.0
2021
$25.90
8.2
8.3
12.6
11.3
2022
$27.56
8.9
9.6
12.5
11.8
2023
$28.93
8.4
9.5
12.1
12.2
2024
$30.13
7.9
9.4
11.3
12.2
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Average hourly earnings for private production and nonsupervisory workers. ¹ Per gallon beginning 1996.
84 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 50
Commodity Receipts from Marketings COMMODITY
1990
2000
2010
2020
2023
2024
(Billion Dollars) Livestock Products Cattle and Calves
39.2
40.8
51.2
63.3
101.1
108.5
Dairy Products
20.2
20.6
31.4
40.4
45.9
50.8
Hogs
11.5
11.8
17.9
19.2
27.2
28.9
Poultry and Eggs
15.3
21.9
34.7
35.2
67.1
75.0
Sheep/Other Livestock
3.0
4.6
5.1
7.0
8.3
8.5
89.1
99.6
140.3
165.0
249.6
271.6
Feed Crops
18.7
20.5
55.1
57.5
88.4
74.5
Oil Crops
12.3
13.5
36.5
43.8
59.5
50.5
Vegetables
11.3
15.8
17.4
21.1
26.0
27.6
Food Grains
7.5
6.5
14.3
11.8
15.6
14.8
Fruits and Nuts
9.4
12.3
21.6
27.8
28.8
29.5
Cotton
5.5
2.9
7.5
6.8
7.1
5.3
Tobacco
2.7
2.3
1.2
0.8
1.0
0.8
Other Crops
12.9
18.6
24.4
32.8
40.9
42.2
Total Crops
80.2
92.5
178.2
202.5
267.4
245.2
Commodity Receipts
169.3
192.1
318.4
367.5
516.9
516.8
Direct Government Payments
9.3
23.2
12.4
45.6
12.3
9.3
Total Receipts
178.6
215.3
330.8
413.1
529.2
526.1
Total Livestock Crops
Source: USDA / ERS: Agricultural Outlook Tables, Cash Receipts data.
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
85
TABLE 51
Nation’s Top Dairy Cooperatives, 2024 RANK
DAIRY COOPERATIVE
HEADQUARTERS
MILK VOLUME
MEMBER FARMS
(Billion Lbs) 1
Dairy Farmers of America Inc.*
Kansas City, KS
55.7
5,000
2
Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative
Green Bay, WI
17.0
775
3
California Dairies Inc.*
Visalia, CA
16.6
257
4
Land O' Lakes Inc.*
St. Paul, MN
12.8
1,219
5
Select Milk Producers Inc.
Artesia, NM
9.4
110
6
Northwest Dairy Association*
Seattle, WA
8.3
239
7
FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative
Madison, WI
8.2
2,535
8
Foremost Farms USA*
Baraboo, WI
5.8
746
9
Michigan Milk Producers Association*
Novi, MI
5.0
583
10
Associated Milk Producers Inc.*
New Ulm, MN
4.2
685
11
United Dairymen of Arizona*
Tempe, AZ
4.0
54
12
Agri-Mark Inc.*
Andover, MA
3.1
452
13
First District Association*
Litchfield, MN
3.0
572
14
Lone Star Milk Producers Inc*
Wichita Falls, TX
2.8
99
15
Prairie Farms Dairy Inc.*
Edwardsville, IL
2.8
643
16
Upstate Niagara Cooperative Inc.*
Batavia, NY
2.7
260
17
Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Co-op Assn.*
Herndon, VA
2.3
841
18
National Farmers Organization Inc.
Ames, IA
2.0
1,678
19
Cayuga Marketing LLC*
Auburn, NY
1.5
32
20
Tillamook County Creamery Association*
Tillamook, OR
1.4
61
21
Organic Valley/CROPP
La Farge, WI
1.4
1,457
22
Bongards’ Creameries*
Bongards, MN
1.3
169
23
Legacy Milk Cooperative Inc.
Turlock, CA
1.1
18
24
High Desert Milk Inc.
Burley, ID
1.0
4
25
Magic Valley Quality Milk Producers Inc.
Jerome, ID
0.9
26
Source: Used by permission from Hoard’s Dairyman. *NMPF member cooperative.
86 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
TABLE 52
Number and Net Volume of Products, Supplies and Services by Cooperatives, Selected Years 1995
2005
2015
2023
CO-OPS
NET
CO-OPS
NET
CO-OPS
NET
CO-OPS
NET
HANDLING
VOLUME
HANDLING
VOLUME
HANDLING
VOLUME
HANDLING
VOLUME
(Number)
(Million $)
(Number)
(Million $)
(Number)
(Million $)
(Number)
(Million $)
Cotton
16
2,799
14
3,411
14
2,336
13
2,406
Dairy
241
21,784
193
28,163
112
41,007
93
58,426
Fruits & Vegetables
283
9,272
188
7,256
125
8,301
96
9,490
1,104
19,864
683
22,977
448
49,320
330
82,460
Livestock & Poultry
109
8,065
73
3,437
97
5,581
57
6,791
Rice
19
900
15
856
10
875
12
2,457
Sugar
51
1,869
47
3,357
28
7,569
18
8,012
Other
262
4,796
199
4,693
245
9,903
232
12,599
2,085
69,349
1,412
74,150
1,079
124,892
851
182,641
Crop Protectants
N/A
2,628
n/a
2,952
n/a
10,935
n/a
14,236
Feed
n/a
5,017
n/a
5,381
n/a
12,261
n/a
18,188
Fertilizer
n/a
4,692
n/a
5,370
n/a
15,051
n/a
24,582
Petroleum
n/a
5,211
n/a
9,799
n/a
32,277
n/a
34,692
Seed
n/a
583
n/a
1,252
n/a
5,397
n/a
7,187
Other Supplies
n/a
3,083
n/a
3,672
n/a
5,787
n/a
7,173
Total Farm Supplies
1,447
21,213
1,128
28,426
874
81,709
688
106,058
Total Farm Services
474
3,284
356
3,929
94
5,458
108
7,971
Total Business
4,006
93,847
2,896
106,506
2,047
212,059
1,615
296,670
ITEM
Products Marketed
Grain & Oilseed Products
Total Farm Products
Supplies Sold
Services Provided
Source: USDA / Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Agricultural Cooperative Statistics
“Other” includes total cooperatives handling beans and peas, nuts, tobacco, wool and other misc. Number of cooperatives may not add due to overlap. Most recent publication of these statistics is for 2023
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
87
TABLE 53
International Milk Production Statistics, 2024 COW
PRODUCTION
COWS MILK
OTHER MILK
TOTAL MILK
SHARE OF
NUMBERS
PER COW
PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION1
PRODUCTION
TOTAL
(1,000 Head)
(Pounds)
(Million lbs)
(Million lbs)
(Million lbs)
(Percent)
Canada
969
23,525
22,796
22,796
1.0%
Mexico
6,750
4,427
29,884
30,256
1.3%
United States
9,342
24,178
225,868
225,868
10.0%
Argentina
1,490
16,143
24,052
24,052
1.1%
Brazil
17,300
3,186
55,116
6,592
61,707
2.7%
European Union
19,913
16,164
321,875
9,193
331,068
14.7%
United Kingdom
1,840
18,793
34,580
34,580
1.5%
17,813
0.8%
75,116
3.3%
COUNTRY
North America
373
South America
Europe
Commonwealth of Independent States Belarus
1,465
12,114
17,747
66
Russia
6,290
11,942
75,116
Ukraine
1,310
12,194
15,975
231
16,206
0.7%
China
6,380
14,095
89,927
1,852
91,778
4.1%
Japan
705
23,006
16,219
16,219
0.7%
South Korea
193
22,503
4,343
4,343
0.2%
Taiwan
65
15,941
1,036
26
1,063
0.0%
61,500
3,621
222,667
244,052
466,719
20.7%
11
3,407
37
33
71
0.0%
Australia
1,330
14,368
19,110
19,110
0.8%
New Zealand
4,700
10,151
47,708
47,708
2.1%
Total of Above
141,553
8,647
1,224,055
262,418
1,486,473
66.0%
Total, All Countries
308,714
5,926
1,829,515
423,367
2,252,882
100.0%
East Asia
South Asia India Southeast Asia Philippines Oceania
Source: USDA / FAS and UN / FAO. ¹ Other milk production includes buffalo, camels, goats and sheeps milk.
88 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
Glossary American Cheese Principally cheddar cheese but includes other varieties such as Colby or Jack. The term does not include Swiss, Muenster, Blue, Italian cheese varieties, and other distinctive types. Commercial Disappearance Commercial consumption calculated as production plus imports less the net change in stocks and non-commercial use. Domestic commercial disappearance is total commercial disappearance less commercial exports. May include farm use, waste, shrinkage, some inventory variation, and products used for other than human consumption. Milk Equivalent The amount of farm milk represented by a quantity of dairy products. Most often used to aggregate stocks, trade, or removals of various dairy products on a common component basis, such as milkfat, skim solids, or total milk solids. Milk Sold to Plants and Dealers A term long used by USDA to mean milk production less that portion utilized on the farm or marketed directly by farmers to consumers. Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program Margin As defined in the 2018 Farm Bill, the income over feed cost margin is equal to the national monthly allmilk price (reported monthly by USDA NASS) minus average feed costs, computed from a formula using national benchmark prices of corn, soybean meal, and alfalfa hay. Formerly the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP) Margin. DMC Feed Cost As defined in the 2018 Farm Bill, the feed cost to be used in calculating premiums is the national average feed cost. It includes the U.S. average corn price/bushel, Cen-tral Illinois soybean meal price/ton, and price of alfalfa hay price/ton. Formerly the MPP (Margin Protection Program for Dairy) Feed Cost. National Average Cost of Feed Calculation =1.0729 X U.S. average corn price/bushel +0.00735 X Central Illinois soybean meal price/ton +0.0137 X Average of U.S. average alfalfa hay price/ton and 5-state average of premium and supreme alfalfa hay (scheduled for recalculation, from January 2020, as 100% of the 5-state dairy quality alfalfa hay price).
DAIRY DATA HIGHLIGHTS 2025
89
Common Conversion Factors Measures of Milk 1 gallon = 8.62 pounds 1 quart = 2.15 pounds 1 pint = 1.08 pounds 1 liter = 2.28 pounds
100 lbs = 11.6 gallons 100 lbs = 46.4 quarts 100 lbs = 92.8 pints 100 lbs = 43.9 liters
Metric System Weight Volume 1 kilogram = 2.2046 pounds 1 liter = 1.057 quarts 1 pound = 0.4536 kilogram 1 quart = 0.9464 liter 1 gram = 0.03527 ounce 1 liter = 2.113 pints 1 ounce = 28.35 grams 1 pint = 0.4732 liter 1 metric ton = 2,204.6 lbs 1 liter = 0.2642 gallons 1 gallon = 3.785 liters Feed Grains Commodity Unit Lbs/Unit Unit/MT Wheat bushel 60 36.744 Soybeans bushel 60 36.744 Corn bushel 56 39.368 Sorghum bushel 56 39.368 Flaxseed bushel 56 39.368 Rye bushel 56 39.368 Barley bushel 48 45.930 Oats bushel 32 68.894 Rice Cwt. 100 22.046
90 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS
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91 NMPF/USDEC DAIRY ECONOMICS