Industry News
Every post the Federation has filed under Industry News.
The margin program's six-year bet
The federal margin coverage program is offering a discount to producers who lock in six years of protection at once, right as milk prices open 2026 at their…
Read postWhat a bigger milk number means for your case
National milk production is running well ahead of last year, and the federal forecast just moved again. Here's what a bigger supply number means for a small maker's…
Read postThe feed line that finally eased
Corn and soybean meal are trading below their long-run averages heading into 2026. For farmstead producers who spent last year cutting everywhere else, that's the first real relief…
Read postThe margin payment of a hard year
For the first time all year, the federal margin coverage program actually paid out in December. That says less about a good month and more about the year…
Read postA record export year, and a thin margin to show for it
U.S. cheese exports had their best year on record in 2025, and the reason is the same discount that's been squeezing domestic milk checks all year.
Read postWhat December's milk check is telling you
The Class I base price bounced off November's low this month, but the year-over-year comparison and the 2026 forecast both point the same direction: down.
Read postWhen the milk price falls too
Milk and cheese prices have been sliding for weeks, which sounds like relief after a hard year. For a lot of members, it isn't landing that way.
Read postA seventh straight drop in the global index
The global dairy auction fell for a seventh straight round this week, and cheddar led the slide — what that means for members on either side of the…
Read postWhat November's milk check is telling you
October's federal milk prices came in well below last year's on record production, and the margin cushion members leaned on all year is thinner than it looks heading…
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