News  Agriculture  Livestock

AFBF Economist Outlines Dairy Herd Management Trends

AFBF Economist Danny Munch shares a closer look at the dairy market and the forces impacting producers today.

January 29, 2026 02:52 PM • 
Marion Kirkpatrick

LITTLE RIVER, S.C. (RFD NEWS) — Milk prices are declining as dairy supplies continue to build both in the United States and globally. As producers respond to those market conditions, many are increasingly relying on beef-on-dairy breeding strategies to help manage margins, even as replacement numbers tighten.

American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economist Danny Munch joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to provide an update on the overall status of the U.S. dairy herd and explain the factors driving current herd management trends.

In his interview with RFD NEWS, Munch discussed how producers are adapting to changing supply dynamics and economic pressures within the dairy sector. He also shared how herd management decisions are influencing U.S. milk prices and shaping dairy trade conditions moving forward.

Related Stories
1PWwXzKa.jpg
Rural Money
House Advances Rural Housing Bill as Labor Gaps Strain Farm Communities
CECU President and CEO Jason Altmire discusses rural workforce shortages, technical skills, and why hands-on labor remains critical despite AI growth.
May 21, 2026 12:46 PM
 · 
Tony St. James
IPy2KoFU.jpg
National FFA Organization
National FFA Officers Reflect on Leadership, Service and the Future of Agriculture
Trey Myers and T. Wayne Williams discuss lessons learned on the road and what continues inspiring students across the country.
May 21, 2026 11:54 AM
 · 
Neal Burnette-Irwin
5E0WkLlN.jpg
Trade
Study: U.S. Ag Exporters Lost Nearly $15 Billion to China Due to Tariffs
Soybeans accounted for nearly half of the $15 billion in losses on U.S. ag exports to China due to tariffs, according to researchers at North Dakota State University.
May 21, 2026 11:53 AM
 · 
Marion Kirkpatrick
Telly_Logo_Primary_Black.png
Lifestyle
RFD-TV Takes Home Five Telly Awards!
May 21, 2026 11:19 AM
 · 
Currey McCullough
Load More

Dairy Cattle Beef-on-Dairy Business Planning
Marion Kirkpatrick
Marion Kirkpatrick
Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

VKobDwup.jpg
Aquaculture
Navigating Choppy Waters: Texas Gulf Shrimpers Navigate Rising Costs, Foreign Competition
At the Port of Brownsville, shrimpers are facing rising operating costs and increased competition, but many shrimp producers and local lawmakers remain optimistic about the industry’s future.
March 19, 2026 01:22 PM
 · 
Frank McCaffrey
BqERWlAe.jpg
Weather News
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen Issues Emergency Declaration as Record Wildfires Threaten Ranchers
Governor Jim Pillen joined us to share the latest on the Nebraska wildfires, discuss relief efforts, and outline considerations for producers navigating the ongoing situation.
March 19, 2026 12:51 PM
 · 
Marion Kirkpatrick
Ethanol gasoline fuel nozzle and corn kernels. Biofuel, agriculture and fuel price concept
Washington Policy
White House Reignites Biofuels Policy Push Tied to Crop Demand
Biofuel policy decisions may influence planting economics. Today, March 18, is also National Biodiesel Day.
March 18, 2026 05:14 PM
 · 
Tony St. James
upper midwest_fall landscape_adobe stock.png
Rural Money
U.S. Farmland Rental Boom Highlights Aging Landlord Population Trend, Growing Dependence on Leased Land
Bryan Combs with USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service breaks down new farmland data from the TOTAL survey, highlights key findings, and potential impacts for the ag sector. ASFMRA’s David Klein also shares how those trends are reflected in the current farmland market, especially in the Midwest.
March 18, 2026 04:55 PM
 · 
Marion Kirkpatrick
Supply Chain STrain 1280.jpg
Business
Rising Fertilizer Costs Loom as Middle East Conflict Hits Ag Supply Chains, Squeezes U.S. Crop Margins
Geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz disrupt fertilizer shipments, raising costs and creating uncertainty for U.S. farmers ahead of planting season.
March 18, 2026 03:21 PM
 · 
Marion Kirkpatrick
Cathy_Lafrenz_08_09_13_USA_IA_Miss_Effies_Country_Flowers_and_Garden_Stuff_007.jpg
High-Path Avian Flu
Poultry Outlook: USDA Proposes Delaying Biden-Era Poultry Rule, Warns of Rising Bird Flu Risks
APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer Dr. Chelsey Shiveley discusses USDA’s biosecurity resources available to poultry producers ahead of spring migration, increasing the risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) threatens commercial flocks.
March 18, 2026 02:08 PM
 · 
Marion Kirkpatrick
Load More
Agriculture Shows
commodity-talk_scott_black-logo_1920x1080.jpg
mdr weekend_eliza_1920x1080.jpg
prairie prophets-share-image_logo.jpg
TopCrop_CombineWLogo_1920x1080.jpg
Commodity Talk
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
Market Day Report Weekend
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Prairie Prophets
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
Top Crop
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.