WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — U.S. milk production increased in 2025, but lower prices pulled cash receipts and producer returns below the previous year. USDA’s annual summary said the industry produced more milk with more cows and better output per cow, even as revenue weakened.
Milk production totaled 232 billion pounds in 2025, up 2.6 percent from 2024. Production per cow averaged 24,390 pounds, up 218 pounds, while the average number of milk cows on farms rose by 153,000 head to 9.50 million.
Marketings also moved higher. USDA said milk marketings reached 231 billion pounds, up 2.6 percent from the year before. That means more milk was moving into commercial channels even as price pressure built on the income side.
Cash receipts from milk marketings totaled $48.9 billion, down 3.7 percent from 2024. Producer returns averaged $21.19 per hundredweight, which was 6.1 percent below the previous year.
The annual report leaves dairy producers with a mixed picture. Output and herd size expanded, but weaker prices kept income from rising with production.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Dairy producers made more milk in 2025, but softer prices trimmed returns and cash receipts.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
Purdue University’s Dr. Michael Langemeier discusses the survey’s findings in February and broader signals in the months ahead.
March 03, 2026 02:38 PM
·
Texas lawmakers secure funding for sterile fly production as officials work to stop the New World screwworm from spreading into the U.S. cattle herd.
March 03, 2026 12:20 PM
·
China may no longer serve as a consistent anchor market for U.S. cotton exports. Lewis Williamson of HTS Commodities joined us to discuss the factors influencing planting decisions, river conditions, and what producers are considering as they finalize acreage plans for the season.
March 03, 2026 07:00 AM
·
Falling commodity prices and rising costs continue to squeeze farm margins. Kip Jacobs with The Mosaic Company addresses fertilizer market pressures, nutrient use efficiency, and strategies growers can consider to protect their fertilizer investment this season.
March 03, 2026 05:00 AM
·
Weather Swings Shape Early Season Farm Conditions Nationwide
March 02, 2026 02:54 PM
·
Dry conditions may tighten hay supplies before summer growth. John Mays of Central Life Sciences joined us to discuss the risks of extended grain storage, how quality can be affected over time, and what growers can do to protect their grain while waiting for market opportunities.
March 02, 2026 02:21 PM
·
