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
Strong blending demand continues to support ethanol use even as production and exports fluctuate.
January 30, 2026 07:00 AM
·
AFBF Economist Danny Munch shares a closer look at the dairy market and the forces impacting producers today.
January 29, 2026 02:52 PM
·
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer helps producers navigate farm program payments and understand the key details farmers need to know.
January 29, 2026 01:25 PM
·
UT Extension also offers tips to help consumers stretch their grocery budgets, including meal planning, sticking to a shopping list, and choosing store or generic brands.
January 29, 2026 01:13 PM
·
Early indications suggest the U.S. cattle industry may be nearing the end of its liquidation phase. Oklahoma State University livestock economist Dr. Derrell Peel says the industry could be at or near the cyclical low.
January 29, 2026 12:44 PM
·
Beef x Dairy cattle with strong genetics and documentation are earning prices comparable to native feeders.
January 29, 2026 08:00 AM
·
