LUBBOCK, Texas (RFD-TV) — Dairy and livestock producers across the Northeast are entering year-end planning with fresh reminders of how quickly markets, costs, and weather can change. Preparing for 2026 is increasingly about more than setting budgets — it requires a full review of risk management strategies to protect revenue and maintain financial stability.
The past year featured volatile milk prices, tight cattle supplies, shifting global demand, and rising input costs. Evaluating how tools such as Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) performed in 2025 can help identify gaps and fine-tune coverage for the year ahead. Changes in expansion plans, debt levels, or facility investments should also be considered when assessing how much price risk an operation can realistically absorb.
Megan Clancy, a Livestock Insurance Specialist for Crop Growers, says updating break-even costs remains critical as feed, fuel, and operating expenses fluctuate. Scenario planning—testing outcomes under scenarios where milk prices fall, cattle prices soften, or feed costs rise—can clarify where protection is most needed. Aligning risk tools with operational and financial goals helps improve cash-flow predictability and lender confidence.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Reviewing risk management now can help dairy and livestock producers enter 2026 with clearer margins and fewer surprises.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Specialist
Meat stocks rose seasonally but remain below last year overall, while tighter butter inventories could support dairy prices, and belly stocks warrant close watch for pork markets.
January 26, 2026 03:00 PM
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Payment totals alone do not show financial stress — production costs and net losses complete the picture.
January 26, 2026 02:30 PM
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Heavier weights and strong late-year slaughter supported December production, but lower annual totals highlight ongoing supply tightness heading into 2026.
January 26, 2026 11:19 AM
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Rising import pressure and tougher export competition are likely to persist into 2026, supporting domestic supplies while capping export growth.
January 26, 2026 09:56 AM
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Public Lands Council published a joint press release regarding the advancement of legislation to delist the Mexican Gray Wolf from the Endangered Species Act.
January 23, 2026 05:05 PM
Placements and marketings beat expectations, but declining on-feed totals and feeder constraints keep the supply story supportive for cattle prices into 2026. Dr. Derrell Peel, with Oklahoma State University, joined us to break down cattle-on-feed numbers and provide his broader market outlook.
January 23, 2026 04:40 PM
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