The U.S. dairy industry is growing, providing ample opportunity for producers. The $76 billion category is larger than any other, including alcohol.
However, CoBank economist Corey Geiger warns that the growth does not come without some challenges.
“Sixteen to 17% of our dairy products go to export in the United States,” Geiger explains. “So with the word ‘tariff’ coming about...you know, issues in that area, we might see a little bit of slowed sales. The upward trajectory in the dairy industry is strong, and actually, in 2024, milk beverage sales, fluid milk, were actually stable. So, if we can stabilize that category and see great growth in cheese, butter, and whey proteins—it’s a bright future.”
While those tariff concerns have been held off for a month, the market is still facing unprecedented volatility.
“We were looking at a little more supportive to that market just a couple of weeks ago, but the unprecedented volatility in the cheese market and demand being about a half a percent slower, and then the perception on what tariffs could do really kind of knocked the support out under that market,” notes JSA Dairy Division Lead Robin Schmahl. “And so, we might be looking at something a little bit less as far as an average price than what we were looking at maybe about three weeks ago.”
The USDA’s latest milk production estimates show that in December, milk in the 24 major producing states totaled 18 billion pounds.
Falling feed costs and strong demand for butter could be good news for dairy farmers looking to get their finances back on track.
November 03, 2023 12:38 PM
·
Where the Food Comes From producer Donna Sanders takes us along on a behind-the-scenes look at filming the show’s newest episode, “Clemson Blue,” where university cheesemakers reveal how they put the “blue” in their award-winning blue cheese.
October 26, 2023 09:00 AM
·
It is in there, the mold — those rich blue veins in creamy blue cheese that make you either love it or loathe it — but how does it get there? This bonus scene from “Clemson Dairy,” Season 4, Episode 4 of
Where the Food Comes From, explains how and why that happens.
October 25, 2023 09:00 AM
·
No, it is not some new college course — Clemson has been making blue cheese since 1941, and the product has developed a worldwide following and won some pretty big awards. With good reason — it is fantastic stuff. It is also fascinating to see how it is made. Check out this sneak peek look at the latest episode of Where the Food Comes From, “Clemson Blue.”
October 24, 2023 11:32 AM
·
The machines do all the work at Hickory Hill Milk in South Carolina, and the pampered cows get on-demand service. The team at Where the Food Comes From shares a special, behind-the-scenes account filming the show’s newest episode, Robot Dairy, premiering this Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at 9:30 p.m. ET on RFD-TV!
October 19, 2023 09:00 AM
·
How does a robot milk a cow?
October 18, 2023 09:00 AM
·
