In dairy-related news the second week of June 2025:
- Culver’s offers free frozen custard to dairy farmers
- Senate agriculture committee releases budget reconciliation text
- NMPF farmers advocate for dairy, approve trade initiative
- NMPF names four dairy scholarship winners
- Rabobank: High global dairy commodity prices face growing supply and fragile demand
- 2025 Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin election results announced
Culver’s offers free frozen custard to dairy farmers
June is National Dairy Month, and Culver’s is celebrating the nation’s hardworking dairy farmers in a way only the small-town Wisconsin-born brand can: with free fresh frozen custard.
Throughout the month of June, Culver’s, a fast-casual restaurant chain, is offering dairy farmers a free scoop of fresh frozen custard with their online order. Farmers redeeming the offer can use the code “DAIRYGOOD” at checkout to get their free scoop.
In addition, the restaurant chain visited three Wisconsin dairy farms to surprise them with a sweet treat as part of their ongoing commitment to agriculture and hardworking farmers. Click here to see their “A Very Dairy Thank You” video.
Senate agriculture committee releases budget reconciliation text
U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-Arkansas) released legislative text for the budget reconciliation package.
“This bill takes a common-sense approach to reforming SNAP – cutting waste, increasing state accountability and helping recipients transition to self-sufficiency through work and training. It’s about being good stewards of taxpayer dollars while giving folks the tools to succeed.
“At the same time, our farmers and ranchers are facing real challenges, which have been unaddressed for too long. This legislation delivers the risk management tools and updated farm bill safety net they need to keep producing the safest, most abundant and affordable food, fuel and fiber in the world. It’s an investment in rural America and the future of agriculture,” Boozman said.
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) added that the proposal would fund the Dairy Margin Coverage program through 2031, provide resources for mandatory USDA dairy manufacturing cost surveys every two years and offer long-term support for critical trade promotion, conservation, research and animal health programs.
“Dairy farmers are grateful to Chairman John Boozman and his committee for putting forward legislation that will create several key opportunities for dairy,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “Following last month’s successful vote in the House, we are excited that this legislation positions these investments strongly in the Senate to benefit dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own.”
NMPF farmers advocate for dairy, approve trade initiative
Dairy farmers from across the nation approved a new initiative to boost dairy exports and welcomed a new cooperative member as well as new farmer-leaders at the National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) board of directors meeting this week.
“If you imagine that on top of that the millions of people who buy something we touch every day with the products, the nutritious products that we produce, not just at dinner, not just at breakfast but all day long, because of what you can turn dairy into, it’s a pretty amazing story, really,” said NMPF Board Chairman Randy Mooney, a farmer from Rogersville, Missouri, in remarks at the meeting. “We put some of the most nourishing products there are into consumers every day, globally, and that’s something that I think we can all be proud of.”
NMPF’s board meeting brought together more than 100 farmers and dairy-cooperative leaders at the nation’s largest dairy farmer trade organization, which serves as the policy voice for milk producers and the cooperatives they own in Washington.
The meeting was held in conjunction with NMPF’s annual fly-in of its Young Cooperators, who met with members of Congress to discuss pressing dairy concerns and received a U.S. Capitol tour from Rep. Adam Gray (D-California); it also featured remarks from Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-South Dakota), David Valadao (R-California) and Tony Wied (R-Wisconsin).
The board voted to implement a new member-funded export assistance program called NEXT, starting July 1. A majority of the milk supplied to consumers worldwide by NMPF members is supporting the NEXT program with a 2-cent-per-hundredweight (cwt) contribution through 2028. The NEXT program will focus on supporting U.S. dairy exports in key markets around the world, including Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia.
The board also welcomed two new directors and one new cooperative member. Joining as new board members are:
- Corey Gillins, Dairy Farmers of America
- Tim Kuenzi, Darigold
- Brenda Dehart, Foremost Farms
NMPF’s newest member, approved is Lanco-Pennland Cooperative, based in Hagerstown, Maryland. Lanco-Pennland produces roughly 400 million pounds of milk annually and is a leading East Coast milk marketer.
The Young Cooperators (YC) Dairy Policy and Legislative Forum brought together young dairy leaders from 15 states for two days of education and advocacy on Capitol Hill, discussing key dairy priorities directly with members of Congress and staffs to advocate for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, agricultural labor reform and strong dairy trade policies.
Also in conjunction with the meeting, the FARM Program opened nominations for its annual FARM Excellence Awards, which recognize farmers, cooperatives and processors that provide consumers with safe, wholesome milk with integrity. Nominations may be submitted via an online form by Aug. 4.
NMPF names four dairy scholarship winners
Four graduate students researching in areas that benefit dairy cooperatives and farmers are receiving scholarships as part of the 2025 NMPF National Dairy Leadership Scholarship Program, with one being honored through a scholarship created this year. Recipients include:
- Dallas Soffa, a doctoral candidate in physiology of reproduction in animal science at Texas A&M. Soffa’s research explores the hormonal influence on reproductive microbiota and immune cell signaling in cattle.
- Margaret Costello, a doctoral candidate in animal and dairy sciences at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Her research focuses on integrating emerging sequencing technology and non-invasive sampling techniques with rumen microbiome research to address key industry concerns.
- Marina Rocha Dorella, a master’s student in animal science at the University of Minnesota. Her research explores enhancing dairy industry sustainability through precision dairy technology, more specifically, optimizing hyperketonemia treatment efficiency and labor allocation.
The committee also selected a student to receive the newly created Dr. Peter Vitaliano Legacy Scholarship. The scholarship, created in March, supports individuals who demonstrate a passion for the industry through community engagement, academic interests and advocacy. This year’s scholarship was awarded to:
- Maria Belen Ugarte Marin, a doctoral candidate in veterinary medical sciences at the University of Florida studying the identification of detrimental milking characteristics and their association with dairy farm performance. Marin’s dedication to mentorship, serving as a teaching assistant and overall passion for supporting the next generation embodies the vision for dairy leadership by Vitaliano, who retired from NMPF last year after nearly four decades as an economist with the organization.
Rabobank: High global dairy commodity prices face growing supply and fragile demand
According to a new RaboResearch report, global dairy commodity prices continued to rise in recent months across most key export regions, defying expectations and economic headwinds. Milk production growth has been modest. Further into 2025, the sector will need to navigate a mix of bullish supply signals and fragile demand fundamentals.
Milk production growth to increase
Milk production grew modestly across the Big 7 exporting regions in the first quarter, expanding by just 0.5% year over year. However, production growth is forecast to accelerate to 1.1% in the second quarter and 1.4% in the third quarter – the strongest quarterly increase since early 2021 – driven by growth in the U.S., EU and South America.
In total, RaboResearch forecasts 2025 milk production from the Big 7 at 326.7 million metric tons, an increase of 1% year on year or 3.2 million metric tons, the highest annual volume gain since 2020.
Demand concerns mounting
In many economies, consumer sentiment has waned amid weak and uncertain global economic conditions. “A number of factors are weighing on the demand outlook,” says Mary Ledman, global dairy strategist at RaboResearch. “These include near-record-low consumer confidence in the U.S., troubling indicators of economic struggles in China and declining sales data from restaurants and consumer packaged goods companies across many regions.”
Retail dairy prices saw deflation in nearly all regions during parts of 2024. However, higher milk and dairy product prices in the second half of 2024 have continued into 2025, translating to higher prices for consumers at retail and food service outlets.
Commodity prices surging, for now, while trade uncertainties linger
Dairy product prices, particularly in Oceania, have surged to multiyear highs. Oceania whole milk powder exceeded US$4,300 per metric ton for the first time since April 2022, and Fonterra announced a record-high forecast price of NZD 10 per kgMS for the 2025-26 season. In the U.S., most dairy commodities showed bullish trends into late May, and dairy exports remained strong through the first quarter, even as retaliatory tariffs from China and Canada loomed.
Still, ongoing trade tensions and tariff volatility are key risks, Ledman says. “Global trade conflicts remain elevated, with volatility and rapidly changing tariffs emerging weekly. These factors are influencing global dairy trade flows,” she adds.
Current market strength not sustainable
Demand trends are expected to weigh on prices, especially as key global buyers become aware of increasing milk production. Concerns persist about weak Chinese demand, slowing economic growth, trade tensions and high Oceania whole milk powder prices. Ledman says, “Dairy companies and downstream multinational consumer packaged goods companies will find it challenging to pass on higher dairy costs to consumers still grappling with post-COVID inflation.”
“We anticipate downside risks emerging in the second half of the year, driven by expanding supply and demand uncertainty,” Ledman cautions. “However, rather than a sharp downturn, we expect a recalibration from recent multiyear highs – a natural correction following a period of strong performance.”
2025 Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin election results announced
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has certified the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW) 2025 board of directors election results. On July 1, the following dairy producers will begin a three-year term as elected members of the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin:
- District 3: Gary Kohn, Medford, for Lincoln, Oneida, Price and Taylor counties
- District 6: Alexandra Straschinske, Boyd, for Chippewa and Eau Claire counties
- District 9: Jeff Betley, Pulaski, for Menominee, Shawano and Waupaca counties
- District 12: Stephanie Ann Hughes, Pittsville, for Portage, Waushara and Wood counties
- District 15: Sandra Madland, Lyndon Station, for Adams, Juneau and Monroe counties
- District 18: Rick Roden, West Bend, for Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington and Waukesha counties
- District 21: Chad A. Sime, Gays Mills, for Crawford and Vernon counties
- District 24: Virgil Haag, Mt. Horeb, for Dane and Jefferson counties
