In the news affecting a dairy producer's bottom line the third full week of October 2025:
- Class I base milk price tumbles in November to $16.75
- USDA to resume FSA operations amid shutdown
- GDT index down 1.4%
- Secretary Rollins announces plan for American ranchers and consumers
- GENYOUth forming alliance with Action for Healthy Kids
- Sam Houston State University receives historic gift to strengthen agricultural sciences
Class I base milk price tumbles in November to $16.75
The Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) advanced Class I base price took a hit in November, falling $1.29 per hundredweight (cwt) from the month prior to land at $16.75 per cwt. The announced Class I base milk price is now the lowest to date in 2025 and the lowest on record since August 2023. November’s price marks the third consecutive month of worsening conditions as the market is faced with an abundance of product and limited demand, both domestically and internationally. This month’s base price reflects the monthly advanced Class III milk pricing factor ($10.62 per cwt) being the “higher-of” and used as the Class I mover in the milk pricing formula.
Class I zone differentials are added to the base price principal pricing points to determine the actual Class I price in each FMMO. With those additions, November’s Class I prices should average about $20.87 per cwt across all FMMOs. The highest price is in the Florida FMMO at $23.55 per cwt and the lowest price being $19.35 per cwt in the Arizona FMMO.
Those prices will impact November regional FMMO uniform milk prices, which will be announced Dec. 11-14.
November’s base skim milk price for Class I was $10.62 per cwt, an increase of 59 cents from October but $1.69 per cwt lower than the base Class I skim milk price in November 2024. The spread in the monthly advanced Class III milk pricing factor ($10.62 per cwt) and advanced Class IV skim milk pricing factor ($8.15 per cwt) was $2.47, a $1.70 change from last month with Class III on top again. The advanced butterfat pricing factor was $1.86 per pound, a 53-cent fall from October to November as an oversupply continues to put pressure on prices.
USDA to resume FSA operations amid shutdown
The USDA announced it will reopen about 2,100 Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices to help farmers get access to $3 billion of aid from existing programs.
Two staff members will be at each office to resume critical services like farm loan processing, Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage (ARC/PLC) payments, allocating disaster relief payments and distributing funds through other programs.
GDT index down 1.4%
The price index of dairy product prices sold on the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) platform fell 1.4% in the auction held Oct. 21. This was the fifth consecutive event to trade lower.
Compared to the previous auction, prices for individual product categories were mostly lower. Anhydrous milkfat was the only product to trade higher, up 1.5%. Mozzarella fell by 5.3%. Whole milk powder was down 2.8%, and cheddar cheese and skim milk powder fell by 1.9% and 1.6%, respectively. Butter was down by 0.8%. There was no change for buttermilk powder, and lactose was not offered at this trading event.
The GDT platform offers dairy products from several global companies: Fonterra (New Zealand), Darigold, Valley Milk and Dairy America (U.S.), Inalpi (Italy), Arla (Denmark), Arla Foods Ingredients (Denmark), BMI (Germany), Kerry Dairy (Ireland) and Solarec (Belgium).
The next GDT auction is Nov. 4.
Secretary Rollins announces plan for American ranchers and consumers
While President Donald Trump is angering farmers and ranchers by suggesting to import beef from Argentina in order to lower prices for U.S. consumers, other cabinet members announced a suite of actions meant to strengthen the U.S. beef industry.
On Oct. 22, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced a plan to fortify the beef industry, strengthening ranches, rebuilding capacity and lowering consumer costs.
Since 2017, the U.S. has lost over 17% of family farms, more than 100,000 operations over the last decade. The national herd is at a 75-year low while consumer demand for beef has grown 9% over the past decade. Because increasing the size of the domestic herd takes time, the USDA is investing now to make these markets less volatile for ranchers over the long term and more affordable for consumers.
“At USDA, we are protecting our beef industry and incentivizing new ranchers to take up the noble vocation of ranching. Today, USDA will immediately expedite deregulatory reforms, boost processing capacity, including getting more locally raised beef into schools, and working across the government to fix longstanding commonsense barriers for ranchers like outdated grazing restrictions,” said Rollins.
GENYOUth forming alliance with Action for Healthy Kids
As part of the dairy checkoff’s evolving youth strategy, GENYOUth announced that it is forming a strategic affiliation with Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK), creating the nation’s largest in-school wellness organization.
DMI will conclude its funding and operational support for GENYOUth by the end of this year. GENYOUth and AFHK will continue to operate as independent 501(c)(3) nonprofits, maintaining their individual IRS statuses, Charity Navigator profiles and boards, while adopting an interconnected governance model.
Launched in 2011 by America’s dairy farmers and the NFL, GENYOUth has provided resources to more than 77,000 schools. AFHK, founded in 2002, has impacted 20 million children in 55,000 schools through its school-family partnerships.
“For over 15 years, GENYOUth has played a pivotal role in driving dairy’s youth-focused mission, powered by the strong partnership between dairy farmers and the NFL,” said Barbara O’Brien, president and CEO of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI). “Through this collaboration, farmers have invested more than 30 million dollars, helping deliver grants, equipment and programs that have touched the lives of millions of students nationwide.
“We are proud of this legacy – and now, we take the next strategic step forward.”
O’Brien said the checkoff’s evolved strategy moves emphasis from broad in-school branded programming and activations to a tightly focused model that leverages local and national resources to protect, maintain and modernize dairy’s nutritional role in school meals. She also noted the increasing importance of engaging youth out of school within digital and gaming platforms to ensure dairy’s relevance.
DMI and state and regional checkoff teams will prioritize strategies where the checkoff can deliver unique impact. Efforts will emphasize promoting the nutrition science behind dairy’s role in dietary guidance, maintaining and modernizing dairy’s place in school meals via the new Smart Swaps program and supporting local programs tied to curriculum and youth sports.
Beyond the school setting, new and existing programs will engage youth through relevant platforms such as gaming and social media. Data shows that young people spend more than half of their waking hours consuming media. In addition, their go-to sources for health and wellness information include family, friends, digital platforms and influencers. The checkoff also will build outreach with parents to inform them about the various ways dairy foods contribute to their children’s health and well-being.
“Dairy farmers remain deeply committed to youth,” O’Brien said. “This is not a retreat from our mission but a bold step to amplify it. By evolving the checkoff’s strategy in and out of schools, we will accelerate dairy’s relevance with youth and create meaningful, lasting change.”
Over the years, GENYOUth built strong private-public partnerships – including with Fortune 500 companies – and provided grants that increased access to healthy school meals, including dairy, for food-insecure students. As a part of the alliance with AFHK, GENYOUth’s people and programs will continue to ensure that every child – in every school – is nourished, active and supported.
“GENYOUth made a powerful impact in our nation’s schools and by aligning with Action for Healthy Kids, they are combining complementary strengths, creating a more unified platform capable of accelerating progress in youth wellness across the country,” said Pennsylvania dairy farmer Marilyn Hershey, who serves as chair of DMI.
Sam Houston State University receives historic gift to strengthen agricultural sciences
The College of Science and Engineering Technology at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) has received a donation, marking the second-largest gift in the university’s history. The contribution establishes the Byler Endowed Chair of Agricultural Sciences, advancing SHSU’s mission to serve as a leader in agricultural education, research and industry collaboration across Texas. While both the donor and total amount will remain confidential, the impact of this gift will be transformative.
“This extraordinary act of generosity reflects a deep belief in the power of agricultural education and the role of SHSU in shaping the future of the industry,” said Melinda Holt, dean of the College of Science and Engineering Technology. “Through this endowment, we will expand our outreach, elevate our programs and further position SHSU as a premier destination for agricultural innovation in Texas.”
The Byler Endowed Chair will be an established leader who wishes to connect students, faculty, alumni and industry partners and create new opportunities for research, learning and community impact.
The SHSU School of Agricultural Sciences is currently seeking experienced applicants interested in serving the agricultural community in Texas and beyond, while furthering SHSU’s tradition of excellence and innovation in agricultural education.
