In the news affecting a dairy farmer's bottom line the third week of March 2026:
- April Class I base price gets a boost to $18.66 per cwt
- Checkoff launches online database to help farmers find grant opportunities
- Fluid milk sales start the year lower
- GDT index is slightly higher
- Applications open for Holstein Foundation memorial scholarships
April Class I base price gets a boost to $18.66 per cwt
As anticipated, the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) advanced Class I base price was boosted in April. The price per hundredweight (cwt) increased $3.19 from March for a Class I base price of $18.66 per cwt, and for the first time all year, the price difference from 2025 was less than $1. The April Class I base price was only 91 cents below the price reported in the same month last year.
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, April’s Class I prices should average $22.78 per cwt across all FMMOs as the Florida Order is expected to be the highest regional price at $25.46 per cwt, and the Arizona Order the lowest at $21.26 per cwt.
The April Class I base skim milk price was $12 per cwt, up $2.09 from the previous month. The spread in the monthly advanced Class III skim milk pricing factor ($9.14 per cwt) and advanced Class IV skim milk pricing factor ($12 per cwt) was $2.86 per cwt, with Class IV once again being the “higher of” in March and used as the Class I mover in the milk pricing formula. The advanced butterfat pricing factor was $2.02 per pound, up from $1.69 in March.
The Class I base price and pooling percentages will impact regional FMMO uniform milk prices. March regional prices will be announced April 9-14, with April regional prices announced a month later, May 11-14.
Checkoff launches online database to help farmers find grant opportunities
The dairy checkoff’s new online tool is designed to help dairy farmers and their advisers more easily identify grants and funding opportunities for conservation and on-farm improvements.
The funding opportunities database, available through the Dairy Conservation Navigator, organizes federal, state and private funding programs into a single searchable platform tailored to dairy operations.
For many farmers, identifying funding programs can be one of the most challenging steps in pursuing new projects. Agricultural grants are spread across multiple federal agencies, state initiatives and private organizations, each with different deadlines, priorities and application processes.
The database was developed to help streamline that process by bringing conservation and business-focused funding opportunities together in one place.
The tool allows farmers and advisers to search programs by state or county and filter opportunities by funding focus areas such as manure management, energy, cropland, water quality or business development. Users can also sort by project type, eligibility requirements and funding levels to help identify programs that best fit specific projects.
The platform also identifies programs that are currently open, opening soon or recently closed, helping farmers and advisers plan for future funding cycles.
Fluid milk sales start the year lower
Fluid milk sales for January 2026 were down from last year by 2.3%. According to data from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
- Total sales: January 2026 sales of packaged fluid milk products were estimated at 3.8 billion pounds, down 2.3% from the same month a year earlier.
- Conventional products: Monthly sales totaled 3.5 billion pounds, down 2.1% from the same month a year earlier. Sales of flavored whole milk were 17.8% higher than last year, and whole milk was up 1.6%.
- Organic products: January sales totaled 261 million pounds, down 5.4% than a year earlier. Sales were up 16.1% for flavored whole milk but down in all other categories. Organic represented about 6.9% total fluid product sales in January.
The U.S. figures are based on consumption of fluid milk products in FMMO areas, which account for approximately 92% of total U.S. fluid milk sales, and adding the other 8% from outside FMMO-regulated areas. Sales outlets include food stores, convenience stores, warehouse stores/wholesale clubs, nonfood stores, schools, the food service industry and home delivery.
GDT index is slightly higher
The price index of dairy product prices sold on the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) platform is up 0.1% in the auction held March 17.
Compared to the previous auction, prices for individual product categories were mixed. Anhydrous milkfat was up 6.4%, and skim milk powder was up 5.2%. Slight gains were seen in mozzarella (0.5%) and cheddar cheese (0.1%). Trading lower was whole milk powder, down 4%. Butter was down 0.9%, and lactose was down 0.3%. Buttermilk powder saw little change.
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 April 7.
Applications open for Holstein Foundation memorial scholarships
The Holstein Foundation is offering college scholarships with applications due April 1. Two memorial scholarships honor pillars of the Holstein community who were dedicated to mentoring the next generation of dairy youth. Scholarship recipients will be recognized at the 2026 National Holstein Convention in Orlando, Florida, on June 25.
The Raymond LeBlanc Memorial Scholarship was launched in 2025 and honors Raymond LeBlanc, a dedicated cattleman and an influential figure in the Holstein community. While he was largely known for his role as a cattle salesman and ring man, LeBlanc also volunteered his time to help mentor youth in the dairy industry.
The George Miller Memorial Scholarship was created in honor of the late George Miller, who was an icon within the Holstein breed and dedicated to preparing youth for futures within the dairy industry. Miller also made significant contributions to the dairy and A.I. industries. Launched in 2023, the scholarship fund is supported by Select Sires.
To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must be:
- A current U.S. citizen attending a U.S. university full time
- A current Holstein Association USA member, adult or junior
- A freshman, sophomore or junior pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree
- Someone with dairy or agriculture-related experiences and career aspirations
The scholarship applications and additional details can be found on the Holstein Foundation’s website, under Scholarships.
Applications should be submitted via email to Kelli Dunklee. The Holstein Foundation will confirm receipt of submissions, and applicants who do not receive confirmation should call (800) 952-5200 ext. 4124.
