In the news affecting a dairy's bottom line this first week of March 2025: Tariffs imposed, then delayed, on U.S. dairy’s top three export markets; LCFS amendments on hold; farmer sentiment improves; and several scholarships announced.

Here’s an update on interest rates from the fourth quarter of 2024 as reported by Federal Reserve districts that share data impacting dairy finances.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its Agricultural Prices report Feb. 28, which includes feed costs and milk prices used to calculate the January Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program margins and indemnity payments. January’s margin was $13.85 per hundredweight (cwt), continuing momentum from the program’s historic margins realized in 2024.

Small declines in milk prices and climbing feed costs give way to tighter margins as we head into the spring months. Yet, margins are still swaying in a dairy producer’s favor.

In the news affecting dairy producers' bottom lines as we finish February 2025: Class I base price dips for March, legislation is introduced to improve milk pricing transparency, and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins releases funding to honor farmer contracts.

In dairy-related headlines this week: After declining for 14 years, fluid milk sales end 2024 higher; Rollins confirmed as secretary of agriculture; and HSUS changes its name.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced in early February that the U.S. is resuming cattle and bison imports from Mexico.