April’s margin was $10.42 per hundredweight (cwt) after feed costs were stronger than expected and the milk price fell again, pushing the margin down from March and resulting in the year’s lowest margin yet.

Revenue for dairy producers should climb in June as the trivial markets during the spring are forecast to improve with the income over feed cost margin predicted to settle at $12.60 per hundredweight (cwt). Additionally, the USDA announced upcoming changes to the Dairy Revenue Protection (Dairy-RP), Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance programs that will affect dairy producers.

March’s margin was $11.55 per hundredweight (cwt), the result of a relatively stable feed cost but sinking all-milk price as then-talks of a looming trade war pressured the export market while domestic consumer spending cooled at the same time.

The milk market is taking shape with components reaching record highs and milk production climbing with the spring flush, but also with trade wars shaking the grain markets and concerns for domestic dairy demand letting up. Current forecasts predict 2025 dairy margins to be favorable although not as strong as previously anticipated.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its Agricultural Prices report March 31, which includes feed costs and milk prices used to calculate the February Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program margins and indemnity payments. February’s margin was $13.12 per hundredweight (cwt), the result of an improved market for corn coupled with a 50-cent drop in the all-milk price.

The start of the new year predicted favorable margins throughout 2025. But as the spring flush arrives and consumer spending softens some, while at the same time headwinds are expected for the export markets, new concerns have arisen for the remainder of the year.

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.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its Agricultural Prices report Jan. 31, 2025, which includes feed costs used to calculate the December 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program margins and indemnity payments. December’s margin came in at $13.38 per hundredweight (cwt), concluding a year of mostly confident margins for dairy producers.