In dairy-related news the second week of July 2025: Southern border ports closed to livestock just days after reopening, disaster assistance available for farmers, base change is approaching for calving traits, and World Dairy Expo Dairy Cattle Show entries now open.

The dairy product export scene was both good and bad in May. Despite U.S. cheese exports setting yet another record for volume shipped in a single month, and others like butterfat, milk powder and high-protein whey posting year-over-year gains, shipments of low-protein whey and lactose to China plunged and caused a 2% decline in total year-over-year milk solids equivalent (MSE) exports.

In the news affecting a dairy producer's bottom line as we begin July 2025: Senate includes dairy provisions in budget reconciliation bill, the USDA announces phased reopening of southern ports for livestock trade, and farmer sentiment weakens on cloudy trade outlook.

Following the implementation of Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) revisions, the prices per hundredweight (cwt) of milk sold into the Class III and Class IV markets are expected to rise in June.

May’s margin was $10.41 per hundredweight (cwt), only a 1 cent decline from April’s margin and the result of movements in the all-milk price and feed costs that largely offset each other.

Most of the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) pricing revisions went into effect in June and will begin to be reflected in July milk checks. Additionally, announced changes to several risk management insurance programs will also soon impact producers’ bottom lines for those enrolling in 2026 coverage. All of this to say that now may be the right time to reevaluate risk management decisions for your dairy operation.

Dairy cull cows marketed through U.S. slaughter plants in May lowest since 2008.

Sixteen states including Texas, Idaho and Kansas boosted milk production a combined 418 million pounds in April.