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, the USDA plans to resume FSA operations amid government shutdown, the GDT index is down 1.4%, and Secretary Rollins announces plan for American ranchers and consumers.

At the time of this writing, the government shutdown is now in its fourth week. While the shutdown has many USDA reports delayed and data unpublished, dairy insurance programs are available even if a prolonged shutdown could delay claim processing if indemnities are triggered.

It’s a new season in the Coyne household – new teachers, new bus route, new friends and a soon-to-be new sibling. As we weather all the changes this fall is bringing us, I’m brought back to the summer months of slower mornings and carefree afternoons, and also of lessons in responsibility and accountability.

Following the announcement of the federal government shutdown, Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs) released their individual reports on September FMMO Class and Component Prices Oct. 1. The reports indicated another month of sinking prices in Class II and Class IV with the latter taking the biggest hit, down $2.33 per hundredweight (cwt) from August at $16.17 per cwt.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its Agricultural Prices report Sept. 30, which includes feed costs and milk prices used to calculate the August Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program margins and indemnity payments. August’s margin was $11.52 per hundredweight (cwt) as a result of corn prices falling more than a quarter and milk prices rising a dime.

As fall arrives and a new month approaches, the dairy industry is buzzing with concern over falling milk prices as domestic supply flows with strong outputs of butter and cheese, and exports remain strong, particularly with cheese products turning out record volumes month over month.

In the news affecting dairy producers' bottom lines in the middle of September 2025: the October Class I base milk price falls to $18.04, the Federal Reserve makes its first rate cut since December, the GDT index is down slightly, and fluid milk sales were down in July.