The U.S. dairy export market noted gains in most major product categories, a trend that was apparent as 2024 came to a close. Cheese exports saw year-over-year volume gains for the 13th consecutive month and low-protein whey shipments rose 6%, contributing to an impressive 20% rise in year-over-year U.S. export value. Yet, there are plenty of uncertainties that will shape exports in 2025. Here’s Progressive Dairy’s 30,000-foot look at dairy-related export categories.

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.

February 2025 Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) pooling estimates, uniform prices and producer price differentials are scheduled to be released on March 11-14.

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 at the end of February 2025: commercialization efforts underway for HPAI vaccine for dairy, data quantifies beef-on-dairy value, and the world’s first lab-made cow milk is released.

With 216 filings, farm bankruptcies were up 55% from 2023. Declining farm receipts, primarily in crop markets, led to an increase in the number of U.S. farms filing for Chapter 12 bankruptcy in 2024.

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.