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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released their Dairy Production Projections for 2026. USDA Livestock Analyst Anthony Fischer provides the details.
Fischer said, “Milk output continues to grow. It’s appeared to slow down a bit in recent years, but the trend is pretty steady. Milk output per cow growth is expected to continue into 2026 as farmers take advantage of genetic advancements and improved herd management. The steady growth in output has helped farmers manage milk production during times of weather disruptions and HPAI-related decreases to output per cow, specifically in California in the first quarter of last year.”
“A note on components, milk components, it would mirror the growth in milk per cow. It’s been trending up steadily recently. The most recent quarterly percentage of milk fat was 4.44%, which is record high across all quarters. This reflects genetic advancements and a shift in consumer preferences toward dairy products and away from fluid milk. It’s expected higher again in 2026 on growth in output per cow and a dairy herd that’s moving away from rapid expansion. Seasonal patterns are expected to remain intact, and I’m referencing generally the second quarter as milk production increases during the spring flush. It’s expected to drive milk production again this year,” said Fischer.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.