# USDA nudges 2026 milk production forecast higher | Ag Proud

> USDA's August WASDE kept the 2026 milk production estimate unchanged, with cow inventories raised and output per cow trimmed. The 2027 production forecast was lowered slightly, and the Class III and Class IV price forecasts moved in opposite directions.

- Date: 2026-08-12 · published 2026-08-12T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/17912-usda-nudges-2026-milk-production-forecast-higher-ag-proud
- Commodities: [Milk (Class III)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/MILK.md)

## Why it matters

Higher Class III and lower Class IV forecasts offset each other, so the net milk price signal is limited. Lower 2027 output would tighten supply modestly over time.

## Read by commodity

- MILK: neutral

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MILK | 2020-06-13 | [USDA Raises Forecasts for 2020 Milk Production - HART](https://feedsoft.ai/events/52608-usda-raises-forecasts-for-2020-milk-production-hart.md) | +2.8% | +19.2% |
| MILK | 2026-03-17 | [USDA Raises 2026 Milk Price Forecast as Dairy Production Grows](https://feedsoft.ai/events/20166-usda-raises-2026-milk-price-forecast-as-dairy-production-grows.md) | -0.3% | +4.9% |
| MILK | 2026-05-15 | [USDA Raises 2026 Milk Production Forecast; Price Forecasts Mixed - Cheese Reporter](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19256-usda-raises-2026-milk-production-forecast-price-forecasts-mixed-cheese-reporter.md) | -0.2% | -5.7% |
| MILK | 2022-10-12 | [USDA boosts milk production forecast but raises price projections too \| Ag Proud](https://feedsoft.ai/events/39241-usda-boosts-milk-production-forecast-but-raises-price-projections-too-ag-proud.md) | -0.2% | -4.2% |
| MILK | 2025-05-20 | [USDA Raises 2025 U.S. Milk Production Forecast, Sees Slight Dip in 2026 Prices - Dairy Producer](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24676-usda-raises-2025-u-s-milk-production-forecast-sees-slight-dip-in-2026-prices.md) | +0.1% | +0.5% |

## Sources

- agproud.com: https://www.agproud.com/articles/63962-usda-nudges-2026-milk-production-forecast-higher

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.