# USDA Raises 2026 Milk Production Forecast; Price Forecasts Mixed - Cheese Reporter

> USDA raised its 2026 milk production forecast by 100 million pounds to 235.4 billion pounds on a larger cow herd. Price forecasts were mixed, with Class III raised to $17.00 per cwt, Class IV raised to $19.95, and butter lowered to $1.725 per pound.

- Date: 2026-05-15 · published 2026-05-15T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/19256-usda-raises-2026-milk-production-forecast-price-forecasts-mixed-cheese-reporter
- Commodities: [Milk (Class III)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/MILK.md)

## Why it matters

Higher milk output forecasts add supply pressure, but raised Class III and IV prices support dairy returns and dairy-based feed demand.

## Read by commodity

- MILK: neutral

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MILK | 2026-08-14 | [Dairy Product, Milk Price Forecasts Mixed In Latest USDA Projections - Cheese Reporter](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17911-dairy-product-milk-price-forecasts-mixed-in-latest-usda-projections-cheese.md) | +0.2% | -2.7% |
| 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 | 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 | 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% |
| 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% |

## Sources

- cheesereporter.com: https://cheesereporter.com/news/market-trends-statistics/2026/05/15/usda-raises-2026-milk-production-forecast-price-forecasts-mixed/

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