# USDA Hikes 2025 Dairy Price Forecasts, Expects Lower Prices In 2026 - Cheese Reporter

> USDA's May supply-demand report raised its 2025 US milk production forecast by 400 million pounds to 227.3 billion pounds. It also lifted 2025 price forecasts for cheese to $1.84/lb, butter, nonfat dry milk and whey, and Class III to $18.70/cwt. The first 2026 outlook projects lower prices as milk output grows.

- Date: 2025-05-16 · published 2025-05-16T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/24833-usda-hikes-2025-dairy-price-forecasts-expects-lower-prices-in-2026-cheese
- Commodities: [Milk (Class III)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/MILK.md)

## Why it matters

Higher 2025 price forecasts support dairy product and milk values, while the projected 2026 production increase points to softer prices later. Higher-priced dairy products also affect the economics of dairy feed use.

## Read by commodity

- MILK: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MILK | 2025-01-10 | [USDA Lowers 2025 Milk Production Forecast, Hikes Dairy Product, Milk Price Forecasts - Cheese Reporter](https://feedsoft.ai/events/26515-usda-lowers-2025-milk-production-forecast-hikes-dairy-product-milk-price.md) | -0.6% | -1.5% |
| MILK | 2026-04-10 | [USDA Hikes 2026 Milk Production Forecast; Dairy Product Price Forecasts Mixed - Cheese Reporter](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19714-usda-hikes-2026-milk-production-forecast-dairy-product-price-forecasts-mixed.md) | -1.1% | +0.1% |
| MILK | 2025-02-12 | [USDA Hikes 2025 Cheese Price Forecast, Lowers Other Product, Milk Price Forecasts - Cheese Reporter](https://feedsoft.ai/events/26204-usda-hikes-2025-cheese-price-forecast-lowers-other-product-milk-price-forecasts.md) | +0.5% | -8.1% |
| MILK | 2026-02-12 | [USDA Hikes 2026 Milk Production Forecast, Also Boosts Dairy Product, Milk Price Forecasts - Cheese Reporter](https://feedsoft.ai/events/20613-usda-hikes-2026-milk-production-forecast-also-boosts-dairy-product-milk-price.md) | -0.3% | +6.9% |
| MILK | 2026-03-13 | [USDA Raises 2026 Milk Production Forecast, Most Dairy Product Price Forecasts - Cheese Reporter](https://feedsoft.ai/events/20167-usda-raises-2026-milk-production-forecast-most-dairy-product-price-forecasts.md) | -0.2% | +5.4% |

## Sources

- cheesereporter.com: https://cheesereporter.com/news/2025/05/16/usda-hikes-2025-dairy-price-forecasts-expects-lower-prices-in-2026/

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