# USDA lowers dairy forecast for 2024
						 | The Dairy Site

> USDA's March Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook lowered the 2024 US dairy herd forecast to 9.335 million head and milk per cow to 24,345 pounds. Total 2024 milk production was cut to 227.3 billion pounds. Strong demand for dry whey and whey protein concentrate was also noted.

- Date: 2024-04-01 · published 2024-04-01T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/30738-usda-lowers-dairy-forecast-for-2024-the-dairy-site
- Commodities: [Milk (Class III)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/MILK.md)

## Why it matters

Lower herd and output projections tighten milk supply and support higher cheese and butter price forecasts. Higher prices could, however, reduce US dairy export competitiveness.

## Read by commodity

- MILK: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MILK | 2023-11-14 | [USDA Bumps Up 2024 Price Predictions, Lowers Milk Production Forecast for 2023 - Dairy Herd](https://feedsoft.ai/events/33180-usda-bumps-up-2024-price-predictions-lowers-milk-production-forecast-for-2023.md) | +0.1% | -5.5% |
| 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 | 2022-02-25 | [USDA forecasts positive outlook for US dairy in 2022 \| Dairy Processing](https://feedsoft.ai/events/42724-usda-forecasts-positive-outlook-for-us-dairy-in-2022-dairy-processing.md) | +7.1% | +7.0% |
| MILK | 2025-05-16 | [USDA Hikes 2025 Dairy Price Forecasts, Expects Lower Prices In 2026 - Cheese Reporter](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24833-usda-hikes-2025-dairy-price-forecasts-expects-lower-prices-in-2026-cheese.md) | -0.1% | +0.8% |
| MILK | 2024-12-10 | [EU dairy forecast 2025 - Food & Agribusiness](https://feedsoft.ai/events/26968-eu-dairy-forecast-2025-food-and-agribusiness.md) | -0.7% | +7.9% |

## Sources

- thedairysite.com: https://www.thedairysite.com/news/usda-lowers-dairy-forecast-for-2024

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