# Cow inventories raised for 2026, 2027 - Dairy Star

> USDA raised its 2026 and 2027 U.S. milk production forecasts by 600 million pounds each in its latest WASDE, to 237.2 and 238.6 billion pounds, on higher cow inventories and output per cow. Price forecasts were cut for cheese and butter but raised for nonfat dry milk and whey.

- Date: 2026-09-26 · published 2026-09-26T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/5024-cow-inventories-raised-for-2026-2027-dairy-star
- Commodities: [Milk (Class III)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/MILK.md), [Chicken](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CHICKEN.md)

## Why it matters

Larger expected milk output combined with lower cheese and butter forecasts points to weaker Class III milk prices, while higher NDM and whey forecasts support protein-driven feed ingredients.

## Read by commodity

- MILK: bearish ▼
- CHICKEN: neutral

## Linked price moves

| Commodity | Date | Window | Change % | z-score | Why linked |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MILK | 2026-09-30 | 5 | -7.4% | -3.0 | USDA raised 2026 and 2027 milk production forecasts on higher cow numbers and yields and cut cheese and butter price forecasts, a bearish supply signal for Class III that was published just before the 5-day drop. |
| MILK | 2026-10-02 | 5 | -7.3% | -2.9 | WASDE raised milk production forecasts and cut cheese price forecasts, a bearish supply and sentiment signal for Class III. |
| MILK | 2026-09-30 | 1 | -7.2% | -7.7 | WASDE raised milk production forecasts on higher cow inventories and cut cheese and butter price forecasts, a bearish supply signal for Class III. |
| MILK | 2026-09-29 | 1 | -7.2% | -7.7 | USDA raised 2026-27 milk production forecasts on higher cow inventories and cut cheese and butter price forecasts, a bearish supply signal for cheese-driven Class III. |

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MILK | 2026-01-24 | [USDA increases 2026 milk production forecast - Dairy Star](https://feedsoft.ai/events/21063-usda-increases-2026-milk-production-forecast-dairy-star.md) | -0.5% | +2.2% |
| MILK | 2025-10-06 | [USDA raises milk output forecast for 2025 and 2026
						 \| The Dairy Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/22411-usda-raises-milk-output-forecast-for-2025-and-2026-the-dairy-site.md) | -1.7% | -1.7% |
| MILK | 2026-06-17 | [June 17, 2026: Dairy Week In Review \| Center for Dairy Excellence](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18808-june-17-2026-dairy-week-in-review-center-for-dairy-excellence.md) | +0.2% | -1.4% |
| MILK | 2026-07-25 | [USDA raises milk production estimates - Dairy Star](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18527-usda-raises-milk-production-estimates-dairy-star.md) | -0.8% | +5.4% |
| MILK | 2021-09-01 | [September 1, 2021: Dairy Week In Review \| Center for Dairy Excellence](https://feedsoft.ai/events/4915-september-1-2021-dairy-week-in-review-center-for-dairy-excellence.md) | +4.5% | +11.8% |

## Sources

- dairystar.com: https://dairystar.com/stories/cow-inventories-raised-for-2026-2027,31391

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