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Farm-gate milk prices, US

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On this page you will find the monthly average prices data for Farm-gate Milk price related to All Milk, Class II, Class III and Class IV, as recorded in the US.

All Milk prices, collected over the last three years, are listed in the table and in the two charts, both in € and in local currency.

The table and the two graphs below show the historical series of monthly average prices of All Milk expressed in local currency.

A comparative table and chart show the historical overview of All Milk prices in the United States, New Zealand and EU-28.

The final graph shows the differences between the prices of All Milk, Class II, Class III and Class IV.

N.B.:

In the U.S., the price of milk is linked to a classification price plan. The system groups the milk into divisions, classes and different prices, according to its intended use. Milk prices primarily refer to two large divisions:

- Fluid grade milk, which represents 97% of milk produced in the U.S. It is produced under stringent sanitary conditions and is intended for all dairy products;
- Manufacturing grade milk, which represents 3% of milk produced in the U.S., and can only be used for products derived from milk such as butter and powders.

Across this subdivision, there is another classification system in operation in the U.S. that is mainly targeted to specific destinations, which are characterised by different milk prices:

- Class I milk is for direct human consumption and is the most expensive.
- Class II milk is processed into fresh products such as yoghurt, sour cream, ice cream and frozen dessert products.
- Class III milk is used to make cheese.
- Class IV milk is used to produce butter and powders.

This is a particularly complicated regulating system in that it intertwines the intended use with the localization of the production.

The US dairy industry is regulated by the Federal Milk Marketing Order system, which includes 11 different geographical areas (or "orders").

In each of these orders, manufacturers are paid a (harmonised) average price for their milk depending on its intended use, which, in turn, is determined by the place of production.

In Wisconsin, for instance, the majority of milk belongs to Class III, i.e. milk intended for cheese production. In Florida, however, most of the milk produced belongs to Class I, i.e. milk for drinking. This milk is therefore deemed to be more valuable and, as such, carries a higher-than-average price.

Milk from farms located in areas where there is already excess production is often made into butter and powders that can be stored for future use. Meanwhile, farmers located in areas where milk supply is low can expect that their milk will go on to be processed into food products.

The State of California, which accounts for roughly 20% of all milk production in the U.S., has its own Federal Milk Order and is not part of the federal scheme. There are five classes and further classifications within this Californian system.


US$/cwt - € per 100 Kg. (VAT not included)¹
Month 2022
US$/cwt
2022
€\100 Kg
2023
US$/cwt
2023
€\100 Kg
2024
US$/cwt
2024
€\100 Kg
± on prev. mo.
US$/cwt
± on 2023
US$/cwt
± on prev. mo.
€\100 Kg
± on 2023
€\100 Kg
January 23,90 46,57 23,10 47,29 20,10 (p) 40,64 (p) -2,43% -12,99% -2,45% -14,07%
February 24,50 47,62 21,60 44,44
March 25,60 51,22 21,10 43,45
April 27,00 55,02 20,70 41,61
May 27,20 56,69 19,30 39,14
June 26,70 55,71 17,90 36,41
July 25,50 55,23 17,40 34,69
August 24,10 52,46 19,70 39,81
September 24,10 53,65 21,00 43,33
October 25,60 57,44 21,60 45,08
November 25,40 54,89 21,70 44,23
December 24,50 51,01 20,60 41,65
Gen - Jan 23,90 46,57 23,10 47,29 20,10 ** 40,64 **
Variazione (1) +39,8% +50,3% -3,3% +1,5% -13,0% ** -14,1% **
Weighted Average 25,36 53,16 20,46 41,73
Variazione(1) +36,9% +53,8% -19,3% -21,5%
** Variation on the Arithmetic Average Yearly Price
1) Variation in percentage compared to the same period of the previous year.
(p) = provisional price
NOTE: *: Fat 3,7% p.p. avg.
¹ Including milk diverted to manufacturing. Before deductions for hauling. Includes quality, quantity, and other premiums. Excludes hauling subsidies.
1 cwt = 45,359 kg
Conversion in € is calculated using the average exchange rate of the reference month.

Source: AMS USDA Dairy Markets News
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$/CWT
2009 2014 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 ± on prev.
month
± on
2023
January 13,40 23,50 16,60 19,50 17,10 23,90 23,10 20,10 (p) -2,43% -12,99%
February 11,60 24,90 16,80 18,80 16,70 24,50 21,60
March 11,70 25,20 17,60 17,80 17,30 25,60 21,10
April 11,90 25,30 17,70 14,30 18,30 27,00 20,70
May 11,60 24,20 18,00 13,60 19,10 27,20 19,30
June 11,30 23,20 18,10 18,10 18,20 26,70 17,90
July 11,30 23,30 18,70 20,50 17,80 25,50 17,40
August 12,10 24,20 18,90 18,50 17,60 24,10 19,70
September 13,00 25,70 19,30 17,60 18,30 24,10 21,00
October 14,30 24,90 20,20 19,80 19,60 25,60 21,60
November 15,40 23,00 21,20 21,00 20,70 25,40 21,70
December 16,50 20,40 20,70 18,10 21,70 24,50 20,60
AVG Weighted Price 12,82 23,98 18,64 18,12 18,53 25,36 20,46 20,10 **
Change (1) -20,3% +87,0% -22,3% -2,8% +2,2% +36,9% -19,3% -13,0% **
Source: AMS USDA Dairy Markets News
1) change from the same period of previous year , except for years 2009, 2014, 2019, where the change is from the same period 5 years ago
** Avg Annual Price
(p) = provisional price
Nota: Conversion: 1 cwt = 45,359 kg
  min price in the last 5 years
  max price in the last 5 years
€/100 kg US
Farm-gate raw Milk*(2)
NEW ZEALAND/FONTERRA
Farm-gate raw Milk price*(2)

EU-27
Farm-gate raw Milk
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 % on prev. month % on 2023 2024 % on prev. month % on 2023 2024 % on prev. month % on 2023
January 33,39 32,68 39,26 29,28 32,06 38,73 30,98 46,57 47,29 40,64 (p) -2.45% -14.07% 33,54 +3.30% -12.52% 46,73 +0.30% -16.16%
February 32,63 31,20 38,12 27,32 32,63 38,01 30,43 47,62 44,44 46,34 -0.83% -13.12%
March 33,77 30,39 35,70 27,88 34,32 35,47 32,05 51,22 43,45
April 33,75 29,16 33,92 28,37 34,72 29,02 33,68 55,02 41,61
May 33,02 28,26 33,30 30,24 35,48 27,50 34,67 56,69 39,14
June 33,23 29,06 33,96 30,77 35,33 35,46 33,31 55,71 36,41
July 33,48 32,07 32,94 29,24 36,75 39,43 33,19 55,23 34,69
August 33,05 33,62 33,80 30,73 37,45 34,48 32,96 52,46 39,81
September 34,38 34,02 33,12 31,96 38,67 32,96 34,28 53,65 43,33
October 34,73 33,19 33,94 33,60 40,29 37,07 37,25 57,44 45,08
November 37,37 35,93 34,18 33,36 42,29 39,11 39,98 54,89 44,23
December 35,06 39,31 32,04 32,15 41,06 32,79 42,32 51,01 41,65
Average Weighted Price 33,98 32,37 34,51 30,39 36,74 34,98 34,57 53,16 41,73
Change (1) -14.59% -4.72% +6.59% -11.93% +20.88% -4.78% -1.18% +53.78% -21.49%
Avg Annual Price 33,99 32,41 34,52 30,41 36,76 35,00 34,59 53,13 41,76 40,64 33,54** 46,54**
Change (1) -92.88% -4.65% +6.52% -11.92% +20.88% -4.77% -1.17% +53.58% -21.39% -14.07% -12.52%** -14.68%**
Source: AMS USDA Dairy Markets News
1) change from the same period of previous year
2) VAT not included
** Avg Annual Price
(p) = provisional price
*US: m.g. 3,7% p.p. media
*NZ: Data based on payout forecast, adjusted for 4.2% fat and 3.4% protein.
EU-27: Weighted average, excl. VAT, incl quality
  min price
  max price