Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Tuesday Midday Dairy Market Summary - Nonfat Dry Milk Continues to Fall

OUTSIDE MARKETS SUMMARY:

CORN: 2 Lower
SOYBEANS: 6 Higher
SOYBEAN MEAL: $1.50 Higher
LIVE CATTLE: $4.52 Higher
DOW JONES: 470 Points Higher
NASDAQ: 117 Points Lower
CRUDE OIL: $5.06 Lower

MIDDAY MARKET UPDATE:

The block cheese price declined 0.50 cent to close at $1.47 with one load traded. The barrel cheese price remained unchanged at $1.42 with no loads traded. The dry whey price remained unchanged at 68.75 with no loads traded. Class III futures are mixed, ranging from 11 cents lower to 6 cents higher. The butter price declined 2.50 cents to close at $1.60 with no loads traded. No buyers showed up during spot trading, while 24 loads were offered for sale. This does not bode well for the market. Grade A nonfat dry milk fell 7.50 cents to close at $1.67 with 8 loads traded. The buyers continue to lower bids to purchase supplies at lower prices due to sellers remaining aggressive.

The record price seen in April and early May accomplished the task of reducing demand. Class IV futures are steady to 52 cents lower. Butter futures are steady to 4.00 cents lower. Dry whey futures are steady to 0.02 cent lower. Nonfat dry milk futures are 1.62 -- 6.50 cents lower. Cheese futures are 1.00 cent lower to 0.40 cent higher.




Tuesday Morning Dairy Market Update - Bearish Attitude Persists

OPENING CALLS:

Class III Milk Futures: 2 to 4 Lower
Class IV Milk Futures: 4 to 10 Lower
Butter Futures: 1 to 2 Lower

OUTSIDE MARKET OPENING CALLS:

Corn Futures: Mixed
Soybean Futures: 7 to 9 Lower
Soybean Meal Futures: $1 to $2 Lower
Wheat Futures: 6 to 7 Higher

MILK:

Milk futures continue to erode as the underlying cash prices remain in a sideways pattern. Strength in the spot market is short-lived. This results in futures eroding any premium that had been held in later contracts. June Class III futures closed below $16.00 the past two days. June Class IV futures moved to the lowest level since April 9. Continued strong milk production and increasing cow numbers will keep milk supplies plentiful.

CHEESE:

Cheese prices seem to have found a level attractive for both buyers and sellers. The volume of loads traded in the spot market Monday indicates not only that cheese supplies are plentiful, but that demand is good. Buyers were willing to purchase the large volume that was offered on the spot market.

BUTTER:

Butter has been unable to hold the gains and keep the market trending higher. The price has now dropped to the lowest level since May 27, eliminating about half the gains seen in late May. Even though butter inventory is below a year ago and international demand remains strong, the market is struggling to find support.




Monday, June 15, 2026

Monday Closing Dairy Market Update - April Dairy Exports Remain Strong

GENERAL OVERVIEW:

Class III futures were lower. Class IV futures took quite a hit with substantial losses in July through September contracts. April dairy exports remained strong.

MILK:

The day was not kind to milk futures, with Class IV contracts showing substantial weakness. Nonfat dry milk has been unable to find support with the price moving to the lowest level since March 11th. The price has fallen $0.55 since it peaked on May 7th. Buyers continue to purchase, but only at lower prices and for immediate demand. Lower prices are expected to continue, leaving buyers unwilling to purchase for inventory. April dairy exports on a milk solids equivalent basis rose 15% from April 2025. This was the seventh consecutive year-over-year increase. Dairy exports for the first quarter have increased 12% compared to the same period last year. The total value of exports for the first four months of the year is 10% higher than in the same period last year. Even with the uncertainty and ongoing shipping disruptions, international demand remains strong due to attractive U.S. prices.

AVERAGE CLASS III PRICES:

3 Month: $16.39
6 Month: $17.09
9 Month: $17.25
12 Month: $17.30

CHEESE:

Cheese prices are stuck and may move in a tight sideways range for a while. The amount of block cheese traded in the spot market today was substantial and unusual for the volume generally traded in a day. Increased cheese production is being absorbed by demand. April cheese exports were strong, setting a new monthly record at 64,168 metric tons, up 30% from April 2025. Cheese exports have set new records for three consecutive months. Whey exports were 39% higher than a year ago, totaling 52,097 metric tons.

BUTTER:

The butter price dropped back today on limited spot trading. This increases the concern that the market may fall further before finding support. Butterfat exports in April were 74% higher than a year ago, totaling 14,757 metric tons. Nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder exports were 9.0 percent above a year ago at 56,369 metric tons.

OUTSIDE MARKETS SUMMARY:

July corn closed up 2.75 cents per bushel at $4.1550, July soybeans closed up 5.75 cents at $11.1925, and July soybean meal closed up $.70 per ton at $302.00. July Chicago wheat closed up 5.25 cents at $5.8975. August live cattle closed up $2.08 at $243.25. July crude oil is down $3.44 per barrel at $81.44. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 469 points at 51,671, with the NASDAQ up 795 points at 26,684.




Tuesday Midday Dairy Market Summary - Nonfat Dry Milk Continues to Fall

OUTSIDE MARKETS SUMMARY: CORN: 2 Lower SOYBEANS: 6 Higher SOYBEAN MEAL: ...