On April 21, 2025, the U.S. FDA suspended its proficiency testing program for Grade “A” milk and milk products​. The halt has raised questions about potential regulatory oversight gaps, state readiness, and shifts in milk safety governance​.

Milk in Wisconsin undergoes rigorous testing at every step – from on-farm to finished dairy products. Some tests are required by regulations, while others are voluntary quality checks.

The dairy market is changing—For dairy farmers, this means focusing on efficiency, using tools like better genetics, feed, and technology to produce more with less.

This article provides a detailed overview of the grant recipients and their initiatives, and examines the impact of this funding on Wisconsin’s local farming and food sectors amid recent federal farm-to-school funding cuts.

Dairy remains one of the last sectors of protectionism within North American trade. Historical experience over the past three decades suggests that its evolution will likely follow a path of gradual, managed openness rather than abrupt free trade.

Meals on Wheels provides millions of meals to seniors across the U.S. each year. This article examines the quantity of dairy foods used and dollars spent by Meals on Wheels programs nationally and in Wisconsin, highlighting recent versus historical trends.

The U.S.-Canada dairy trade dispute highlights a clash between protecting local farmers and promoting free trade. Gradual policy changes and support for farmers could ease tensions and benefit consumers.

This analysis shows trade tariffs, stricter immigration policy, and reductions in nutrition program spending would have substantial negative effects on the U.S. dairy sector.

Entering 2025, dairy prices have remained stable to weaker. While there appears to be more bearish than bullish fundamental factors present, the magnitude of these influences remains uncertain. The extent of each factor’s impact will ultimately determine farm-level profitability in the coming year.

President Trump has initiated a phased rollout of universal tariffs on all U.S. imports. Economists suggest that these policies will likely be inflationary, as businesses paying higher tariffs may pass costs onto consumers. Additionally, affected trading partners could retaliate, potentially leading to a broader trade conflict.

In this presentation, Leonard Polzin, Extension Dairy Markets and Policy Outreach Specialist, covers what producers need to know for the 2025 DMC sign-up. He walks through changes and discusses the DMC decision tool that helps producers decide on the level of coverage necessary.

Hear about the current state of the dairy market, focusing on the influences of processing capacity, beef prices, policy implications, and production costs.

The Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program continues to serve as a critical risk management tool for dairy producers, helping mitigate the impact of volatile milk and feed prices. This article provides an update on key provisions, eligibility requirements, risk management considerations, and historical performance insights for the DMC program.

The USDA AMS issued a final decision to amend the uniform pricing formulas for all 11 FMMOs. The amendments, which include adjustments to formulas and factors, must now be approved by eligible producers through a referendum.

As 2024 ends, 2025 looks to bring challenges and opportunities for the year ahead. Milk production is expected to grow through the remainder of 2024 and into 2025 driven by growth in the US dairy herd and ever-improving productivity in milk production.

Table of Contents Introduction This factsheet summarizes the full agricultural contribution report of Dr. Steven Deller, Community Economic Development Specialist within the UW-Madison, Division of Extension. The report focuses on agricultural sectors highlighting their contributions to employment, industrial revenues, and environmental impacts. Key Contributions of Agriculture to the Wisconsin Economy (2022) Category Industrial Revenue (Billion […]