Dairy Markets & Policy
Dairy Markets and Policy
Leonard Polzin serves as a Dairy Markets and Policy Outreach Specialist. His role involves integrating research findings into outreach efforts aimed at agricultural industry stakeholders at both the state and national levels. Leonard’s outreach education programs primarily revolve around dairy markets and policy. Specifically, his work focuses on:
- Domestic and export dairy market conditions
- Price outlook and futures market expectations
- Dairy price risk management programs
- Federal Milk Marketing Orders
- Evolving structure of the farm and processing sector
With considerable experience as an educator and analyst, Polzin has developed and delivered programs covering a wide range of topics, including market analysis, outlook, market expectations, risk management, and policy analysis.
Leonard Polzin
Dairy Markets and Policy
Outreach Specialist
Latest News
Announcements and updates related to dairy markets and policies.
Latest Articles
Research-based educational articles and other data about dairy markets and policy.
Livestock Gross Margin Insurance for Dairy Cattle: An Overview for Wisconsin Dairy Producers
This article describes how LGM-Dairy works, what it covers, how the premium and subsidy are structured, and the key rule changes that take effect for the 2026 and succeeding crop years.
Reading the Milk Check: A Walkthrough of Common Line Items for Wisconsin Dairy Producers
In Wisconsin, interpretation of the milk check matters because most of the state’s milk supply is used to make manufactured dairy products, and is priced under multiple component pricing in the Upper Midwest Federal Milk Marketing Order.
Why Class III and Class IV Prices Have Diverged in Early 2026: What the NFDM Rally Means for Wisconsin Cheese Route Producers
Through the first quarter of 2026, Class III and Class IV milk prices diverged substantially. This article walks through the mechanical source of that divergence.
Federal Milk Marketing Orders 101: Purpose, Structure, and How the System Works
This article explains what an FMMO is, the two core mechanisms that define the system, how minimum formula prices are built, how orders are amended, and who is and is not covered.