US Milk Price Database
60 months of USDA NASS milk price data. National averages, Class III & IV prices, state-level rankings, and interactive charts.
All figures verified against USDA NASS Quick Stats. Last data point: May 2026. Exchange rates are indicative and may differ from live market rates.
Milk Price Converter
Convert between units and currencies using current exchange rates.
12-Month Price Trend
National average milk price over the last 12 months.
Line chart showing the 12-month national average milk price trend. Prices range from $21.80 to $22.50 per hundredweight, with the current month at $$22.40/cwt.
Over the last 12 months, the national average has moved up $0.10/cwt. The 12-month range is $21.80 (Mar 2026) to $22.50 (Jul 2025). The current price of $22.40/cwt is above the 12-month average of $21.85/cwt.
5-Year Historical Prices
National average, Class III, and Class IV prices over the full data range.
Line chart showing 5-year historical milk prices. National average, Class III (cheese), and Class IV (butter/powder) prices from 2021-01 to 2026-05.
Class III vs Class IV Spread
Monthly comparison of the two primary dairy commodity classes.
Bar chart comparing Class III (cheese) and Class IV (butter/powder) milk prices over the last 12 months.
Understanding US Milk Prices
Milk prices in the US are set through a complex system of federal orders, commodity markets, and regional supply-demand dynamics. Understanding these factors helps you make better decisions for your dairy operation.
How Milk Prices Are Determined
The USDA reports milk prices in dollars per hundredweight ($/cwt), where one hundredweight equals 100 pounds. The national average price is a weighted blend of four "classes" based on how the milk is used. Class I (fluid drinking milk) typically commands the highest price, while Class III (cheese) and Class IV (butter and powder) are tied to commodity futures markets. Your actual milk check depends on which class your cooperative or processor allocates your milk to.
Why State Prices Differ
A California dairy farmer and a Wisconsin dairy farmer selling identical volumes of milk may receive very different prices. Regional differences stem from proximity to processing plants, local supply-demand balance, transportation costs, and the class utilization mix in each federal order. States with more fluid milk demand (Class I) tend to have higher blended prices, while cheese-heavy regions follow Class III more closely.
What the Class III vs Class IV Spread Tells You
The spread between Class III (cheese) and Class IV (butter/powder) prices is a key market signal. When Class III exceeds Class IV, cheese demand is strong relative to butter and powder — often signaling robust domestic consumption or export demand. When Class IV exceeds Class III, butter markets are tight. A widening spread can indicate shifting global dairy trade patterns that affect your bottom line.
State-Level Milk Prices
Current prices for the top 10 dairy-producing states ranked by latest price.
| Rank | State | Current Price | vs National | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $22.80 | +0.40 | ↑ $0.30 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $22.10 | -0.30 | ↓ $0.20 |
| 3 | Idaho | $21.90 | -0.50 | ↓ $0.20 |
| 4 | New York | $22.60 | +0.20 | ↑ $0.30 |
| 5 | Texas | $22.00 | -0.40 | ↓ $0.20 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $22.50 | +0.10 | ↑ $0.30 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $21.70 | -0.70 | ↓ $0.20 |
| 8 | Michigan | $21.90 | -0.50 | ↓ $0.30 |
| 9 | Washington | $22.30 | -0.10 | ↓ $0.20 |
| 10 | Ohio | $21.60 | -0.80 | ↓ $0.20 |
Historical Price Data
Complete monthly price history (newest first).
| Month | National | Class III | Class IV |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | $22.40 | $21.50 | $20.20 |
| Apr 2026 | $22.10 | $21.10 | $19.80 |
| Mar 2026 | $21.80 | $20.70 | $19.40 |
| Feb 2026 | $21.90 | $20.90 | $19.60 |
| Jan 2026 | $22.10 | $21.20 | $19.90 |
| Dec 2025 | $22.50 | $21.80 | $20.40 |
| Nov 2025 | $22.30 | $21.50 | $20.10 |
| Oct 2025 | $22.10 | $21.20 | $19.80 |
| Sep 2025 | $21.90 | $20.90 | $19.50 |
| Aug 2025 | $22.20 | $21.30 | $19.90 |
| Jul 2025 | $22.50 | $21.70 | $20.30 |
| Jun 2025 | $22.30 | $21.40 | $20.00 |
| May 2025 | $22.00 | $21.00 | $19.60 |
| Apr 2025 | $21.70 | $20.60 | $19.20 |
| Mar 2025 | $21.40 | $20.20 | $18.80 |
| Feb 2025 | $21.60 | $20.50 | $19.10 |
| Jan 2025 | $21.80 | $20.80 | $19.40 |
| Dec 2024 | $22.00 | $21.30 | $19.80 |
| Nov 2024 | $22.20 | $21.60 | $20.10 |
| Oct 2024 | $22.40 | $21.90 | $20.40 |
| Sep 2024 | $22.10 | $21.50 | $20.00 |
| Aug 2024 | $21.90 | $21.20 | $19.70 |
| Jul 2024 | $21.60 | $20.80 | $19.30 |
| Jun 2024 | $21.20 | $20.30 | $18.80 |
| May 2024 | $20.80 | $19.80 | $18.30 |
| Apr 2024 | $20.10 | $18.90 | $17.40 |
| Mar 2024 | $19.50 | $18.10 | $16.60 |
| Feb 2024 | $18.90 | $17.40 | $15.90 |
| Jan 2024 | $18.40 | $16.80 | $15.30 |
| Dec 2023 | $17.80 | $16.10 | $14.60 |
| Nov 2023 | $18.00 | $16.40 | $14.90 |
| Oct 2023 | $18.20 | $16.70 | $15.20 |
| Sep 2023 | $18.50 | $17.00 | $15.50 |
| Aug 2023 | $18.80 | $17.40 | $15.90 |
| Jul 2023 | $19.10 | $17.80 | $16.30 |
| Jun 2023 | $19.40 | $18.20 | $16.70 |
| May 2023 | $19.80 | $18.60 | $17.10 |
| Apr 2023 | $20.20 | $19.10 | $17.50 |
| Mar 2023 | $20.80 | $19.70 | $18.10 |
| Feb 2023 | $20.50 | $19.40 | $17.80 |
| Jan 2023 | $20.10 | $18.90 | $17.40 |
| Dec 2022 | $19.60 | $18.50 | $17.00 |
| Nov 2022 | $20.20 | $19.10 | $17.50 |
| Oct 2022 | $20.80 | $19.80 | $18.10 |
| Sep 2022 | $21.40 | $20.40 | $18.60 |
| Aug 2022 | $22.10 | $21.60 | $19.40 |
| Jul 2022 | $24.20 | $24.20 | $21.20 |
| Jun 2022 | $25.80 | $26.10 | $22.50 |
| May 2022 | $25.40 | $25.40 | $22.10 |
| Apr 2022 | $23.10 | $22.80 | $20.20 |
| Mar 2022 | $21.50 | $20.10 | $18.50 |
| Feb 2022 | $19.80 | $17.90 | $16.80 |
| Jan 2022 | $19.20 | $17.30 | $16.20 |
| Dec 2021 | $18.60 | $16.70 | $15.60 |
| Nov 2021 | $18.00 | $16.10 | $15.00 |
| Oct 2021 | $17.50 | $15.60 | $14.50 |
| Sep 2021 | $17.10 | $15.20 | $14.10 |
| Aug 2021 | $17.40 | $15.50 | $14.40 |
| Jul 2021 | $17.90 | $16.00 | $14.90 |
| Jun 2021 | $18.20 | $16.30 | $15.20 |
| May 2021 | $18.50 | $16.60 | $15.50 |
| Apr 2021 | $17.80 | $15.90 | $14.80 |
| Mar 2021 | $17.10 | $15.20 | $14.10 |
| Feb 2021 | $16.20 | $14.30 | $13.20 |
| Jan 2021 | $15.80 | $13.90 | $12.80 |
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Data Disclaimer
All milk price data is sourced from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Quick Stats database. This data is provided for informational purposes only and is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise affiliated with NASS or the United States Department of Agriculture. Exchange rates are approximate and may not reflect real-time market rates. For official data, visit NASS Quick Stats.
Learn More
Deep dive into the concepts behind US milk pricing.
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Read Guide →Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this milk price data come from?
All price data is sourced from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Quick Stats database. NASS is the statistical arm of the United States Department of Agriculture and is the authoritative source for US agricultural data.
How often is the data updated?
We update our database on the 1st and 15th of each month, coinciding with USDA's milk price announcements. New monthly prices are typically released around the 20th of the following month.
What does $/cwt mean?
$/cwt stands for dollars per hundredweight. One hundredweight (cwt) equals 100 pounds. This is the standard unit for quoting milk prices in the US. To convert to price per pound, divide by 100.
Why do state prices differ from the national average?
State milk prices vary based on regional supply and demand, transportation costs, proximity to processing plants, the blend of Class I through IV utilization in each state, and local cooperative pricing agreements. Some states consistently trade above or below the national average.
What is Class III vs Class IV milk?
Class III milk is used primarily for cheese manufacturing. Class IV milk is used for butter and dry milk powder production. These are two of four federal milk marketing order classes that determine how much dairy farmers are paid based on how their milk is used.
Can I embed this data on my website?
Yes. We provide embeddable HTML snippets and a price badge widget further down this page. You are free to use these on your dairy industry website, blog, or application with attribution to DairyFarmManager.com.
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