Pay and Feed Prices, May 2026
By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director
Total sales of organic packaged fluid milk for January 2026 show a decline of 5.4% over 2025 sales, as conventional fluid milk sales shows a decline of 2.3% over January 2025. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Market Information Branch published estimated national organic fluid milk product sales for January and February 2026, compiled with data from the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO). Total US sales of packaged organic fluid milk products were estimated at 261 million pounds in January 2026, with organic Whole Milk sales at 146 million pounds, and sales of organic Fat Reduced Milk at 114 million pounds. In February 2026, total sales of organic packaged milk were 242 million pounds, with sales of organic packaged Whole Milk at 140 million pounds, and sales of organic Fat Reduced Milk at 101 million pounds.
In January 2026, the data shows a decrease in sales of Organic Whole Milk packaged fluid products of 2.4% over January 2025, and the February 2026 data shows an increase in sales of 9.2% over February 2025. There was a 9.0% decrease in Organic Fat Reduced Milk in January 2026 over January 2025, and a 9.6 % decrease in February 2026 over February 2025. (See graphs below in pdf files)
The average national retail price for organic milk, as recorded by the FMMO in February 2026, decreased to $5.28 per half gallon for Whole Milk and Organic Reduced Fat 2% milk compared to $5.43 in January 2026 but an increase of $0.44 over February 2025. The average national retail price for March 2026 was $5.24 per half gallon compared to $4.97 in March 2025, an increase of $0.27 year-over-year. The year-to-date, January to March 2026, average retail price for organic half gallon is $5.43. There was the usual range in prices for different locations, with a low of $4.43 in Kansas and a high of $6.68 in Pittsburgh, PA. In Syracuse, NY it was $4.52; $5.01 in Boston, MA; $5.48 in Hartford, CT. Of the 30 cities reporting data, 13 had retail prices under $5 and five had retail prices over $6, with 12 in the $5 per half gallon range. (See graph below in pdf files)
Organic milk and cream are still very short in the Northeast and nationally, with spot prices reported in the $60/cwt range for fluid milk. Market manipulation in the Midwest is starting to increase with reports of 7-8 loads per day coming from Texas. Buyers are starting to pay premiums to assist transition in the Northeast and Midwest, which is becoming attractive for herds under 250 cows that have the land to transition to pasture. Buyers are increasingly dropping producers further away from plants in the Midwest, heightened by the recent increases in diesel. Fuel surcharges are everywhere, or additional ones for those companies that never stopped charging since the previous shortage in 2022. The demand for conventional milk is testing the limits of processing facilities in the West, while Sartori is proactively seeking additional sources of organic milk to meet growing needs.
Pay Price is ranging from an annualized average of $35/cwt to $45/cwt for grain and pasture fed organic dairies, with Grass Fed organic certified dairies Pay Price ranging from $38/cwt up to $50+/cwt. Grass Fed A2A2 regenerative organic certification herds are in the $50 to $60 range.
Estimated Fluid Milk Products Sales Reports
|
Product Name |
Sales of Organic Fluid Milk |
Change from |
||
|
|
January 2026 |
2026 Year to date |
January 2025 |
Year to date -2025 |
|
Million pounds |
Percent |
|||
|
Organic Whole Milk |
146 |
146 |
-2.4% |
-2.4% |
|
Flavored Whole milk |
1 |
1 |
16.1% |
16.1% |
|
Organic Reduced-Fat Milk (2%) |
85 |
85 |
-3.1% |
-3.1% |
|
Organic Low-Fat Milk (1%) |
15 |
15 |
-24.9% |
-24.9% |
|
Organic Fat-Free Milk Skim |
9 |
9 |
-15.7% |
-15.7% |
|
Organic Flavored Fat-Reduced Milk |
5 |
5 |
-28.2% |
-28.2% |
|
Other Fluid Organic Milk Products |
0 |
0 |
-65.4% |
-65.4% |
|
Total Fat Reduced Milk |
114 |
114 |
-9.0% |
-9.0% |
|
Total Organic Milk Products |
261 |
261 |
-5.4% |
-5.4% |
|
|
||||
|
Product Name |
Sales of Organic Fluid Milk |
Change from |
||
|
|
February 2026 |
2026 Year to date |
February 2025 |
Year to date -2025 |
|
|
Million pounds |
Percent |
||
|
Organic Whole Milk |
140 |
286 |
-9.2% |
3.0% |
|
Flavored Whole milk |
1 |
2 |
72.2% |
38.1% |
|
Organic Reduced-Fat Milk (2%) |
75 |
160 |
-6.5% |
-4.7% |
|
Organic Low-Fat Milk (1%) |
14 |
29 |
-15.2% |
-20.4% |
|
Organic Fat-Free Milk Skim |
10 |
19 |
-7.1% |
-11.6% |
|
Organic Flavored Fat-Reduced Milk |
3 |
7 |
-45.4% |
-35.8% |
|
Other Fluid Organic Milk Products |
0 |
0 |
-100.0% |
-82.6% |
|
Total Fat Reduced Milk |
101 |
215 |
-9.6% |
-9.3% |
|
Total Organic Milk Products |
242 |
503 |
-0.4% |
-2.7% |
Data may not add due to rounding to the nearest million pounds
Federal Milk Marketing Order 1 (Order) reported that, in February 2026, fluid Organic Milk packaged and utilized within the Order totaled 37.57 million pounds; higher than the February 2025 total of 29.46 million pounds. In February 2026, sales of Organic Whole Milk packaged in the Order were 21.25 million pounds, 4.89 million pounds higher than February 2025. In February 2026, sales of Organic Reduced Fat Milk packaged and utilized in the Order were 16.32 million pounds, 3.22 million pounds higher than February 2025. Total Class 1 milk (both conventional and organic) packaged outside the Order, but sold within the Order, increased by 15.14 million pounds in February 2026 over February 2025 to 143.75 million pounds. (See graph below in pdf files)
Stonyfield/US Lactalis, UNC Dairy (Upstate Niagara) and other plants that process non-Class 1 products are not included in this data.
In March 2026, sales of fluid Organic Milk packaged and utilized within the Order totaled 40.10 million pounds, higher than the previous year of 37.70 million pounds, an increase of 2.40 million pounds or 6.37%. In March 2026, sales of Organic Whole Milk packaged in the Order were 22.67 million pounds, 1.54 million pounds higher than March 2025. In March 2026, sales of Organic Reduced Fat Milk packaged and utilized in the Order were 17.83 million pounds, 1.13 million pounds higher than in March 2025. Packaged organic and conventional milk coming into the Order in March 2026 increased by 21.82 million pounds over the same period in 2025.
|
UTILIZATION OF ORGANIC FLUID MILK PRODUCTS (Class 1) (Million pounds) in FMMO 1 (Northeast) not including packaged product out of order |
|||||||
|
Month |
Fluid retail Organic Milk 2026 |
Fluid retail Organic Milk 2025 |
Fluid retail Organic Milk 2024 |
Fluid retail Organic Milk 2023 |
Fluid retail Organic Milk 2022 |
Fluid retail Organic Milk 2021 |
Fluid retail Organic Milk 2020 |
|
Jan |
38.50 |
34.31 |
34.93 |
37.00 |
29.14 |
31.32 |
23.93 |
|
Feb |
37.57 |
29.46 |
31.50 |
31.65 |
33.65 |
31.56 |
26.69 |
|
March |
40.10 |
37.70 |
34.82 |
37.37 |
31.56 |
31.87 |
27.90 |
|
April |
|
35.86 |
35.68 |
31.51 |
33.23 |
28.97 |
29.35 |
|
May |
|
34.85 |
38.95 |
36.24 |
30.49 |
29.72 |
28.25 |
|
June |
|
35.08 |
31.51 |
34.59 |
31.53 |
28.41 |
26.90 |
|
July |
|
36.09 |
35.54 |
31.15 |
29.44 |
25.50 |
26.70 |
|
Aug |
|
32.69 |
34.07 |
33.75 |
32.12 |
27.18 |
24.70 |
|
Sept |
|
37.57 |
31.72 |
28.32 |
35.00 |
30.26 |
29.70 |
|
Oct |
|
36.46 |
29.62 |
33.54 |
34.83 |
29.47 |
25.78 |
|
Nov |
|
36.94 |
30.48 |
31.19 |
31.13 |
31.07 |
24.47 |
|
Dec |
|
41.65 |
33.34 |
33.56 |
33.78 |
31.36 |
28.13 |
|
Annual |
|
428.66 |
402.16 |
399.87 |
385.90 |
356.68 |
322.50 |
There are 3 other FMMO’s that publish reports on the volume of Class 1 organic packaged milk in their Order, two of which report how much is ‘exported’ to other Orders. In February 2026, of the 242 million pounds packaged and sold as Class 1 organic milk in the US, 49.91 million pounds were from Order 32 (Central), of which 44.97 million pounds were utilized in other Orders. FMMO order 1 (Northeast) packaged 37.27 million pounds of organic milk in February 2026. FMMO 51 (California), packaged 36.69 million pounds, of which 489,520 pounds were sold in other Orders (just over 1% of the total packaged product). Order 33 (Mideast) packages less than Order 1, 32 and 51, with 21.92 million pounds in February 2026. Texas in the Southwest F.O. 126 and the Pacific Northwest F.O. 124 do not publish any breakdown of Class 1 organic milk or any other data on organic milk despite the new dairies coming into production. Of the 242 million pounds of organic packaged milk recorded nationally by FMMO and aggregated by the AMS Dairy Program Market Information Branch, approximately 96.21 million pounds are not accounted for in the individual FMMO’s. We have no independent record of how much organic milk is produced that is used in products other than Class 1.
|
UTILIZATION OF ORGANIC FLUID MILK PRODUCTS AND CREAM BY POOL PLANT (Million pounds) in FMMO 32 (Central) |
||||||||
|
Month |
2026 |
2026 sold out of order 32 |
2025 |
2025 out of Order |
2024 |
2024 out of order |
2023 |
2023 out of order |
|
January |
52.72 |
46.81 |
55.36 |
48.77 |
56.23 |
49.82 |
55.21 |
48.70 |
|
February |
49.91 |
44.97 |
47.93 |
42.49 |
51.88 |
46.12 |
49.11 |
43.63 |
|
March |
48.25 |
43.13 |
50.05 |
43.78 |
53.96 |
46.29 |
52.73 |
45.44 |
|
April |
|
|
47.65 |
42.20 |
54.13 |
48.09 |
49.18 |
43.53 |
|
May |
|
|
48.28 |
42.58 |
51.32 |
45.51 |
48.21 |
42.78 |
|
June |
|
|
44.98 |
39.66 |
52.56 |
47.04 |
45.20 |
39.63 |
|
July |
|
|
50.18 |
43.93 |
52.68 |
47.04 |
48.45 |
42.75 |
|
August |
|
|
46.74 |
41.32 |
55.63 |
49.37 |
48.47 |
42.85 |
|
September |
|
|
49.37 |
43.62 |
50.68 |
45.27 |
48.76 |
43.18 |
|
October |
|
|
51.94 |
46.26 |
50.36 |
44.47 |
49.73 |
42.48 |
|
November |
|
|
46.75 |
41.76 |
48.04 |
42.04 |
49.60 |
44.12 |
|
December |
|
|
53.76 |
47.58 |
53.98 |
47.21 |
54.17 |
48.10 |
|
Total |
|
|
592.99 |
523.94 |
631.45 |
558.25 |
598.82 |
527.18 |
Vermont and Pennsylvania Pay Price and Production
The USDA AMS Market News Vermont Report has published data since November 2023. The weighted average Pay Price was $38.39/cwt for 2025, with a monthly range of $36.06/cwt to a maximum of $40.61/cwt (does not include any deductions for hauling). The average daily production per cow, for 2025, was 46.65 lbs./cow. The weighted average Pay Price for January 2026 was $41.48/cwt. with a daily production of 56.48lbs. The milk buyers in Vermont are CROPP Cooperative, US Lactalis direct supply, Upstate Niagara (newly named UNC Dairy) and many small processors or direct-to-consumer operations. The total number of organic dairies in VT is 117 according to the VT Department of Agriculture.
The USDA AMS Market News Pennsylvania Report shows a weighted average Pay Price was $38.39/cwt for 2025, with a monthly range of $37.52/cwt to a maximum of $43.89/cwt (does not include any deductions for hauling). The average daily production per cow for 2025 was 31.35 pounds, 15.30 pounds lower than the VT average. The weighted average Pay Price for January 2026 was $45.39/cwt. with a average daily production of 24.23lbs. (See pdf graphs below)
Organic Milk Exports
The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) releases monthly export data which includes export volumes and values for organic milk categorized as HS-10 code 0401201000, milk and cream, not concentrated nor sweetened, of a fat content, by weight, exceeding 1% but not exceeding 6%, certified organic. The data from January 2026 shows organic milk HS-10 exports were 7,537 cwt., a decrease of 4,692 cwt. over the same month in 2025, a 62% decrease from 2025 to 2026. February 2026 data showed exports of 7,687 cwt., a decrease of 990 cwt. over February 2025, a 13% decrease. None of this milk is subject to tariffs under the USMCA and any increase will still fall below the level where current agreements mandate tariffs being added. (See graph below in pdf files)
Auction News
Premier Livestock and Auctions, N13438 State Hwy 73, Withee, WI 54498 published the following information from two auction:
3/18/2026: Most Holstein Bull Calves – 1000-1575; Holstein Heifer Calves (Single Birth) 600-1000; Lighter and Off Quality Calves – 400 and Down. 300 head of Organic Dairy Cattle were sold including 4 herds, with the top herds averaging $5000-6350/head! Top Quality Holstein Dairy Cows –$4750-6800; Good Quality Holstein Dairy Cows – $3500-4725; Lower Quality Holstein Dairy Cows – $3475 and down. Top Quality Holstein Springing Heifers – $5000-6800; Common Springing Heifers – $4975 and down; Holstein Short Bred Heifers – $3500-5250; Holstein Open Heifers – 300#-500# – $1500-2600; Holstein Open Heifers – 500#-700# – $1800-2600; Holstein Open Heifers – 700#-850# – $2000-2900.
On 4-22-2026, there were 365 head of organic dairy cattle sold in a strong market. Top Quality Holstein Dairy Cows – $5000-7500; Good Quality Holstein Dairy Cows – $2500-4975; Lower Quality Holstein Dairy Cows – $2475 and down; Top Quality Holstein Springing Heifers – $4500-7500; Common Springing Heifers – $4975 and down.
At Hoskins Livestock Auction, New Berlin, NY in March and April 2026, the average price range for organic cattle was: Certified Organic Market Cows- High Yielding Cows: $134-182 per cwt. - Low Yielding Cows: $144 and down per cwt. Milking age organic cows varied from a high of $3,800 each to a low of $2,125 with organic bred heifers at $2,675 and open heifers at $1,875.
APHIS Updates Guidance on movement of cattle.
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued updated guidance related to the April 2024 Federal Order that required testing of lactating dairy cattle before they move across State lines. Effective immediately, April 2026, lactating dairy cattle moving interstate from States with Unaffected State Status under the National Milk Testing Strategy are no longer required to be tested for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 prior to movement. To maintain Unaffected State Status requires ongoing testing and surveillance activities to confirm the absence of HPAI in the State’s dairy herds. Of the 46 states enrolled in the National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS), 42 are classified as unaffected.
Organic Feed
Data from USDA for the Northeast has organic feed corn delivered to the elevator averaging $13.31 per bushel in March and $13.75 in April 2026. Organic feed soybean delivered to the elevator averaged $25/bu. in March and $25.94/bu. in April 2026. Organic feed wheat averaged $11.00/bushel in March and April 2026. Soybean meal is trading at $850-900/ton with consistent demand. I have no accurate information on the price of hay, which depends on availability and expensive trucking. Hay availability in the US is affected by prolonged drought in many areas. ( Organic Grain and Hay prices 5-1-2026.pdf )
Attached Files:
Posted: to Organic Pay, Feed & Grain Prices on Fri, May 8, 2026
Updated: Sat, May 9, 2026