Pay and Feed Prices, September 2026
By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director
Total estimated sales of organic packaged fluid milk for May 2026 show a decrease of 1.00% over May 2025 sales, as conventional fluid milk sales in the same month also show a decrease of 2.2% over May 2025. June 2026 is better, with organic estimated sales at 3.4% higher than June 2025, and a 3.3% increase in conventional sales over June 2025.The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Market Information Branch published estimated national organic fluid milk product sales for May and June 2026, compiled with data from the Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMO).
Total US sales of packaged organic fluid milk products were estimated at 250 million pounds in May 2026, with organic Whole Milk sales at 143 million pounds, and sales of organic Fat Reduced Milk at 106 million pounds. In June 2026, total sales of organic packaged milk were 239 million pounds, with sales of organic packaged Whole Milk at 139 million pounds, and sales of organic Fat Reduced Milk at 99 million pounds.
In May 2026, the data shows an increase in sales of Organic Whole Milk packaged fluid products of 2.00% over May 2025, and the June 2026 data shows an increase in sales of 3.4% over June 2025. There was a 4.6% decrease in Organic Fat Reduced Milk in May 2026 over May 2025, and a 4.8% decrease in June 2026 over June 2025. Year over year, there is a 0.3% decrease in sales between year-to-date June 2026 and year-to-date June 2025.
The average national retail price for organic milk, as recorded by the FMMO in July 2026, decreased to $5.19 per half gallon for Whole Milk and for Organic Reduced Fat 2% milk compared to $5.26 in July 2025 but an increase of $0.40 over July 2024. The average national retail price for August 2026 was $5.18 per half gallon for Whole Milk and $5.19 per half gallon for Organic Reduced Fat 2% milk, compared to $5.84 in August 2025, a decrease of $0.65 year-over-year. The year-to-date, January to August 2026, average retail price for organic half gallon is $5.26, compared to $5.07 in the same period in 2025. There was the usual range in prices for different locations, with a low of $4.04 in Kansas and a high of $6.68 in Pittsburgh, PA. In Syracuse, NY it was $4.52; in New York City, NY it was $5.10; $5.01 in Boston, MA; and $5.55 in Hartford, CT. Of the 30 cities reporting data, 13 had retail prices under $5 and six had retail prices over $6, with 11 in the $5 per half gallon range.
Organic milk and cream are still short in the Northeast and nationally, with spot prices reported in the $45-55/cwt range for fluid organic milk. Buyers are paying premiums to assist transition nationally, which is becoming attractive for herds that have the land to transition to pasture. With the dynamic competition for organic milk, producers need to assure themselves that the company they are signing with has the capacity for a prolonged time to ensure milk pick-up and stable pricing. The demand for conventional milk is testing the limits of processing facilities across the country. In the West, there is more processing coming back on line both for conventional and for organic product. In the Midwest, there is expansion at several plants catering to organic which, hopefully, will take up any increase in production this fall as demand for processing is high and currently unmet.
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 the Pay Price is ranging from $42/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 |
||
|
|
May 2026 |
2026 Year to date |
May 2025 |
Year to date -2025 |
|
Million pounds |
Percent |
|||
|
Organic Whole Milk |
143 |
724 |
2.0% |
3.3% |
|
Flavored Whole milk |
1 |
4 |
1.9% |
27.7% |
|
Organic Reduced-Fat Milk (2%) |
77 |
394 |
-2.0% |
-3.6% |
|
Organic Low-Fat Milk (1%) |
15 |
76 |
-8.0% |
-12.6% |
|
Organic Fat-Free Milk Skim |
10 |
47 |
-13.4% |
-10.9% |
|
Organic Flavored Fat-Reduced Milk |
4 |
21 |
-16.1% |
-14.5% |
|
Other Fluid Organic Milk Products |
0 |
0 |
-100% |
-92.1% |
|
Total Fat Reduced Milk |
106 |
538 |
-4.6% |
-6.1% |
|
Total Organic Milk Products |
250 |
1,266 |
-1.0% |
-0.9% |
|
|
||||
|
Product Name |
Sales of Organic Fluid Milk |
Change from |
||
|
|
June 2026 |
2026 Year to date |
June 2025 |
Year to date -2025 |
|
|
Million pounds |
Percent |
||
|
Organic Whole Milk |
139 |
863 |
10.0% |
4.4% |
|
Flavored Whole milk |
1 |
5 |
24.5% |
27.2% |
|
Organic Reduced-Fat Milk (2%) |
73 |
467 |
-2.3% |
-3.4% |
|
Organic Low-Fat Milk (1%) |
13 |
90 |
-5.9% |
-11.6% |
|
Organic Fat-Free Milk Skim |
9 |
56 |
-2.0% |
-9.6% |
|
Organic Flavored Fat-Reduced Milk |
4 |
25 |
-34.8% |
-18.3% |
|
Other Fluid Organic Milk Products |
0 |
0 |
-100.0% |
-92.9% |
|
Total Fat Reduced Milk |
99 |
637 |
-4.8% |
-5.8% |
|
Total Organic Milk Products |
239 |
1,505 |
3.4% |
-0.3% |
Data may not add due to rounding to the nearest million pounds
Federal Milk Marketing Order 1 (Order) reported that, in June 2026, fluid Organic Milk packaged and utilized within the Order totaled 33.32 million pounds; lower than the June 2025 total of 35.08 million pounds. In June 2026, sales of Organic Whole Milk packaged in the Order were 17.21 million pounds, 2.17 million pounds lower than June 2025. In June 2026, sales of Organic Reduced Fat Milk packaged and utilized in the Order were 14.10 million pounds, 1.59 million pounds lower than June 2025. Total Class 1 milk (both conventional and organic) packaged outside the Order, but sold within the Order, increased by 23.42 million pounds in June 2026 over June 2025 to 150.61 million pounds. Stonyfield/US Lactalis, UNC Dairy (Upstate Niagara) and other plants that process non-Class 1 products are not included in this data.
In July 2026, sales of fluid Organic Milk packaged and utilized within the Order totaled 31.88 million pounds; lower than the previous year of 36.09 million pounds, a decrease of 4.21 million pounds. In July 2026, sales of Organic Whole Milk packaged in the Order were 17.64 million pounds, 2.83 million pounds less than the July 2025 of 20.47 million pounds. In July 2026, sales of Organic Reduced Fat Milk, packaged and utilized in the Order, were 14.24 million pounds, 1.38 million pounds lower than in July 2025. Packaged organic and conventional milk coming into the Order in July 2026 decreased by 7.98 million pounds over the same period in 2025. Year to date, July 2026, there has been 72.78 million pounds more of packaged milk coming into the order than in 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 |
33.69 |
35.86 |
35.68 |
31.51 |
33.23 |
28.97 |
29.35 |
|
May |
35.39 |
34.85 |
38.95 |
36.24 |
30.49 |
29.72 |
28.25 |
|
June |
31.32 |
35.08 |
31.51 |
34.59 |
31.53 |
28.41 |
26.90 |
|
July |
31.88 |
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 June 2026, of the estimated 239 million pounds packaged and sold as Class 1 organic milk in the US, 50.43 million pounds were from Order 32 (Central), of which 44.68 million pounds were utilized in other Orders. FMMO order 1 (Northeast) packaged 31.32 million pounds of organic milk in June 2026. FMMO 51 (California), packaged 49.96 million pounds, of which 10.81 million pounds were sold in other Orders (just under 22% of the total packaged product). Order 33 (Mideast) packages less than Order 1, 32 and 51, with 24.14 million pounds in June 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 239 million pounds of organic packaged milk recorded nationally by FMMO and aggregated by the AMS Dairy Program Market Information Branch, approximately 83.15 million pounds are not accounted for (about 35%) in the individual FMMO’s public reports. 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 |
48.57 |
46.61 |
47.65 |
42.20 |
54.13 |
48.09 |
49.18 |
43.53 |
|
May |
46.57 |
41.21 |
48.28 |
42.58 |
51.32 |
45.51 |
48.21 |
42.78 |
|
June |
50.73 |
44.68 |
44.98 |
39.66 |
52.56 |
47.04 |
45.20 |
39.63 |
|
July |
49.58 |
44.43 |
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 |
The USDA AMS Market News Vermont Report has published data since November 2023. The reported weighted average Pay Price for the first five months in 2026 was $40.61/cwt, with a monthly range of $36.61/cwt to a maximum of $42.62/cwt (does not include any deductions for hauling). The average daily production per cow, for 2025, was 46.65 lbs./cow and for the first five months of 2026 it was 53.06 lbs. The weighted average Pay Price for May 2026 was $36.61/cwt. with daily production of 59.52 lbs.
The USDA AMS Market News Pennsylvania Report shows a weighted average Pay Price was $43.20/cwt for the first five months of 2026, with a monthly range of $41.21/cwt to a maximum of $45.39/cwt (does not include any deductions for hauling). The average daily production per cow for 2025 was 31.35 pounds, and for the five months of 2026 it was 30.62 pounds. The weighted average Pay Price for May 2026 was $42.40/cwt. with an average daily production of 37.18 lbs.
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 May 2026 shows that organic milk HS-10 exports were 8,146 cwt., an increase of 2,145 cwt. over the same month in 2025. June 2026 data showed exports of 3,684 cwt., a decrease of 5,136 cwt. over June 2025. Year-to-date June 2026 total exported milk was 46,970 cwt, a 13% increase on the same period in 2025. None of this milk is subject to tariffs under the USMCA or more recent tariffs and any increase will still fall below the level where current agreements mandate tariffs being added.
Auction News
There were no published sales of organic cows and heifers at Premier Livestock and Auctions, Withee, WI in July and August. Organic cull cows remained constant at $140-$185/cwt and calf prices remain consistently high. We went to press before the large sale of organic livestock on September 2, 2026.
At Hoskins Livestock Auction, New Berlin, NY in July and August 2026, the average price range for organic cattle hasn’t changed much: 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 $4,000 each to a low of $2,650 with organic bred heifers at $2,675 and open heifers at $1,875. The Grassfed certified Organic dispersal sale for RRR Farms in New York, of the milking herd and bred heifers was on Monday, August 24, 2026. There were 45 milking-age cows sold with a top price of $5,000, including 15 that were milking and bred back, alongside 5 just-fresh cows. Bred heifers due to calve later in the fall topped $2,150 and 25 head had A2A2 genetics. Also, there was a sale of a smaller certified Organic herd consisting of 7 cows (5 due in the fall, 2 fresh in April), 2 bred heifers, and 3 open heifers (mostly Holsteins).
APHIS Updates Guidance on movement of cattle.
Effective 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.
Screwworm establishment in the Northeast is much less likely than in warmer southern regions. The greatest risk to the region comes from the movement of infested animals from affected areas rather than natural spread. Producers know where their livestock comes from and take more precautions if they were recently transported from the South or from areas under animal health restrictions. Canada and at least 12 states have some form of import bans, quarantines, or enhanced entry biosecurity for livestock arriving from impacted areas. These include Pennsylvania, New York, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Montana, West Virginia, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. Even though the current risk is low, early detection matters. Producers should monitor animals for unusual wounds, wounds that worsen rapidly, foul odor, visible maggots, or signs of pain and irritation, and contact a veterinarian if they see anything suspicious. For those producers that find themselves in an affected area and want to take selected animals (young stock, dry cows) off pasture or into areas where they can be more closely observed; there is already a provision within the organic regulations to do that. The provision is in 7 CFR 205.238, Mammalian and non-avian livestock living conditions. This section requires that all animals must have year-round access to the outdoors, except that they may be temporarily confined in certain situations. One of these conditions (listed in paragraph (b)(3)) is when the health, safety, and well-being of the animal could be jeopardized. An active screwworm quarantine would qualify as jeopardizing the health, safety, and well-being of an animal. Under an emergency use provision in organic regulations, non-approved parasiticide (Ivermectin, for example) can be used with a withdrawal time of 1 year, which would be applicable for non-milking young stock which are the most susceptible to attack by New World Screwworm.
Organic Feed
National data from USDA has organic feed corn delivered to the elevator (probably with an added surcharge when it is further trucked to the farm) with the price averaging $14.85 per bushel in July and less in August 2026 at $14.25. Organic feed soybean delivered to the elevator averaged $27.50/bu. in July and less in August 2026 at 25.50/bushel. Soybean meal was trading at $950/ton in July and $920/ton in August 2026, with consistent demand. I have no accurate information on the price of hay, which depends on availability and expensive trucking. Anecdotally, the price has increased by $10-$20 per round bale. Buy regionally as soon as possible. Hay availability in the US is affected by prolonged drought in many areas.
Attached Files:
Posted: to Organic Pay, Feed & Grain Prices on Sun, Sep 6, 2026
Updated: Mon, Sep 7, 2026