Dairy Industry News Roundup: Week of February 7 - February 13, 2026

# Dairy Industry News Roundup: Week of February 7 - February 13, 2026 Welcome to your weekly dairy industry briefing! This was a big week for the industry, highlighted by the 59th annual World Ag Expo in Tulare, California. We also saw USDA raise its 2026 milk price forecasts, new trade agreements opening dairy access to Latin America, and encouraging news on the bird flu front. Here are the top stories from February 7 through February 13. --- ## From the Therio Team This Week ## 1. Therio at World Ag Expo 2026 Therio co-founders Logan and Greg were on the ground in Tulare for the 59th annual World Ag Expo, the world's largest outdoor agricultural exposition, running February 10-12 with over 1,200 exhibitors and 100,000+ attendees from 70+ countries. Over two days at the show, the team connected with companies across the dairy technology landscape, from calf health and electrical safety to herd management, milking systems, and farm equipment. **Day 1 highlights:** - Spent the day in the Farm Credit Dairy & Livestock Center connecting with companies like [AgriTech Analytics](/companies/agritech-analytics), [Holstein Association USA](/companies/holstein-association-usa), [Ever.Ag](/companies/ever-ag), [BouMatic](/companies/boumatic), [GEA Farm Technologies](/companies/gea-farm-technologies), [Zoetis](/companies/zoetis), [Trans Ova Genetics](/companies/trans-ova-genetics), [CowManager](/companies/cowmanager), and more - The common thread: innovation, clean and interoperable data, and bringing dairy into 2026 and beyond **Day 2 highlights:** - Deeper conversations about calf health, nutrition, and farm infrastructure - Connected with [First Defense Calf Health](/companies/first-defense-calf-health), [PrevTech Innovations](/companies/prevtech-innovations), [Datamars Livestock](/companies/datamars-livestock), [DeLaval](/companies/delaval), [John Deere](/companies/john-deere), and [Kubota](/companies/kubota) - Stopped at Guglielmo Winery in Morgan Hill on the way home for a tasting The energy at the show reinforced an exciting reality: the dairy industry is ready for better data, better connectivity, and better tools that work together seamlessly. *Read the full daily updates:* [World Ag Expo 2026: Live Updates from Tulare](/news/world-ag-expo-2026-live-updates) --- ## Other Industry News ## 2. USDA Raises 2026 Milk Price Forecasts The February WASDE report brought some cautious optimism, with USDA raising its 2026 all-milk price forecast by 70 cents to **$18.95 per hundredweight**. Class III was bumped 30 cents to $16.65/cwt, and Class IV saw the biggest increase at $1.25, moving up to $15.70/cwt. **Updated 2026 USDA forecasts:** | Product | February Forecast | Change from January | |---------|------------------|-------------------| | All-Milk Price | $18.95/cwt | +$0.70 | | Class III | $16.65/cwt | +$0.30 | | Class IV | $15.70/cwt | +$1.25 | | Cheese | $1.605/lb | +$0.02 | | Butter | $1.68/lb | +$0.07 | | Nonfat Dry Milk | $1.315/lb | +$0.11 | | Milk Production | 234.5B lbs | +0.2B lbs | The production forecast also ticked up to 234.5 billion pounds, driven by higher per-cow productivity even as the total herd size is expected to decline slightly. Here is the challenge: with large herds (2,000+ cows) averaging $19.14/cwt in cost of production according to ERS data, even the revised $18.95 forecast still leaves many operations in the red. The back half of the year will need significant price improvement to reach these annual averages, given that January's actual Class III price came in at just $14.59/cwt. *Read more:* [Cheese Reporter](https://cheesereporter.com/news/2026/02/12/usda-hikes-2026-milk-production-forecast-also-boosts-dairy-product-milk-price-forecasts/) --- ## 3. U.S. Signs Trade Deals Expanding Dairy Access to Latin America On February 11, the U.S. finalized new reciprocal trade agreements with **El Salvador**, **Guatemala**, and **Argentina**, all of which include meaningful dairy provisions. **What the deals include:** - **Argentina:** Eliminates tariffs on milk powders, whey proteins, and lactose. Establishes annual tariff-rate quotas for duty-free U.S. cheese exports. - **El Salvador and Guatemala:** Build on the existing CAFTA-DR framework, reducing non-tariff barriers and committing to science-based sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards. Dairy cooperatives are viewing these deals as positive steps, especially for expanding export access to Latin America's growing middle-class markets. With U.S. dairy products currently priced 36-42% below New Zealand and EU competitors on the global stage, the timing is favorable. Combined with the USMCA coalition push (which we covered [last week](/news/dairy-industry-news-roundup-week-of-january-31-february-6-2026)), trade is shaping up to be one of the biggest storylines of 2026. *Read more:* [Dairy Producer](https://www.dairyproducer.com/us-trade-agreements-dairy-export-access-2026/) --- ## 4. Saputo CEO Signals Aggressive M&A Strategy Saputo CEO Carl Colizza announced a more proactive mergers and acquisitions approach, signaling a shift from the company's historically conservative playbook. The Canadian dairy giant is targeting accelerated market penetration both in North America and internationally. Key drivers behind the strategy shift include the new U.S. dietary guidelines promoting dairy and protein consumption, along with growing global demand for dairy ingredients. Saputo is looking to build on its existing brands including Armstrong, Dairyland, and Neilson protein beverages. This comes at an interesting time. Rabobank's latest Global Dairy Top 20 report predicts 2026 will be a "turning point" for dairy sector consolidation, with a significant wave of mergers and acquisitions expected. Eight of the top 20 global dairy companies already reshuffled positions in 2024. In related M&A news, Peruvian dairy company **Gloria** announced this week that it will acquire Saputo's operations in Argentina, marking a significant expansion for Gloria in the Latin American dairy market. *Read more:* [EDairy News](https://en.edairynews.com/saputo-ceo-opens-ma-door-to-global-dairy-growth/) --- ## 5. Bird Flu Detections in Dairy Herds Continue to Decline Encouraging news on the H5N1 front: dairy herd detections continue their downward trend, with only **one dairy cattle herd in California** testing positive in the past 30 days as of early February. This is a significant improvement from the peak of detections in late 2024. **Current status:** - The virus has been detected in dairy herds across **19 states** since the outbreak began in March 2024 - A second genotype (D1.1) has been confirmed in Nevada and Arizona dairy cattle - **70 confirmed human cases** in the U.S., with 41 among dairy farm workers (most with mild symptoms like eye redness) - The **Netherlands** reported the first H5N1 detection in a European dairy cow in early February **What producers should know:** - Most affected cows recover with supportive treatment, with mortality and culling rates averaging under 2% - Pasteurization continues to effectively inactivate the virus, with 167 retail dairy samples testing negative for viable virus - USDA emphasizes biosecurity: limiting cattle movement, dedicated footwear, disinfecting vehicles and equipment A recent study published in *Communications Earth & Environment* estimates potential dairy sector losses of 3.4-20.6% depending on severity, but the current trajectory is encouraging. *Read more:* [AgriNews](https://www.agrinews-pubs.com/livestock/2026/02/13/hpai-detections-decreasing-in-dairy-herds/) --- ## 6. World Ag Expo Top 10 New Products: Dairy Highlights The annual Top 10 New Products Contest at World Ag Expo showcased some impressive innovations. Here are the standouts with dairy relevance: **Find My Cow Flash by CowManager** - An ear sensor with a flashing LED light that can be activated from a smartphone, making it easy to identify specific animals in crowded pens. A simple idea that solves a real labor problem on large dairies. **Stinger TerraFrame Max M120** - The first custom-designed off-road chassis built specifically for commercial dairy and feedlot operations. Features a center-mount cab for unobstructed views of feed bunks, custom low gear ratios, and oversized off-road tires. **Carbon ATK Autonomy** - A tractor autonomy solution enabling 24/7 operation with remote operator supervision. Continuous, reliable performance without driver intervention. **Boson Electric Work Platform** - A modular electric platform with one-ton truck capability and customizable attachments, offering near-maintenance-free operation for a range of farm tasks. --- ## Market Snapshot: Week Ending February 13, 2026 | Indicator | Price/Value | Notes | |-----------|-------------|-------| | All-Milk Price Forecast (2026) | $18.95/cwt | Up $0.70 from January WASDE | | Class III Forecast (2026) | $16.65/cwt | Up $0.30 | | Class IV Forecast (2026) | $15.70/cwt | Up $1.25 | | Class III Actual (January) | $14.59/cwt | Down $1.27 from December | | Butter (USDA forecast) | $1.68/lb | Up $0.07 | | Cheese (USDA forecast) | $1.605/lb | Up $0.02 | | Nonfat Dry Milk (USDA forecast) | $1.315/lb | Up $0.11 | | Milk Production Forecast (2026) | 234.5B lbs | Up 0.2B from prior forecast | | H5N1 Dairy Herd Detections (30-day) | 1 herd | Significant decline from peak | | DMC Enrollment Deadline | February 26, 2026 | 2 weeks remaining | --- ## Looking Ahead **Next week:** - **February 17, 2026:** Next Global Dairy Trade auction - **February 26, 2026:** Dairy Margin Coverage enrollment deadline (two weeks away) **Key dates ahead:** - **March 2026:** Next WASDE report with updated price forecasts - **July 1, 2026:** USMCA mandatory review deadline **Industry priorities:** - Enrolling in expanded DMC program before the February 26 deadline (contact your local FSA office) - Monitoring whether January's low Class III price was the bottom or a sign of further pressure ahead - Evaluating new trade deal opportunities for dairy exporters - Implementing biosecurity best practices as H5N1 detections decline but remain a concern --- *Stay informed with our weekly dairy industry roundups. For questions or tips, reach out at [info@therio.ai](mailto:info@therio.ai).*