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

# Dairy Industry News Roundup: Week of March 7 - March 13, 2026 Welcome to your weekly dairy industry briefing! This week delivered the March WASDE report with strengthened price forecasts, record-breaking cheese and butter production numbers, a Dutch cheese taking the World Championship title, DMI's CEO announcing her retirement, and a Dairy-RP enrollment deadline for Q2 coverage. Here are the top stories from March 7 through March 13. --- ## From the Therio Team This Week ## 1. ICYMI: The Open Herd: Why Shared Data Could Transform Dairy Farming If you missed it last week, Therio co-founder Logan Snyder published [The Open Herd: Shared Data Could Transform the Way Dairy Farms Make Decisions](/news/the-open-herd-shared-data-could-transform-dairy-farm-decisions). The piece explores why the most powerful move in dairy technology might not be building better sensors or faster software, but opening the data layer across herds. Automation is reshaping dairy reproduction, but the real opportunity lies in combining human expertise with shared data across operations. Technology does not replace experienced stockmanship. It aggregates and distributes it. *Read the full article:* [The Open Herd: Shared Data Could Transform the Way Dairy Farms Make Decisions](/news/the-open-herd-shared-data-could-transform-dairy-farm-decisions) --- ## Other Industry News ## 2. USDA WASDE Raises 2026 Milk Price Forecasts Across the Board The March WASDE report, released March 10, brought good news for dairy producers. USDA raised its 2026 all-milk price forecast to $18.95/cwt, up $0.70 from the February estimate. Class III and Class IV forecasts both moved higher as well, reflecting recent strength in wholesale dairy product markets. **March 2026 WASDE dairy forecasts:** | Metric | March Forecast | Change from February | |--------|----------------|---------------------| | All-Milk Price | $18.95/cwt | +$0.70 | | Class III | $16.65/cwt | +$0.30 | | Class IV | $15.70/cwt | +$1.25 | | Cheddar Cheese | $1.6050/lb | +$0.02 | | Butter | $1.6800/lb | +$0.07 | | Nonfat Dry Milk | $1.3150/lb | +$0.11 | | Dry Whey | $0.69/lb | +$0.02 | USDA also raised its 2026 milk production forecast to 234.5 billion pounds, up from 234.3 billion in the February report. The increase is driven by higher output per cow, partially offset by a slightly lower herd size projection of 9.540 million head (down 15,000 from February). The combination of higher prices and higher production reflects a market where strong export demand, government dairy purchases, and competitive international pricing are lifting the outlook for the rest of 2026. *Read more:* [AgProud](https://www.agproud.com/articles/63115-usda-boosts-2026-milk-production-forecast-as-prices-strengthen) --- ## 3. U.S. Cheese and Butter Production Both Set All-Time Records in January The USDA Dairy Products report revealed that January 2026 was a record-setting month for both cheese and butter production. Total U.S. cheese output reached 1.278 billion pounds, up 4.7% year-over-year, surpassing the previous record of 1.276 billion pounds set just one month earlier in December 2025. **January 2026 production records:** | Product | Volume | Year-over-Year Change | |---------|--------|----------------------| | Total Cheese | 1.278 billion lbs | +4.7% | | American-Type Cheese | 500 million lbs | +3.9% | | Cheddar | 353.3 million lbs | +7.4% | | Italian-Type Cheese | 554.1 million lbs | +6.5% | | Butter | 231 million lbs | +6.0% | **State-level highlights (total cheese):** | State | Volume | Year-over-Year Change | |-------|--------|----------------------| | Wisconsin | 311.5 million lbs | +0.4% | | California | 207.2 million lbs | -0.3% | | New York | 84.3 million lbs | +10.6% | | Illinois | 9.2 million lbs | +32.2% | The records come as the national dairy herd continues to grow, with 9.567 million cows as of December 2025, the highest count since the early 1990s. Butter production hit 231 million pounds, topping the previous monthly record of 229 million set in March 2025. The production surge has implications for pricing: record supply needs record demand to maintain margins, and right now, strong exports and government purchases are absorbing the volume. *Read more:* [Cheese Reporter](https://cheesereporter.com/news/2026/03/06/us-cheese-production-rose-4-7-in-january-cheese-butter-set-new-monthly-production-records/) --- ## 4. Dutch Beemster Wins 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest The 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest, held March 3-5 at Madison's Monona Terrace, crowned Beemster Royaal Grand Cru from the Netherlands as the Grand Champion. Produced by CONO Kaasmakers in Westbeemster, the aged hard cheese scored 98.68 out of 100 across 3,375 entries from 25 countries and 34 U.S. states. **Top 3 finishers:** | Place | Cheese | Producer | Country | Score | |-------|--------|----------|---------|-------| | 1st | Beemster Royaal Grand Cru | CONO Kaasmakers | Netherlands | 98.68 | | 2nd | Appenzeller Purple Label | Kaserei Kirchberg | Switzerland | 98.45 | | 3rd | Alter Fritz | Hardegger Kase AG | Switzerland | 98.41 | Wisconsin dominated the awards with 135 total, including 45 Best of Class finishes, more than any other state or country. Agropur took home 11 awards, and Decatur Dairy earned 10, including a sweep of the top three spots in the Havarti category. While the Grand Champion went overseas, the U.S. earned 96 Best of Class golds overall, reinforcing the country's standing as a global cheesemaking powerhouse. *Read more:* [World Championship Cheese Contest Results](https://worldchampioncheese.org/results/) --- ## 5. DMI CEO Barbara O'Brien Announces Retirement Barbara O'Brien, President and CEO of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), announced her planned retirement effective fall 2026 at the end of her five-year term. O'Brien has led the dairy checkoff organization since 2021, overseeing the National Dairy Council, U.S. Dairy Export Council, GENYOUth Foundation, and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. Under O'Brien's leadership, 39 companies representing 77% of U.S. milk production adopted the U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment. She brought together leaders from 28 dairy companies and organizations to advance animal care, environmental sustainability, and community impact. DMI Board Chair Marilyn Hershey, a Pennsylvania dairy farmer, said O'Brien "led the dairy checkoff with vision, integrity, and a relentless focus on results for dairy farmers." The DMI Board has begun succession planning. O'Brien emphasized the organization is in the first year of a three-year Unified Plan, and that work will continue without disruption through the transition. *Read more:* [Dairy Business News](https://dairybusiness.com/obrien-announces-planned-retirement-as-president-ceo-of-dairy-management-inc/) --- ## 6. Dairy-RP Q2 2026 Enrollment Deadline: March 15 Dairy producers have until March 15, 2026 to purchase Dairy Revenue Protection (Dairy-RP) coverage for Q2 2026 (April through June). The program protects against unexpected declines in milk revenue from both yield and price changes. **Key details for the March 15 deadline:** | Coverage Detail | Information | |----------------|-------------| | Quarter Covered | Q2 2026 (April - June) | | Enrollment Deadline | March 15, 2026 | | Pricing Options | Class Pricing or Component Pricing | | Purchase Window | Between CME market close and next CME open | | Premium Subsidies | Available; additional for beginning/veteran farmers | Producers should note that endorsements cannot be purchased on days when CME trading is closed, when futures contracts move limit-up or limit-down, or on days when major USDA dairy reports are released. With the March WASDE now showing improved price forecasts for the rest of 2026, the cost-benefit calculation for Q2 coverage depends on whether producers believe current futures pricing fully reflects that outlook. Contact an authorized crop insurance agent through the [RMA Agent Locator](https://www.rma.usda.gov) to evaluate options before the deadline. *Read more:* [AgProud](https://www.agproud.com/articles/63034-dairy-risk-management-calendar-march-2026) --- ## 7. Bird Flu Update: Second Genotype Detected in Dairy Cattle The H5N1 avian influenza situation in U.S. dairy cattle continues with a notable development: a second viral genotype (D1.1) has been confirmed in dairy herds. Previously, all dairy cattle detections involved the B3.13 genotype from a single spillover event in late 2023. The D1.1 strain is the predominant type in wild birds and has been associated with more severe human infections. **Current status (March 2026):** | Metric | Status | |--------|--------| | States with Confirmed Cases | 19 | | National Milk Testing Strategy | 36 states enrolled | | Dairy Herds Monitored | Approx. two-thirds of U.S. dairy herds | | Voluntary Herd Status Program | 130 herds in 21 states | | Public Health Risk (CDC) | Low for general public | | Human Cases (cumulative) | 65 (mostly farmworkers) | The National Milk Testing Strategy now covers 36 states with monthly farm-level testing. The Voluntary Dairy Herd Status Program has enrolled 130 herds across 21 states, allowing participating farms that conduct weekly bulk tank testing to achieve "Monitored Unaffected" status for easier interstate cattle movement. CDC and USDA continue to assess the public health risk as low for the general public. Pasteurization remains effective at inactivating the virus, and commercial milk safety is not affected. *Read more:* [USDA APHIS](https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-livestock) --- ## Market Snapshot: Week Ending March 13, 2026 | Indicator | Price/Value | Notes | |-----------|-------------|-------| | WASDE All-Milk Price (2026 forecast) | $18.95/cwt | Up $0.70 from February forecast | | WASDE Class III (2026 forecast) | $16.65/cwt | Up $0.30 from February | | WASDE Class IV (2026 forecast) | $15.70/cwt | Up $1.25 from February | | 2026 Milk Production Forecast | 234.5 billion lbs | Up 0.2 billion from prior month | | Dairy Cow Herd (forecast) | 9.540 million head | Down 15,000 from February forecast | | January Cheese Production | 1.278 billion lbs | All-time monthly record (+4.7% YoY) | | January Butter Production | 231 million lbs | All-time monthly record (+6.0% YoY) | | Dairy Export Forecast (FY2026) | $9.8 billion | Up $500M from December estimate | | Dairy-RP Q2 2026 Deadline | March 15, 2026 | Coverage for April-June | --- ## Looking Ahead **Next week:** - **March 18, 2026:** Next Global Dairy Trade auction (Event 399) - **March 15, 2026:** Dairy-RP Q2 2026 enrollment deadline **Key dates ahead:** - **April 2, 2026:** Potential date for new reciprocal tariffs (trade policy dependent) - **July 1, 2026:** USMCA mandatory review deadline - **July 20, 2028:** Extended cheese traceability compliance deadline (FSMA 204) **What to watch:** - Whether February DMC margins trigger a second consecutive indemnity payment - GDT auction trajectory following five consecutive increases - Whether record cheese and butter production volumes sustain through Q1 - DMI Board succession planning following O'Brien retirement announcement - H5N1 D1.1 genotype spread and National Milk Testing Strategy expansion - Trade policy developments ahead of potential April 2 tariff actions --- *Stay informed with our weekly dairy industry roundups. For questions or tips, reach out at [info@therio.ai](mailto:info@therio.ai).*