By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Market Information Branch published estimated national organic fluid milk product sales for May and June 2025, compiled with data from the Federal Milk Marketing Order. According to the Organic Trade Association, organic fluid milk represents 65% of the total production of organic milk. There is no independent production data that supports that claim. A report by RaboResearch states that from 2010 to 2024 organic fluid milk sales grew by 67.7% and their share of total fluid milk sales more than doubled, from 3.3% in 2010 to 7.1% in 2024.
Total US sales of organic fluid milk products were estimated at 252 million pounds in May 2025, with organic Whole Milk sales at 140 million pounds, and sales of organic Fat Reduced Milk at 111 million pounds. In June 2025, total sales of organic packaged milk were 231 million pounds, with sales of organic packaged Whole Milk at 127 million pounds, and sales of organic Fat Reduced Milk at 104 million pounds.
In May 2025, the data shows a continued increase in sales of Organic Whole Milk packaged fluid products of just under 1% over May 2024, and the June 2025 data shows sales at 7.9% over June 2024. There was a 4.0% decrease in Organic Fat Reduced Milk in May 2025 over May 2024, and a 10.3 % decrease in June 2025 over June 2024. Year to date, May 2025, organic fluid milk sales are 1.1% higher than the same period in 2024 and in June 2025 are 0.7% higher.
The average national retail price for organic milk, as recorded by Federal Milk Marketing Order in July 2025, rose to $5.26 per half gallon for Whole Milk and Organic Reduced Fat 2% milk. In August 2025, there was a national average of $5.28 for Organic Whole Milk half gallon and $5.28 for Reduced Fat 2% milk. There was the usual range in prices for different locations, with a low of $4.19 in Syracuse, NY; $5.17 in Boston, MA; $5.39 in Hartford, CT and $4.21 in Houston, Texas and a high of $6.73 in Pittsburgh, PA for July 2025. Locally, a western Massachusetts Aldi sells their organic whole milk, packaged at Byrne Dairy in NY, for $3.99 per half gallon.
As a reminder, retailers set the retail price depending on many variables and that, even with the higher Pay Prices, producers only receive approximately 30% of the retail price as opposed to conventional producers who average just over 50%.
Organic milk is still short in the Northeast and across the country, with serious competition between buyers, with spot milk as high as $>50/cwt. Pay prices ranging from an annualized average of $33/cwt to $45/cwt for grain and pasture fed organic dairies. Grass Fed organic certified dairies range from $36/cwt up to $52/cwt, depending on how much the buyer is paying, to reflect the increased costs and lower production of Grass Fed production and extra certification costs. Manufacturers of organic cheese and cultured product from the US and Canada are having difficulty meeting their supply needs.
Estimated Fluid Milk Products Sales Reports
|
Product Name |
Sales of Organic Fluid Milk |
Change from |
||
|
|
May2025 |
2025 Year to date |
May-2024 |
Year to date |
|
Million pounds |
Percent |
|||
|
Organic Whole Milk |
140 |
700 |
0.9% |
5.9% |
|
Flavored Whole milk |
1 |
3 |
3.5% |
-25.1% |
|
Organic Reduced-Fat Milk (2%) |
78 |
408 |
-6.2% |
2.1% |
|
Organic Low-Fat Milk (1%) |
17 |
87 |
-20.3% |
-18.6% |
|
Organic Fat-Free Milk Skim |
11 |
52 |
4.4% |
-7.2% |
|
Organic Flavored Fat-Reduced Milk |
5 |
25 |
-35.2% |
-25.7% |
|
Other Fluid Organic Milk Products |
0 |
2 |
-46.1% |
-9.2% |
|
Total Fat Reduced Milk |
111 |
572 |
-9.4% |
-4.0% |
|
Total Organic Milk Products |
252 |
1,278 |
-4.0% |
1.1% |
|
|
||||
|
Product Name |
Sales of Organic Fluid Milk |
Change from |
||
|
|
June 2025 |
2025 Year to date |
June-2024 |
Year to date |
|
|
Million pounds |
Percent |
||
|
Organic Whole Milk |
127 |
827 |
7.9% |
6.2% |
|
Flavored Whole milk |
1 |
4 |
1.8% |
-21.6% |
|
Organic Reduced-Fat Milk (2%) |
74 |
483 |
-4.0% |
1.1% |
|
Organic Low-Fat Milk (1%) |
14 |
101 |
-28.1% |
-20.1% |
|
Organic Fat-Free Milk Skim |
9 |
62 |
-13.2% |
-8.1% |
|
Organic Flavored Fat-Reduced Milk |
6 |
30 |
-23.1% |
-25.3% |
|
Other Fluid Organic Milk Products |
0 |
2 |
44.8% |
5.9% |
|
Total Fat Reduced Milk |
104 |
676 |
-10.3% |
-5.0% |
|
Total Organic Milk Products |
231 |
1,509 |
-1.1% |
0.7% |
Data may not add due to rounding to the nearest million pounds
Federal Milk Marketing Order 1 (Order) reported that in June 2025, fluid Organic Milk packaged and utilized within the Order totaled 38.08 million pounds, higher than the previous year of 31.51 million pounds. In June 2025, Organic Whole Milk packaged in the Order was 19.38 million pounds, 3.57 million pounds higher than June 2024. In June 2025, Organic Reduced Fat Milk packaged and utilized in the Order was 15.69 million pounds, approximately the same as 15.71 million pounds in June 2024. Total Class 1 milk (both conventional and organic) packaged outside the Order, but sold within the Order, increased by 4.51 million pounds in June 2025 over June 2024.
In July 2025, fluid Organic Milk packaged and utilized within the Order totaled 36.09 million pounds, higher than the previous year of 35.54 million pounds. In July 2025, Organic Whole Milk packaged in the Order was 20.47 million pounds, 0.9 million pounds higher than July 2024. In July 2025, Organic Reduced Fat Milk packaged and utilized in the Order was 15.62 million pounds, approximately the same as 15.97 million pounds in July 2024. Packaged milk coming into the Order in July 2025 increased by 14.79 million pounds over the same period in 2024. Organic milk averages approximately 19% of the fluid milk packaged in the Order. From January to July, FMMO 1 reports an increase of 0.4 million pounds in organic packaged milk, from 242.93 million pounds in 2024 to 243.35 million pounds in 2025. Packaged milk coming into the Order during the same period, both conventional and organic, has decreased by 117.43 million pounds as of July 2025 compared to July 2024. The Stonyfield/US Lactalis plant in New Hampshire is not included in this data because it does not process organic fluid milk and has chosen not to be regulated under the Order.
|
UTILIZATION OF ORGANIC FLUID MILK PRODUCTS -Class 1 (Million pounds) in FMMO 1 (Northeast) not including product packaged out of order |
||||||
|
Month |
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 |
|
JANUARY |
34.31 |
34.93 |
37.00 |
29.14 |
31.32 |
23.93 |
|
FEBRUARY |
29.46 |
31.50 |
31.65 |
33.65 |
31.56 |
26.69 |
|
MARCH |
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 |
|
AUGUST |
|
34.07 |
33.75 |
32.12 |
27.18 |
24.70 |
|
SEPTEMBER |
|
31.72 |
28.32 |
35.00 |
30.26 |
29.70 |
|
OCTOBER |
|
29.62 |
33.54 |
34.83 |
29.47 |
25.78 |
|
NOVEMBER |
|
30.48 |
31.19 |
31.13 |
31.07 |
24.47 |
|
DECEMBER |
|
33.34 |
33.56 |
33.78 |
31.36 |
28.13 |
|
ANNUAL |
|
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 2025, of the 231 million pounds packaged and sold as Class 1 organic milk in the US, 44.98 million pounds was from Order 32 (Central) of which 39.66 million pounds were exported to other Orders. Order 51 (California) packaged 50.29 million pounds of organic milk in June 2025 of which just under 1 million pounds were exported to other Orders. Order 33 (Mideast) packages less than Order 1, 32 and 51, with 19.97 million pounds. Texas has claimed that they are the largest producers of organic milk but their FMMO Order, Southwest F.O. 126, does not publish any breakdown of Class 1 organic milk.
UTILIZATION OF ORGANIC FLUID MILK PRODUCTS - (Million pounds) in FMMO 32 (Central)
|
Month |
2025 |
2025 in Order |
2025 out of Order |
2024 |
2024 in order |
2024 out of order |
2023 |
2023 in order |
2023 out of order |
|
January |
55.36 |
6.59 |
48.77 |
56.23 |
6.41 |
49.82 |
55.21 |
6.51 |
48.70 |
|
February |
47.93 |
5.43 |
42.49 |
51.88 |
5.77 |
46.12 |
49.11 |
5.49 |
43.63 |
|
March |
50.05 |
6.28 |
43.78 |
53.96 |
5.93 |
46.29 |
52.73 |
5.59 |
45.44 |
|
April |
47.65 |
5.45 |
42.20 |
54.13 |
6.04 |
48.09 |
49.18 |
5.64 |
43.53 |
|
May |
48.28 |
5.70 |
42.58 |
51.32 |
5.81 |
45.51 |
48.21 |
5.40 |
42.78 |
|
June |
44.98 |
5.32 |
39.66 |
52.56 |
5.51 |
47.04 |
45.20 |
5.57 |
39.63 |
|
July |
50.18 |
6.25 |
43.93 |
52.68 |
5.63 |
47.04 |
48.45 |
5.70 |
42.75 |
|
August |
|
|
|
55.63 |
6.26 |
49.37 |
48.47 |
5.63 |
42.85 |
|
September |
|
|
|
50.68 |
5.41 |
45.27 |
48.76 |
5.58 |
43.18 |
|
October |
|
|
|
50.36 |
5.89 |
44.47 |
49.73 |
5.65 |
42.48 |
|
November |
|
|
|
48.04 |
5.99 |
42.04 |
49.60 |
5.48 |
44.12 |
|
December |
|
|
|
53.98 |
6.73 |
47.21 |
54.17 |
6.08 |
48.10 |
|
Total |
|
|
|
631.45 |
71.39 |
558.25 |
598.82 |
68.31 |
527.18 |
The Vermont Report has published data since November 2023. While the sample size is relatively small, and the sample includes Grass Fed dairies, the weighted average Pay Price was $36.98/cwt for 19 months, with a range of 27.92/cwt to a maximum of $47.38/cwt (does not include any deductions for hauling and excluding the one month at $68). The average daily production per cow averages 46 lbs./cow. The milk buyers in Vermont are CROPP Cooperative, US Lactalis direct supply, Upstate Niagara (newly named UNC) and some small processors.
|
Month |
Volume(lbs.) |
Ave. daily production per cow (lbs.) |
Min Price |
Max Price |
Weighted Av Price |
Ave. Butterfat |
Ave. Protein |
Avg Monthly Production/cow (lbs.) |
|
Nov-23 |
1,155,583 |
39.60 |
$28 |
$44 |
$37 |
|
|
|
|
Dec-23 |
1,227,212 |
39.30 |
$28 |
$47 |
$40 |
|
|
|
|
Jan-24 |
1,224,497 |
40.20 |
$35 |
$47 |
$40 |
4.21% |
3.03% |
1,246 |
|
Feb-24 |
1,073,895 |
41.90 |
$36 |
$47 |
$40 |
4.82% |
3.43% |
1,299 |
|
Mar-24 |
1,088,144 |
46.40 |
$34 |
$43 |
$37 |
4.64% |
3.38% |
1,139 |
|
Apr-24 |
958,104 |
44.50 |
$33 |
$42 |
$36 |
4.59% |
3.34% |
1,239 |
|
May-24 |
1,105,985 |
51.00 |
$32 |
$39 |
$35 |
4.38% |
3.32% |
1,580 |
|
Jun-24 |
860,631 |
50.70 |
$32 |
$39 |
$34 |
4.20% |
3.22% |
1,541 |
|
Jul-24 |
1,013,388 |
48.40 |
$31 |
$37 |
$33 |
3.99% |
3.13% |
1,500 |
|
Aug-24 |
1,169,419 |
47.80 |
$31 |
$39 |
$33 |
4.03% |
3.21% |
1,482 |
|
Sep-24 |
1,066,596 |
48.30 |
$30 |
$39 |
$34 |
4.09% |
3.29% |
1,449 |
|
Oct-24 |
1,066,596 |
46.50 |
$30 |
$39 |
$34 |
4.39% |
3.37% |
1,443 |
|
Nov-24 |
1,411,221 |
42.69 |
$30 |
$41 |
$36 |
4.45% |
3.34% |
1,280 |
|
Dec-24 |
1,746,250 |
48.60 |
$30 |
$45 |
$38 |
4.46% |
3.34% |
1,489 |
|
Jan-25 |
1,670,009 |
46.68 |
$30 |
$46 |
$40 |
4.46% |
3.35% |
1,488 |
|
Feb-25 |
1,530,661 |
47.25 |
$30 |
$47 |
$40 |
4.50% |
3.35% |
1,323 |
|
Mar-25 |
1,550,491 |
48.65 |
$30 |
$45 |
$39 |
4.42% |
3.27% |
1,497 |
|
Apr-25 |
1,500,571 |
45.93 |
$32 |
$68 |
$41 |
4.44% |
3.29% |
1,378 |
|
May-25 |
1,009,010 |
55.45 |
$32 |
$40 |
$36 |
4.14% |
3.16% |
1,719 |
The data from PA does show a very wide range of Pay Price from a low of $25.05/cwt to a high of $46.12/cwt. The average weighted price over the 12-month period is $36.86, equal to the Pay Price shown for VT. The average daily production per cow for the 12-month period is 32.73 pounds, 13.67 pounds lower than the VT average.
|
Month |
Volume(lbs.) |
Ave. daily production per cow (lbs.) |
Min Price |
Max Price |
Weighted Av Price |
Ave. Butterfat |
Ave. Protein |
Ave Monthly Production/cow (lbs.) |
|
Jun-24 |
1,331,605 |
31.23 |
$ 25.05 |
$ 41.74 |
$ 33.57 |
3.98% |
3.07% |
|
|
Jul-24 |
1,170,262 |
27.9 |
$ 25.50 |
$ 41.43 |
$ 33.55 |
3.88% |
2.99% |
|
|
Aug-24 |
1,167,928 |
27.93 |
$ 28.45 |
$ 42.32 |
$ 34.60 |
3.99% |
3.11% |
|
|
Sep-24 |
1,268,946 |
30.76 |
$ 28.70 |
$ 43.22 |
$ 35.61 |
4.17% |
3.30% |
|
|
Oct-24 |
1,299,953 |
28.8 |
$ 25.85 |
$ 45.95 |
$ 35.01 |
4.41% |
3.39% |
|
|
Nov-24 |
1,243,522 |
33.75 |
$ 28.80 |
$ 44.05 |
$ 35.88 |
4.49% |
3.40% |
1,013 |
|
Dec-24 |
988,840 |
32.8 |
$ 32.58 |
$ 45.35 |
$ 38.43 |
4.60% |
3.41% |
984 |
|
Jan-25 |
1,064,485 |
35.62 |
$ 35.83 |
$ 46.12 |
$ 40.37 |
4.52% |
3.34% |
1,104 |
|
Feb-25 |
977,836 |
36.80 |
$ 35.95 |
$ 16.12 |
$ 40.02 |
4.51% |
3.35% |
1,030 |
|
Mar-25 |
1,044,172 |
36.81 |
$ 33.23 |
$ 44.34 |
$ 37.96 |
4.36% |
3.23% |
1,141 |
|
Apr-25 |
1,047,295 |
36.06 |
$ 34.32 |
$ 44.31 |
$ 38.56 |
4.27% |
3.22% |
1,082 |
|
May-25 |
1,045,720 |
34.3 |
$ 34.32 |
$ 45.08 |
$ 38.76 |
4.27% |
3.20% |
1,063 |
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. Recently released data from USDA FAS for May and June 2025 show organic milk HS-10 exports were 6,001cwt (a 71% increase on the previous year) and 8,820 cwt. (a 39% increase on the previous year), respectively. The same months in 2024 were dramatically lower at 3,518 cwt. in May 2024 and 6,360 cwt. in June 2024. Year to date, 74% of these exports were to North America. 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.
|
EXPORTS OF MILK AND CREAM, NOT CONCENTRATED NOR SWEETENED, OF A FAT CONTENT, BY WEIGHT, EXCEEDING 1% BUT NOT EXCEEDING 6%, CERTIFIED ORGANIC 2021-2024 (data in CWT). |
||||||
|
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
Increase on previous year |
|
January |
493 |
2,358 |
3,639 |
2,643 |
12,229 |
9,586 |
|
February |
708 |
2,342 |
2,911 |
5,352 |
8,677 |
3,325 |
|
March |
365 |
4,379 |
3,695 |
2,998 |
6,920 |
3,922 |
|
April |
2,421 |
2,896 |
2,249 |
3,093 |
11,391 |
8,298 |
|
May |
2,389 |
2,601 |
3,188 |
3,518 |
6,001 |
2,484 |
|
June |
3,368 |
2,832 |
5,975 |
6,360 |
8,820 |
2,460 |
|
July |
2,443 |
3,192 |
5,562 |
11,930 |
|
|
|
August |
4,114 |
2,424 |
6,919 |
6,604 |
|
|
|
September |
4,227 |
3,236 |
3,578 |
6,096 |
|
|
|
October |
4,260 |
3,275 |
5,691 |
10,538 |
|
|
|
November |
4,290 |
3,577 |
3,720 |
11,407 |
|
|
|
December |
2,595 |
3,051 |
4,373 |
8,997 |
|
|
|
Annual Total in cwt |
31,671 |
36,163 |
51,499 |
79,536 |
|
|
Demand for organic, and conventional, cows and heifers remain high and availability is tight. In New York, herds are being sold as producers take the opportunity to retire from dairy, and in at least one case the herd was shipped to Texas. Hoskins Livestock Auction, a NOFA-NY-certified livestock auction in New Berlin, New York, reports that organic cull cows averaged the same price as conventional cows in July and August 2025. The average price for conventional cull cows ranged from a low of $113/cwt to a high of $130 /cwt in July and August 2025. Organic certified cull cow prices ranged from $113/cwt to $145/cwt. Calf prices are still strong but there is no premium for organic. Organic and Grass-Fed milking cows were selling well at an average of $2,000-$3,900 each in June and July 2025, although there were fewer presented for sale than in the past. This auction does give separate reports for Grass-fed organic certified livestock, with cull prices slightly lower but milking cows and heifers sold at the same price as grain fed organic. Market reports from Premier Livestock and Auction that sell organic dairy animals only on Tuesdays, reports that demand is strong with prices between $2,500 and $4,000 for organic milking cows and heifers
In a recent report in the USDA Organic Dairy Market News from a Pacific Northwest livestock auction, conventional cows were selling higher than organic. The average price for the top 10 organic cows auctioned was $146.24 per hundredweight with cows averaging 14.75 cwt., compared to an average price of $161.07 per hundredweight for conventional cows weighing 17 cwt. The overall price for organic cows auctioned was $124.64 per hundredweight with an average weight of 12.27 cwt., while the overall price for conventional cows auctioned was $122.00 per hundredweight with the same average weight.
A reminder: organic livestock do not need to be shipped separately from non-organic when they are trucked to auction or direct to slaughter. They do need to be identified clearly as organic with all the correct paperwork.
National data from USDA has organic feed corn delivered to the elevator averaging $8.06 per bushel in July 2025 and $8.13 per bushel in August 2025. Organic feed soybean delivered to the elevator averaged $22.57/bu. in July 2025 and $22.81 in August 2025. Organic feed wheat averaged $7.20/bushel in August 2025. Soybean meal was trading at $950/ton in July and August 2025. Organic Premium Alfalfa was lower in August 2025 at $280 per ton.
Attached Files:
Posted: to Organic Pay, Feed & Grain Prices on Fri, Sep 5, 2025
Updated: Fri, Sep 5, 2025
