By Ed Maltby, NODPA Executive Director
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Market Information Branch published estimated national organic fluid milk product sales for July and August 2025, compiled with data from the Federal Milk Marketing Order. Total US sales of organic fluid milk products were estimated at 242 million pounds in July 2025, with organic Whole Milk sales at 132 million pounds, and sales of organic Fat Reduced Milk at 110 million pounds. In August 2025, total sales of organic packaged milk were 236 million pounds, with sales of organic packaged Whole Milk at 129 million pounds, and sales of organic Fat Reduced Milk at 107 million pounds.
In July 2025, the data shows a decrease in sales of Organic Whole Milk packaged fluid products of 3.2% over July 2024, and the August 2025 data shows a decrease in sales of 6.2% from August 2024. There was an 8.4% decrease in Organic Fat Reduced Milk in July 2025 over July 2024, and a 12.9 % decrease in August 2025 over August 2024. Year to date, July 2025, organic fluid milk sales are 0.2% lower than the same period in 2024 and in August 2025 they are 1.4% lower than the previous year. Year to date August 2025 Organic Whole Milk fluid sales are only 3.4% higher than at the same time in 2024. Whether this is partly due to a tight supply, higher retail price or more organic milk diverted to cultured products is difficult to determine.
The average national retail price for organic milk, as recorded by Federal Milk Marketing Order in September 2025, rose to $5.42 per half gallon for Whole Milk and Organic Reduced Fat 2% milk. In October 2025, there was a national average back down to $5.35 for Organic Whole Milk half gallon and 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 $4.39 in Houston, Texas and a high of $6.89 in Pittsburgh, PA for July 2025.
Converted to a cwt price, the $5.35 at retail is worth $124/cwt.. The farm share averages $38/cwt. Approximately 70% of that income, almost $85/cwt., goes to other costs, including processing, packaging, transportation, retailing, advertising, management and profit. As a reminder, retailers set the retail price depending on many variables and that is usually why the store brand/private label is less expensive to consumers than the branded product.
Organic milk is still short in the Northeast and across the country, heightened by severe drought in some areas and a shortage of organic hay in New York, and now Canada. There is serious competition between milk buyers, some of whom have widened their search for supply and co-packing to the Midwest, where Pay Price has increased to match the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Pay Price ranging from an annualized average of $35/cwt to $45/cwt for grain and pasture fed organic dairies. Grass Fed organic certified dairies with A2A2 cows range from $38/cwt up to $55/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.
Estimated Fluid Milk Products Sales Reports
|
Product Name |
Sales of Organic Fluid Milk |
Change from |
||
|
|
July2025 |
2025 Year to date |
July-2024 |
Year to date |
|
Million pounds |
Percent |
|||
|
Organic Whole Milk |
132 |
959 |
-3.2% |
4.8% |
|
Flavored Whole milk |
1 |
5 |
4.5% |
-18.3% |
|
Organic Reduced-Fat Milk (2%) |
79 |
561 |
-3.1% |
0.5% |
|
Organic Low-Fat Milk (1%) |
17 |
118 |
-15.6% |
-19.5% |
|
Organic Fat-Free Milk Skim |
10 |
71 |
-16.2% |
-9.3% |
|
Organic Flavored Fat-Reduced Milk |
4 |
34 |
-39.5% |
-27.1% |
|
Other Fluid Organic Milk Products |
0 |
2 |
-46.5% |
-12.9% |
|
Total Fat Reduced Milk |
110 |
786 |
-8.4% |
-5.5% |
|
Total Organic Milk Products |
242 |
1,751 |
-5.7% |
-0.2% |
|
|
||||
|
Product Name |
Sales of Organic Fluid Milk |
Change from |
||
|
|
August 2025 |
2025 Year to date |
August-2024 |
Year to date |
|
|
Million pounds |
Percent |
||
|
Organic Whole Milk |
129 |
1,087 |
-6.2% |
3.4% |
|
Flavored Whole milk |
1 |
5 |
-8.2% |
-17.0% |
|
Organic Reduced-Fat Milk (2%) |
75 |
637 |
-11.1% |
-1.0% |
|
Organic Low-Fat Milk (1%) |
17 |
136 |
-15.5% |
-19.0% |
|
Organic Fat-Free Milk Skim |
9 |
80 |
-18.0% |
-10.4% |
|
Organic Flavored Fat-Reduced Milk |
5 |
39 |
-19.1% |
-26.2% |
|
Other Fluid Organic Milk Products |
0 |
2 |
-19.5% |
-13.5% |
|
Total Fat Reduced Milk |
107 |
892 |
-12.9% |
-6.5% |
|
Total Organic Milk Products |
236 |
1,987 |
-9.4% |
-1.4% |
Data may not add due to rounding to the nearest million pounds
Federal Milk Marketing Order 1 (Order) reported that in August 2025, fluid Organic Milk packaged and utilized within the Order totaled 32.69 million pounds; lower than the previous year of 34.07 million pounds. In August 2025, sales of Organic Whole Milk packaged in the Order were 17.24 million pounds, 1.28 million pounds lower than August 2024. In August 2025, sales of Organic Reduced Fat Milk packaged and utilized in the Order was 15.45 million pounds, approximately the same as the 15.55 million pounds in June 2024. Total Class 1 milk (both conventional and organic) packaged outside the Order, but sold within the Order, increased by 14.47 million pounds in August 2025 over August 2024.
In September 2025, sales of fluid Organic Milk packaged and utilized within the Order totaled 37.57 million pounds, higher than the previous year of 31.72 million pounds. In September 2025, sales of Organic Whole Milk packaged in the Order were 21.61 million pounds, 4.4 million pounds higher than September 2024. In September 2025, sales of Organic Reduced Fat Milk packaged and utilized in the Order was 15.96 million pounds, 1.46 million pounds higher than September 2024. Packaged milk coming into the Order in September 2025 increased by 17.27 million pounds over the same period in 2024. Organic milk averages approximately 19% of the fluid milk packaged in the Order. From January to September, FMMO 1 reports an increase of 1.58% or 4.89 million pounds in organic packaged milk, from 308.72 million pounds in 2024 to 313.61 million pounds in 2025. Packaged milk coming into the Order during the same period, both conventional and organic, has increased by 61.67 million pounds as of September 2025 compared to September 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 |
32.69 |
34.07 |
33.75 |
32.12 |
27.18 |
24.70 |
|
SEPTEMBER |
37.57 |
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 August 2025, of the 236 million pounds packaged and sold as Class 1 organic milk in the US, 46.74 million pounds was from Order 32 (Central) of which 41.32 million pounds were utilized in other Orders. Order 51 (California) packaged 38.77 million pounds of organic milk in August 2025 of which just over 700,000 million pounds were sold in other Orders. Order 33 (Mideast) packages less than Order 1, 32 and 51, with 21.25 million pounds in August 2025. 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 or any other data on organic milk. Saputo Dairy Foods US LLC in Sulphur Springs, Texas, processes extended shelf-life organic dairy products, and WhiteWave Foods, Dallas Texas (Plant Number: 0994) are two of the many exempt distribution plants pooled under the Northeast Order.
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 |
46.74 |
5.42 |
41.32 |
55.63 |
6.26 |
49.37 |
48.47 |
5.63 |
42.85 |
|
September |
49.37 |
5.76 |
43.62 |
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. The weighted average Pay Price was $36.99/cwt for 21 months, with a range of 27.92/cwt to a maximum of $47.38/cwt (does not include any deductions for hauling). The average daily production per cow averages 46.60 lbs./cow. The milk buyers in Vermont are CROPP Cooperative, US Lactalis direct supply, Upstate Niagara (newly named UNC) and some small processors. The total number of organic dairies in VT is 117 according to the VT Department of Agriculture.
|
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 |
1,394,500 |
52.12 |
$32 |
$40 |
$36 |
4.11% |
3.13% |
1,616 |
|
June-25 |
1,075,145 |
51.27 |
$32 |
$38 |
$37 |
4.07% |
3.12% |
1,538 |
|
July-25 |
1,301,804 |
50.59 |
$32 |
$42 |
$38 |
4.12% |
3.20% |
1,568 |
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 14-month period is $37.10, slightly higher than the Pay Price shown for VT. The average daily production per cow for the 14-month period is 32.30 pounds, 14.30 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 |
27.90 |
$ 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 |
28.80 |
$ 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 |
32.80 |
$ 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 |
34.30 |
$ 34.32 |
$ 45.08 |
$ 38.76 |
4.27% |
3.20% |
1,063 |
|
Jun-25 |
893,061 |
30.98 |
$ 32.77 |
$ 43.46 |
$ 37.98 |
4.13% |
3.15% |
959 |
|
Jul-25 |
793,120 |
28.40 |
$ 32.79 |
$ 43.74 |
$ 39.10 |
4.08% |
3.11% |
852 |
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 government closure has restricted reports from USDA FAS. The most recent was for July 2025 which shows organic milk HS-10 exports were 17,588 cwt. The same month in 2024 was dramatically lower at 11,930 - a 47.2% increase on the previous year, or 5,658 cwt. Year to date January to July 2025 was 71,627 cwt. nearly double the same year to date in 2024 of 35,894 cwt. 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 |
17,588 |
5,658 |
|
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 |
|
|
The demand for both organic and conventional calves, cows, and heifers is currently elevated, while supply remains limited. At the NODPA Field Days, presenter Robert Goodling estimated that it may take approximately two more years of high prices for beef crosses before the market reaches equilibrium. Obviously, this could be impacted by the Mexico border being opened up for live animals as the Mexican government is lobbying for, and the spread of the New World Screwworm, but hopefully common sense will take precedence over politics. Reports indicate that Argentina's potential increase in exports to the US is not expected to significantly affect the market, though it may benefit packers. Australian beef exports to the US have risen despite tariffs, partly due to limited US cattle supplies, reduced domestic production, and increasing demand for lean trimmings, which has led to higher prices for Australian beef. Australia continues to be the main supplier, supported by record production capacity, and is anticipated to remain a key contributor to US import programs through 2026, given ongoing supply constraints and competitive positioning relative to Brazil and other exporters.
Anecdotal feedback from producers that have sold their herds is that Florida, Texas and Colorado are the favored destinations, especially with the drought in the northeast and the tight supply of hay impacting any regional producer’s expansion plans. Reports are that there is culling already taking place as the economics of purchase and trucking of organic hay don’t match the producers’ current Pay Price. Hoskins Livestock Auction, a NOFA-NY-certified livestock auction in New Berlin, New York, is no longer publishing the auction reports. There were good reports on the sale of 140 head of organic cattle, including 62 milking and dry, 14 bred heifers, 18 breeding age, 28 8-months to 16-months, 15 calves to 8-months, 4 A2A2 Holstein crosses, all bred to A2A2 bulls on October 25 in Philadelphia NY. Reports were that that the top cow brought $4,700, and the others were mostly in the $2,000 to $4,000 range. A2/A2 cows did not seem to bring a premium, and some decent looking dry cows brought less than $2,000. Market reports from Premier Livestock and Auction, which sells organic dairy animals exclusively on Tuesdays, indicate that on 9/17/2025, 100 organic cows and heifers were auctioned. Top quality cows sold for up to $5,200, while lower quality cows averaged approximately $2,400. Organic springing heifers were priced between $2,500 and $4,500.
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 that is required by your certifier and buyer to prevent fraud and maintain the integrity of the organic market.
A common inquiry concerns the existence of tariffs on Canadian hay and grains; currently, there are none. The import HS code for Canadian hay is 1214.90. National data from USDA has organic feed corn delivered to the elevator averaging $8.11 per bushel in September 2025 and $8.21 per bushel in October 2025. Organic feed soybean delivered to the elevator averaged $22.57/bu. in September 2025 and $22.81 in October 2025. This national data does not represent the Northeast which may be $2 dollars higher depending on where it originates from. Organic feed wheat averaged $7.20/bushel in October 2025. Soybean meal is trading at $900/ton in September and October 2025. I have no accurate information on the price of hay, which depends on availability, which is limited in the Northeast and Canada. Reports are that trucking is as expensive as the hay purchased.
Attached Files:
Posted: to Organic Pay, Feed & Grain Prices on Sat, Nov 15, 2025
Updated: Sun, Nov 16, 2025
