The Dairy Morning Brief

Dairy Market Dashboard

Track daily CME futures for milk income and feed costs to monitor your farm's profit margins.

Market Data as of Thursday, August 27, 2026
✨ AI Market Wrap-Up
Margin Impact: Tight
Share Summary

While Class III milk saw a modest 0.78% bump today, rising soybean meal costs continue to pressure overall margins. Dairy farmers should review their current feed contracts as protein costs show upward momentum.

Class III Milk Futures

Class III Milk Futures,Sep-2026
$16.89 /cwt
+0.13 (+0.78%)

Corn Futures

Corn Futures,Dec-2026
536.25¢ /bushel
-0.25 (-0.05%)

Soybean Futures

Soybean Futures,Nov-2026
1263.50¢ /bushel
-2.50 (-0.20%)

Soybean Meal Futures

Soybean Meal Futures,Dec-2026
$342.30 /ton
+3.00 (+0.88%)

Data is delayed and provided for informational purposes only. Do not use for trading.

Live Daily Margin Calculator

We've pre-filled today's live CME prices. Enter your herd data to see your estimated Income Over Feed Cost (IOFC) for today.

Est. Daily Profit (IOFC) --

Why Track These Commodities?

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Class III Milk (Income)

This is your revenue baseline. Class III is used for cheese production and serves as the benchmark for US milk pricing. When this drops, your top-line revenue shrinks.

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Corn (Energy Cost)

Corn is the primary energy source in your TMR. It makes up a massive portion of your daily feed volume. Spikes in corn prices instantly compress your profit margins.

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Soybean Meal (Protein Cost)

Soybean meal provides the critical protein needed for high milk yield. It's often the most expensive component of your ration per ton, making it vital to monitor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should dairy farmers track Corn and Soybean futures?

Feed represents 50% to 70% of a dairy farm's operating costs. Corn provides the primary energy source in the Total Mixed Ration (TMR), while Soybean Meal provides the primary protein. When these commodity prices rise, dairy profit margins shrink, even if milk prices remain high.

What is Class III Milk?

Class III Milk is the USDA classification for milk used to produce hard cheeses (like Cheddar) and cream cheese. It serves as the primary benchmark price for milk in the United States and is heavily traded as a futures contract on the CME.

How often is this data updated?

This dashboard updates daily after the US markets close. The data reflects the delayed continuous futures contracts from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).

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