Dairy Products ISSN: 1949-0399 Released May 6, 2026, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). March 2026 Highlights Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 1.26 billion pounds, 1.2 percent above March 2025 and 8.1 percent above February 2026. Italian type cheese production totaled 542 million pounds, 2.3 percent above March 2025 and 6.6 percent above February 2026. American type cheese production totaled 488 million pounds, 2.3 percent below March 2025 but 7.4 percent above February 2026. Butter production was 232 million pounds, 1.2 percent above March 2025 and 4.1 percent above February 2026. Dry milk products (comparisons in percentage with March 2025) Nonfat dry milk, human - 175 million pounds, up 9.9 percent. Skim milk powder - 37.4 million pounds, up 10.1 percent. Whey products (comparisons in percentage with March 2025) Dry whey, total - 78.7 million pounds, up 3.6 percent. Lactose, human and animal - 92.1 million pounds, down 6.5 percent. Whey protein concentrate, total - 41.4 million pounds, down 6.1 percent. Frozen products (comparisons in percentage with March 2025) Ice cream, regular (hard) - 62.8 million gallons, up 5.1 percent. Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 36.1 million gallons, up 7.5 percent. Sherbet (hard) - 1.69 million gallons, up 12.9 percent. Frozen yogurt (total) - 3.22 million gallons, down 7.5 percent. Contents Dairy Products Production by Product - United States: March 2025 and 2026 3 Whey and Modified Whey Products Production, Stocks, and Prices - United States: March 2025 and 2026 4 Condensed and Dry Milk Products Production, Stocks, and Shipments - United States: March 2025 and 2026 5 Dairy Products Production by Product and Month - United States: 2025 and 2026 6 Total Cheese Production Excluding Cottage Cheese - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 13 American Cheese Production - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 14 Cheddar Cheese Production - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 14 Total Italian Cheese Production - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 15 Mozzarella Cheese Production - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 15 Butter Production - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 16 Nonfat Dry Milk (Human) Production - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 16 Dry Whey (Human) Production - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 17 Ice Cream, Regular (Hard) Production - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 17 Dairy Products Regions 18 Statistical Methodology 19 Information Contacts 20 Dairy Products Production by Product - United States: March 2025 and 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Change from : March : February : March :----------------------------- Product : 2025 : 2026 : 2026 : March : February : : : : 2025 : 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------- 1,000 pounds ------------ ------ percent ----- : Butter .................................: 228,844 222,399 231,503 1.2 4.1 : Cheese : American types 1/ ....................: 499,593 454,687 488,296 -2.3 7.4 Cheddar ............................: 348,904 316,595 341,793 -2.0 8.0 Other American types ...............: 150,689 138,092 146,503 -2.8 6.1 Blue and Gorgonzola ..................: 6,724 5,886 6,851 1.9 16.4 Brick and Muenster ...................: 16,910 16,047 16,760 -0.9 4.4 Cream and Neufchatel .................: 90,840 85,304 97,739 7.6 14.6 Feta .................................: 13,561 11,205 13,154 -3.0 17.4 Gouda ................................: 6,859 7,482 9,873 43.9 32.0 Hispanic .............................: 39,378 37,515 41,264 4.8 10.0 Italian types ........................: 530,080 508,741 542,347 2.3 6.6 Mozzarella .........................: 419,320 395,689 421,587 0.5 6.5 Parmesan ...........................: 44,633 49,010 53,575 20.0 9.3 Provolone ..........................: 33,065 30,405 30,800 -6.9 1.3 Ricotta ............................: 20,347 20,640 22,111 8.7 7.1 Romano .............................: 4,104 4,627 5,282 28.7 14.2 Other Italian types ................: 8,611 8,370 8,992 4.4 7.4 Swiss ................................: 26,053 25,511 28,397 9.0 11.3 All other types ......................: 13,438 11,743 13,784 2.6 17.4 : Total cheese 2/ ......................: 1,243,436 1,164,121 1,258,465 1.2 8.1 : Cottage cheese, curd 3/ ................: 42,620 44,203 50,711 19.0 14.7 Cottage cheese, cream 4/ ...............: 39,946 40,273 42,567 6.6 5.7 Cottage cheese, lowfat 5/ ..............: 38,099 32,858 40,745 6.9 24.0 : Sour cream .............................: 120,890 115,469 121,943 0.9 5.6 Yogurt, plain and flavored .............: 460,568 447,753 490,325 6.5 9.5 : : ----------- 1,000 gallons ---------- ------ percent ----- : Frozen products : Ice cream, regular, hard .............: 59,736 56,813 62,799 5.1 10.5 Ice cream, lowfat, hard ..............: 17,573 15,830 17,740 1.0 12.1 Ice cream, lowfat, soft ..............: 16,033 13,673 18,400 14.8 34.6 Ice cream, lowfat, total 6/ ..........: 33,606 29,503 36,140 7.5 22.5 Ice cream, nonfat, hard ..............: 404 497 617 52.7 24.1 Sherbet, hard ........................: 1,494 1,639 1,687 12.9 2.9 Frozen yogurt, total .................: 3,486 3,064 3,224 -7.5 5.2 Regular and lowfat, hard ...........: 1,487 1,053 1,260 -15.3 19.7 Nonfat, hard .......................: 242 212 207 -14.5 -2.4 Other frozen dairy products ..........: 872 768 998 14.4 29.9 Water and juice ices .................: 5,291 4,558 5,396 2.0 18.4 : Mix for frozen products : Ice cream, regular, mix ..............: 39,399 36,027 40,571 3.0 12.6 Ice cream, lowfat, mix 7/ ............: 20,193 16,519 20,355 0.8 23.2 Ice cream, nonfat, mix ...............: 487 653 695 42.7 6.4 Sherbet mix ..........................: 1,288 1,399 1,260 -2.2 -9.9 Yogurt mix ...........................: 2,137 1,486 2,023 -5.3 36.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes Cheddar, Colby, washed curd, stirred curd, Monterey, and Jack. 2/ Excludes Cottage Cheese. 3/ Mostly used for processing into cream or lowfat cottage cheese. 4/ Fat content 4 percent or more. 5/ Fat content less than 4 percent. 6/ Includes freezer-made milkshake. 7/ Includes milkshake mix. Whey and Modified Whey Products Production, Stocks, and Prices - United States: March 2025 and 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Change from : March : February : March :----------------------------- Product : 2025 : 2026 : 2026 : March : February : : : : 2025 : 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----------- 1,000 pounds ----------- ------ percent ----- Condensed whey, solids content 1/ : Sweet-type, human ....................: 10,190 10,295 10,734 5.3 4.3 : Dry whey products : Dry whey, human ......................: 71,613 66,732 77,727 8.5 16.5 Dry whey, animal .....................: 4,341 591 930 -78.6 57.4 Dry whey, total ......................: 75,954 67,323 78,657 3.6 16.8 : Reduced Lactose and minerals : Human and animal .....................: 3,905 2,978 3,410 -12.7 14.5 : Whey protein concentrate : Human 2/ .............................: 43,286 36,906 39,903 -7.8 8.1 Animal 2/ ............................: 765 1,325 1,482 93.7 11.8 Total 2/ .............................: 44,051 38,231 41,385 -6.1 8.2 25.0-49.9 percent 3/ ...............: 9,849 7,886 8,510 -13.6 7.9 50.0-89.9 percent 3/ ...............: 34,202 30,345 32,875 -3.9 8.3 : Whey protein isolates 4/ ...............: 18,627 17,563 20,834 11.8 18.6 : Lactose, human and animal ..............: 98,475 83,823 92,085 -6.5 9.9 : Manufacturers' stocks end of month 5/ : Dry whey products : Dry whey, human ......................: 61,031 59,233 63,348 3.8 6.9 Dry whey, animal .....................: 3,209 900 602 -81.2 -33.1 Dry whey, total ......................: 64,240 60,133 63,950 -0.5 6.3 : Reduced Lactose and minerals : Human and animal 6/ ...................: 6,618 4,869 5,224 -21.1 7.3 : Whey protein concentrate : Human 2/ .............................: 53,690 43,567 43,511 -19.0 -0.1 Animal 2/ ............................: 897 1,651 1,194 33.1 -27.7 Total 2/ .............................: 54,587 45,218 44,705 -18.1 -1.1 25.0-49.9 percent 3/ ...............: 22,639 15,174 15,466 -31.7 1.9 50.0-89.9 percent 3/ ...............: 31,948 30,044 29,239 -8.5 -2.7 : Whey protein isolates 4/ ...............: 16,804 15,544 16,223 -3.5 4.4 : Lactose, human and animal ..............: 96,341 97,830 97,998 1.7 0.2 : --------- cents per pound -------- -- cents change -- : Manufacturers' selling price 7/ : Dry whey, animal .......................: 34.4 40.8 40.7 6.3 -0.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Final marketable product only. Does not include quantity used or shipped to another plant for further processing into dry whey or modified whey products. Does not include sweet-type, animal whey. 2/ Whey protein concentrate, 25.0 to 89.9 percent. 3/ Whey protein concentrate, human and animal. 4/ Whey protein isolate, 90.0 percent or greater. 5/ Stocks held by manufacturers at all points and in transit. 6/ Reduced lactose and minerals stocks combined to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 7/ Prices for bulk goods, f.o.b. plant. Average monthly prices reported by firms. Condensed and Dry Milk Products Production, Stocks, and Shipments - United States: March 2025 and 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Change from : March : February : March :----------------------------- Product : 2025 : 2026 : 2026 : March : February : : : : 2025 : 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 pounds ----------- ------ percent ----- Production : Bulk condensed milk : Skim, unsweetened ....................: 114,832 108,145 128,009 11.5 18.4 : Dry milk products : Dry buttermilk, total ................: 14,436 10,776 11,785 -18.4 9.4 Dry skim milk, animal ................: 778 672 734 -5.7 9.2 Dry whole milk .......................: 16,303 10,333 10,783 -33.9 4.4 Milk protein concentrate, total 1/ ...: 30,635 21,015 23,180 -24.3 10.3 Nonfat dry milk, human ...............: 159,469 151,857 175,316 9.9 15.4 Skim milk powder, total 2/ ...........: 33,969 27,656 37,387 10.1 35.2 : Manufacturers' stocks end-of-month 3/ : Dry milk products : Dry buttermilk, total ................: 29,884 20,769 22,898 -23.4 10.3 Dry skim milk, animal ................: 4,419 3,490 2,597 -41.2 -25.6 Dry whole milk .......................: 23,632 18,668 18,794 -20.5 0.7 Nonfat dry milk, human ...............: 262,823 220,425 235,711 -10.3 6.9 : Manufacturers' shipments 4/ : Dry milk products : Nonfat dry milk, human ...............: 139,641 139,358 163,406 17.0 17.3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Dry milk protein concentrate, 40-89.9 percent. 2/ Includes protein standardized and blends. 3/ Stocks held by manufacturers at all points and in transit. 4/ For dry products, shipments of bulk goods. Dairy Products Production by Product and Month - United States: 2025 and 2026 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Monthly : Cumulative Product and month :------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Change : : : Change : 2025 : 2026 : from : 2025 : 2026 : from : : : 2025 : : : 2025 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :--- 1,000 pounds -- percent --- 1,000 pounds --- percent Total cheese 1/ : January ......................:1,220,535 1,275,690 4.5 1,220,535 1,275,690 4.5 February .....................:1,122,356 1,164,121 3.7 2,342,891 2,439,811 4.1 March ........................:1,243,436 1,258,465 1.2 3,586,327 3,698,276 3.1 April ........................:1,245,701 4,832,028 May ..........................:1,257,528 6,089,556 June .........................:1,218,094 7,307,650 July .........................:1,237,630 8,545,280 August .......................:1,228,182 9,773,462 September ....................:1,224,512 10,997,974 October ......................:1,272,884 12,270,858 November .....................:1,241,023 13,511,881 December .....................:1,288,183 14,800,064 : Total American cheese types 2/ : January ......................: 480,932 497,132 3.4 480,932 497,132 3.4 February .....................: 442,666 454,687 2.7 923,598 951,819 3.1 March ........................: 499,593 488,296 -2.3 1,423,191 1,440,115 1.2 April ........................: 495,908 1,919,099 May ..........................: 512,263 2,431,362 June .........................: 479,371 2,910,733 July .........................: 485,117 3,395,850 August .......................: 481,321 3,877,171 September ....................: 475,989 4,353,160 October ......................: 491,479 4,844,639 November .....................: 483,837 5,328,476 December .....................: 503,875 5,832,351 : Cheddar cheese : January ......................: 329,481 351,866 6.8 329,481 351,866 6.8 February .....................: 307,858 316,595 2.8 637,339 668,461 4.9 March ........................: 348,904 341,793 -2.0 986,243 1,010,254 2.4 April ........................: 341,867 1,328,110 May ..........................: 354,737 1,682,847 June .........................: 334,882 2,017,729 July .........................: 334,424 2,352,153 August .......................: 328,904 2,681,057 September ....................: 323,844 3,004,901 October ......................: 325,301 3,330,202 November .....................: 327,912 3,658,114 December .....................: 345,576 4,003,690 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnote(s) at end of table. --continued Dairy Products Production by Product and Month - United States: 2025 and 2026 (continued) [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Monthly : Cumulative Product and month :----------------------------------------------------------- : : : Change : : : Change : 2025 : 2026 : from : 2025 : 2026 : from : : : 2025 : : : 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 pounds percent --- 1,000 pounds -- percent Total Italian cheese types : January ......................: 518,772 555,424 7.1 518,772 555,424 7.1 February .....................: 480,063 508,741 6.0 998,835 1,064,165 6.5 March ........................: 530,080 542,347 2.3 1,528,915 1,606,512 5.1 April ........................: 534,049 2,062,964 May ..........................: 525,307 2,588,271 June .........................: 523,354 3,111,625 July .........................: 529,258 3,640,883 August .......................: 522,071 4,162,954 September ....................: 521,500 4,684,454 October ......................: 541,492 5,225,946 November .....................: 535,320 5,761,266 December .....................: 567,906 6,329,172 : Mozzarella : January ......................: 413,660 431,117 4.2 413,660 431,117 4.2 February .....................: 381,590 395,689 3.7 795,250 826,806 4.0 March ........................: 419,320 421,587 0.5 1,214,570 1,248,393 2.8 April ........................: 426,021 1,640,591 May ..........................: 415,793 2,056,384 June .........................: 415,838 2,472,222 July .........................: 421,034 2,893,256 August .......................: 413,596 3,306,852 September ....................: 406,694 3,713,546 October ......................: 423,465 4,137,011 November .....................: 423,952 4,560,963 December .....................: 445,398 5,006,361 : Other Italian cheese types : January ......................: 7,875 11,523 46.3 7,875 11,523 46.3 February .....................: 8,074 8,370 3.7 15,949 19,893 24.7 March ........................: 8,611 8,992 4.4 24,560 28,885 17.6 April ........................: 8,780 33,340 May ..........................: 7,332 40,672 June .........................: 6,560 47,232 July .........................: 8,214 55,446 August .......................: 8,436 63,882 September ....................: 9,658 73,540 October ......................: 9,627 83,167 November .....................: 11,167 94,334 December .....................: 11,140 105,474 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnote(s) at end of table. --continued Dairy Products Production by Product and Month - United States: 2025 and 2026 (continued) [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Monthly : Cumulative Product and month :----------------------------------------------------------- : : : Change : : : Change : 2025 : 2026 : from : 2025 : 2026 : from : : : 2025 : : : 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 pounds percent -- 1,000 pounds -- percent Butter : January ......................: 218,393 240,890 10.3 218,393 240,890 10.3 February .....................: 201,773 222,399 10.2 420,166 463,289 10.3 March ........................: 228,844 231,503 1.2 649,010 694,792 7.1 April ........................: 214,593 863,603 May ..........................: 216,713 1,080,316 June .........................: 191,789 1,272,105 July .........................: 179,391 1,451,496 August .......................: 176,312 1,627,808 September ....................: 183,898 1,811,706 October ......................: 188,338 2,000,044 November .....................: 178,831 2,178,875 December .....................: 207,530 2,386,405 : Nonfat dry milk, human : January ......................: 156,933 151,434 -3.5 156,933 151,434 -3.5 February .....................: 138,977 151,857 9.3 295,910 303,291 2.5 March ........................: 159,469 175,316 9.9 455,379 478,607 5.1 April ........................: 162,788 618,167 May ..........................: 157,142 775,309 June .........................: 144,374 919,683 July .........................: 130,483 1,050,166 August .......................: 120,693 1,170,859 September ....................: 124,854 1,295,713 October ......................: 123,000 1,418,713 November .....................: 111,131 1,529,844 December .....................: 127,737 1,657,581 : Skim milk powder, total 3/ : January ......................: 34,512 47,134 36.6 34,512 47,134 36.6 February .....................: 30,761 27,656 -10.1 65,273 74,790 14.6 March ........................: 33,969 37,387 10.1 99,242 112,177 13.0 April ........................: 35,471 134,713 May ..........................: 48,716 183,429 June .........................: 53,900 237,329 July .........................: 44,361 281,690 August .......................: 43,276 324,966 September ....................: 46,395 371,361 October ......................: 42,171 413,532 November .....................: 42,888 456,420 December .....................: 47,902 504,322 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnote(s) at end of table. --continued Dairy Products Production by Product and Month - United States: 2025 and 2026 (continued) [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Monthly : Cumulative Product and month :----------------------------------------------------------- : : : Change : : : Change : 2025 : 2026 : from : 2025 : 2026 : from : : : 2025 : : : 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 pounds percent -- 1,000 pounds -- percent Dry whey, total 4/ : January ......................: 74,462 77,623 4.2 74,462 77,623 4.2 February .....................: 63,083 67,323 6.7 137,545 144,946 5.4 March ........................: 75,954 78,657 3.6 213,499 223,603 4.7 April ........................: 71,305 284,804 May ..........................: 73,579 358,383 June .........................: 75,423 433,806 July .........................: 68,365 502,171 August .......................: 69,456 571,627 September ....................: 69,106 640,733 October ......................: 66,177 706,910 November .....................: 65,300 772,210 December .....................: 72,675 844,885 : Lactose, human and animal : January ......................: 93,088 95,920 3.0 93,088 95,920 3.0 February .....................: 85,201 83,823 -1.6 178,289 179,743 0.8 March ........................: 98,475 92,085 -6.5 276,764 271,828 -1.8 April ........................: 95,091 371,855 May ..........................: 98,977 470,832 June .........................: 97,968 568,800 July .........................: 97,008 665,808 August .......................: 96,192 762,000 September ....................: 94,666 856,666 October ......................: 99,084 955,750 November .....................: 86,788 1,042,538 December .....................: 94,637 1,137,175 : Whey protein concentrate, total : January ......................: 39,594 40,364 1.9 39,594 40,364 1.9 February .....................: 37,547 38,231 1.8 77,141 78,595 1.9 March ........................: 44,051 41,385 -6.1 121,192 119,980 -1.0 April ........................: 43,613 164,805 May ..........................: 42,333 207,138 June .........................: 44,541 251,679 July .........................: 42,031 293,710 August .......................: 40,918 334,628 September ....................: 42,959 377,587 October ......................: 39,808 417,395 November .....................: 40,392 457,787 December .....................: 44,005 501,792 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnote(s) at end of table. --continued Dairy Products Production by Product and Month - United States: 2025 and 2026 (continued) [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Monthly : Cumulative Product and month :----------------------------------------------------------- : : : Change : : : Change : 2025 : 2026 : from : 2025 : 2026 : from : : : 2025 : : : 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 pounds percent -- 1,000 pounds -- percent Cottage cheese, cream : January ......................: 40,039 41,380 3.3 40,039 41,380 3.3 February .....................: 35,799 40,273 12.5 75,838 81,653 7.7 March ........................: 39,946 42,567 6.6 115,784 124,220 7.3 April ........................: 37,997 153,781 May ..........................: 40,184 193,965 June .........................: 39,160 233,125 July .........................: 40,178 273,303 August .......................: 39,230 312,533 September ....................: 39,398 351,931 October ......................: 42,324 394,255 November .....................: 37,094 431,349 December .....................: 39,459 470,808 : Cottage cheese, lowfat : January ......................: 32,149 36,206 12.6 32,149 36,206 12.6 February .....................: 32,233 32,858 1.9 64,382 69,064 7.3 March ........................: 38,099 40,745 6.9 102,481 109,809 7.2 April ........................: 32,822 135,303 May ..........................: 34,057 169,360 June .........................: 34,890 204,250 July .........................: 37,212 241,462 August .......................: 36,814 278,276 September ....................: 38,029 316,305 October ......................: 37,780 354,085 November .....................: 34,452 388,537 December .....................: 33,656 422,193 : Sour cream : January ......................: 133,880 124,984 -6.6 133,880 124,984 -6.6 February .....................: 112,203 115,469 2.9 246,083 240,453 -2.3 March ........................: 120,890 121,943 0.9 366,973 362,396 -1.2 April ........................: 125,216 492,189 May ..........................: 129,931 622,120 June .........................: 122,731 744,851 July .........................: 125,140 869,991 August .......................: 121,902 991,893 September ....................: 124,270 1,116,163 October ......................: 136,189 1,252,352 November .....................: 133,059 1,385,411 December .....................: 135,347 1,520,758 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnote(s) at end of table. --continued Dairy Products Production by Product and Month - United States: 2025 and 2026 (continued) [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Monthly : Cumulative Product and month :----------------------------------------------------------- : : : Change : : : Change : 2025 : 2026 : from : 2025 : 2026 : from : : : 2025 : : : 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 gallons percent 1,000 gallons percent Ice cream, regular hard : January ......................: 58,314 57,093 -2.1 58,314 57,093 -2.1 February .....................: 55,913 56,813 1.6 114,227 113,906 -0.3 March ........................: 59,736 62,799 5.1 173,963 176,705 1.6 April ........................: 63,484 237,447 May ..........................: 64,672 302,119 June .........................: 65,258 367,377 July .........................: 69,486 436,863 August .......................: 66,439 503,302 September ....................: 59,085 562,387 October ......................: 61,094 623,481 November .....................: 49,570 673,051 December .....................: 49,031 722,082 : Ice cream, lowfat total : January ......................: 28,105 29,446 4.8 28,105 29,446 4.8 February .....................: 29,310 29,503 0.7 57,415 58,949 2.7 March ........................: 33,606 36,140 7.5 91,021 95,089 4.5 April ........................: 38,040 129,061 May ..........................: 35,859 164,920 June .........................: 36,392 201,312 July .........................: 37,894 239,206 August .......................: 33,406 272,612 September ....................: 31,162 303,774 October ......................: 30,572 334,346 November .....................: 24,033 358,379 December .....................: 22,500 380,879 : Sherbet, hard : January ......................: 1,541 1,554 0.8 1,541 1,554 0.8 February .....................: 1,314 1,639 24.7 2,855 3,193 11.8 March ........................: 1,494 1,687 12.9 4,349 4,880 12.2 April ........................: 1,655 6,004 May ..........................: 1,681 7,685 June .........................: 1,907 9,592 July .........................: 1,742 11,334 August .......................: 1,720 13,054 September ....................: 1,527 14,581 October ......................: 1,811 16,392 November .....................: 1,340 17,732 December .....................: 1,450 19,182 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnote(s) at end of table. --continued Dairy Products Production by Product and Month - United States: 2025 and 2026 (continued) [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Monthly : Cumulative Product and month :----------------------------------------------------------- : : : Change : : : Change : 2025 : 2026 : from : 2025 : 2026 : from : : : 2025 : : : 2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 pounds percent --- 1,000 pounds -- percent Yogurt, plain and flavored : January ......................: 417,671 439,249 5.2 417,671 439,249 5.2 February .....................: 415,082 447,753 7.9 832,753 887,002 6.5 March ........................: 460,568 490,325 6.5 1,293,321 1,377,327 6.5 April ........................: 451,371 1,744,692 May ..........................: 441,473 2,186,165 June .........................: 436,660 2,622,825 July .........................: 449,398 3,072,223 August .......................: 460,868 3,533,091 September ....................: 464,999 3,998,090 October ......................: 452,282 4,450,372 November .....................: 419,578 4,869,950 December .....................: 418,635 5,288,585 : : 1,000 gallons percent 1,000 gallons percent : Frozen yogurt, total : January ......................: 2,526 2,247 -11.0 2,526 2,247 -11.0 February .....................: 2,586 3,064 18.5 5,112 5,311 3.9 March ........................: 3,486 3,224 -7.5 8,598 8,535 -0.7 April ........................: 2,789 11,387 May ..........................: 3,083 14,470 June .........................: 3,112 17,582 July .........................: 3,325 20,907 August .......................: 2,824 23,731 September ....................: 2,377 26,108 October ......................: 3,038 29,146 November .....................: 2,597 31,743 December .....................: 2,404 34,147 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Excludes Cottage Cheese. 2/ Includes Cheddar, Colby, washed curd, stirred curd, Monterey, and Jack. 3/ Includes protein standardized and blends. 4/ Excludes all modified dry whey products. Total Cheese Production Excluding Cottage Cheese - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Change from : March : February : March :--------------------- State and region: 2025 : 2026 : 2026 : March : February : : : : 2025 : 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 pounds ----------- ---- percent --- : California .....: 218,729 185,911 185,530 -15.2 -0.2 Idaho ..........: 85,065 79,557 86,247 1.4 8.4 Iowa ...........: 32,405 31,307 36,175 11.6 15.5 Minnesota ......: 71,982 68,803 75,073 4.3 9.1 New Mexico .....: 76,636 69,936 78,390 2.3 12.1 New York .......: 74,687 72,527 80,607 7.9 11.1 Ohio ...........: 20,017 19,785 21,674 8.3 9.5 Pennsylvania ...: 37,730 35,759 38,069 0.9 6.5 Wisconsin ......: 308,158 283,903 311,902 1.2 9.9 : Other States 1/ : 318,027 316,633 344,798 8.4 8.9 : United States ..: 1,243,436 1,164,121 1,258,465 1.2 8.1 : Atlantic .......: 137,806 131,804 144,265 4.7 9.5 Central ........: 625,934 607,179 666,359 6.5 9.7 West ...........: 479,696 425,138 447,841 -6.6 5.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ States not shown when fewer than 3 plants reported or individual plant operations could be disclosed. American Cheese Production - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Change from : March : February : March :--------------------- State and region: 2025 : 2026 : 2026 : March : February : : : : 2025 : 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----------- 1,000 pounds ---------- --- percent --- : California .....: 50,170 45,654 47,165 -6.0 3.3 Iowa ...........: 15,833 14,069 16,868 6.5 19.9 Minnesota ......: 61,455 59,832 64,489 4.9 7.8 New York .......: 18,627 17,822 18,919 1.6 6.2 Wisconsin ......: 92,660 79,216 83,856 -9.5 5.9 : Other States 1/ : 260,848 238,094 256,999 -1.5 7.9 : United States ..: 499,593 454,687 488,296 -2.3 7.4 : Atlantic .......: 29,684 28,154 30,208 1.8 7.3 Central ........: 282,246 262,630 278,552 -1.3 6.1 West ...........: 187,663 163,903 179,536 -4.3 9.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ States not shown when fewer than 3 plants reported or individual plant operations could be disclosed. Cheddar Cheese Production - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Change from : March : February : March :--------------------- State and region: 2025 : 2026 : 2026 : March : February : : : : 2025 : 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----------- 1,000 pounds ---------- ---- percent --- : California .....: 27,224 24,255 23,701 -12.9 -2.3 Vermont ........: 9,496 8,876 9,816 3.4 10.6 Wisconsin ......: 62,480 49,008 52,744 -15.6 7.6 : Other States 1/ : 249,704 234,456 255,532 2.3 9.0 : United States ..: 348,904 316,595 341,793 -2.0 8.0 : Atlantic .......: 27,861 25,354 28,114 0.9 10.9 Central ........: 193,746 182,384 196,841 1.6 7.9 West ...........: 127,297 108,857 116,838 -8.2 7.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ States not shown when fewer than 3 plants reported or individual plant operations could be disclosed. Total Italian Cheese Production - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Change from : March : February : March :--------------------- State and region: 2025 : 2026 : 2026 : March : February : : : : 2025 : 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----------- 1,000 pounds ---------- ---- percent --- : California .....: 148,522 122,209 119,305 -19.7 -2.4 Minnesota ......: 10,344 8,911 10,492 1.4 17.7 New York .......: 28,898 27,562 30,533 5.7 10.8 Pennsylvania ...: 23,107 22,811 23,995 3.8 5.2 Wisconsin ......: 148,984 147,096 159,612 7.1 8.5 : Other States 1/ : 170,225 180,152 198,410 16.6 10.1 : United States ..: 530,080 508,741 542,347 2.3 6.6 : Atlantic .......: 60,266 58,055 62,970 4.5 8.5 Central ........: 225,728 237,476 261,175 15.7 10.0 West ...........: 244,086 213,210 218,202 -10.6 2.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ States not shown when fewer than 3 plants reported or individual plant operations could be disclosed. Mozzarella Cheese Production - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Change from : March : February : March :--------------------- State and region: 2025 : 2026 : 2026 : March : February : : : : 2025 : 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----------- 1,000 pounds ---------- ---- percent --- : California .....: 137,701 110,579 107,569 -21.9 -2.7 New York .......: 14,173 12,470 15,223 7.4 22.1 Pennsylvania ...: 18,524 18,774 19,231 3.8 2.4 Wisconsin ......: 93,309 89,537 97,661 4.7 9.1 : Other States 1/ : 155,613 164,329 181,903 16.9 10.7 : United States ..: 419,320 395,689 421,587 0.5 6.5 : Atlantic .......: 37,565 35,810 39,397 4.9 10.0 Central ........: 149,361 159,400 177,160 18.6 11.1 West ...........: 232,394 200,479 205,030 -11.8 2.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ States not shown when fewer than 3 plants reported or individual plant operations could be disclosed. Butter Production - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Change from : March : February : March :--------------------- State and region: 2025 : 2026 : 2026 : March : February : : : : 2025 : 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----------- 1,000 pounds ---------- ---- percent --- : California .....: 66,553 61,102 63,252 -5.0 3.5 Pennsylvania ...: 7,365 5,737 6,849 -7.0 19.4 : Other States 1/ : 154,926 155,560 161,402 4.2 3.8 : United States ..: 228,844 222,399 231,503 1.2 4.1 : Atlantic .......: 18,281 14,490 16,934 -7.4 16.9 Central ........: 97,084 98,301 97,052 (Z) -1.3 West ...........: 113,479 109,608 117,517 3.6 7.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Z) Less than half of the unit shown. 1/ States not shown when fewer than 3 plants reported or individual plant operations could be disclosed. Nonfat Dry Milk (Human) Production - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Change from : March : February : March :--------------------- State and region: 2025 : 2026 : 2026 : March : February : : : : 2025 : 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----------- 1,000 pounds ---------- ---- percent --- : California .....: 75,067 74,782 81,985 9.2 9.6 Pennsylvania ...: 13,698 10,011 11,758 -14.2 17.5 : Other States 1/ : 70,704 67,064 81,573 15.4 21.6 : United States ..: 159,469 151,857 175,316 9.9 15.4 : Atlantic .......: 26,408 18,652 21,043 -20.3 12.8 Central ........: 28,047 29,630 32,820 17.0 10.8 West ...........: 105,014 103,575 121,453 15.7 17.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ States not shown when fewer than 3 plants reported or individual plant operations could be disclosed. Dry Whey (Human) Production - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Change from : March : February : March :--------------------- State and region: 2025 : 2026 : 2026 : March : February : : : : 2025 : 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 pounds ---------- ---- percent --- : New York .......: 10,669 10,816 11,586 8.6 7.1 Wisconsin ......: 25,302 22,900 26,886 6.3 17.4 : Other States 1/ : 35,642 33,016 39,255 10.1 18.9 : United States ..: 71,613 66,732 77,727 8.5 16.5 : Atlantic .......: 20,196 19,058 21,328 5.6 11.9 Central ........: 38,090 39,467 47,601 25.0 20.6 West ...........: 13,327 8,207 8,798 -34.0 7.2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ States not shown when fewer than 3 plants reported or individual plant operations could be disclosed. Ice Cream, Regular (Hard) Production - States, United States, and Regions: March 2025 and 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Change from : March : February : March :--------------------- State and region: 2025 : 2026 : 2026 : March : February : : : : 2025 : 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 gallons --------- ---- percent --- : California .....: 6,020 5,827 6,959 15.6 19.4 Connecticut ....: 731 677 761 4.1 12.4 New York .......: 1,851 1,878 1,660 -10.3 -11.6 Ohio ...........: 2,156 2,138 2,145 -0.5 0.3 Pennsylvania ...: 2,313 2,440 2,304 -0.4 -5.6 Utah ...........: 1,567 1,410 1,596 1.9 13.2 Wisconsin ......: 1,168 804 1,059 -9.3 31.7 : Other States 1/ : 43,930 41,639 46,315 5.4 11.2 : United States ..: 59,736 56,813 62,799 5.1 10.5 : Atlantic .......: 12,160 11,784 12,256 0.8 4.0 Central ........: 36,804 34,564 38,632 5.0 11.8 West ...........: 10,772 10,465 11,911 10.6 13.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ States not shown when fewer than 3 plants reported or individual plant operations could be disclosed. West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming. Central: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin. Atlantic: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia. Statistical Methodology Data Collection Period: Dairy products estimates are based upon survey data collected after the close of each month. Production data are provided by the firms producing dairy products. Sampling frames and sample size: In 2025, there were 1,184 manufacturers that produced one or more dairy products. In states with small numbers of plants, reports are received from all plants each month. In states with large numbers of plants, survey procedures are designed to obtain monthly reports from all large plants and from a sample of small plants. In some states, the State Departments of Agriculture assist in collection of data, which eliminates duplicate reporting and reduces respondent burden. Modes of data collection: Data are collected by mail, personal and telephone interviews, facsimile, and via electronic mail. Terms and definitions: Firms complete the questionnaire using standard industry definitions and through the aid of instructions and definitions provided on the questionnaire. Reliability: Data for the Dairy Products report are collected by a Census of all known manufacturers of dairy products in the United States. Firms producing large quantities of dairy products, along with a sample of smaller firms, are contacted monthly to collect previous month production data. Those small firms not contacted monthly are contacted after the close of the year to obtain previous year production. Production of products at small firms not contacted monthly are estimated during the monthly survey based upon check data, and state and national trends. Small firms are defined as those that do not make up a significant portion of the published total. Plants storing nonfat dry milk and dry whey are required under Federal law as defined in Public Laws 106-532 and 107-171 to complete the Dairy Products report. Plants storing these items are contacted monthly. Additionally, many state governments have mandated that dairy plants in their state complete the Dairy Products report each month. Because the Dairy Products survey is a census, sampling error should not affect the final estimates, however non-sampling errors are possible. Estimating Procedures: In the Regional Field Office (RFO), data reported by firms are reviewed for reasonableness and consistency by comparing with data reported in prior months and by data reported by other firms in the State. Each RFO summarizes data at the Individual State level. State estimates are submitted to the Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB) along with supporting comments where they are compared with surrounding states, their region, and national trends. During both RFO and ASB review, plants are sometimes contacted again for further verification of numbers reported. After ASB review, RFO data are summarized into a National level summary. Revision Policy: Monthly estimates are subject to revision the month following the preliminary estimates. Annual estimates are published in late April in the Dairy Products Yearly Summary report which includes any revisions made to previous 2 years of estimates. Revisions are generally due to plant data that are received too late to be included in the current report. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@usda.gov. Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch................................................ (202) 692-0069 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter............................................. (202) 690-8632 Tiffany Byrne - Dairy Products...................................................... (651) 440-7789 Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed................................................. (202) 720-3040 Kim DaPra - Milk Production......................................................... (202) 720-3278 Fatema Haque - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised................... (202) 720-3244 Derron Martin - Catfish, Census of Aquaculture, Egg Products, Trout................. (202) 690-3237 Ralph Mondesir - Hogs and Pigs...................................................... (202) 720-3106 Suzanne Richards - Cost of Pollination, Honey, Honey Bee Colonies, Sheep and Goats.. (202) 720-4448 Shulonda Shaw - Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses, Cold Storage................... (202) 720-3240 Autumn Stone - Layers, Eggs......................................................... (202) 690-3676 Takiyah Walker - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery................................. (202) 720-6147 Access to NASS Reports For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways: All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov. The national specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on "National" in upper right corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive. Economics, Statistics, and Market Information (ESMIS) - National Agricultural Library (NAL) website houses NASS's and other agency archived reports at https://esmis.nal.usda.gov. All email subscriptions containing reports will be sent from https://esmis.nal.usda.gov. To receive the reports via e-mail, you will have to go to the website, create a new account and subscribe to the reports. You should whitelist notifications@esmis.nal.usda.gov in your email client to avoid the emails going into spam/junk folders. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@usda.gov. If you have specific questions you would like an expert to respond to, please visit our "Ask A Specialist" website at www.nass.usda.gov/Contact_Us/Ask_a_Specialist. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690- 7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.