MilkPriceAndPolicyTracker
Dairy price and policy educational guide

Class II Milk Price Guide

A practical starting point for dairy farmers, cooperative members, market analysts and agricultural students. Adapt the checklist to your enterprise, local conditions and current regulations.

What this guide helps you do

The subject of Class II Milk Price Guide is easier to manage when observations, dates, costs and outcomes are recorded consistently. Start by stating the decision you need to make; then identify who has responsibility, what supplies or data are needed, and what success looks like. Requirements vary by species, state and operation.

Six-step planning checklist

  1. Project scope: Identify the reporting period, milk class, components, pricing formula, and decision objective for Class II Milk Price Guide.
  2. Price baseline: Record month, pounds or hundredweight, butterfat, protein, other solids, class prices, and applicable market-order provisions.
  3. Reports and contract terms: Identify official USDA AMS pricing releases, milk-check deductions, cooperative terms, and reporting dates. Do not treat sample numbers as current prices.
  4. Costs and tradeoffs: Compare gross milk receipts, component premiums, hauling, marketing deductions, feed costs, and other farm operating expenses.
  5. Daily tracking: Log reporting month, pounds sold, announced class price, components, premiums, deductions, net check, and source links.
  6. Professional review: Check calculations with your cooperative or milk buyer, market administrator, and agricultural Extension economist.

Field record you can copy

Farm or milk buyer (optional identifier): ____________

Start date and location: ____________

Responsible adult or business: ____________

Milk volume, components and reported price: ____________

Materials, inputs and costs: ____________

Safety checks and required permissions: ____________

Results, follow-up and next review date: ____________

Before using this form

This worksheet is not an official milk price report, a market forecast, financial advice or a substitute for buyer statements. Confirm current terms and released price data with USDA AMS and your market administrator.

Authoritative references