Source: Dairy Herd Management
Zisk, a downloadable app used by more than 4,500 dairy farms representing over half of the U.S. milk cow herd, projects a generally profitable outlook for 2026, though gains will be unevenly distributed. The app’s fourth annual report shows producers checking profitability frequently, giving a detailed, real-time view of future conditions. Larger operations are expected to significantly outperform smaller ones, widening the profitability gap.
Herds exceeding 5,000 cows sit at the top of the profit curve, while farms with fewer than 250 cows often face marginal or negative returns despite favorable milk prices. Regionally, the Midwest leads with the strongest average profits, driven by exceptional performance from large herds and standout results in states such as Wisconsin. The Southeast and Northwest also show solid prospects, while the Northeast and Southwest post more moderate results. Across all regions, economies of scale, production efficiency, and cost management continue to favor larger dairy operations.