Protein demand pulling up milk checks
- ZISK
- Apr 28
- 1 min read
From its primacy in the latest dietary guidelines to front page headlines, protein is seemingly everywhere, and dairy is particularly well poised to supply the growing demand as the critical nutrient takes center stage in American diets. The good news for dairy producers is that the growing demand for dairy protein is starting to be reflected in their milk checks.
As nonfat dry milk (NFDM) prices hit record highs and dry whey prices sit comfortably above 60 cents, the positive sales momentum driven by today’s protein boom is directly translating into higher prices for dairy producers. In fact, the implied Class IV price based on CME spot values has improved by more than $10 per hundredweight (cwt.) since the start of the year, with most of the rally being driven by NFDM prices gaining by more than $1 per pound.
April 27, 2026
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