Tariffs bring dairy trade to forefront

Dairy continues to face multiple challenges, according to Corey Geiger, lead dairy economist for CoBank.

“In recent weeks, several national news outlets have called to discuss what I refer to as ‘dairy’s difficult trifecta,’” Geiger says. “This includes highly pathogenic avian influenza and its effect on cow health, human health and milk production; immigration and its impact on labor; and of course, tariffs and the changes to trade. The latter topic on tariffs is challenging to discuss as the narrative changes by the day, hour, and even the minute.”

Geiger notes it is important to point out that dairy has many positive economic storylines.

“For starters, dairy grew into a record $76 billion retail category this past year, topping all other food categories, based on Circana U.S. sales data,” he says. “In addition to this positive trend, the average American now consumes 661 pounds of dairy products each year.” That’s the highest total dating back to 1959, according to USDA data.

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