The March 2018 milk production budgets for Iowa and Nebraska compiled by UNL Extension Educator Robert Tigner shows the 20,000 pound March 2018 budget has a negative $1.70 per cwt, 8 cents per cwt worse than February. When calculating net revenue after all variable costs are paid, there is only $0.595 per cwt to pay fixed costs and management. Unfortunately the fixed costs are $1.55 per cwt in the 20,000 pound budget. Feed costs rose by $0.415 per cwt but income was higher by only $0.105 per hundredweight. Corn was 10 cents per bushel higher, soybean meal $24 per ton higher and cottonseed $6.25 per ton higher. On the income side, total income rose due to increased protein and butterfat prices as well as a rise in pounds of butterfat. A slight decline in protein pounds and a big move to a negative PPD, -$0.30, softened the improved component prices effects.
One more comment on this dairy budget series. It is intended to be a sort of index of returns for milk production for the I-29 corridor and much of Iowa. Fixed costs have not been updated since August 2009.
The free stall budget is available Copy of March-dairy budget 2018
The tie stall budget is available Copy of March-dairy budget tie stalls 2018.