Where does your milk check actually come from?
See, line by line, what the federal FMMO formula says you should be paid this month — and where your co-op's numbers differ.
Free. No login. No upload. Nothing leaves your browser.
Example
300-cow Wisconsin dairy, April 2026
Federal Order: Order 30 — Upper Midwest · 300,000 lbs milk · 3.85% BF · 3.1% protein
| Line item | Your check | Diff |
|---|---|---|
| Butterfat 11,550 lbs × $1.8700/lb | $21,599 | $0 |
| Protein 9,300 lbs × $2.5200/lb | $23,436 | $0 |
| Other solids 17,100 lbs × $0.3900/lb | $6,669 | $0 |
| PPD (Upper Midwest) 3,000 cwt × $1.50/cwt | $4,500 | $0 |
| Federal make-allowance Embedded in federal Class III price before it publishes
Subtracted before federal Class III publishes. What's this? | not shown on check | −$3,420 |
| Volume premium $0.15/cwt
Co-op discretion
| $450 | +$450 |
| Quality premium $0.10/cwt
Co-op discretion
| $300 | +$300 |
| Promotion (national + state) $0.20/cwt | −$600 | $0 |
| Hauling $0.55/cwt
Co-op discretion
| −$1,650 | −$1,650 |
| Cooperative dues $0.10/cwt
Co-op discretion
| −$300 | −$300 |
| Net check | $54,404 | — |
Federal Class III price for April 2026 was $16.82/cwt. Without the make-allowance deducted before the price publishes, it would be about $17.96/cwt. On a 300-cow farm at this volume, that's roughly $3,420 per month you don't see on your check.
This is the same gap producers like Darin Von Ruden and the American Dairy Coalition have been raising in 2025-2026 USDA hearings. Bullvine reference.
What's a make-allowance?
A make-allowance is a per-pound deduction the USDA writes into the federal milk pricing formula. It represents the cost the USDA assumes a processor needs to convert raw milk into cheese, butter, nonfat dry milk, or dry whey.
Because it is subtracted before the federal Class III and Class IV prices are published, it never appears as a line on your milk check. The Class price you're paid against is already net of the make-allowance.
On June 1, 2025, USDA raised these make-allowances. The current per-pound rates are:
- Cheese: $0.2519/lb
- Butter: $0.2272/lb
- Nonfat dry milk: $0.2393/lb
- Dry whey: $0.2668/lb
Source: USDA AMS Final Rule, Federal Register 90 FR 5471 (January 17, 2025, effective June 1, 2025).
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