292 | Leading the "Whey" into 2026: December Market Update from HighGround Dairy
In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen talks with Curtis Bosma from HighGround Dairy about the current state of the dairy market as of December 2025 and projections for 2026. They discuss stagnant dairy prices, particularly in cheese and butter, the role of whey in sustaining Class 3 milk prices, and the impacts of overproduction and bird flu on milk supply. Curtis also provides insights into alternative revenue sources like beef streams and methane digesters that are supporting dairy farmers. The episode closes with strategic advice for dairy producers to manage margins and plan ahead for the new year.
Grab your own copy of the monthly market update here: https://marketing.highgrounddairy.com/december-2025-producer-market-update
This episode is brought to you by: HighGround Dairy provides global dairy market intelligence, insurance services, futures & options brokerage, and advisory programs to a diverse range of dairy market participants throughout the supply chain.
00:00 Introduction to Dairy Market Trends
00:42 Current Dairy Market Overview
03:07 Milk Production Insights
04:39 Bird Flu Impact on Dairy Market
07:58 Cheese and Butter Market Analysis
11:51 Whey Protein: The Unsung Hero
13:08 Alternative Revenue Sources for Dairy Farms
16:32 Strategies for 2026
21:06 Final Thoughts
Information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes and is not a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Opinions expressed are current opinions as of December 17, 2025 at 1 p.m. CST and only represent the views of the speaker and not those of HighGround Trading, unless otherwise expressly noted.
