January 07, 2026

2026 Dairy Economic Outlook

38 minutes

What will 2026 bring the dairy economy? Our guest emphasizes the importance of understanding demand curves and offers actionable insights for farmers to navigate the challenges ahead.

Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guest David Widmar of AEI discuss the following topics:

Reflecting on Historical Contexts

Current Financial Health of U.S. Agriculture

Commodity Prices Outlook for 2026

Trade Dynamics and Their Impact

Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture

Labor and Immigration Policy Effects

Risk Management Strategies for Farmers

Ad Hoc Policies and Their Implications

Demand Curves and Economic Insights

Key Action Items for Farmers in 2026

About the guest

David Widmar is an ag economist specializing in trends and conditions across the farm economy. He is the managing partner of Ag Economic Insights (AEI.ag), which he co-founded with Dr. Brent Gloy in 2014. AEI is a trusted source of insight for thousands of ag professionals who subscribe to the free weekly newsletter, AEI Premium, or various data offerings. Before founding AEI, Mr. Widmar was a researcher at Purdue University. He holds degrees from Kansas State University and Purdue University.

Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream. Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship.

This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing [email protected].

Join us at Dairy Strong on January 14-15 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Gain timely political updates, dive into the dynamics of producer-processor relationships and learn strategies to sustain a stronger future for dairy through innovation and collaboration. United together, we’re leading with purpose—one person, one policy and one farm at a time. To learn more, visit dairystrong.org.

Recorded 12.17.25

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