In partnership with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, the Zwick Center maintains a farm-level model of dairy production methods, inputs and costs that is used to estimate the costs of producing 100 pounds (a hundredweight) of milk in Connecticut. The Zwick Center staff updates input prices every quarter using price indices from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to update estimates of the cost of producing milk, to take into account variations in input prices that may arise from many sources.
Here, the cost of dairy products can be viewed. Updates are provided every quarter of each year from 2011. The Zwick Center staff regularly updates costs of inputs from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to obtain estimates of the cost to Connecticut farmers for producing each 100 pounds of milk.
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
Additional Zwick Center Reports for Dairy
Rabinowitz, Adam N. and Lopez, Rigoberto A. 2011. "Maine Milk Cost of Production Estimates for April, May, and June 2011". - Q2 2011 Maine
Other Reports Co-Authored by Zwick Center Members Related to Dairy
Outreach Reports
Lopez, Rigoberto A. 2017. "Economic Impact of Connecticut’s Dairy Industry : An Update". Economic Impact of Dairy in CT 2017
Bravo-Ureta, Boris B., Jelliffe, Jeremy L., Rabinowitz, Adam N., Meinart, Richard, Meader, Joyce, Bonelli, Joseph, and Andrews, Shelia. 2013. "The Cost of Producing Milk in Connecticut: An Overview". Cost of Producing Milk in CT Overview 2013
Lopez, Rigoberto A., Rabinowitz, Adam N. and Plesha Nataliya. 2013. "ECONOMIC AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACTS OF CONNECTICUT’S PUBLIC ACT 09-229 TO SUPPORT DAIRY FARMING". Impacts on Economic & Dairy Farm Sustainability for CT Public Act
Lopez, Rigoberto A. and Rabinowitz, Adam N. 2011. "Comparison of Dairy Farming in Connecticut, Vermont, and Maine for Purposes of Determining the Appropriate Cost of Production Benchmark for Connecticut". Comparing Dairy Farming in CT, VT, & ME
Cotterill, Ronald W. and Rabinowitz, Adam N. 2009. "The Need for New Milk Pricing Policies ". Need for New Milk Pricing Strategies 2009
Cotterill, Ronald W. and Rabinowitz, Adam N. 2007. "Toward Reform of Fluid Milk Pricing in Southern New England: Analysis of Proposed State Level Milk Regulation Policies in Connecticut and Massachusetts". Analysis of Proposed Milk Regulation in CT & MA
Cotterill, Ronald W., Rabinowitz, Adam N., Cohen, Michael A., Murphy, Melanie R. and Rhodes, Charles R. 2007. "Toward Reform of Fluid Milk Pricing in Southern New England: Farm Level, Wholesale and Retail Prices in the Fluid Milk Marketing Channel: 2003 - 2006". Reform of Milk Pricing in Southern New England 2003 to 2006
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2003. "A Preliminary Response to the Report Prepared for the Massachusetts Food Association by John Schnittker titled, 'An Analysis of the Cotterill Proposal' ". Dairy Proposal 2003
Schnittker, John. 2003. "An Analysis of the Cotterill Proposal". Dairy Proposal Analysis 2003
Bailey, Kenneth W. 2001. "Impact of the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact on Consumer Prices for Fluid Milk". Impact of Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact on Consumer Prices for Milk
Fact Sheets
Lopez, Rigoberto A., Jeremy Jelliffe and Shuresh Ghimire. 2020. "CBD Hemp Production Costs & Returns for Connecticut Farmers in 2020". Fact Sheet 1, Summary of Outreach Report No. 66
Campbell, Ben, Adam Rabinowitz and Yizao Liu. 2015. "What's Happening with Local? The Ins and Outs of Local Purchasing." CT Farm Bureau Association Newsletter. news_23_2486526470
Bartholomew, C, V. Wallace, and Ben Campbell. 2013. "A Survey of Schools Pest Management Practices." Zwick_or23_FactSheet_Bartholomew_Wallace_Campbell_2013
Research Reports
Bravo-Ureta, Boris B., Jelliffe, Jeremy L., Rabinowitz, Adam N., Meinart, Richard, Meader, Joyce, Bonelli, Joseph, and Andrews, Shelia. 2012. "THE ANNUAL COST OF PRODUCING MILK IN CONNECTICUT: ESTIMATES FOR 2011". Cost of Producing Milk in CT 2011
Lopez, Rigoberto A. and Lopez, Elena. 2008. "Demand for Differentiated Milk Products: Implications for Price Competition". Diffentiated Milk Product Demand
Lopez, Rigoberto A. and Cleary, Rebecca L. O. "Is Wal-Mart Good for Competition? Evidence from Milk Prices". Walmart Milk Prices
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2006. "Annotated and Expanded Minutes of the Milk Marketing Policy Meeting". Annotated & Expanded Minutes of Milk Marketing Policy Meeting 2006
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2006. "Outline of a Fair Share Milk Pricing Policy Program As Requested by Carolyn Orr, Council of State Governments after the February St. Albans, Vermont Meeting on Dairy Policy and Prices". Outline of Fair Share Milk Pricing Policy Program on Dairy Policy & Prices
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2006. "Pricing and Policy Problems in the Northeast Fluid Milk Industry". Pricing & Policy in Northeast Milk Industry
Cotterill, Ronald W. and Rabinowitz, Adam N. 2006. "Toward Reform of Fluid Milk Pricing in Southern New England: Milk Market Channel Policies for Connecticut and Other States". Reform of Milk Pricing in Southern New England
Cotterill, Ronald W., Rabinowitz, Adam N., and Schwane Matthew. 2005. "Analysis of the July 2005 Milk Price Survey with a Comparison to Previous Surveys". Analysis of July 2005 Milk Price Survey with Comparisons
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2005. "Milk Pricing Matters for the Sustainability of Dairy Farmers in the Northeast". Milk Pricing for Dairy Farmer Sustainability in Northeast
Cotterill, Ronald W. and Canan Basak. 2005. "Strategic Pricing in a Differentiated Product Oligopoly Model: Fluid Milk in Boston". Oligopoly Model Milk in Boston
Lass, Daniel. 2005. "Asymmetric Response of Retail Milk Prices in the Northeast Revisited." Retail Milk Prices in Northeast Responses
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2005. "Vertical Foreclosure: The Impact of the Proposed Reduction in Diversion Limits on the Exercise of Market Power and the Economic Performance of Milk Marketing Channels in the Mideast Federal Milk Marketing Area." Vertical Foreclosure & Impacts on Milk Marketing Channels in Mideast
Cotterill, Ronald W., Rabinowitz, Adam N., and Schwane Matthew. 2004. "Analysis of the May 2004 Milk Price Survey with a Comparison to June 2003". Analysis of May 2004 Milk Price Survey vs. June 2003
Lopez, Rigoberto A., Cotterill, Ronald, and Chidmi, Benaissa. 2004. "Retail Oligopoly Power, Dairy Compact, and Boston Milk Prices". Boston Milk Prices & Oligopoly Power
Lopez, Rigoberto A. and Bonnanno, Alessandro. 2004. "Private Labels, Retail Configuration, and Fluid Milk Prices". Private Store Brands & Milk Prices
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2004. "Milk Pricing Problems and Solutions: An Essay on the Need for New State Level Milk Price Regulation in the Northeast, with Special Attention to Connecticut Substitute Bill No. 5642". Milk Pricing Problems & Solutions
Cotterill, Ronald W., Lopez, Rigoberto A. and Chidmi Benaissa. 2004. "Retail Oligopoly Power, Dairy Compact, and Boston Milk Prices". Oligopoly Power & Milk Prices
Cotterill, Ronald W., Rabinowitz, Adam N. and Schwane, Matthew. 2004. "Retail Milk Prices in New England, New York, and Seattle: An Unresolved Issue." Retail Milk Prices in New England, New York & Seattle - An Issue
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2004. "What is the Value of Milk?" Value of Milk
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2003. "Answers to Questions that Often Surface When Discussing the Proposed Connecticut Fair Pricing Milk Law". Answers to Questions on CT Fair Pricing Milk Law
Cotterill, Ronald W., Rabinowitz, Adam N. and Tian, Li. 2003. "A Law to Promote Efficient and Fair Pricing of Milk in Connecticut". CT Law to Promote Efficient Fair Pricing of Milk
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2003. "Drafting a Connecticut Fair Milk Pricing Law: A Meeting the Competition Clause that Enhances the Competitive Position of Connecticut Processors and A Small Account Rule that Recognizes the Higher Cost of Supplying Such Accounts". Drafting CT Fair Milk Pricing Law
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2003. "Explanation of Farmer Benefits of the Proposed Connecticut Milk Pricing Laws Presented to Connecticut Farm Bureau Dairy Committee and Litchfield Dairy Committee Joint Meeting". Explanation of Farmer Benefits of Proposed CT Milk Pricing Laws
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2003. "Drafting of Connecticut Fair Milk Pricing Law: Further Thoughts on the Retail Price Collar". Further Thoughts on CT Fair Milk Pricing Law
Cotterill, Ronald W. and Rabinowitz, Adam N. 2003. "An Old and New Cooperative Alternative: Integration by Farmers Into Fluid Processing to Develop Local Brands to Capture Some of the Channel Margin". Integration by Farmers to Develop Local Milk Brands to Capture Channel Margin
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2003. "Fair Pricing Mechanics". Milk Fair Pricing Mechanics
Cotterill, Ronald W., Rabinowitz, Adam N. and Matthew Schwane. 2003. "Retail Milk Prices in New England, New York, and Seattle: An Unresolved Issue". Milk Prices in New England, New York & Seattle
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2003. "Fluid Milk Market Channel Pricing: Monopolistic Pricing by Retailers Hurts Processors, Farmers, Consumers, and Federal Market Order Pricing". Monopolistic Milk Market Channel Pricing Hurts
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2003. "The Northeast Dairy Policy and Prices Summit Meeting". Northeast Dairy Policy & Prices Summit Meeting
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2003. "The Impact of the Northeastern Dairy Compact On New England Consumers: A Report from the Milk Policy Wars". Northeastern Dairy Compact Impact on New England Consumers
Cotterill, Ronald W. and Dhar, Tirtha P. 2003. "Oligopoly Pricing with Differentiated Products: The Boston Fluid Milk Market Channel". Oligopoly Pricing & Milk Market Channel
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2003. "Responses to some questions raised at the March 14, 2003 meeting on dairy pricing and fair pricing milk". Responses to Dairy Pricing & Fair Pricing Milk Meeting 2003
Cotterill, Ronald W., Rabinowitz, Adam N. and Scwane, Matthew. 2003. "Testimony on the Massachusetts Milk Price Situation and the Proposed Massachusetts Milk Price Gouging Law ". Testimony on MA Milk Price Situation & Law
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2002. "A Fair Share Law for Connecticut and Other Northeast Dairy States: A State Level Solution to Retail Milk Price Gouging and the Dairy Farm Crisis". Fair Share Law for CT & Other Northeast Dairy States
Cotterill, Ronald W. and Rabinowitz, Adam N. 2002. "Analysis of Two Related Milk Price Approaches to Address the Noncompetitive Pricing Problem in the Milk Industry: The 40-40 Consumer Approach and the Farmer and Consumer Fair Share Approach". Analysis of Two Related Milk Price Approaches
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2002. "Dairy Policy for New England: Options at the State and Regional Level". Dairy Policy for New England
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2002. "Who Benefits from Deregulated Milk Prices: The Missing Link is the Marketing Channel". Deregulated Milk Prices
Cotterill, Ronald W., Rabinowitz, Adam N. and Tian, Li. 2002. "Milk Prices in New England and Neighboring Areas of New York: A Prologue to Action?" Milk Prices in New England and Areas of New York
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2002. "A Northeast Dairy Compact Post Mortem". Northeast Dairy Compact Post Mortem
Cotterill, Ronald W. and Dhar, Tirtha P. 2002. "Price Transmission in Differentiated Product Market Channels: A Study of the Boston Fluid Milk Market and the North East Dairy Compact". Price Transmission of Boston Milk Market & North East Dairy Compact
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2002. "Supermarket Prices Need to Come Down". Supermarket Milk Prices
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2002. "Supermarkets, Stop the Gouging - Milk Prices Should Tumble $1". Supermarkets & Gouging Milk Prices
Cotterill, Ronald W. and Franklin, Andrew W. 2001. "Author's Response to Kenneth Bailey's Review of 'The Public Interest and Private Economic Power: A Case Study of the Northeast Dairy Compact' ". Author Response to Review of Public Interest Private Economic Power of Northeast Dairy Compact
Foltz, Jeremy and Chang, Hsiu-Hui. 2001. "The Adoption and Profitability of rbST on Connecticut Dairy Farms". CT Dairy Farms Adoption & Profitability of rbST
Cotterill, Ronald W. and Franklin, Andrew W. 2001. "The Impact of the Northeast Dairy Compact: A Comparative Evaluation of Two Studies". Comparative Evaluation of Impact of Northeast Dairy Compact
Cotterill, Ronald W. and Brundage, Michael F. 2001. "Competition, or the Lack Thereof in Local Fluid Milk Markets: San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Miami and Dallas-Forth Worth". Competition or Lack of it in Milk Markets in San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Miami & Dallas-Forth Worth
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2001. "The Dairy Compact is not Dairy Socialism, Lactose Leninism, nor is it a Cartel". Dairy Compact Not a Cartel
Cotterill, Ronald W. and Franklin, Andrew W. 2001. "A PowerPoint® Deconstruction of the Farm and Retail Price Analysis Presented in 'The Public Interest and Private Economic Power: A Case study of the Northeast Dairy Compact' ". Deconstruction of Farm & Retail Price Analysis
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2001. "Testimony on the Impact of the Northeast Dairy Compact and Market Channel Pricing Strategies on the Performance of the New England Dairy Industry". Testimony on Impact of Northeast Dairy Compact & Milk Marketing Pricing Strategies on New England Dairy Industry
Cotterill, Ronald W. 2001. "University of Connecticut Research on Dairy Compacts and Fluid Milk Pricing: Executive Summaries, Fact Sheets, and Price Charts". UConn Research on Dairy Compacts & Milk Pricing
Frigon, Mathieu, Doyon, Maurice and Romain Robert. 1999. "Asymmetry in Farm-Retail Price Transmission In the Northeastern Fluid Milk Market". Northeastern Milk Market Asymmetry in Farm-Retail Price Transmission
Cotterill, Ronald W. 1995. "The Dairy Industry: A Connecticut Perspective". CT Dairy Industry Perspective
Cotterill, Ronald W. and Haller, Lawrence E. 1994. "Market Strategies in Branded Dairy Product Markets". Market Strategies in Branded Dairy Product Markets
Cotterill, Ronald W., Pinkerton, Don C. and Haller, Lawrence E. 1990. "Economic Analysis of the Proposed Dairy Income Enhancement Program". Economic Ananlysis of Proposed Dairy Income Enhancement Program
Johnson, Gary V. 1989. "An Examination of the Connecticut Dairy Inspection Program". CT Dairy Inspection Program Examination
Cotterill, Ronald W. 1989. "Changing Connecticut's Dairy Regulations: Implications for Performance in the Northeast Dairy Industry". CT Dairy Regulations
Working Paper Series
Lopez, Rigoberto A. and Li, Xun. 2015. "Energy Price Transmission and Retail Milk Prices". Energy Prices & Retail Milk Prices
Bravo-Ureta, Boris B. and Njuki, Eric. 2014. "A Bayesian Approach to Analyzing the Economic Costs of Environmental Regulation in Dairy Farming". Economics of Environmental Laws in Dairy Farming