Dairy News

Turn Repro into Cashflow with These Three Fixes

Wed, 06 May 2026 15:25:58 GMT

There is a hidden cashflow lever that a lot of dairies can pull today to increase income in the next 12 months, and it is buried in your repro program.

With the value of a calf right now, we want cows getting pregnant as quickly as possible and turning as many calves over as possible. Those calves are an immediate source of income as soon as they hit the ground. That makes pregnancy rate (PR) the “North Star” of the breeding program. The target I want to get dairies to hit is 40% pregnancy rate (PR), and if a dairy isn’t there, here are the three areas I focus on to get more cows pregnant sooner:

Training: You may have a skilled breeder inseminating cows, but even a good breeder can benefit from a refresher course to gain PR points. It’s not uncommon for me to spend time along side the breeder and find that protocols have drifted and become costly habits. For example, on a recent farm visit, we found that semen was being deposited in the uterine horn. One simple retraining and repro improved within a couple of months.
Timing: Shot compliance is paramount. While some people may start out in the appropriate time range, by the time they are done giving shots, the timing is way off. Not only is the timing of shots key, but it’s also important to train employees to do some heat detection and catch good standing heats. These cows are the low-hanging fruit for getting additional pregnancies before a cycle passes by.
Technique: Cow handling technique is the other area where errors occur, compliance wanes and efficiency can be lost. I see a lot of people walking the pens and trying to give shots while the cows are moving. You might get the shot in the cow, but not the full injection. Not to mention, the additional stress you are creating for that cow and the entire pen. If you are trying to catch cows coming out of the parlor, try locking up the first group and releasing them to open up lockups for the last cows coming back to the pen, which are the ones most likely to get missed.

Focusing on these three key areas can pull the lever on pregnancy rate and thus, give you more calves on the ground that can turn into cash quickly.

Diesel Prices Are Breaking Records Across Multiple States, And Relief May Not Come in 2026

Wed, 06 May 2026 12:53:40 GMT

On Tuesday, President Trump stated that high gasoline prices are a “very small price to pay” for the ongoing war with Iran, arguing they are necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He predicted prices will “come crashing down” once the war ends. But for farmers and ranchers, diesel prices have risen more than gas, putting a further strain on already high input costs for 2026.

Trump on Oil Prices:

I looked today, it's like at 102 and that's a very small price to pay pic.twitter.com/2V8LC93wFj
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 5, 2026

To start the week, diesel prices went on another run with the national average diesel price is just 20 cents away from reaching a new all-time high. And across the country, a growing number of states aren’t waiting to get there. About six states are already seeing the national average price of diesel reach record highs.

From the Great Lakes to the West Coast, roughly a half dozen states have already smashed previous records, as a late-April dip in prices quickly faded and a fresh surge took hold.

“Diesel now averaging about $5.65 a gallon nationally. That is only about 20 cents away from a new all-time record high,” says Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy . “So even though we had that short-lived break, we’re right back knocking on the door of records again.”

That “break” didn’t last long. De Haan says even though diesel prices saw a bit of a respite for April, with even prices starting to trend down in mid-April, those prices re-accelerated in the last week.

New records for diesel in:
Michigan, $6.01
Illinois, $6.01
Wisconsin $5.67
(Indiana 0.2c/gal away), $6.03
(Ohio ~19c/gal away), $5.93 https://t.co/DV0387vvMR
— Patrick De Haan (@GasBuddyGuy) May 5, 2026

Now, the rally is showing up in state-by-state records, especially in the Midwest.

“Looking at it state by state, Great Lakes states have seen some tremendous refining issues that have really caused prices to rise dramatically,” he says. “Michigan has now set a new all-time record high for diesel over $6. Indiana is just a few tenths of a penny away from setting a new all-time record. Illinois has set a new all-time record. Wisconsin has set a new all-time record.”

And it’s not just a regional story. States in the West were some of the first to not just see the highest prices, but now also hit record levels.

“Out on the West Coast, Arizona set a record a couple of weeks ago, and Washington state is at an all-time record,” he adds. “So there are probably about a half dozen or so states that have set new all-time records, and again, the national average itself is just 20 cents away.”

Perhaps the most telling shift, though, is there’s no longer a low-price refuge.

“No states any longer have diesel averaging below $5 a gallon,” De Haan says. “Texas was the last holdout, and it now is above $5 per gallon. So across the board, $5 diesel is now essentially the floor, and in some areas, that’s actually the cheaper end of the spectrum.”

At the high end, prices are reaching extremes with California’s average diesel price now surpassing $8 per gallon.

Global Tensions Cloud Relief Outlook

With prices continuing to climb, farmers are looking for relief. What would it take to reverse course? That answer remains tied to global uncertainty.

“Relief may be a little bit elusive,” De Haan admits. “It really just depends on the daily developments in the situation between the U.S. and Iran—whether the Strait is open or not, or whether we’re in phases of escalation.”

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint for global energy supply, moving roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day.

“Nothing else matters to the oil market more than this waterway,” he emphasizes. “We’ve seen attacks that have pushed oil prices higher, which in turn pushes diesel wholesale prices up. You may get a little bit of day-to-day relief, but there really is no ‘coast is clear’ until there’s some sort of definitive resolution.”

And even then, he says a turnaround won’t happen overnight.

“If there is a definitive signal to the market, if the Strait reopens and both sides are aligned, prices could start falling within 48 hours,” De Haan explained. “But the rate of decline is likely to slow after that initial drop.”

Prices Likely to Remain Elevated Through 2026

Not only is the rate of decline projected to be slow, but De Haan says diesel prices aren’t likely to drop back to pre-war levels by the end of the year.

“Roughly half of the increase we’ve seen over the last couple of months could come down within the first few months of positive news,” he said. “But the other half could take many more months. We may not get back to pre-conflict diesel prices until late this year—or even into 2027.”

For agriculture, that prolonged stretch of elevated prices carries real consequences.

“When you look at what comes out of a barrel of oil, diesel only makes up about 25%,” De Haan explained. “Gasoline is a larger portion, so it’s been less impacted. Jet fuel, which is an even smaller share, has been hit the hardest. So it’s almost inverse to how much is produced.”

Why Diesel Is Climbing Faster Than Gasoline

If it feels like diesel prices are rising faster and hitting harder than gasoline, there’s a reason rooted in how a barrel of oil gets used.

“Diesel has seen more of the sticker shock compared to gasoline,” says De Haan. “And a lot of that comes down to what comes out of a barrel of oil.”

Not all fuels are created equally in supply. Gasoline makes up the largest share of a refined barrel, while diesel represents a smaller slice, making it more vulnerable when supply is disrupted.

“Gasoline is the top product flowing out of a barrel of oil, so it’s been the least impacted,” De Haan explains. “Diesel, on the other hand, only accounts for about 25% of a barrel, so it’s been more impacted when there are supply issues.”

That imbalance becomes even clearer when looking across the full spectrum of refined fuels.

“The most significant impact has actually been to jet fuel, which is only about 9% of a barrel,” he adds. “So if you look at it inversely—the smaller the share of the barrel, the bigger the impact we’re seeing right now.”

For agriculture, that dynamic matters more than most sectors.

Diesel isn’t optional on the farm. It’s essential. From planting to harvest, it powers tractors, trucks and the supply chain that moves commodities across the country.

“Diesel is the fuel that drives agriculture,” De Haan say. “And that’s why these price increases are so impactful, not just at the pump, but all the way through the economy.”

And while prices are already elevated, the full effect is still working its way downstream.

“Consumers really haven’t even seen the full onset of some of these higher prices yet,” he adds. “That’s going to continue to trickle through in the weeks ahead.”

Demand Holding...for Now

Even with these high prices, so far, demand hasn’t shown many signs of slowing.

“We have not seen much meaningful decrease in demand yet,” De Haan says. “We’ve seen very little, if any, diesel demand destruction so far, which tells you the economy is essentially preparing to pay these prices because it still needs the fuel.”

But there are warning signs ahead.

“If diesel nationally hits $6 a gallon, that’s likely when we start to see consumption slow,” he says. “For gasoline, that number is about $5 a gallon. We’re getting very close to those thresholds.”

Until then, the pressure continues to mount. And for farmers heading deeper into the growing season, that pressure is becoming harder to ignore.

A Late First Cutting Can Cost You All Season

Tue, 05 May 2026 22:04:11 GMT

With spring fieldwork underway, farmers are juggling a long list of jobs. Planters are rolling, fields are getting prepped and every good weather window is maximized.

At the same time, alfalfa fields continue to grow and are inching closer to first cutting. This timing tends to line up with some of the busiest stretches, and when alfalfa reaches the right stage, it becomes the priority, causing other fieldwork to get set aside. And the challenge with planning first cutting is working within a short window where crop conditions can change in a hurry.

First Cutting Sets the Tone for the Year

According to Kimberly Cassida, a Michigan State University forage specialist, the first cutting often represents a third or more of total seasonal forage production. And in shorter growing season regions, it can approach half of a farm’s total yield. Because of that, timing has a strong impact on feed supplies and ration flexibility throughout the year.

Early in the season the crop changes quickly and the decision to cut comes down to balancing higher yield against declining forage quality.

“For any kind of a forage crop, we always have to deal with a trade-off between yield and quality,” Cassida says. “As our forage crop is increasing in yield over time, it’s becoming more mature, and when it’s more mature, that means it has more fiber, more lignin, more cell wall and more stem compared to leaves.”

(Farm Journal)

Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) increases as the crop matures, while digestibility declines faster in first growth than in later cuttings. Crude protein also declines with maturity, which reduces both energy and protein value when harvest is delayed.

“We like to keep NDF around 40% for dairy-quality hay,” Cassida says. “And that level can change by nearly one percentage point per day.”

What to Look for in the Field

Once you understand how fast quality can change, the focus shifts to determining when the stand is ready to cut. Instead of waiting for a certain date, fields can be walked to assess plant stage, height and how development is progressing.

Plant cues and simple measurements do most of the work in narrowing timing. A few field indicators include:

Stage of growth: “For highest quality, we would like to be harvesting alfalfa at late bud and no later than one‑tenth bloom,” Cassida says. “Once you see purple flowers across the field, you’re past that mark.”
Plant height: First‑cut alfalfa for high‑quality feed is often in the harvest window when bud‑stage plants are about 28 to 32 inches tall. Cassida notes that many growers aim for a point where “bud‑stage alfalfa is about 26 inches tall” as a dairy‑quality target.
Bud development: Look for visible buds with little to no purple bloom showing. A few scattered flowers are acceptable; widespread purple signals you are moving out of the dairy window.
Field variability: Check multiple areas of the field. High spots, low spots, and traffic lanes can all mature at different speeds.
Rapid change in warm weather: In first cutting, quality can slip fast. RFQ can drop four to five points per day, which Cassida linked to “about $10 per day in value per ton” when hay is headed for premium markets.

Together, these help identify when the crop is entering the harvest window where yield and quality are still in balance.

Regrowth Starts the Clock

The first cutting doesn’t just affect one harvest. It ends up setting the timing for the rest of the season and how the remaining cuttings fall into place.

“This date also determines your second, third, fourth and potentially fifth cutting windows,” Cassida says.

(PDPW)

Once the first cutting is made, regrowth starts the clock for the rest of the season. When harvest is delayed, later cuttings can become compressed, reducing flexibility and making it harder to hit optimal timing later in the year.

Delays can also affect plant recovery and overall productivity.

“If you are forced to delay the first cutting due to environmental conditions, this could have negative consequences with a slower regrowth and perhaps a reduction in future yield production,” Cassida says.

Working Within the Window

First cutting carries more weight than any other harvest in the system. It represents a large share of total forage yield, sets the pace for the rest of the season and changes quickly once the crop reaches the bud stage. Weather variability, stand differences and rapid spring growth all influence timing. But combining plant stage, height and regular scouting helps narrow the window.

For most farms, the goal is not just getting it done, but getting it done in a window where yield and quality are still aligned.

Not Done Yet: Despite Packer Investigation Price Shock, Cattle Prices Could Keep Climbing Through 2030

Tue, 05 May 2026 16:12:18 GMT

Fresh policy headlines injected new uncertainty into cattle markets this week, but they haven’t changed the bigger picture driving beef prices higher.

On Monday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced an intensified antitrust investigation into the so-called “Big Four” packers — JBS, Cargill, Tyson Foods and National Beef — which together process the vast majority of U.S. cattle. The probe, which the Trump administration says includes millions of documents and a push for whistleblower testimony, underscores growing concern in Washington over market concentration, pricing behavior and the impact on both producers and consumers.

That news sent cattle prices sharply lower.

While policy developments like Monday’s news can dominate the markets on any given day, they don’t necessarily alter the deeper supply-and-demand forces shaping the cattle market. And right now, those forces remain firmly intact: Record-high beef demand and historically low cattle supplies mean these strong cattle prices aren’t just here, but they may be here to stay through the end of the decade.

Cattle Prices Not Done Climbing Yet

Oklahoma State Extension livestock economist Derrell Peel says he’s never been this bullish for this long. And the reason is such strong fundamentals at play. The market’s direction is still being driven far more by biology and consumer behavior than by policy headlines. And while the investigation may shape the industry over time, it does not immediately create more cattle or reduce beef demand, which are two factors that remain at the core of today’s price strength.

The result is a market where short-term volatility — whether sparked by policy, disease concerns or geopolitical events — continues to play out against a longer-term bullish trend. And as long as supplies stay tight and consumers keep buying beef, the broader trajectory points toward the same conclusion: Cattle prices may not be done climbing yet.

What makes the current environment so unusual is not just the volatility in cattle prices, but how long demand has held together despite those increases. Consumers have continued to buy beef even as retail prices climb and supplies tighten, resisting the typical shift toward lower-cost proteins like pork or chicken. That resilience has been a cornerstone of the market’s strength, helping sustain the rally even as production constraints persist.

The Supply Side of the Story

Even with that looming concern, the supply side of the equation continues to dominate the broader market narrative. In fact, one of the most striking aspects of the current cycle is how little progress has been made toward rebuilding the U.S. cattle herd, despite strong price incentives that would typically encourage expansion.

“This is the longest in my entire career that I’ve basically had the same outlook,” Peel says. “This thing really started in the fall of 2022, as far as the current price run that we’re on. It continues. And the story hasn’t changed, and we really haven’t changed anything yet that sets up the idea that it’s going to change anytime soon.”

That consistency reflects a deeper theme within the industry. While high prices might suggest an imminent increase in production, the biological and economic realities of cattle production make rapid expansion difficult, especially when producers remain cautious.

“Very, very limited at this point — so essentially no,” Peel says when asked if there are signs the U.S. cattle herd is starting to rebuild. “I mean, we just have very limited indications of a little bit of interest in heifer retention, but not a lot happening yet. We’re watching the weather at springtime. There’s a lot of concern about drought conditions that could derail anything we might want to do anyway.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by U.S. Farm Report (@usfarmreport)

Without meaningful heifer retention, Peel explains the process of herd rebuilding cannot truly begin. And until that process starts, he thinks the market remains locked in a pattern of tight supplies and upward price pressure.

“The bottom line is we really haven’t started the clock yet on the things that would eventually lead to a top in this market,” Peel says.

That delay has pushed expectations further into the future, extending the timeline for when increased production might finally ease the market. Each passing season without expansion reinforces the same dynamic: limited supply supporting prices.

“Oh, yeah, we keep pushing it out,” Peel says. “You know, I’ve already extended it probably two years. We’re still waiting again for that clock to start at this point. So until we see some definitive signs of substantial amount of heifer retention, you know, the path continues as it is.”

Even if producers were to begin retaining heifers immediately, the lag time between that decision and its impact on beef production would stretch for years. That built-in delay is a defining feature of the cattle cycle and one reason why price trends tend to persist once they are established.

“And it’ll be some months after that,” Peel says. “Typically, a year to a year and a half after we start heifer retention would be when we would expect these markets to peak out. So we’re on a timeline now where, if we start saving heifers right now, it’s going to be the end of the decade before we really change overall beef production significantly.”

The Bullish Run in Cattle: How Long Can It Last?

That long runway helps explain why Peel remains firmly bullish — even at today’s record price levels. In his view, the market simply hasn’t reached the point where supply can begin to catch up with demand.

“Still predicting higher highs, as scary as that is for me to say,” Peel says. “We’re at record-high prices, and I expect that we’re going to go higher. I don’t think the peak in prices happens in 2026. I think it’s somewhere after that.”

Those supply constraints and demand dynamics point toward a market that could remain elevated well into the latter part of the decade.

“It’s really hard to say right now until we sort of know how it’s playing out,” Peel says, referring to how the eventual peak might unfold. “It’s all really kind of ahead of us as far as that goes. I don’t see it happening. We’re on such a slow build that I think it’s going to be more of a measured approach rather than a sharp peak.”

Still Some Uncertainty Ahead

Still, while the long-term outlook remains bullish, the short-term environment is anything but stable. Day-to-day market action continues to be shaped by uncertainty, with external shocks triggering rapid price swings that can complicate marketing decisions for producers.

“In the meantime, we’re dealing with a lot of risk and uncertainty in this market,” Peel says. “So we’re in this unusual situation where we have a bullish outlook and yet a really strong need for producers to be doing risk management just because the market is so volatile on a short-term basis.”

One Risk: High Gas Prices

One of those risks is the fact outside economic pressures are beginning to build. Gas prices recently jumped 33¢ in a single week, reaching their highest level since July 2022. While that may seem disconnected from cattle markets at first glance, fuel costs play a direct role in shaping consumer purchasing power, especially when increases persist over time.

“Economists define demand as willingness and ability to purchase products,” Peel says. “The willingness is there. But the ability, high gas prices is probably the biggest threat out there.”

That distinction between willingness and ability is critical to understanding where the beef market could be headed next. So far, consumers have shown little hesitation in purchasing beef, even at elevated price levels. However, sustained increases in everyday expenses like fuel can gradually erode disposable income, forcing households to make tougher decisions at the meat counter.

“If the current geopolitical situation persists and keeps gas prices high for another few months, at some point in time it may impact consumer incomes enough that it forces them to make more adjustments,” Peel adds. “And that would be the biggest threat to beef demand at this point.”

That potential shift has not yet materialized, but it represents one of the few risks to an otherwise bullish outlook. For now, demand remains strong, helping support prices even as supplies remain historically tight. But the longer external cost pressures linger, the more likely it becomes that consumer behavior could begin to change.

New World Screwworm Risk

Animal health concerns have been one of the more visible drivers of that volatility, particularly when it comes to New World screwworm . Even unconfirmed reports or isolated cases have proven capable of moving markets, highlighting just how sensitive current conditions are to uncertainty.

“These animal health issues are certainly one of them,” Peel says. “We’ve got a lot of things going on right now that are kind of like that. We get news, and markets don’t like uncertainty. And so that’s what we’re dealing with here.”

Peel says in some cases, the uncertainty is worse than the reality, which means the market is even more sensitive to any type of news.

“But the market is also very resilient. So when we do see these impacts, whether it’s from New World screwworm or concerns about infrastructure or geopolitical events, whatever it is, the market tends to react, but then it bounces back pretty quickly,” he points out.

But for producers, Peel says volatility is a major risk.

“And the challenge for producers is to not get caught where you have to be marketing something in the middle of one of these short-term shocks in the market,” he says. “And so that’s the challenge for them to try to manage around that volatility.”

Is the U.S. Prepared?

From a policy and preparedness standpoint, Amy Hagerman, Extension specialist for agriculture and food policy at Oklahoma State University, emphasizes risks like New World screwworm extend beyond cattle imports alone. The pathways for introduction are broader, requiring a more comprehensive approach to monitoring and response.

“This is a pest that likes anything that’s warm-blooded,” Hagerman says. “And so it’s going to catch a ride with anybody that it can catch a ride with.”

Yet, there’s a general assumption that even though the Southern border remains closed to live cattle imports, that if NWS enters the U.S., it won’t be because of cattle. Instead, it could enter the U.S. via wildlife or something else.

“I think a higher level of awareness, education and vigilance is really important, whether we’re talking about pets for somebody who has vacationed in Mexico, or even individuals, or whether we’re talking about wildlife,” Hagerman says. “We’ve seen a real effort, publicly and privately, to kind of enhance that awareness.”

The latest NWS case, according to Hagerman, is less than 70 miles from the U.S. border and points to the urgency of ongoing monitoring efforts in the region.

“As somebody who does a lot of emergency preparedness, I can tell you that all plans never survive interaction with reality,” she says. “But I do think we’ve put a lot of effort, a lot of time into preparing for this — setting up the infrastructure and educating producers because this is going to be a producer-management issue by and large.”

Possible Permanent Changes of Flow of Cattle From Mexico to the U.S.

Peel adds that while such issues may be costly and complex at the individual level, their broader market impact may be limited compared to supply fundamentals.

“I think the risk here for the impact of New World screwworm is not so much a broader market one, because it’s going to be a very costly issue for producers individually to manage, for regional efforts to control it,” Peel says. “It’s probably not going to impact the overall market all that much.”

Beyond animal health, trade policy remains another uncertain variable. The continued closure of the southern border to live cattle imports has already reshaped supply flows, and prolonged disruption could lead to more permanent structural changes.

“I think we could,” Peel says when asked whether trade patterns might shift for good. “I mean, arguably the biggest impacts of all of this in terms of the economic impact of the border being closed, we’ve already felt up to this point.”

“You know, we probably didn’t get 700,000 or 800,000 head of Mexican cattle last year that we would have gotten,” Peel adds. “And so, you know, we’re past that now, but the thing is, those cattle have been dealt with. They’re using them in Mexico. They have infrastructure to utilize those cattle in their domestic market.”

Peel says the longer this goes on, the more supply chains and production systems need to adjust to the fact the normal or historic trade flows have changed.

“The risk is that maybe we lose it permanently. It changes things on a permanent basis,” Peel says.

No matter the day-to-day noise, the market remains defined by a rare combination of strong demand, constrained supply and mounting external pressures. While higher fuel costs could eventually test consumers’ ability to keep paying record prices, the lack of herd expansion continues to underpin a bullish outlook, one that may keep cattle prices elevated through the end of the decade.

Every Generation Has to Figure it Out

Tue, 05 May 2026 15:15:56 GMT

The dairy industry is changing fast. Some would argue dairy is changing faster than any other part of agriculture. Either way, the pattern is the same: the farms that win tomorrow will do it with a different skill set than the farms that won yesterday.

I’m not trying to predict the future. I’m simply pointing out what history keeps teaching us: every generation has to figure out what matters most, then build the skills to match.

Before my Granddad passed away, I asked him how he survived and even thrived when he got started farming. You see, he started his farming career on poor, sandy soil on the wrong side of the tracks... in the Thirties. Yet he made it through. He said everyone was poor, and everyone struggled, but he was a very good mechanic, and he could drive straighter than most. Because he could drive straight and plant straight, cultivation was better, and his yields were higher. This wasn’t a huge advantage, but it was enough.

Before my dad passed, I asked him the same question. He said that Granddad was a great mechanic, but he found that he made more money in the office with a pencil and understanding of his finances than with a wrench. He sharpened his pencil and figured out a way to place the second irrigator in Minnesota on our poor sandy soil. It didn’t take long for that poor soil to become valuable.

Today, my brother has a mechanic, an agronomist, and an accountant. What is his role today? His main role is organizing others who do the work and finding talent. Sure, he has to have a working knowledge of many areas, but in many cases, there are managers on his team with more expertise in their specific areas.

Our business model believes every farm needs a Ready Next Generation. Ready to take on the challenges of the future, not the past. Without foreseeing the future, we can safely predict that a Ready Next Generation will need a different skill set than what their fathers and grandfathers can teach them. There is no singular solution. Every farm will have to discover the relevant skills of the next generation and what the dairy will need. Then find a way to prepare them.

We are blessed to observe and work with many great family farms. One trait that sets farms apart is a hunger for knowledge. Getting off the farm when necessary to stretch mental muscles. Take an online course. Talk to business owners from other parts of agriculture, parts of the country, other countries, or other industries. You never know who has the answer.

So no, I don’t know the future. But I believe change will come as in past generations. It will take a ready and willing Next Generation with new skills, to make sense of it all and thrive. Just like our fathers and grandfathers did before us.

The Corn Silage Factors that Show Up in Milk Production

Mon, 04 May 2026 18:14:55 GMT

For most dairies, feed remains the largest expense, and corn silage continues to form the foundation of the ration. That makes it worth taking a closer look at what shapes silage performance and where management decisions can improve return.

On a recent Dairy Signal episode, John Goeser, dairy nutrition and management consultant at Progressive Dairy Solutions Inc., and Luiz Ferraretto, assistant professor and Extension specialist in dairy nutrition at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, , walked through how corn silage management is evolving. Their discussion covered feed hygiene, chop height, and other management decisions in the field and at feedout, and how those choices connect back to cow performance and milk production.

Their focus stayed on understanding how agronomics, harvest decisions, and feeding management show up in the bunk and ultimately in the tank. Rather than chasing trends, the goal is to evaluate what works within each farm’s system.

Back to Basics: Fiber and Starch

Many producers are taking a closer look at what defines good corn silage. Ferraretto brings the focus back to the fundamentals that drive performance in the ration.

“From a corn silage perspective, I think there are two main things we need to focus on,” he says. “First is fiber and the other is starch.”

Fiber and starch together often make up close to half the plant. But total nutrients alone do not tell the full story. What matters is how much of those nutrients the cow can actually use.

“If we talk about fiber, we need to understand digestibility,” Ferraretto says. “And if we talk about starch, we need to understand digestibility, because having a nutrient there but not being available does not help us either.”

(North Dakota State University Extension)

Goeser says it’s easy to focus too narrowly when evaluating forage quality.

“We are enamored with discussing fiber digestibility,” he says. “But it is only one component. There are really four components that drive forage quality with corn silage and equate to the milk per ton we’re ultimately going to look for.”

Those include fiber content, fiber digestibility, starch content and starch digestibility. Looking at all four together provides a clearer picture of how a crop will perform in a ration.

He also encourages producers to think beyond forage quality alone and consider total return.

“We need to take into account the agronomic costs and considerations, the acres needed to feed the herd, as well as the intake and milk production in our economic scenarios,” Goeser says.

Feed Hygiene: An Overlooked Limiter

Even high-quality silage can fall short if feed hygiene isn’t managed well. Spoilage yeasts, molds, mycotoxins and other unwanted organisms can be introduced at harvest or develop during storage and feedout.

“Feed hygiene i ncludes all the anti-nutritional components that can show up in forages or in the ration when it’s fed to cows,” Goeser says. “Even when forage quality is good, spoilage organisms can still be present. Those microbes can disrupt rumen energy use and reduce performance, almost like water in diesel fuel.”

Ferraretto points to yeast as a common concern in corn silage systems.

“If there’s a lot of yeast contamination for whatever reason, you should expect lower milk production,” he says. “That can be tied to lower intake, reduced palatability and also impacts on fiber digestibility.”

(Trey Cambern)

One of the challenges is that spoilage is not always obvious.

“These are not things we can see,” Goeser says. “We need laboratory testing. Infrared cameras can also be very helpful, because when we’re talking about yeast, we’re really talking about spoilage yeast.”

He notes that yeast counts can range widely across farms, sometimes reaching tens of millions of colony-forming units per gram.

“If we have 10,000 or even 30 million CFU per gram, that means there can be millions of yeast organisms in just a small amount of feed,” Goeser says. “Now think about how much of that feed a cow eats every day, and how quickly that adds up.”

Ferraretto adds that controlling contamination starts with basics in harvest and storage. Clean surfaces, good packing, and consistent feedout all help reduce spoilage risk. Soil, dust and manure contamination can add to the problem.

“A lot of different avenues could act and compromise some of the hard work that you put into preparing that silage,” Ferraretto says.

Managing Stability at Feedout

To help limit spoilage, both Ferraaretto and Goeser point to inoculants and organic acids as tools that can support stability under the right conditions.

For corn silage, Ferraretto highlights Lactobacillus buchneri–based inoculants.

“The Buchneri type inoculant shift fermentation towards acetic acid at a certain point,” he says. “Acetic acid actually delays the proliferation of these molds when we are feeding cows after opening the silo.”

Better stability can show up as reduced heating at the bunk and more consistent intake.

Jerseys

(Trey Cambern)

“If you’ve ever been to a feed bunk, put your hand in the TMR, and you saw that the TMR is very warm and the cows don’t want to eat, that’s what we’re talking about,” Ferraretto says.

Goeser adds that the benefit can extend beyond the bunker and into the TMR.

“Silage has a longer shelf life,” he says. “It can really be valuable… so much so that it can carry into the total mix ration and actually increase the shelf life of the total TMR to a measurable amount.”

For wetter forages, inoculants alone may not fully control spoilage. Organic acids may be part of the solution.

“I usually think about propionic acid as the potential savior when you have all that silage warming up,” Ferraretto says. “You can kind of stabilize that for palatability a little bit.”

Application rate matters if you want to see a real response. Too little product won’t move the needle on stability or spoilage control, even if the ingredient itself works.

“One or two pounds per ton isn’t going to make a difference,” Goeser says. “Fifteen to twenty pounds per ton would be equivalent to what a fermentation would create.”

Chop Height: A Measurable Tradeoff

Chop height is one of the most direct ways to influence fiber digestibility, but it comes with a clear yield tradeoff. Ferraretto shares results from a meta-analysis that breaks down the impact in numbers.

“For every 10 inches of increase, you have about 2.5 percentage units increase in NDF digestibility, about the same amount increase in starch, but then you have a half ton decrease per acre in dry matter yield,” he says.

On an as-fed basis, that equates to roughly 1.5 tons per acre lost for every 10-inch increase in cut height.

Goeser says that tradeoff deserves attention.

“To me, that’s something that we should be looking at each year,” he says.

Harvesting corn silage.

(Farm Journal, Inc.)

Response depends heavily on crop conditions. More mature corn tends to benefit more from higher chop height, while immature corn shows less response. Drought-stressed fields are generally less suitable.

“Drier plants benefit more than immature plants when you are increasing chop height,” Ferraretto says.

Field conditions also play a role. In fields with disease pressure or significant lower canopy dieback, leaving more of that material in the field can improve forage quality going into the silo.

“If we had a diseased field, it may be beneficial to raise that cutter head up just to limit some of that less digestible material,” Goeser says.

Connecting the System

Corn silage performance comes back to how the whole system works together. Hybrid selection, plant health, soil fertility, harvest timing, and feed management all influence what ends up in the bunk and in milk production. Ferraretto and Goeser emphasize that no single decision drives results on its own.

For dairy producers, the opportunity is in seeing how these pieces fit together across the season and not treating any one of them in isolation. Small improvements in multiple areas can add up over time, and measuring how those changes show up in intake, milk production, and overall feed efficiency helps fine-tune decisions year after year.

From Defense to Damage: Cattle Bunching on Dairy Farms

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:28:11 GMT

As temperatures rise and fly pressure builds, cattle bunching becomes a familiar sight. Often dismissed as a seasonal nuisance, it is actually a vital signal to interpret. What begins as a defense against stable flies quickly triggers a cascade of production and welfare challenges.

The economic impact is significant. Research indicates milk production declines by 0.6 kg per cow daily for every stable fly per leg. Furthermore, the presence of bunching itself is associated with a 0.45 kg daily loss. By the time this behavior is visible, production losses are already well underway.

Bunching is a predictable response to environmental stressors. While fly pressure is the primary trigger, factors like heat load, airflow and pen design determine the behavior’s intensity. Once a threshold is exceeded, bunching appears quickly and can spread across an entire pen.

Ultimately, bunching is not the problem; it is clinical evidence the system and the herd are already under immense pressure.

Why Do Cows Bunch?

Stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans) are blood-feeding insects that target the lower legs, delivering repeated, painful bites. Cows respond with a sequence of defensive behaviors: stomping, tail flicking and eventually, clustering.

This clustering is not random; it’s strategic.

By grouping tightly, cows reduce the number of flies landing on any one individual — a dilution effect. Animals compete for positions toward the center of the group, where exposure is lowest, creating the characteristic movement often observed in bunched pens.

Behavioral changes begin early. Around five flies per leg, cattle reach what is commonly considered an economic injury level, with measurable impacts on both behavior and production. More recent work suggests the threshold for behavioral change may be even lower under field conditions.

This is a coordinated response to discomfort, and in modern dairy systems, that response comes with trade-offs.

How Cattle Bunching Impacts Health and Performance

What begins as protection can quickly become part of the problem.

As cows bunch, they create localized conditions that amplify other stressors:

Airflow between animals is reduced, limiting the effectiveness of ventilation and cooling systems.
Heat builds within the group, increasing the risk of heat stress even when barn-level conditions appear acceptable.
Feeding behavior is disrupted. Cows are less willing to leave the group, and competition at the bunk increases. Reduced dry matter intake can occur before any visible drop in milk production.
Resting behavior is reduced. Increased fly pressure raises standing time, and bunching compounds this effect. Reduced lying time leads to less rumination and contributes to increased lameness risk over time.
Hygiene deteriorates. Clustering often occurs in areas with higher manure accumulation, increasing exposure to mastitis pathogens.

A behavior intended to reduce fly bites ends up amplifying heat stress, disrupting intake and compromising welfare.

Why Bunching Varies Between Pens

One of the more telling aspects of bunching is how uneven it can be. Within the same barn, under the same management, one pen may bunch consistently while another remains relatively unaffected. Bunching is strongly influenced by microenvironmental conditions that can differ across short distances.

Differences in airflow can create pockets where flies accumulate. Manure buildup increases local breeding pressure. Variations in shade, moisture or surrounding environment can further influence where flies — and therefore cows — concentrate.

Over time, these small differences become consistent patterns. The same pens bunch, often in the same locations, day after day. Cows are responding to environmental gradients that are easy to overlook but highly relevant to their comfort.

How to Diagnose the Cause of Cattle Bunching

When bunching behavior appears, a structured evaluation can help identify the underlying cause:

1. Fly pressure

Assess leg counts or trap counts where possible. Even relatively low counts can be meaningful, and increases beyond five flies per leg indicate significant impact.

2. Heat load

Review temperature-humidity trends and observe when bunching occurs. Heat amplifies both fly activity and cow response.

3. Airflow

Look for uneven ventilation or dead zones within the pen. These often correspond directly with bunching locations.

4. Stocking density

Overcrowding increases competition and accelerates clustering once cows begin to group.

5. Pen-level variation

Compare affected pens with those that remain stable. Differences in surroundings or management often explain the pattern.

This approach reframes bunching from a nuisance behavior into a diagnostic entry point.

When to Act on Cattle Bunching

One of the most useful aspects of bunching is how early it appears. Cows respond to environmental stressors faster than most monitoring systems detect them. As a result, bunching often appears before changes are obvious in bulk tank data or performance metrics. That creates an opportunity to act sooner.

When bunching emerges at consistent times or in specific areas, it provides a reliable signal that conditions have shifted. Adjusting fly control, improving airflow or modifying cooling strategies at that point can prevent escalation and limit cumulative losses.

Cattle bunching is a visible signal the system is under pressure. The goal is not to stop cows from bunching, but to understand why they are doing it and respond before defense turns into damage.

The Year of the Woman Farmer: Becky Nyman’s Global Impact and Local Roots

Mon, 04 May 2026 12:51:01 GMT

In the quiet, early morning hours in Hilmar, Calif., the air is thick with the familiar scent of a working dairy. For Becky Nyman, a fourth-generation dairy farmer, this is the center of her universe: a multi-site, family Jersey dairy operation. And, while her boots are firmly planted in the California soil, her vision is fixed on a horizon that spans continents.

Nyman is a woman of two worlds. In one, she manages the complex regulatory and employee landscape of a high-performing dairy operation alongside her brother, Brad. In the other, she sits at the head of the table as the first female chair of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), representing the interests of U.S. producers in high-stakes trade discussions from Paris to Beijing.

Her journey is more than a personal success story; it is a blueprint for the modern dairy leader — one who successfully bridges the gap between the family farm and the global marketplace.

The Road Back to the Farm

Like many farm kids, Nyman’s path wasn’t a straight line back to the barn. After graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and earning a master’s degree in agribusiness from Texas A&M, she spent nine years in the corporate world. By her late 20s, she was living in San Francisco, commuting to a downtown office and building a career far removed from the farm landscape of her youth.

“I didn’t realize being on the farm was really an option until I was 30,” Nyman recalls. “My dad was talking to me and said, ‘You know, there’s a place for you on the dairy if you want to come back.’”

It took time to process the shift, but in 2011, Nyman traded the city skyline for the family corrals. She joined Brad, who had moved straight into operations after college. Their partnership is a study in complementary strengths: Brad handles the daily operations, while Nyman leans into the regulatory and employee side of the business.

“I tell people I try my best to be a lawyer and an accountant,” she says with a laugh. “And I still need help from real lawyers and accountants, but that’s the role I fill on our family farm.”

(Photo by Becky Nyman)

A Culture of Perseverance

To understand Nyman’s leadership style, you have to understand Hilmar. It is a dairy-centric community where the spirit of cooperation is woven into the history of the land. It is where Hilmar Cheese was born from the shared vision of Jersey dairy farmers who saw the value in their milk’s unique components.

“Hilmar is special,” Nyman says, nodding that is where her family ships their milk. “My 90-year-old uncle recently told me that, growing up, his dad would make him go milk cows for the neighbor after her milked his own cows because they needed the help. That’s what community does — you use your strengths for the overall good.”

That sense of community is anchored by a single word that has echoed through four generations of Nymans: perseverance.

“It’s the first word that comes to mind,” she explains. “My grandfather was an immigrant who made his way to California. Every family gathering, we heard stories of perseverance. In international trade, that translates easily. You win some, you lose some, and the path is hard, but you keep going for the betterment of the industry.”

The Farmer’s Voice at the Global Table

When Nyman sits down with USDEC, she often finds herself in a unique position. In rooms filled with policy experts and corporate executives, she is often the only active dairy farmer — or one of a very few.

“Having that perspective of being on the ground is my strength in the room,” she says. “People want to hear the reality of it. They want to hear what it’s like from the source of the food. In theory, certain trade ideas look good on paper, but I can speak to the practical challenges facing the American dairy producer.”

One of her “aha” moments came during a high-level trip to China. While meeting with the Ministry of Commerce, Nyman chose to speak not just of logistics, but of community.

“I talked about how dairy farmers and agriculture, in general, have more in common than we do different all around the world,” she recalls. “One of the ministers actually took my comments and folded them into his own. He used my words to find common ground. It was an eye-opening moment — he heard me, and he realized that our shared interests were stronger than our disagreements.”

(Photo provided by Becky Nyman)

The 2026 Export Landscape: Year of the Woman

And in 2026, the work of USDEC has never been more critical. The year started with a bang, showing year-over-year double-digit growth. U.S. milk solids equivalent volume increased 12% in January — the biggest January on record. This growth was driven by cheese, butterfat and a surprising surge in nonfat dry milk.

At the recent 2026 USDEC Annual Membership Meeting, Nyman felt a renewed sense of optimism.

“Trade creates opportunities for farmers to stay on the farm and for future generations to return to it,” she told members.

The meeting highlighted several key themes Nyman is bringing back to Hilmar:

Exports are Essential: With 96% of the global population living outside U.S. borders, exports are the key to price stability and long-term growth.
The Fat Boom: Rising butterfat levels are creating both complexity and opportunity for global competitiveness.
The Protein Craze: The world’s hunger for nutrient-dense, sustainable protein — from whey to high-quality milk proteins — is not slowing down.

Perhaps most meaningful to Nyman was the recognition of the International Year of the Woman Farmer. As the first woman to lead USDEC, she views the milestone through a lens of service rather than status.

“I’m humbled about being named the first female chair,” Nyman says. “I try not to think about the title as much as just trying to do as much good as I can for our producers.”

This mindset of action over accolades is what she hopes to pass on to others.

“For many young women, opportunity starts with seeing what’s possible — and seeing themselves in it,” she says.

Her advice to the next generation of women in Hilmar and beyond is simple but brave.

“Say yes when opportunities come your way, even if it’s uncomfortable or you don’t think you’re qualified. Lean forward and never stop learning,” Nyman says.

(Photo provided by Becky Nyman)

Sustainability and the Future

In Hilmar, Nyman is practicing what she preaches on the global stage. Her operation is part of a digester cluster, where neighboring dairies came together in 2024 to share resources and infrastructure for renewable energy.

“We do what makes sense for the business,” she says of her sustainability efforts. “We do what is feasible. When I’m on international trips, I share the framework of our FARM program. It helps the world understand that we have a structure of responsibility, but I also tell them we do these things because we want to be responsible, not because of a mandate.”

The Bottom Line: It’s All About People

Whether she is navigating a complex regulatory filing in California or a trade barrier in a foreign capital, Nyman believes the dairy industry is, at its core, a people business.

“The people involved are equally, if not more, important than the cattle,” she says. “Navigating how to provide a stable working environment and fulfilling careers for our employees translates directly to trade. We are providing ingredients for industries in other parts of the world to grow and create jobs there. We are a reliable source for what they need to feed their people.”

Nyman’s journey from the family corrals to the global stage is a testament to the power of a unified voice. She serves as a reminder that the resilience of the dairy industry is fueled by families who persevere, communities that collaborate and leaders who aren’t afraid to say “yes” to the daunting, yet rewarding, work of feeding a growing world.

As she moves forward in her role as USDEC chair, Nyman remains focused on the “why” behind the work: ensuring the next generation of Nymans — and the next generation of U.S. dairy farmers — have a clear and sustainable path back to the land.

Where Crossbreds Fit in Today’s Genetic Evaluations

Fri, 01 May 2026 18:26:15 GMT

When crossbreeding started picking up steam in U.S. dairy herds, the genetic toolbox wasn’t really built for the cows’ producers had in their barns.

Genetic evaluations worked well for purebreds, but for Holstein–Jersey crosses and other combinations, the system only went so far and accuracy dropped. That gap is what the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) set out to address.

In a recent episode of the CDCB Cow Cast, George Wiggans, longtime USDA research geneticist and current CDCB technical advisor, walked through how genomic evaluations and Breed Base Representation (BBR) have changed the way crossbred dairy cattle are evaluated.

Why Crossbreds Didn’t Quite Fit

For a long time, dairy genetic evaluations were built around purebred populations, which worked well when most herds were fairly uniform and selection stayed within a single breed.

Evaluations were done within each breed, so crossbred animals didn’t always line up as well in the system and their results were less accurate. As crossbreeding became more common in commercial herds, especially in Holstein–Jersey systems aimed at balancing production and components, those gaps became more noticeable. The system could still generate numbers, but they didn’t always reflect what was happening in mixed-breed cows.

Meanwhile, the industry’s data foundation was still developing. For decades, most genetic progress came from what Wiggans calls the basics.

“We still relied on traditional evaluations, which pulled together data from farms across the country and even around the world to figure out which animals perform best,” Wiggans says. “Then we would take all that information across the traits we measure and combine it into a profile or index that would help predict how profitable an animal would be.”

That system has long been used in dairy genetics, but it didn’t always handle animals with mixed-breed backgrounds as smoothly.

Genomics Opens the Door

Genomics changed how geneticists approach evaluations. Instead of relying only on performance records, the system now uses DNA to connect specific parts of the genome to trait outcomes.

Wiggans says this is done using what are called reference populations.

“The concept is that by having a large reference population, we can assign genetic values to these segments of the chromosome,” Wiggans says. “So, when we put it all together and add it all up, we can say, we think that this is going to be the cow’s productivity for each of the traits we analyze.”

He explains genomic evaluation as building a kind of genetic mosaic, where pieces of DNA get value based on data from large groups of known animals. This worked well for purebreds, but for crossbreds there was still a missing piece: a consistent way to describe breed makeup in a way national evaluations could use directly.

BBR Gives Crossbreds a Place

To address that gap, the industry developed Breed Base Representation, or BBR.

“Recognizing that we would like to extend the genomic evaluations to crossbreds, we needed some way of identifying what the breed background was of an animal,” Wiggans says.

BBR uses genomic data to estimate how much of each breed is in an animal.

“We used kind of an interesting approach here… Why don’t we use the same idea to estimate how much Holstein, Jersey, Guernsey, and other breeds are in an animal,” Wiggans says.

Purebred animals serve as the starting point because their genetics are clearly defined.

“We treat a purebred animal as fully belonging to its breed, like giving it a ‘1’ for that breed and a ‘0’ for all other breeds,” Wiggans says. “Then we use genetic markers, called SNPs, to estimate how much of each breed is in mixed animals.”

From there, each animal gets a breed breakdown.

“So, an animal could be 75% Holstein and 25% Jersey,” Wiggans says. “That’s what Breed Base Representation, or BBR, reports.”

BBR breaks an animal’s genetics into breed percentages, giving producers a clearer way to understand and compare crossbred animals. He adds that the approach is considered highly accurate because it’s based on large amounts of genetic data from many animals.

Putting Breed Mix into One Number

BBR describes what breeds are in an animal. The next step is turning that information into a usable evaluation.

“By having this BBR that we’ve discussed, we can say, well, let’s just do a weighted average,” Wiggans says. “We’ll multiply each evaluation by the percent of each breed that it is, add it all up, then that will be our evaluation of this animal.”

Each breed contributes to the final score based on how much of that breed is in the animal. A higher percentage of a breed means it has more influence on the outcome. The final result is one evaluation number for crossbred animals that reflects their actual genetic makeup, instead of forcing them into a single-breed category that doesn’t fully represent them.

Crossbreds are Now Part of the System

As genomic testing has expanded, crossbreds have become a bigger part of the national dataset.

“So, not surprisingly, Holstein numbers were over 9 million last year, with Jersey coming in second,” Wiggans says. “But what stands out is that crossbreds are now the third largest group. So, providing evaluations for crossbred met a real need in the industry.”

Today, crossbred animals are included in the evaluation system. Tools are now in place to better reflect how they are bred and managed on today’s dairies. As genetic evaluations continue to evolve, Wiggans expects crossbreds to remain part of the picture.

“We’re working on strategies to take this into account so that the evaluation simultaneously considers both the genetics and her traditional data,” he says. “We expect that we’ll still offer evaluations for these animals, so that the BBR will continue to have a role in the evaluations.”

The result is a system that better matches the cows’ producers are working with every day, bringing crossbreds fully into the genetic conversation.

The Great Rebalancing: Why 2026 Milk Prices are Defying the Supply Tsunami

Fri, 01 May 2026 12:48:04 GMT

As the calendar turned to 2026, the U.S. dairy industry found itself standing at a complex crossroads. For producers, the view out the tractor cab window was one of cautious optimism, tempered by the sobering reality of a global market that was, quite literally, overflowing. The story of the 2026 dairy market is not one of a simple boom or bust, but rather a great rebalancing — a period defined by record-breaking production, a revolution in protein demand and the looming shadow of international trade negotiations.

The Tsunami of Milk

The entry into 2026 was defined by a singular, staggering fact: There was a lot of milk. The industry was coming off a 2025 campaign that saw U.S. production grow at a pace rarely seen in recent history. For the full year of 2025, production had climbed 2.8% over the previous year. However, it was the second half of 2025 that truly signaled the coming tidal wave, with production up nearly 4% compared to the same period in 2024.

For example, in Idaho, the state has seen consistent growth rates of 5% to 8% per month year-over-year for the last 18 months. For 2025, Idaho is projected to be up 7.5% in total milk production.

“That 7.5% is on a very big base,” explains Rick Naerebout, chief executive officer of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association. “It equates to roughly 3.5 million lb. of milk a day more this year than we had last year. We’ve definitely turned on the milk production.”

This isn’t just an American phenomenon. Europe, too, saw a 4% surge in the latter half of 2025. By the time the industry reached January 2026, the momentum was undeniable. Production was up 3.4% year-over-year, fueled by a national herd that had expanded by 189,000 head.

As the spring flush approached — that annual period where cows reach peak production — the sheer volume of milk began to test the physical limits of the supply chain. In California, the nation’s dairy powerhouse, the system began to buckle. Reports of milk being dumped due to capacity constraints sent a chill through the industry. It was a stark reminder that even when prices are stable, the physical reality of moving and processing millions of pounds of a perishable product remains the industry’s greatest logistical hurdle.

The Protein Pivot: Why Prices Held Firm

In any other era, a global oversupply of this magnitude would have sent prices into a tailspin. Yet, as Ben Laine, senior dairy analyst with Terrain noted in his report, the market took a sharp turn higher, sooner than many experts expected. The savior of the 2026 balance sheet was not a shortage of milk, but a fundamental shift in what the world wanted from that milk.

“Consumers want more protein. There has been a convergence of GLP-1s, new Dietary Guidelines and marketing dollars aimed at developing new products that have accelerated the demand shift. And high-protein dairy products are well-positioned to meet that need,” he says.

The industry has indeed witnessed a protein boom. Consumer demand for high-protein yogurts, ultra-filtered milks and milk protein concentrates reached a fever pitch. This demand fundamentally altered the value of the milk components. Whey, once considered a humble byproduct, became a market leader, benefiting from a steady, multimonth climb in value.

This protein pivot created a fascinating ripple effect. As more milk solids were pulled into the production of high-protein consumer goods, there was less surplus skim left to be dried into nonfat dry milk. This scarcity in the skim market provided a sudden, unexpected lift to nonfat dry milk prices. By early 2026, the market was optimistic that Class III and Class IV prices could be supported despite the heavy supply. However, this strength was uneven. While whey and protein-heavy products soared, cheese and butter remained stubbornly low compared to 2025 levels, creating a disjointed market that signaled volatility ahead.

“The support for milk prices right now is being driven by high whey and nonfat dry milk values as opposed to cheese and butter. Since that’s a reversal from the norm, the market might spook easily at any unexpected signals from the data over the next couple of months,” Laine adds.

The Export Lifeline and USMCA Shadow

While domestic protein demand provided the floor, it was the export market that provided the ceiling. In 2025, exports played a critical role in driving demand. U.S. dairy exports grew by 3.8% on a total solids basis, coming just shy of the record set in 2022. The total value of these exports reached a staggering $9.51 billion.

“Over the last two years, the majority of the new cheese made in the U.S. has gone into the global market as international demand surged. The international demand is also helping pull U.S. milk overseas,” says William Loux, senior vice president of global economic affairs at USDEC.

However, as the second quarter of 2026 began, the industry’s eyes turned toward the borders. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was scheduled for a joint review in July. For the U.S. dairy farmer, the stakes could not be higher. More than 40% of the total value of U.S. dairy exports flows to our North American neighbors — $2.58 billion to Mexico and $1.31 billion to Canada.

Although, Loux doesn’t anticipate any disruption to trade with our dairy partners.

“2025 was unequivocally a successful year for exports. The U.S. continues to establish itself as an essential supplier to global consumers, helping meet the growing global demand for dairy products, in particular cheese, dairy proteins, and, surprisingly in 2025, butterfat,” Loux says. “Market access is vital to U.S. dairy exports. In order to continue supplying high-quality nutritious products to consumers around the world, the U.S. must continue to maintain and expand our trade agreements. Those agreements have not only proven to benefit U.S. dairy farmers and exporters but also have enhanced local supply and dairy product manufacturing in our partner markets.”

The Forecast: A Volatile Path to 2027

Looking at the numbers, Laine’s outlook for the remainder of 2026 suggests a more favorable environment than originally feared, but one that requires a steady hand on the wheel.

In Terrain’s most recent quarterly outlook, Laine forecast Class III milk prices to average $17.00/cwt, while Class IV is forecast to reach a robust $19.50/cwt. As we move into the second half of the year, the forecast remains resilient, with Class III averaging $16.75 and Class IV holding strong at $19.20.

However, the long-term horizon suggests a gradual cooling. By the first half of 2027, the forecast dips slightly to $16.60 for Class III and $17.80 for Class IV. These numbers reflect an industry that is successfully navigating a period of high supply but is also wary of the cracks appearing in the durability of the recent price moves.

“Markets continue to move and have surpassed those forecast levels, but with the risk of more volatility. I’d view that as an opportunity to take some risk off the table rather than banking on prices continuing to rise,” Laine says.

Strategy in the Face of Uncertainty

The lesson of early 2026 is clear: the market is rewarding those who are proactive. The jump in prices during the first quarter was not a guarantee of future riches, but rather a window of opportunity for risk management.

With volatility expected to ramp up as the spring flush peaks and trade negotiations intensify, the reliance on tools like Dairy Revenue Protection and other hedging strategies has never been more vital. The great rebalancing of 2026 means that while the outlook has improved, the margin for error has narrowed.

“Keep an eye on what consumers are looking for, both here and abroad, and work it into your marketing plan,” Laine says. “During major shifts like we’re seeing now, that might mean more active risk management, but it also means keeping an eye on where the demand for protein is showing up in revenue streams on the farm. At this point, that might not be protein prices on the milk check directly, but it could include ongoing opportunity for beef calf sales.”

Success in this environment isn’t just about producing more milk. It’s about understanding the global flow of protein, the geopolitical climate of North American trade and the discipline to take risk off the table when the market offers a favorable price. As the spring flush continues, the U.S. dairy farmer remains — as always — a resilient fixture in a world that is increasingly hungry for what they produce.

Chocolate Reclaims the Top Spot as America’s Favorite Ice Cream Flavor

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 19:14:44 GMT

Chocolate is back on top as America’s favorite ice cream flavor, according to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) National Ice Cream & Frozen Novelty Trends Survey. After briefly ceding the No. 1 spot to vanilla in 2024, chocolate has reclaimed the lead in 2026. Butter pecan also continues its climb, moving ahead of vanilla among U.S. consumers.

The biannual survey reflects responses from more than 2,200 U.S. adults and tracks how Americans choose ice cream and frozen novelties, from flavors and formats to toppings and traditions.

IDFA’s latest results point to a mix of nostalgia and indulgence shaping consumer preference. Classic flavors remain strong, while richer, more decadent options continue gaining traction.

Top 5 flavors among U.S. consumers:

Chocolate
Butter Pecan
Vanilla
Cookies and Cream/Oreo
Caramel/Salted Caramel

Compared with previous years, the rankings show continued movement toward richer, mix-in driven flavors, while traditional staples still anchor the category.

“Americans’ love for ice cream is as strong as ever,” says Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA. “From timeless favorites like chocolate and butter pecan to newer indulgent options, ice cream continues to bring people together and create moments of joy across the country. As we look ahead to National Ice Cream Month, it’s clear this remains a staple in American life.”

The Sweetest States: Where America Loves Ice Cream Most

Other findings from the survey show how consumers enjoy their ice cream:

Cone preference leads among formats, with 40% of Americans choosing cones, followed by sandwiches at 24% and mini cups at 14%.

(Source: 2026 IDFA National Ice Cream & Frozen Novelty Trends Survey)

Waffle cones or bowls remain the most popular vessel across generations, with Gen Z splitting more evenly between bowls and waffle bowls compared to older groups.

Hot fudge ranks as the top topping at 31%, followed by whipped cream at 27%, caramel sauce at 21%, and chocolate sauce at 18%. Flavor remains the primary purchase driver, with 70% of consumers saying it is very important, ahead of price and portion size.

When asked about iconic ice cream memories, respondents most often pointed to neighborhood ice cream trucks, followed by birthday ice cream cakes and visits to local scoop shops.

Separating Signal From Noise in a Data-Heavy Dairy

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:22:54 GMT

The beauty and curse of farming in the technological age comes in the form of 0’s and 1’s. There never seems to be an end to the measurables we collect and breakdown on a farm.

As our capabilities grow in terms of systems and software, this mound of data continues to grow.

But how do we know what is important?

Many seasoned herdsmen that I work with often bemoan just how hard it is to train the next generation of farm workers. “They just don’t have cow sense.” “They’re too deep in the numbers, and not the cows.” “Why can’t they just see it?”

What they are describing is a little-known skill they already possess known as Signal to Noise Positivity (SNP). Our seasoned herdsmen have developed an unconscious skill that allows them to differentiate between meaningful information (signal) and irrelevant information (noise). However, they had a significant advantage of developing this skillset during a time when the “noise” or extra irrelevant data was much less overwhelming.

Our farms are full of positive noise and signals that can be valuable in animal management. Feed intakes, milk production, lbs. of solids, rumination, SCC, milk deviation, etc. etc. all represent measures that indicate if things are headed in the right or wrong direction.

However, each of these factors is not important in each situation. Irrelevant noise from time to time causes new decision makers to make incorrect decisions based upon that noise rather than the more meaningful signals.

Taken together Signal and Noise Ratio (SNR) indicates whether positive noise is more or less likely to stick out. A higher SNR, or more meaningful noise vs irrelevant noise, means the decision maker is more likely to ID the important data whereas a low SNR means more confusion in the data.

But on today’s operations it is extremely difficult to learn how to increase a SNR and use it as our data pool, and subsequent noise grows.

For example, your herdsmen today may work a fresh pen and ID a sick cow with the following information; 7 DIM, rapid breathing, temp is 103 on the parlor meter, milk production is down 30 lbs., her ears are droopy, her rumination is down 40%, her eating time is 2%, and her activity is 50% what it was yesterday. These symptoms when taken together could be indicative of 5+ infectious diseases in a fresh cow and can rapidly confuse new workers.

However, an experienced herdsmen knows the most important part of all this noise is the 7 DIM signal which limits the likely diagnosis to only 2 or 3 possibilities. Their unique SNP ability filters the signal from the noise so no matter how much data we pile on top of the signal they can ignore the unimportant noise.

So how can we improve the SNP for new workers?

First, we need to eliminate multitasking. This only adds noise to the scenario and scatters attention. When working sick cows or doing other health tasks, new employees need to focus upon that singular task until deemed to have developed a sufficient SNP.

Second, we need to encourage monitoring of longer-term trends and react less to the hour to hour or day to day fluctuations. Certainly, there are cases that will change hour to hour but when training we need to help employees understand common cases and that cows generally will trend toward “healthy” or “sick” no matter how complex or simple our data collection system is.

Third, we need to expose these individuals to training from others who have advanced SNP skills. Many times, this involves an outside consultant such as your herd veterinarian who can use hands on training and also create SOP programs to help the individual navigate the noise.

Signals of disease are not always strong. However, by reducing noise for new team members we can increase the correct disease diagnosis while still implementing the latest in smart technology.

House Passes 2026 Farm Bill: The Impact on U.S. Farmers

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:28:02 GMT

With a bipartisan vote of 224-200, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7567 , the bipartisan Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, on April 30. In addition to extensive updates to food and agriculture programs in a budget-neutral package, this vote marks the farthest a farm bill has made it in Congress since the most recent reauthorization was signed into law in 2018.

After a series of floor debates and last-minute amendments, the bill now moves to the Senate with some notable changes, including:

Year-round E15 sales removed from bill to be voted on in two weeks
Late amendment includes language to strengthen the domestic supply of fertilizer
Pesticide liability protections were stripped from the bill

My amendment passed! Pesticide liability protections have been stripped from the farm bill. 🔥⚔️🔥
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) April 30, 2026

“Working in Congress on behalf of our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities is an honor — even when the work requires debating the farm bill through the night,” says House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15). “I can think of no more important work than championing the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, and I am extremely pleased to see this bill pass out of the House of Representatives with a strong bipartisan vote.”

With a vote of 14 Democrats in favor, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 obtained the highest number of votes from the minority party on a House farm bill since 2008. Similarly, with over 96% of the GOP Conference voting in favor, this is the highest level of Republican support for a House farm bill in history, affirming the commitment of House Republicans to rural America.

“I especially want to thank all parties who were involved in the negotiations that allowed the farm bill to proceed to the floor and secure a future vote on year-round E15,” Thompson says. “Members of the Biofuels Caucus are tireless champions for rural America, and I look forward to joining them May 13 in advancing that important legislation.”

Swift Senate Action Needed

As the bill heads to the Senate for debate, Thompson reinforces that “farm country needs updated policy” that reflects current challenges in U.S. agriculture.

“The 2026 farm bill fills that gap,” Thompson says. “I look forward to seeing Chairman Boozman and the Senate make progress on this important legislation so we can get the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 sent to President Trump’s desk as soon as possible.”

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, along with all of the Democrats on the committee, says the committee looks forward to working with Senate Republicans on a bipartisan Farm Bill that can be successful on the Senate floor.

“We have been clear that the Farm Bill must address the needs of American farmers and families,” Klobuchar says. “With a five-year high in small farm bankruptcies, the Farm Bill must address rising input costs, provide new opportunities for domestic markets, and fight for a trade agenda that works for everyone. Senate Democrats are committed to ensuring all states are treated equally by delaying the new SNAP cost shifts and addressing the needs of farm country.”

Pesticide Amendment Passes

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s (R-Fla.) highly debated bill passed the House, stripping the farm bill of pesticide liability provisions. Before the amendment, the bill’s original language reaffirmed EPA as the sole agency capable of determining the information listed on a pesticide label. Critics, including Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) advocates, worried the language would shield pesticide manufacturers from liability claims.

D.C. consultant Callie Eideberg, with the Vogel Group, saysthe provision’s controversy means the bill will likely have an uncertain future moving forward.

“This means that pesticide companies, the chemical companies, are now still going to be dealing with the status quo, dealing with different requirements from different states,” Eideberg says.

In a post on X, Rep. Luna reaffirmed her disapproval of glyphosate and other pesticides.

“I do not support giving blanket immunity to corporations at the expense of American families. Pesticides are linked to a 30% increase in childhood cancer and over 170 studies corroborate the evidence,” Luna says.

In a press release following the bill’s approval in the lower chamber, the Modern Ag Alliance, a group backed by chemical company Bayer and over 100 agriculture companies wrote, “Today, the House turned its back on the farmers who feed, fuel and clothe this country. By gutting common-sense crop protection provisions from the farm bill, lawmakers caved to anti-science MAHA activists instead of standing with those who grow our food.”

Iowa farmer Mark Jackson says it is “unfortunate” Congress could not give farmers support for chemical weed control products. Jackson said farmers should be allowed the “freedom to farm” and said glyphosate’s scientific approval process, and the product’s 50-year registration history make it a credible product for farmers to use.

“I think we need to rally around science, follow the science,” he adds.

Eideberg says as the bill moves to the Senate, the MAHA movement could continue to influence debates. She believes the smaller body of the Senate will bring a different dynamic to the issue.

“I think we’re going to see those MAHA influencers feeling very emboldened by this win today and pushing even harder in the Senate to get more of what they’re looking for,” she says.

Farmers Praise Passage of Farm Bill
Ohio farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower says USDA programs are important to the success of corn farmers and rural communities, particularly as growers face their fourth year of net losses and struggle with high input costs.

“We look forward to working with our allies in Congress over the next two weeks to secure passage of the E15 legislation,” Bower says. “Thanks to continued efforts on this issue from our biofuel champions, Speaker Johnson promised a vote on E15, and we refuse to allow a handful of multi-million and multi-billion-dollar energy companies to derail our efforts. Allowing the year-round sale of E15 would help our growers by expanding ethanol sales while also saving consumers money at the pump at a time when fuel prices are on the rise.”

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is looking forward to the Senate taking up the farm bill without delay as farmers face unprecedented challenges.

“The House-passed 2026 Farm Bill supports the farm safety net, preserves existing conservation programs that include opportunities for dairy and livestock producers, bolsters trade promotion programs while protecting common food names, recognizes the important role of dairy in nutrition, and supports animal health programs,” said NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud. “All of these are important priorities to dairy farmers and the broader industry, and we appreciate the leadership shown by House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson and other dairy champions to get this legislation through the House.”

U.S. pork producers are praising a very significant section that provides “much-needed relief from the misguided California Proposition 12 ” in addition to expanding the Animal Health Protection Act to include improving animal disease traceability and requiring thorough documentation on USDA’s ability to protect producers from significant economic losses due to a foreign animal disease outbreak.

Prop. 12 is creating uncertainty for pork producers and raising costs across the supply chain. Congress has a role to restore regulatory clarity.

It’s time for a fix. #FixProp12

🎥 Video credit: @HouseAgGOP pic.twitter.com/lkAmG1bmAw
— NPPC (@NPPC) April 30, 2026

“Today’s House farm bill passage is a testament to the power of rural America when we stand up for our farms and future generations with a unified voice,” said Rob Brenneman, National Pork Producers Council president and pork producer from Washington County, Iowa. “We wholeheartedly thank our champions—House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson, Rep. Ashley Hinson, and others—for not backing down from the fight for what is right for rural America. He and congressional supporters on both sides of the aisle heard our plea to help America’s pork producers.”

Eideburg points out that opposition to the farm bill pork provisions in the House are coming from several fronts.

“First, it’s coming from animal welfare groups that want to see those requirements in place,” she says. “We want to see minimum standard requirements for gestation rates. This other opposition is coming from companies and farmers who have already complied with Prop 12 and they don’t want that requirement removed because then they are going to be a) at a competitive disadvantage and b) out a ton of capital investment that they made on their to comply.”

The bill reflects many of wheat farmers’ top priorities from modernizing farm credit and safeguarding international food aid programs to enhancing export competitiveness, says National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) President Jamie Kres.

“These provisions will help ensure America’s wheat farmers can remain resilient and globally competitive,” Kres says.

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane appreciates how Thompson and House leadership took the time to listen to real farmers and ranchers.

“Instead of caving to attacks on the livestock industry from shell activist groups that impersonate real producers, a bipartisan group of lawmakers advanced a bill that will provide certainty and important policy fixes for cattle country,” Lane says. “We look forward to engaging with the Senate to advance this farm bill to the president’s desk.”

Industry Says This Farm Bill is Needed Now

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) CEO Ted McKinney says this legislation supports farmers, ranchers and consumers while providing economic growth opportunities for rural communities. H.R. 7567 prioritizes provisions that strengthen local food purchasing programs, enhance international market opportunities, reauthorize the three-legged stool for foreign animal disease prevention and preserve the viability of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

The American Veterinary Medical Association says the inclusion of the Healthy Dog Importation Act is just one of the many key veterinary provisions they applaud in the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. This would improve importation standards to ensure a dog is healthy when imported into the U.S., which is especially important considering New World screwworm in Mexico continues to move closer to the U.S. border.

“The AVMA applauds the House for advancing a Farm Bill that will strengthen dog importation standards, fund and assess federal programs vital to veterinary medicine, and protect the country’s animal and public health,” says Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, AVMA president. “Enacting the Farm Bill is essential to advancing research into effective recruitment and retention strategies for veterinarians serving in rural and underserved communities. With the legislation now moving to the Senate for consideration, we look forward to working further with Congress and will continue to underscore the importance of including veterinary priorities in the final version of the Farm Bill.”

Now, Not Tomorrow

After voting in support of the bill, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) says, “Rural America needs a new Farm Bill now, not tomorrow. With today’s passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, House Republicans have once again reaffirmed our commitment to American agriculture and delivered for hardworking growers and producers.”

Eideburg says funding for SNAP program will likely be a major fight in the Senate. The “One Big Beautiful Bill” shifted some costs within the program to state governments. She says the funding restructure and the combined potential vote to ban soda from SNAP could cause tension in the upper chamber.

She also says year-round E15 provisions, which were taken from the farm bill and punted for a vote in the House next week, could see as much opposition in the Senate.

“This really is a big hurdle to get E15, year-round E15 over the line.”

New Data: Is U.S. Agriculture Facing a Typical Cycle or a ‘Geopolitical Reset’?

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:56:48 GMT

The latest Farm Journal Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor shows a bit more pessimism from respondents on the current state of the ag economy as well as how the present compares to one year ago.

Farm Journal regularly reaches out to a vetted list of 80 ag economists from across the industry. Providing directional insights, 10 of the 16 economists who responded to the April survey believe the ag economy is in a worse state than it was a year ago. Slightly fewer than half expect conditions to be “somewhat better” in 12 months, while one-third still anticipate further decline.

“I just haven’t really changed my level of pessimism regarding this year. This is going to be a tough year. There’s no doubt about it,” says Michael Langemeier with Purdue University.

The conflict in Iran weighs heavy on economists’ minds; high fertilizer prices and high energy costs dominate concerns. This overshadows the previous looming concerns of the trade fragility and export deficit. The previously announced government payments are in the rearview mirror.

Wes Davis from Meridian Agribusiness Advisors agrees that profit margins squeezed by high input costs are the top concern.

“When we talk about the more pessimistic view of the ag economy, fertilizer prices driven by the outbreak of war in Iran is certainly top of mind,” he says.

But Davis says there have been some positive tailwinds for commodity prices over the past few months, and there’s ‘no slowdown’ in demand for animal proteins.

“Those tailwinds continue to be present,” he says.

A Fundamental “Structural Shift”

Three-quarters of the economists believe U.S. agriculture is undergoing a permanent structural shift rather than a typical cyclical phase. They cite increased competition from Brazil, changing trade policies and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence as factors reshaping the industry for the long term.

(Farm Journal Survey, April 2026)

“I’m thinking of this one as the geopolitical and input reset,” Davis says. “What I mean by that is, where things go and how we interact with the global ag economy when this cycle or when this shift is over will be different. The way that farmers get their agrichemicals, their fertilizers, their vitamins/trace minerals for feed, their tractors will all be different.”

Davis brings up the farm bill as another example. He questions whether the structural shift in policy is moving away from supporting “commercial farm preservation” and more toward “rural economic development.” This distinction could change the long-term framing of ag policy.

While Davis’ perspective is in the majority, Langemeier offers a counterpoint. He says this today reminds him a lot of the 2014 to 2019 period when there were about six years in a row of relatively low crop margins.

“I know there are a lot of changes going on, and certainly we’re worried about the competitiveness of U.S. agriculture compared to Brazil, particularly for soybeans,” he says. “As one example, I think the AI developments actually could be positive, and so I don’t necessarily see why that would necessarily mean a structural shift that would be negative.”

Geopolitical Impacts on Input Costs

The conflict in Iran and broader Persian Gulf instability are identified as primary drivers of agriculture’s economic health. Economists are specifically concerned about how these tensions are “pinching margins” by driving up the costs of energy and fertilizer while commodity prices remain relatively low.

“The negative impact of the Iran conflict has been increased fertilizer and energy prices. I did some crop budget calculations: If you hadn’t bought your fertilizer and most of your fuel is yet to be purchased prior to the Iran conflict that’s a pretty large effect on corn break-even price. I calculate it to be 25 cents a bushel. And when your break-even price is already at $5, which is way above what the futures price adjusted for basis is this fall, that’s certainly not helping matters,” he says.

It’s not just fertilizer and fuel. It’s other input categories in row crop agriculture and livestock production as well.

Noting input prices are 15% to 20% higher than pre-COVID levels, Davis points out that prices for active ingredients have gone up 20% to 30% since the conflict in Iran started.

“This continues to exacerbate that question around how long are we going to continue to see input prices increasing?” Davis says. “The other things that are less talked about but are starting to show up in pricing data are things like low inclusion additives for livestock feeds, so things like vitamins and trace minerals are starting to show up in pricing increases as well as they are being disrupted in trade flow and a slowdown of exports from China.”

Langemeier adds to the question around input pricing increases, saying it’s unknown if the uncertainty and elevated costs will go into 2027.

Strategic Deferment of Capital Expenses

To manage tight margins, farmers are expected to prioritize paying down debt over investing in land, equipment/technology, capital improvements and labor. Machinery and equipment purchases are the top items likely to be reduced or deferred in 2026, with half of economists also warning that cuts to fertilizer and crop protection could start impacting yields.

(Farm Journal Survey, April 2026)

“The number one thing as always is farmers want to be paying down debt,” Davis says. “Equipment is going to continue to be in a trough, and my expectation is that tractor sales year over year are still going to be 10 to 15% lower this year versus last year.”

He also foresees a continued transition to generic crop chemicals for the next two years.

Davis makes a distinction regarding which farms could survive this pinch on profitability. He describes a “tale of two economies” where disciplined farms with high liquidity can still find financing to grow, while those who grew aggressively at the peak of the cycle are facing a “pullback” from lenders. This adds a layer of nuance to the “commercial viability” discussion.

Langemeier provides a sobering warning about how farmers are managing the third year of low margins. He notes a trend of farmers starting to borrow against their land (non-current debt) to cover operating expenses — a pattern seen during the 2014 to 2019 downturn. He emphasizes the urgent need for “contingency planning” and a “Plan B” for debt repayment this fall.

“Usually, farms will try to cover their owner withdrawals and repay debt before they even think about making down payments on machinery. Capital expenditures always get squeezed when cash flow is tight. That’s just the way it works. We’re in one of those situations where capital expenditures are just going to be lower, primarily machinery and buildings,” Langemeier says.

The Veterinarian Who Wants Everyone at the Table

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:57:12 GMT

The air in the farm office is thick with the scent of antiseptic and damp earth. Outside on a folding plastic table, slippery, pink reproductive tracts are laid out like a strange anatomy lesson.

This isn’t the sterile, hurried vet visit most expect. There is no rush to finish, no ticking clock. Instead, a crowd gathers. Workers, owners and managers lean in, drawn by a curiosity that usually gets buried under the weight of a daily chore list.

Michelle Schack doesn’t start by lecturing; she starts by inviting.

“We did a little in-the-office training where we talked about why what we were doing was important, and then we went outside. I had repro tracts and their AI guns, and they practiced,” Schack recalls. “I had three repro tracts, and I cut one open for us to look at. I explained to them the structure of the cervix.”

In moments like this, the hierarchy of the farm dissolves. Schack isn’t positioned as the untouchable expert at the center of the room. She is a facilitator, a guide and — crucially — a student.

“They were so excited to do this, and they had a lot of questions, really good questions,” Schack says. “We were all talking together. We were sharing things. I learned things. The breeders learned things. The owner learned things. We all were learning together.”

(Photos provided by Michelle Schack)

The Silicon Valley Roots of a Cow Vet

Schack’s journey to the dairy barn began in an unlikely place: the Bay Area of California. Growing up in the Silicon Valley, her world was surrounded by tech companies and not a lot of agriculture.

Her first connection to animals wasn’t through livestock but rather through a suburban 4-H group where she raised nine guide dog puppies for the blind. It was here, starting in the second grade, that she inadvertently began training for her future career — not just in animal care but also in the art of public advocacy.

When she reached the University of California, Davis, for her undergraduate degree, she assumed being a small animal vet was the only path. But after shadowing a practitioner, she realized she felt restricted by the 15-minute appointment model and the sterile walls of a clinic. She began to look for something that allowed for more space, more complexity and a deeper connection to the food system.

“I started exploring — asking, ‘Well, what else is there?’ I realized that there were all different kinds of vets, and I could do all different kinds of things,” she recalls. “I really just kept coming back to the cows. The cows were my favorite the whole time.”

By her third year of veterinary school, her choice was clear, though she was in the extreme minority. Out of her graduating class of 140, there were four students who tracked food animal medicine.

The High Cost of the Telephone Game

This instinct to pull people toward the table comes from seeing what happens when communication breaks down. In the dairy industry, the real problem is often a lack of communication — a high-stakes game of telephone that breaks down as the message gets passed further along the line.

“I think very often we speak to the farmers and then the farmers speak to their employees. But along the way, some of the messages are lost, especially as our farms get bigger,” Schack explains.

She doesn’t see this as a lack of effort but rather as a reality of the grueling environment.

“The employee on the farm has a very challenging job. Typically it’s very repetitive, very physical, in all weather, and it’s very common for them to just get stuck in a routine,” Schack says.

When employees are stuck in a routine without understanding the biological “why” behind their tasks , the animals are the ones who pay the price. Her response is simple: Change how the message is shared. It has become one of the most rewarding parts of her work.

“When I get to work with the people and the owner and the manager, and I can see them all connect, that’s a day that I’m very excited for. That’s my favorite part of my job,” Schack explains.

(Photos provided by Michelle Schack)

The Missed Piece: Collaborative Medicine

This experience shaped a simple belief: A veterinarian who only talks to cows is only doing half the job. In Schack’s view, the vet is just one piece of a massive, integrated team.

“It is common for cattle veterinarians to show up, check cows and go home. When you don’t make the time for the rest of the team, then you’re going to get left out of certain conversations,” she notes. “Producers are working with a whole team of people. When we all work together, we can do so much more.”

She defines that team broadly, including the nutritionist, the slaughterhouse, the semen sales rep and even the person who installed the fans and misters. This teamwork requires a specific kind of humility: the ability to recognize that the person delivering 40 calves a day might know more than the person with the medical degree.

“There are maternity workers that have been working in maternity for 40 years, and all they do all day is deliver calves. They are experts, and to pretend that they aren’t or to overpower them is not smart. They know a lot, and we should be listening to what they have to say,” Schack says.

Starting Earlier: Bridging the ‘Milk Gap’

Schack’s passion for education eventually led her to look even further back in the chain of understanding: to the children in her own community. After visiting her children’s kindergarten class to talk about her job, she was struck by a profound realization.

“None of them knew how milk gets from the cow to the grocery store. They don’t understand that there’s processing,” she says. “I think most people think cows come in to get milked, it goes in a bottle and then goes to the grocery store. But there are so many steps in between, and I don’t think it’s shared very well.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dairy Vet Dr. Michelle (@dairy.doc)

She saw the same disconnect reflected in posts and comments on her social media, where she shares about dairy farming as the “ Dairy Doc .” Concerned that others were filling that knowledge gap with information that may not reflect reality, Schack decided to take action.

“I wrote a children’s book,” Schack says. “Kids are sponges, and they want to know the right answer. So, I wrote a book that’s specifically geared at their level that explains milk processing in a simple way so they can actually see what happens.”

The book, “Milk From Cow to Carton,” is set to release in June. She hopes to get it into the hands of teachers so they have a factual, accessible resource for their classrooms.

(Photos provided by Michelle Schack)

Building Something That Scales

When training demands began to outpace her schedule, Schack and her partners at her veterinary practice looked for a way to scale and maintain that connection.

“We started creating videos for our clients, and they were so well received that pretty soon we had the whole co-op interested in using our training,” she says.

These training videos eventually grew into DairyKind , a national training platform that fills the gaps in on-farm education. The platform offers modules on everything from special needs cow care to calf weaning, ensuring that the “why” is never lost in the shuffle of farm growth.

This work has clarified her own identity. For years, Schack thought her value was her knowledge of the animal. Now, she realizes her value is her ability to connect the people who care for them.

“I thought that I was an animal person. Over the years I’ve learned that I’m not really an animal person, I’m a people person,” she reflects. “My nature is to work with other people and that makes me happy.”

At the end of the day, the work still looks like that first moment in the farm office: a group of people gathered around a table. Schack is there, not just to provide the answers but also to ensure that everyone — from the veteran maternity worker to the kindergarten student — is part of the conversation.

She knows that if you want to improve outcomes for cows, you have to start with the people.

Walmart Opens New $350 Million Milk Processing Plant in Texas

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:03:23 GMT

Walmart has opened a new $350 million milk processing plant in Robinson, Texas, expanding its push into direct dairy processing and adding capacity in a growing milk region.

The new plant covers more than 300,000 square feet and represents an investment of over $350 million. It’s expected to employ more than 400 people and will supply Walmart and Sam’s Club stores across the South Central U.S.

According to the company, the plant will source milk directly from local and regional dairies and process it into a range of fluid milk products, including gallon and half-gallon packages of whole, 2%, 1%, skim and chocolate milk. These products will be bottled under Walmart’s private label brands, including Great Value and Member’s Mark, and distributed to more than 650 stores in the region.

(Walmart)

“The opening of our new facility in Robinson, Texas, will help us deliver more of what customers want—fresh, affordable food and quality they can trust,” says John Laney, EVP of food for Walmart U.S. “It strengthens our supply chain, improves freshness, and reduces time from dairy farm to shelf.”

Walmart has taken a similar approach with its other milk processing facilities in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Valdosta, Georgia, which also supply stores within their respective regions. The Robinson plant is the third in that network and expands the company’s processing footprint into the South Central U.S.

(Walmart)

According to the company, the facility is part of a broader effort to streamline its dairy supply chain and support more consistent availability of fluid milk in its stores.

“This milestone reinforces Walmart’s commitment to building a more transparent and efficient supply chain for dairy products, helping Walmart meet customer demand for high-quality, affordable milk across the South Central U.S.,” the company said in its announcement.

The Robinson facility is part of Walmart’s broader investment in U.S. manufacturing and sourcing. The company has set a goal of investing $350 billion in products made, grown or assembled in the U.S. by 2031. In its most recent fiscal year, more than two-thirds of Walmart U.S. product spending went toward items produced domestically.

The Silent Strength of Cheese

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:34:00 GMT

Over the years, cheese demand has slowly crept its way up to one of the most utilized dairy products. Per capita, the United States consumes the highest amount of cheese at 19.3 kg (about 42.5 pounds) annually. In second place, Canada consumes 14.5 kg per capita while the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina trail shortly behind at 12.5-9.40 kg respectively.

While Cheese dominates consumer demand at record levels, it also dominates a big part of the milk supply. Cheese is the leading user of U.S. milkfat, at 65% of manufactured milk being utilized for cheese production. That is a huge help when we see record setting milk production month after month here in 2025 and 2026.

Earlier this month, the USDA forecasted the 2026 milk production to increase 1.5% from 2025, coming in at 235.3 billion pounds, more than 600 million pounds from a month earlier. Despite this increase in milk production, the USDA increased the projected cheese price due to recent strength in the cheese market.

The cheese price strength has been slowly creeping up from the January lows. While milk production increases, the Cold Storage Report shows available supply fading. Last week, the report showed total natural cheese stocks up 1% from the previous month but down 2% from the previous year. When you compile these facts on top of the knowledge that milk production is growing year-over-year, you can see the story building as to why cheese is the silent strength behind the dairy market. Should milk production decline, cheese will be a major factor in future price hikes.

In the short term, traders do not expect cheese to lead any major rallies. However, when looking at long term trends, with consumer demand more than doubling per capita in the last 45 years, it is hard to ignore the steady growth in the U.S. alone. Therefore, it may be the support that places a solid price floor for dairy products in the months to come.

Sarah Jungman is a commodity broker with AgMarket.Net and AgDairy, the dairy division of John Stewart & Associates Inc. (JSA). JSA is a full-service commodity brokerage firm based out of St. Joseph, MO. Sarah’s office is located in Winterset, Iowa and she may be reached at 515-272-5799 or through the website www.agmarket.net .

The thoughts expressed and the basic data from which they are drawn are believed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed. Any opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. Hypothetical or simulated performance results have certain inherent limitations. Simulated results do not represent actual trading. Simulated trading programs are subject to the benefit of hindsight. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown. There is risk of loss in trading commodity futures and options on futures. It may not be suitable for everyone. This material has been prepared by an employee or agent of JSA and is in the nature of a solicitation. By accepting this communication, you acknowledge and agree that you are not, and will not rely solely on this communication for making trading decisions.

“Report, Don’t Hide It”: Experts Urge Rapid Action When Suspecting New World Screwworm

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:13:58 GMT

As New World screwworm edges closer to the U.S., industry leaders urge producers to shift from worry to action.

Early detection, prompt reporting and treatment — backed by coordinated surveillance along the border — will be critical to keeping this treatable pest contained. Ranches are tightening calving seasons , upgrading working facilities and revisiting parasite control plans with their veterinarians. The core message to the fight against NWS: nothing replaces “eyes on animals.”

“We’ve been preparing for the possibility of screwworms emerging back in Texas for the past year,” says Jason Sawyer, East Foundation chief science officer. “We have decided to take the attitude of preparedness. We expect we’re going to have it. How can we best manage it and best mitigate and really, how do we minimize the impact while we weather the storm?”

The Breakthrough Symposium: NWS Preparedness panel (pictured l to r) are: Jason Sawyer, East Foundation; Dr. TR Lansford III, Texas Animal Health Commission; Dr. Diane Kitchen, Florida Department of Agriculture; Stephen Diebel, Texas beef producer and Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association president; and Dr. Megan Schmid, USDA-APHIS.

(Angie Stump Denton)

Sawyer participated in a panel during the The Breakthrough Symposium: NWS Preparedness, hosted by Merck Animal Health. The panelists didn’t debate whether NWS will arrive — they spoke as if it is already on the way. For producers, that means decisions must be made months in advance: adjusting breeding and calving windows to avoid peak risk, investing in better handling facilities and building a clear response plan with veterinarians. Combined with federal and state surveillance using fly traps, animal inspections and producer reports, these risk‑based steps can help ensure that when NWS appears, it is found fast, hit hard and kept from spreading.

With cattle markets at all‑time highs, panelists warn NWS must be managed in a way that protects both animal health and commerce. Movement controls, inspection and treatment protocols, and animal disease traceability are being designed to regionalize the problem — not shut the industry down.

Here are seven key takeaways from the panel discussion:

1. Prepare, Don’t Panic

New World Screwworm is a serious but manageable threat with proper planning and coordination.

“This isn’t a ‘sell the ranch and get out of business’ problem,” Sawyer summarizes. “This is a ‘let’s figure out the best way to move forward and minimize impact.’” Today’s challenge is to rebuild the “lost muscle memory” with modern tools and a risk‑based mindset. That means planning calving seasons with NWS risk in mind, enhancing parasite control without driving resistance and being ready to isolate, treat and recheck any affected animals in close coordination with veterinarians. The sooner producers start planning, the smaller and shorter the “storm” will be for everyone.

Some strategies producers should consider include:

Get a premise ID now, if you don’t have one.
Consider shifting calving and processing into lower‑fly windows.
Manage wounds differently . Any break in the skin — navels, castration, dehorning, tags and tick bites — becomes a high‑risk site once NWS is in the area.

Dr. Diane Kitchen, a cattle rancher and Florida Department of Agriculture veterinarian manager, bovine and cervidae programs, suggests producers consider using a preventative or at least a protectant to the area to minimize the chance of an infestation occurring.

Sawyer, who manages ranches near the U.S.-Mexico border, explains. “We’re trying to work with the weather instead of against it and think about comprehensive parasite control strategies that can minimize that risk for newborn calves, knowing that we’re unlikely to be able to put our hands on every one of them as they hit the ground.”

2. Eyes on Animals, Surveillance is Central.

Nothing replaces routine, disciplined visual checks — especially of newborns and any animal with a wound. Kitchen says preparation starts with understanding NWS targets wounds and certain high‑risk areas. The fly’s preference is umbilical cords, she stresses.

“It can also affect certain mucus membranes,” she explains. “The corners of the eye, the genital tract. In particular, cows that are calving, they’re attracted to the same umbilical cord scent.” External wounds can be tiny, internal damage massive. “The wound itself externally may be very small,” Kitchen says. “The size of a quarter. But then when you go to treat there may be gallons of maggots within underneath.”

Producers who have dealt with the pest often describe it as a smell you’ll never forget , noting that the stench of a calf infested with New World Screwworm is often the first warning sign.

Dr. Megan Schmid, USDA-APHIS Cattle Health Center assistant director, explains there are two types of surveillance:

Active surveillance: Fly traps along the border, border inspectors and Wildlife Services checking animals
Passive surveillance: Producers, vets, shelters and others seeing maggots/myiasis and reporting. “The traps are helpful,” she says. ”But they’re not as sensitive as the animal inspection. So really, that’s the key part: everybody looking for the infestations in animals.”

Producers can use technology to get more “eyeballs” on cattle and keep spread to a minimum. Game cameras, virtual fencing and behavior tags can help producers find problems sooner when labor is tight.

Because these infestations can be deceptive, producers should learn to identify the specific signs of New World Screwworm , such as unusual discharge or larvae deep within living tissue.

3. Report First, Don’t Hide It.

NWS is a reportable foreign animal disease. Early reporting is critical and legally required. Officials would rather investigate 1,000 false alarms than miss one real case.

Kitchen stresses failure to report will create many more flies.

“Failure to report results in multiple generations of additional flies, which just dramatically increases the population that’s available to impact everybody,” she explains. “If you think that because you didn’t report yours, that it’s not going to be found. It will be found because it’ll be found in something else.”

She encourages producers to think about the impact on their neighbor.

If the roles were reversed, she asks, “If you hear that somebody, your neighbor, is one that didn’t report, how happy are you going to be with them?”

4. Vet Relationships Are Essential.

A veterinarian is central to preparation and treatment plan. For wound care, antibiotics, pain management and access to tools, a veterinary client–patient relationship is vital. Treatment is about parasite removal and wound management, guided by vets.

Panel members explain part of being prepared is sitting down now with your veterinarian and discussing: “If we get screwworm, what’s our plan? How often are we looking at cattle, what products are we going to use, and what do we do about movements?”

Read more about how NWS is an infestation, not an infection.

5. Wildlife Matters in This Fight.

Wildlife are a major reservoir and economic driver, and can suffer large population impacts without control. Kitchen predicts in infested areas 70% to 80% of white-tailed fawn crops could be lost.

“Our wildlife populations are both so much more abundant than they were in the 1950s and so much more valuable than they were in the 1950s,” Sawyer says. “Unfortunately, the opportunity to intervene for wildlife is much smaller. There’s really not very many strategies that are viable, and so surveillance and monitoring become really our front line of defense in terms of our wildlife populations.”

He suggests the best way to protect wildlife is aggressive control in livestock to reduce environmental burden.

6. Quarantines Are Tools, Not Punishments.

The goal is continuity of business with safeguards , not shutting down commerce. Regulators are trying to balance containment with commerce. The goal is to maintain the “speed of commerce” while using structured movement protocols to protect markets and disease-free areas.

“It’s not going to be business as usual, but it’s going to be business is still possible,” Schmid says. “The focus is: how do we allow safe movements, not restrict and stop business.”

She says the New World Screwworm Response Playbook includes guidance documents and explains the quarantine/movement framework.

Stephen Diebel, Texas beef producer and Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association president, encourages producers not to think in terms of a hard quarantine. A structured process of treatment, surveillance, inspection and certification will allow movement.

Dr. TR Lansford III, Texas Animal Health Commission assistant state veterinarian and deputy executive director, encourages producers to reference the lessons learned from fever ticks as a strategy for dealing with NWS. He notes experience with fever ticks has shaped how Texans think about area quarantines, treatment protocols and continuity of business.

7. More Tools in the Toolbox.

Panelist members summarize a holistic ectoparasite program using modern products plus strong producer education is a main NWS defense strategy.

Kitchen stress producers and veterinarians have many more tools than they did back in the ’60s and ’70s when NWS was last endemic in the U.S.

Producers can find a list of approved treatment and prevention strategies on the FDA website .

Sawyer suggests producers work with their veterinarians to plan prevention and treatment strategies. He also stresses the importance of considering resistance management.

“We don’t want to react to an emergent threat in a way that then creates problems with a persistent pest that’s already present,” he says.

Read More About How Sterile Flies are the No. 1 Tool to Fight NWS:
Doubling the Defense: USDA’s “Male-Only” Fly Breakthrough to Transform Screwworm Eradication
Border Remains Closed: Sterile Fly Production Facility Groundbreaking Next Step in Screwworm Fight

While NWS is a serious and emotionally charged threat, panelists remind producers the U.S. has pushed it back before — and can do it again.

“This pest existed here before, and it has been eradicated from the U.S. before,” Sawyer summarizes. “We know how to do it. We just have to sort of build the capacity and muscle to get it done again when we need to.”

Organic Dairy Groups File Lawsuits Over Federal Milk Pricing System

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:54:05 GMT

Organic dairy farmers are challenging their required participation in the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) program through a series of federal lawsuits, arguing the system does not reflect how organic milk is produced or marketed.

Members of the Coalition for Organic Dairy Exemption (CODE), including Aurora Organic Dairy , Horizon Organic Dairy and CROPP Cooperative/Organic Valley , have recently filed three federal court actions questioning the constitutionality of including organic milk in FMMOs. A separate class action claim seeks compensation for payments farmers say were collected over the past six years without providing a return.

At the center of the filings is a request to exempt organic dairy from the FMMO system, rather than dismantle the program entirely.

“The federal government has locked in an updated dairy pricing regulation that actively harms organic dairy farmers,” says Elvin Ranck, an organic dairy farmer plaintiff from Pennsylvania. “It systematically siphons revenue generated from organic dairy sales and redistributes it to non-organic dairy producers and their partners.

He continues: “This is effectively a government taking. CROPP Cooperative, of which I am an owner-member, pays millions of dollars each year into the Federal Milk Marketing Order pools, yet those dollars never return to organic farmers like me, and under the current system, they never will. At some point, we have to stand up for ourselves.”

Separate Supply Chains, Shared Pricing Rules

The lawsuits argue organic and conventional milk are treated the same under FMMO pricing and pooling rules, even though they operate under different production systems.

Organic milk cannot be intermingled with conventional milk under federal regulations and typically moves through separate supply chains. Organic production also comes with higher feed, certification and handling costs, along with additional processing requirements.

While organic milk represents about 3% of total U.S. milk production, it accounts for roughly 7% of fluid milk sales. More than 10% of U.S. dairy farms are certified organic.

Plaintiffs argue the current structure pulls revenue out of organic milk checks instead of supporting investment in that segment.

Previous Attempts Through USDA

According to CODE, the legal filings follow multiple attempts to address the issue through USDA’s administrative process.

The group submitted proposals in 2015 that were not advanced and presented organic-specific recommendations during the 2023 national FMMO hearing that were not considered. Concerns raised in post-hearing comments in 2024 were not reflected in the final rule, and administrative challenges filed in 2025 were opposed.

“USDA, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, has spent more than a decade protecting a Depression-era pricing system that forces organic dairy to subsidize conventional products, while refusing every administrative avenue that might have resolved the dispute without litigation,” CODE members said in a press release. “There is a growing movement in this country, across party lines, that wants to know where food comes from and how it’s produced. Organic farmers help make that possible. The federal government should not be making it harder for us to survive, and it has had every opportunity to fix this.”

What the Lawsuits Would Change

The lawsuits emphasize that the goal is not to eliminate FMMOs, but to remove organic milk from a pricing structure plaintiffs say was not designed for it.

“Federal law already recognizes organic as different. USDA’s own organic standards treat our milk as a distinct product with distinct requirements,” CODE members said. “We are not asking to tear down the FMMOs. We are asking FMMOs to reflect a distinction that the law already makes – and that consumers already understand.”

If successful, the cases could change how organic milk is handled within federal pricing orders and whether producers remain subject to pooling requirements moving forward.

Train for the Why: How Understanding Reduces Treatment Errors on Dairy Farms

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:37:20 GMT

Most dairy farms are training their teams.

They’re holding sessions, reviewing protocols and preparing for audits. On paper, the boxes are checked. On the ground, the same issues persist: missed steps, inconsistent execution, repeated corrective actions.

The problem isn’t a lack of training. It’s a lack of understanding.

“When timing is tight, which it usually is on a dairy farm, training becomes about getting through the steps of the job, not building understanding, and it often happens too late or too far apart to really stick,” says Michelle Schack , dairy cow veterinarian and founder of DairyKind , a training resource for dairies.

Across many operations, training is built around urgency. The audit is coming. The team needs a refresher. Protocols are reviewed quickly, often in a single session, with a focus on what to do and what not to do.

This approach creates a necessary foundation but also leaves a critical gap. Employees may know the steps, but they don’t always know why they’re being asked to perform them.

From Compliance to Understanding

“Dip the navel.”
“Don’t stress cows.”
“Give the shot here.”

These instructions are clear, repeatable and easy to audit. But without context, they are also easy to forget, misapply or ignore under pressure.

Training that focuses only on protocols asks employees to memorize. Training that includes the “why” asks them to understand.

“This isn’t a motivation problem. People generally want to do the right thing for the animals they are caring for. This is an understanding problem. We often assume knowledge that was never actually taught,” Schack explains.

When employees understand the biological or physiological reason behind a task, compliance becomes more consistent. Decision-making improves in situations that fall outside strict protocols. The work itself becomes more purposeful. Without that understanding, the same issues repeat.

The result is a cycle many veterinarians and producers recognize: retraining without resolution.

Where Training Breaks Down — and How to Fix It

The gap between protocol and understanding shows up in everyday tasks on dairy farms. In each case, the issue is not the protocol itself. It is what is missing behind it.

Here are some examples of everyday tasks performed on the farm, how they’re trained and improvements that could be made to the training to increase worker understanding and engagement.

Navel Dipping in Calves

Standard training: Dip the navel.
What’s missing: The umbilicus is a direct pathway into the calf’s body. Without proper disinfection, bacteria can enter and lead to systemic infection.
What changes when the “why” is explained: Employees recognize the procedure as a disease prevention step rather than a routine task and consistency improves.

If she happens to be performing a necropsy, Schack will show workers the internal structures to help them better understand why navels need to be dipped.

“You can tell someone to dip navels to prevent infection, but when they see for themselves that the navel connects directly to the liver, it changes how seriously they take that step,” she explains.

Broken Tails in Dairy Cattle

Standard training: Don’t pull tails.
What’s missing: The tail is an extension of the spine, made up of bones and joints. Excessive force can cause permanent injury.
Key issue: Many employees are unaware tails can be broken. Broken tails cannot be corrected after the fact. Prevention depends on handling practices.

“I’ve had conversations with employees that were using a calf’s tail to move the calf who were genuinely surprised to learn that tails can be broken. That moment of realization shifts how they handle calves and cows moving forward,” Schack says.

What changes when the “why” is explained: Handling behavior shifts because the risk becomes concrete rather than abstract.

Stockmanship and Milk Letdown

Standard training: Don’t stress the cows.
What’s missing: Stress activates physiological pathways that inhibit milk letdown. This slows milking and reduces parlor efficiency.
What changes when the “why” is explained: Calm handling becomes directly tied to workflow, time and performance in the parlor.

“Employees recognize that a cow that balks slows down the workflow, but they don’t always connect that to stress. When you make that link, animal well-being stops being abstract and starts being something that not only helps the cows but also makes their job easier,” Schack explains.

Injection Technique (SQ vs IM)

Standard training: Give the shot here.
What’s missing: Route of administration affects drug absorption, tissue damage and treatment effectiveness.
Key issue: Employees may not understand the difference between subcutaneous and intramuscular injections.
What changes when the “why” is explained: Accuracy improves, particularly in fast-paced situations where shortcuts are more likely.

“In a fast-paced environment, people default to what’s easiest, unless they understand why it matters. That’s what keeps accuracy from slipping,” Schack explains.

The Veterinarian’s Role in Making Training Stick

Veterinarians are positioned to translate biology into practical, actionable knowledge. Even short explanations can shift how employees approach routine tasks. However, training is not always viewed as part of the veterinary role. Time is limited. Priorities compete.

Producers also influence how training is delivered.

When farms involve veterinarians in training conversations, not just for protocols but for explanation, the information is more likely to be applied. The reasoning carries weight when it is grounded in biology and delivered by a trusted source.

For producers, that may mean asking a simple question during the next visit: Can you help explain the “why” behind this protocol to our team?

Even brief moments of explanation from a veterinarian during a routine visit can have lasting impact. When the biology is clear, the protocol becomes logical rather than arbitrary.

From One-Time Training to Continuous Learning

That shared effort between veterinarians and producers also requires rethinking when and how training happens. Training is often treated as a one-time event. In practice, it functions as an ongoing system.

One-time, in-person sessions cannot reach every employee.

“Between turnover, schedules and time constraints, there is no way one training reaches everyone, so it has to be something people can come back and build on,” Schack says.

No single format is sufficient on its own. In-person training creates engagement. Digital tools provide accessibility. Language accessibility ensures the message is understood. Repetition reinforces it over time.

Every training instance should include:
● What to do and what not to do (addressing common shortcuts/mistakes)
● Why it matters (biological/physiological context)
● What happens if it’s done incorrectly
● Instilling pride in the importance of this task or their job

“When training is consistent and covers why the work matters and the impact of getting it right or wrong, the work becomes something they take pride in, not just something they complete.” Schack says.

Training will always be part of dairy operations. If the goal is lasting change, it cannot stop at protocols.

Protocols create consistency. Understanding creates ownership.

Seeking the Best in Dairy: Applications Open for the 2026 Milk Business Awards

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:47:26 GMT

Each December, the dairy industry’s most forward-thinking minds gather in the desert for the annual Milk Business Conference. It is a time for high-level networking, deep-dive educational panels and a shared vision of the industry’s future. But among the many highlights of the event, none are as prestigious as the presentation of the Milk Business Awards — a tradition that honors the grit, brilliance and heart of the American dairy producer.

As we look forward to the 2026 Milk Business Conference, held Dec. 9-10 in Scottsdale, Ariz., Farm Journal is officially opening the call for nominations. These awards are designed to identify and celebrate the leaders who aren’t just participating in the industry but are actively redefining it.

Three Pillars of Excellence

The awards are divided into three distinct categories, each representing a vital component of a successful modern dairy:

Leader in Technology Award: This category recognizes operations that have moved past the data silo era to implement cutting-edge technology that improves efficiency, animal welfare and the bottom line.
Young Producer Award: Reserved for producers 35 or younger, this award honors those who excel in their daily operations while serving as tireless advocates for the dairy industry within their communities and ag organizations.
Employee Excellence Award: Success on a dairy is a team sport. This award allows dairies to nominate key employees who represent excellence in their roles and are vital to the operation’s daily success.

A Legacy of Leadership

To understand the caliber of these awards, one only needs to look at the previous winners who have set the bar high. These producers and employees represent the gold standard of the industry:

2025 Winners:

Leader in Technology: McCarty Family Farms (Kansas) – Recognized for their massive 15,000-cow operation driven by data and innovative rotary milking systems.
Young Producer: Wybrand Vander Dussen (Colorado) – Honored for his resilience and leadership in managing a 4,000-cow dairy.
Employee Excellence: Travis Ties (Holdgrafer Dairy, Iowa) – Celebrated for over 25 years of dedication to feed and crop operations.

2024 Winners:

Leader in Technology: GenoSource (Iowa) – A leader in genetic advancement and high-tech parlor efficiency.
Young Producer: Perry Baeten (Wisconsin) – Awarded for his successful expansion and advocacy efforts.
Employee Excellence: Joaquin Vazquez (Vir-Clar Farms, Wisconsin) – Recognized for his instrumental role in team building and herd management.

Apply Today

Winning a Milk Business Award is more than just a title; it is an opportunity to share your story with the national dairy community. Winners receive a free trip for two to the 2026 Milk Business Conference in Scottsdale — a premier destination for industry insight and professional growth.

The deadline to enter is Aug. 1. If you, or someone you know, represents the best of what the dairy industry has to offer, we want to hear about it. For the application details, visit: Awards: MILK Business Conference 2026

APHIS Lifts Testing Requirements for H5N1 in Unaffected States

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:33:03 GMT

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued updated guidance related to the April 2024 Federal Order that required testing of lactating dairy cattle before they move across State lines.

Effective immediately, lactating dairy cattle moving interstate from States with Unaffected State Status under the National Milk Testing Strategy are no longer required to be tested for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 prior to movement.

View the updated guidance document .

Key Points

No testing required for lactating dairy cattle originating from States with Unaffected State Status under the National Milk Testing Strategy .
Unaffected State Status requires ongoing testing and surveillance activities to confirm the absence of HPAI in the State’s dairy herds.
This update follows a United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) resolution received in October 2025 and is expected to be widely supported by dairy and State animal health regulatory officials.
APHIS does not anticipate any impact on trade of cattle or beef/dairy products.

Public Health and Food Safety

The detection of HPAI H5N1 in lactating dairy cattle does not pose a risk to consumer health or compromise the safety of the commercial milk supply. Pasteurization effectively inactivates HPAI virus. Milk from affected animals is diverted or destroyed to prevent entry into the food supply. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to consider the public health risk low.

The Importance of Biosecurity

USDA remains committed to working with State partners to monitor, investigate, and mitigate the spread of HPAI in livestock. This update does not change  USDA’s HPAI eradication strategy . Biosecurity is still key to mitigating the risk of disease introduction or spread between premises.

APHIS recommends  enhanced biosecurity measures  for all dairy farms. Producers should immediately report any livestock with clinical signs, or any unusual sick or dead wildlife, to their State veterinarian.

Trump Admin to Roll Out Major Fertilizer Plan This Week, Accelerate U.S. Production Push

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:36:28 GMT

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the Trump administration will unveil a sweeping set of fertilizer initiatives this week, warning that surging input costs are putting intense pressure on American farmers. Speaking at a Missouri farm on Friday, Rollins told those in attendance that fertilizer has become an issue of national security, which is why she says this week’s announcement will be broader than just USDA, also including EPA, Department of Energy, Department of Commerce and Department of the Interior.

While at GR Farms in Higginsville, Mo., on Friday to roll out an announcement on the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) top-up payments, Rollins described the Trump administration’s upcoming announcement on fertilizer as a large-scale investment initiative. She says while she hoped to roll out the plan while in Missouri, the administration is still finalizing the size of the funding package.

Rollins says the plan will address both immediate actions to stabilize fertilizer prices and a longer-term roadmap aimed at ensuring affordable, domestically produced supply for U.S. farmers.

Washington analyst Jim Wiesemeyer says the plan will likely need to include a mix of financial and policy tools, such as grants, tax incentives, loan guarantees outside of existing USDA programs and greater consistency in U.S. trade policy, while noting imports will still play a role, particularly for key nutrients like potash sourced from Canada.

Short-Term Fertilizer Price Pain

During her comments Friday, Rollins highlighted how quickly fertilizer prices have increased since the conflict started in Iran, outlining the additional strain it is placing on producers.

“We know that urea prices have gone up 50% over the last month. Ammonia is up 30% or more,” she said, adding that “our farmers are feeling that pinch.”

Rollins also told the crowd fertilizer has been a longer-term challenge, even before the situation in Iran caused the latest price spike.

“To be clear, this has been a problem for years. The actual numbers are lower, believe it or not, than they were even in 2022,” she says. “But nevertheless, that jump in prices overnight, we have to address.”

Framing the issue as more than just an economic challenge and one that is a matter of national security after decades of offshoring fertilizer production, Rollins says the administration views the issue as part of a broader structural problem within the fertilizer industry.

“The loss of competition in the fertilizer industry has obviously led to higher fertilizer costs over time,” she says. “When combined with what’s happening overseas with the current geopolitical issues facing our world, certainly we have come to a crossroads that requires immediate action. This is indeed a matter of national security, and we are working to tackle it head on.”

Focus on Domestic Fertilizer Production

While Rollins didn’t give details, she hinted the centerpiece of this week’s announcement will be a major push to reshore fertilizer production, backed by federal investment to accomplish that. Working with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, she says the administration is preparing to direct significant funding toward building new fertilizer plants across the country, while also supporting existing projects.

“I have asked Howard to do, and his team to do, and what we’re doing in partnership is to identify a significant number ... that we can deploy into building out fertilizer plants in America,” she says.

Rollins emphasizes cutting regulatory delays will be critical to making that plan work. She says projects are already being identified nationwide, but permitting delays remain a major obstacle — with the goal of getting that process down to months versus the current years it takes.

“We’ve already begun to identify all over the country. Some are under production. How do we move them along more quickly? Some are in the permitting bureaucracy, which sometimes takes years to get through permitting,” she says. “Our goal is to, instead of years, to get to permitting in a matter of weeks, or perhaps months, so that even in one year, two years and three years, we will have facilities up and running that we will never have had that opportunity or option before.”

United States’ Energy Advantage for Nitrogen Fertilizer

Rollins also points to domestic energy resources as a key factor in expanding fertilizer output, particularly for nitrogen production.

“We became, in a matter of just a short period of time, a net exporter of LNG versus importer, meaning we were producing our own energy in America, so much so that we no longer had to rely on other countries,” she says. “The reason that is important is, as our farmers are facing these exponential nitrogen fertilizer costs, we now have the resources in America. We just have to build the facilities, the manufacturing facilities, to turn that LNG into nitrogen. So this is going to happen quicker than you would normally expect, I think because of the pieces of the puzzle that have already been put into place.”

In the meantime, Rollins says the administration is continuing short-term efforts to improve supply availability and reduce costs.

While the longer-term strategy ramps up, she says the administration is continuing short-term interventions to ease pressure on farmers. These include:

Extending a waiver of the Jones Act
Opening new import channels
Working and meeting with industry/fertilizer companies

Highlighting cooperation with domestic producers, she pointed to CF Industries as an example.

“They have said, in order to protect our farmers, we are going to stop maintenance. We are going look at holding our prices steady,” she says.

She also points to ongoing coordination with the Department of Justice.

“Last year, we signed a joint agreement, USDA did, with the Department of Justice, ensuring that farmers have access to competitive and affordable inputs,” she says. “Looking into the activities of our fertilizer companies and what has happened over the last few years, but with a new eye on potential price gouging right now.”

Long-Term Goal: Reduce Foreign Dependence

Looking longer term, Rollins says the administration is focused on reversing decades of reliance on foreign suppliers.

“America has offshored for far too long, far too much of our fertilizer production, leaving us dangerously reliant on Russia and China,” she says. “Changing that long-standing industry that is reliant on global markets won’t happen overnight,” she says. “But working with our farmers and across industry and government, we will find ways to make fertilizer that we can do here in America and make sure it is a price that our great farmers can afford.”

At the same time, the administration is increasing scrutiny of fertilizer markets. Rollins noted ongoing coordination with the Department of Justice, saying officials are taking “a new eye on potential price gouging right now.”

Ultimately, she framed this week’s announcement as the beginning of a broader shift away from foreign dependence.

Rollins says additional details, including funding levels and project specifics, will be included in next week’s announcement.

“We’re at a crossroads that requires immediate action,” she says.

Watch Rollins’ full press conference here:

When Good Employees Create Hard Decisions

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:41:08 GMT

You notice a good employee starting to show up late a few mornings in a row, or someone who is usually steady seems distracted and not quite themselves. Nothing is clearly wrong, but enough has changed that you know something is going on, and you’re not sure what to do next.

Do you have a conversation with them?
Do you start handing out consequences?
Or is this something more serious that could eventually lead to letting them go?

This is the kind of situation management coach Don Taylor calls an ethical dilemma.

“An ethical dilemma is when you’re trying to make a call between two or more options, and none of them feel clearly right or clearly wrong from an ethics standpoint,” Taylor said during a Professional Dairy Producers podcast.

This is not a black-and-white situation. Taylor notes that when someone clearly crosses the line, the decision is usually straightforward.

“There are some situations where someone clearly crosses the line, and we know right away it’s an immediate termination,” Taylor says. “Those cases are straightforward. That’s not what we’re talking about here.”

More often, these situations involve good employees when something in their life changes and it is not clear what is going on or how to respond. In those moments, farm leaders are balancing two things: supporting the person while protecting the operation.

Recognize When Something is Off

The first step is recognizing you are dealing with an ethical dilemma in the first place. In many cases, it starts with a gut check.

“Sometimes it’s just a gut feeling that something is off. It doesn’t feel right, and it’s not what you expect from that person,” Taylor says. “In those moments, it really tests your judgment and how you handle people.”

When something does not fit normal patterns or expectations, it usually means you need to pause and get more information before making a decision.

Focus on Facts, Not Assumptions

Once a concern is identified, it’s time to gather information. This starts with making sure decisions are not driven by bias or incomplete observations.

“We want to make sure personal blind spots or biases are not getting in the way. The goal is to gather as much accurate information as we can,” Taylor says.

This often means separating what is known from what is assumed and keeping conversations focused on what can be seen or verified, not opinions.

“We’re going to focus on the facts. If someone starts adding opinions, we’ll steer the conversation back to what we actually know,” Taylor says.

Listen Before Deciding

After information is gathered, the next step is to continue the conversation with the employee.

“Tell your employee, ‘I’m just curious, can you share anything else with me about what’s going on? Whatever is going on in your life is affecting your work, and I have an obligation to understand what that is,” Taylor says.

He emphasizes that in many of these situations, there is often more going on than what you see at first. Taking the time to listen helps you understand the full picture. That way, you are making a decision based on what is really happening, not just what it looks like on the surface.

“When we’re actively listening, we are taking ourselves completely out of the equation,” Taylor says. “All that we’re doing is processing information.”

Use Policy as a Guide

After understanding the situation, leaders should review company policies and past practices. Consistency is important, but rigid rules do not always account for real life circumstances.

Taylor cautions against overly strict approaches in areas where situations can vary significantly.

“I’m not a big fan of zero tolerance policies for this exact reason. If it’s zero tolerance, it’s zero tolerance,” Taylor says.

Instead, he recommends building in room for judgment.

“Unique situations should be handled on a case-by-case basis by the owner,” Taylor says.

That flexibility allows leaders to respond fairly while still staying aligned with the operation’s expectations.

Think Through the Options

With the facts and policies in mind, the next step is to step back and look at your options. Taylor refers to this as using “moral imagination.”

“We have to be creative, thinking up alternative options that are based on our core values, that are based on what we feel is simply the best thing to do in this situation,” Taylor says.

In practice, this means not jumping to the first or easiest answer. It might not be as simple as discipline or doing nothing. There may be a middle ground, like adjusting schedules, setting clear expectations, or putting a short-term plan in place while you learn more.

It also means thinking through how each option affects the rest of the team. Will others see the decision as fair? Will it create more work or tension? At the same time, consider what the employee needs and whether the decision gives them a realistic chance to improve.

At the end of the day, you need to pick an option you can stand behind. One that fits how you run your operation and how you expect people to be treated every day.

If You Miss it, Adjust

Not every situation is going to be handled perfectly, and that is part of working through these kinds of decisions. Taylor says what matters is being willing to look back, learn from it and make adjustments going forward.

“We own it. It’s our responsibility. We made the decision we admit that we could have done better,” Taylor says.

In the end, these situations come down to how you lead people day to day. Taking the time to understand what is going on, working through your options and being willing to adjust when needed helps build trust with your team and keeps the operation moving forward.

The Invisible Enemy: The Audacity and Faith of One Incredible Wisconsin Dairy Family

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:09:11 GMT

In the world of dairy farming, we often talk about the things we can see: the quality of the silage, the conformation of a heifer or the rising numbers on a milk check. But for the Den Hoed family in northern Wisconsin, the most defining battle of the last 17 years has been against an enemy that is entirely invisible. It is a story of a silent killer that nearly broke their business, but instead, forged a family legacy of unshakable faith and the grit to build something entirely new from the ground up.

The story of Den Hoed Dairy doesn’t begin in the cabin country of Wisconsin. It begins in the Yakima Valley of Washington, where Walt Den Hoed grew up milking cows alongside his father and brothers. By 2008, the operation had grown to 1,200 cows. But that year, a storm hit: Walt’s father passed away from cancer, and the family realized — too late — that no succession planning had been done.

In 2010, at age 40, Walt faced a crossroads. He could stay in the shadow of a fractured legacy, or he could take a leap of faith. With his wife, Denise, and their children, he looked at seven dairies across the Midwest. They eventually settled on a site in northern Wisconsin, arriving with nothing more than two tractors, a loader and a determination to start over.

“We didn’t bring any cows,” Walt recalls. “We bought everything here. We didn’t know then why the former owner had sold the farm. We found out soon enough.”

(Den Hoed Dairy)

The Silent Killer: 17 Years of Stray Voltage

What the Den Hoeds had unknowingly purchased was a stray voltage farm. Located precisely between two electrical substations, the earth beneath their feet was a conduit for balancing energy. For the cows, it was a living nightmare.

“It affects their liver,” Walt explains, his voice heavy with the memory of the struggle. “The cows wouldn’t drink.”

At their lowest point, the cows were only taking in 13 gallons of water a day.

“We were down to 44 pounds of milk on 3x milking,” says Colton Den Hoed. “They wouldn’t even let their milk down in the parlor; they’d get back to the stalls and just start dripping. It was like they were being suppressed from the inside out.”

The numbers were staggering and, for any other business, it would have been a death sentence. The farm carried a 44% cull rate and a 10% death rate. In the winter, production hovered at 60 lb.; in the summer, 75 lb. Compared to the 90 lb.-plus averages they had achieved in Washington, the Den Hoeds were merely surviving in a state of constant “IV tube” management.

“We were in the shed at 3 a.m. in -25°F-below weather, building little pens to warm up calves that were dying because the stray voltage prevents calcium transfer,” Denise says. “They couldn’t keep themselves warm. We were doing whatever it took to save them, but you can’t out-farm physics.”

(Den Hoed Dairy)

The Legacy Farmer Pivot: Permission to Dream Again

For years, the family lived in a survival bubble. The Den Hoeds say when you are buried in the daily trauma of losing animals and fighting a plummeting milk check, you stop dreaming. You focus on the next bill, the next IV bag and the next sunrise.

The turning point came a year and a half ago when the family connected with Legacy Farmer. They wanted a cold, hard audit of their operation. They were prepared for the criticism. In fact, they invited it.

“We wanted to find the holes,” says Jayce Den Hoed. “We wanted to know where we were failing. But they dug into our portfolio for two months and came back with something we didn’t expect. They told us, ‘You guys can’t get any more efficient. The only thing you’re doing wrong is milk production, and you can’t help that in this facility.’”

That revelation was the green light the family needed. The audit proved their do-it-all philosophy — hauling their own milk, harvesting 1,700 acres of their own feed and handling every equipment repair in-house — had created a foundation of extreme efficiency. If they could just get the cows onto clean ground, the sky was the limit.

“We had a day of depression when we saw the reality of the numbers needed to build new,” Colton says. “But we all came back to the table with the same vision. We knew we had the equity. We just needed the courage to jump.”

Building from Scratch: 6 Miles to Freedom

The Den Hoeds are currently in the middle of a massive transformation. Just 6 miles away from their current death trap, they are building a brand-new facility from scratch. The new dairy will feature a double-20 parallel parlor and a state-of-the-art feed center.

The goal is to move the milking herd, dry cows and close-ups to the new site by November. The original farm will be repurposed for heifers and calves, who seem better able to handle the environmental stress until they reach breeding age.

“The bank approval was a miracle,” Denise says. “We spent months putting together a portfolio — projections for years to come, profit and loss statements, every detail laid out. We had a three-hour meeting with the board, and within 90 days, we had the approval. Our lender actually grew up on a farm that was also plagued by stray voltage. She understood our heart because she had lived our pain.”

(Den Hoed Dairy)

The Next Generation: Wired for the Legacy

Perhaps the most compelling part of the Den Hoed story is the two young men standing alongside Walt. In an era where the average age of the American farmer is rising, Jayce and Colton bring that figure down considerably. They are hardworking, tech-savvy and deeply committed to the family brand.

Jayce, who bought his first 100 acres at age 18, even before he graduated high school, handles the crop inputs and the beef side of the business.

“I’ve always wanted to farm,” he says. “You teach your kids responsibility, and that’s missing in our culture today.”

Colton, who cares for the youngstock, has taken the Den Hoed story to the world through social media, where he has built a following of nearly 200,000 people. He documents the good, the bad and the muddy.

“I want to show people what we do. I’ve had kids from small towns come through the barn who have never seen a cow,” Colton says. “The disconnect is huge, and we’re trying to bridge it.”

The brothers haven’t always seen eye-to-eye — they admit to butting heads in their younger years — but the shared trauma of the stray voltage years and the shared vision of the new build have welded them together.

(Den Hoed Dairy)

A Culture of “Familia”

The Den Hoeds don’t just treat each other like family; they extend that culture to their team. When they moved to Wisconsin, they struggled to find help until they recruited from the local Hispanic community. Today, they have four employees who have been with them for years.

“We treat them like family,” Colton says. “We have dinners together. We bring them donuts. We know about their lives. It’s not just a number on a payroll; it’s a relationship. That morale is why they stay, even when the facility was a struggle to work in.”

This focus on people is the secret sauce of their efficiency. By hauling their own milk, they save nearly $1.10 per cwt. — a figure that adds up to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

“If we didn’t do it ourselves, we wouldn’t be here,” Walt says simply.

The Audacity of Faith

Woven through every conversation with the Den Hoeds is a profound sense of faith. In their barn, a sign reads “In God We Trust,” and it isn’t just for show.

“When we put that sign up, it felt like our problems got worse,” Walt says with a wry smile. “It was like Satan went to work harder. But it just made us pray harder. We stopped praying for God to ‘fix’ the farm and started praying for wisdom. And that’s when the pieces started falling into place.”

They see God’s hand in the timing of the Legacy Farmer audit, in the specific background of their lender and even in the naysayers who told them they would fail.

“You’re always going to have people who think you’re nuts,” Walt says. “But we’ve learned to manifest the positive. You don’t go forward unless you poke your head out of the shell. We’re taking a leap of faith because we believe this industry is worth it, and we believe our family is worth it.”

Looking Toward November

As the construction crews move dirt at the new site 6 miles away, the Den Hoeds are already seeing the cumulative wins. Their pregnancy rate has surged from 23% to nearly 50% after a shift in management protocols. Their days in milk have dropped from 215 to 160. Though these changes did not translate to a single extra pound at their current facility, the engine is being tuned for the big move.

“We need hope,” Denise says. “We were in that survival pool for so long we didn’t realize how depressed we were. We had actually stopped dreaming.”

But the dreams are back. In November, when the first trailer load of cows pulls into the clean parlor of the new facility, it won’t just be a move of livestock. It will be the culmination of 17 years of perseverance. It will be the moment the invisible enemy finally loses its grip.

As the rain falls over the Wisconsin cabin country, the Den Hoed family gathers for their daily lunch — a tradition that keeps them connected and grounded. They joke, they plan and they pray. They are a testament to the fact that the most valuable asset on any dairy isn’t the quota or the equipment — it’s the people who refuse to quit.

The Den Hoeds are no longer just surviving. They are building a legacy that will outlast the hardships and the stray voltage. They are proving that when you combine elite efficiency with an audacious faith, the cream always rises to the top.

Clearing the Air About Ammonia in Calf Hutches

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:52:09 GMT

Most calf hutches look fine from the outside. But what’s happening inside the hutch, especially at calf level, is not always as obvious.

When wet bedding and manure break down, they release ammonia. In hutches, it builds up right where calves are breathing. Even at fairly low levels, it can affect intake, growth and overall performance.

During a recent episode of The Dairy Podcast Show, David Casper, a dairy nutritionist and owner of Casper’s Calf Ranch in Illinois, explains how ammonia develops in calf hutches and what it means from a management standpoint.

Airflow is a Strength

Calf hutches continue to be widely used across dairies because they naturally provide strong ventilation and keep calves in individual spaces that are easy to manage. They also offer flexibility as herds grow and do not require the same level of infrastructure as enclosed barns.

“In my opinion, the hutch would still be the gold standard as far as having the best environmental quality you could have, especially air quality, and not have to deal with ventilation problems,” Casper says.

Even so, ammonia can increase as bedding becomes damp. By the time it’s noticeable, calves have already been exposed.

“When we started using soy hulls, I started noticing ammonia in the hutches,” Casper says. “I could smell it and really picked up on it. And that’s when we started getting concerned.”

That realization prompted a closer look at ammonia levels in hutches and how they relate to calf growth and health.

Measuring Ammonia

To better understand the issue, Casper evaluated ammonia levels in 90 calf hutches. Calves were placed in alternating hutches assigned to either a control or treatment group, and ammonia was measured weekly.

“Once a week, we come through with a personal ammonia detector that’s digital, and we would turn that with the measuring system face down on the bedding,” he says. “After 30 seconds, you get a stable reading, and that was the ammonia reading in the hutch.”

Control hutches averaged about 10 parts per million, while treated hutches averaged around 1.5 parts per million, an 85% reduction.

“We actually reduced the ammonia levels in the hutches by 85%,” Casper says.

That difference was significat, as performance challenges can begin once ammonia exceeds about 4 to 6 parts per million.

“Basically the range is four to six parts per million,” he says. “Above that, you will actually start seeing performance losses or performance challenges.”

Ammonia levels varied widely between hutches. Wetter bedding, scours and older calves were all associated with higher readings.

“Some hutches would have values up to 100 parts per million and other ones would be very low,” Casper says.

Ammonia also tended to increase later in the preweaning period as calves consumed more starter.

“For our studies, week seven and eight were probably the higher ammonia readings,” Casper says. “The first week had almost no ammonia readings because they’re on freshly bedded straw and fecal output is very minimal.”

Impact on Calf Growth

Lower ammonia levels were also tied to better performance. Calves in lower ammonia environments gained more weight during the preweaning period.

“We actually picked up on a growth response as well,” Casper says. “We got .14 pounds more average daily gain.”

Milk feeding remained the same, pointing to differences in intake and environment.

“The calves that were in the lower ammonia levels in the hutches ate more calf starter and had better growth rates,” he says.

Calves in lower ammonia hutches also showed greater increases in heart girth, indicating more overall body development.

Managing Ammonia in the Hutch

While most dairies are not measuring ammonia regularly, several management areas influence how much builds up in hutches.

Bedding is the biggest driver. Keeping bedding dry and well maintained helps limit ammonia. Deep straw provides insulation and absorbs moisture, but it needs to be refreshed regularly, especially later in the preweaning period.

“A calf can take a lot of cold weather if they’ve got deep straw bedding that they can nest down into and stay warm,” Casper says.

Moisture control is also important. Hutches with scours or poor drainage tend to have higher ammonia levels, so identifying problem hutches early can help target extra bedding or cleanout.

Smell is another indicator. If ammonia is noticeable when checking calves, levels are already elevated.

Timing matters as well. Ammonia tends to increase as calves get older and consume more starter, so bedding management often needs to be more aggressive in the later weeks before weaning.

A few practical hutch-specific steps producers can use include:

Add fresh straw more often in the back third of the hutch, where moisture tends to build first
Pull wet bedding away from the calf’s resting area instead of just layering on top
Pay close attention to hutches with scouring calves and re-bed them first
Check bedding depth at the calf level, not just at the front entrance of the hutch
Clean or fully reset hutches between groups when possible to reduce carryover moisture

Paying attention to these areas can help keep ammonia levels lower and support more consistent calf performance through the preweaning period.

From the Parlor to the Perimeter: Protecting the Heart of American Dairy in 2026

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:47:14 GMT

2026 marks a defining moment for U.S. dairy producers. As biological threats evolve and new risks loom on the horizon, the industry’s focus has moved from the parlor to the perimeter. During a high-level panel at the High Plains Dairy Conference, leaders including Jason Lombard, Samantha Holeck and Dee Ellis addressed the biosecurity gap and the urgent need for a line of separation to safeguard the milk supply. This isn’t just a discussion about animal health; it’s a strategic deep dive into the risk management and business continuity required to keep the American dairy industry moving forward in a volatile world.

The Ghost in the Mammary Gland: The H5N1 Legacy

Lombard opened the discussion with a sobering retrospective on H5N1. What began as a bird flu headline in December 2021 has evolved into a complex, multi-species challenge that has fundamentally altered the dairy landscape.

Lombard’s timeline showed the relentless march of the virus. From the first detections in wild birds in the Carolinas to the jump into commercial turkeys in 2022, the industry watched with wary eyes. But 2024 was the year the ground shifted. The B3.13 genotype emerged in dairy cattle in Texas and Kansas, eventually spreading to multiple states and even jumping to alpacas and swine. By late 2025, new genotypes like D1.1 were being detected in Arizona, Nevada and Wisconsin.

The most jarring revelation, however, was the visual evidence of where the virus hides. Lombard shared microscopic images of the mammary gland, where sialic acid receptors — the locks the virus keys into — glowed red, and the virus itself (AIV) glowed yellow.

“It’s in the milk,” Lombard stated flatly.

The spread isn’t just about a bird dropping a feather in a feed bunk. The data now shows a web of transmission: the movement of cattle, the movement of people and even the breathing of the herd. Most concerning for the 2026 outlook is the role of aerosols and peridomestic birds like swallows, pigeons and starlings. We are fighting a ghost that can be carried on a breeze or the back of a common filth fly.

The Emerging Nightmare: New World Screwworm

While the industry is still reeling from H5N1, Holeck introduced a threat that sounds like the plot of a horror movie but carries devastating economic reality: New World screwworm (NWS).

For decades, the U.S. has been protected by the “Darien Gap” and a massive eradication effort that pushed the screwworm south into Central America. But in 2026, the map is changing. Holeck shared a situational update showing thousands of active cases in Mexico, with some pushing dangerously close to the U.S. border.

“This will change the way we do business,” Holeck warned.

If NWS crosses the border, the implications are immediate and severe. We are talking about total movement restrictions, intensive live-animal inspections and the potential for lost trade. Unlike a virus, NWS is a parasite — a fly that lays eggs in open wounds, where larvae then consume living tissue. Holeck’s toolbox for 2026 isn’t just about vaccinations; it’s about management. It’s about preventing injuries, adjusting management practices to keep wounds clean, and a hyper-vigilant remove and dispose protocol for larvae.

The Reality of the Gap: Data from the Barn Floor

Farm Journal conducted its own research on research launched at the 2025 Milk Business Conference. The research illustrates a significant biosecurity gap between large and small operations.

The data showed that while 71% of producers have cameras in their milking parlors, only 38% have defined entrances with clear signage for designated vehicles like milk and feed trucks. The discrepancy becomes even sharper when looking at herd size. Larger dairies are significantly more likely to have designated employee parking (+23%) and cameras at facility entrances (+32%) compared to dairies with fewer than 1,000 cows.

The producer’s dilemma is real: ROI versus risk. On a smaller operation, a $20,000 security and sanitation upgrade can feel like a mountain, especially when the threat hasn’t hit your zip code yet. But as the panel emphasized, biosecurity is like insurance — you only realize its value when it’s too late.

One of the most telling statistics from the survey was that 25% of producers admitted they “don’t control and limit access” to feed storage areas. In an era where H5N1 and other diseases can be carried by wildlife and birds into the very food the cows eat, this is a glaring vulnerability.

The Blueprint: Drawing the Line of Separation

Ellis provided the how-to for the future: The Secure Milk Supply (SMS) Plan. This isn’t just a binder that sits on a shelf; it is a voluntary, science-based framework designed to ensure business continuity during a disease outbreak.

The core of the SMS plan is the line of separation (LOS). Ellis shared sample dairy maps that looked more like tactical military charts than farm layouts. The LOS creates a clear clean/dirty boundary.

The Dirty Side: Where public roads, non-essential deliveries and rendering trucks reside.
The Clean Side: The protected area where cows live, eat and are milked.

Implementing an SMS plan means identifying specific LOS access points, creating vehicle cleaning and disinfecting stations and establishing strict logs for every person and animal that crosses that line.

“Don’t sacrifice good for perfect,” Ellis advised. “Every SMS plan is unique. The key is to start. Post your map where every employee can see it every day. Make the clean/dirty concept part of your farm’s culture.”

The Biosecurity Umbrella

Biosecurity can feel like a cloud of acronyms and diseases: BVD, TB, Johne’s, Mycoplasma and now H5N1 and NWS.

Biosecurity isn’t easy. It’s tedious. It’s expensive. And it’s often invisible.

As an industry, we must move away from a reactive posture and toward a proactive, fortified model of production. Whether it’s a million-dollar operation in the Texas Panhandle or a 100-cow family farm in Wisconsin, the line of separation is the same.

The call to action for the industry is the same for every operation across the U.S.:

Assemble your team and review protocols now — before the challenge hits.
Look at your perimeter and sanitation, especially in feed and transport areas.
Support each other. If you serve producers, help them find the resources to make these investments.

While we may be facing genotypes and parasites that generations before us never dreamed of, we now have the science, the data and the collective will to protect the milk supply.

The 2026 revolution isn’t just about how much milk we can produce; it’s about how well we can protect it. And in that mission, we are all behind the wheel together.