Every dairy producer knows there is no shortage of information. The challenge is finding ideas that can actually be applied back home.
That is what has kept producers returning to the MILK Business Conference year after year. Rather than focusing on day-to-day management, the conference is built around the business decisions that influence the future of an operation, from managing people and navigating markets to preparing for emerging challenges and identifying new opportunities. More than 500 dairy producers and industry leaders from over 40 states are expected to attend the three-day event.
A New Home for 2026
This year, attendees will gather in a new setting. The 2026 MILK Business Conference moves to the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona, Dec. 7-9, providing producers with a new destination while maintaining the educational programming and networking opportunities that have become hallmarks of the event.
Conversations Focused on What Comes Next
The MILK Business Conference agenda is built around the decisions shaping the future of dairy businesses. Over three days, producers will hear from fellow dairy producers and industry experts about the challenges influencing operations today and the strategies needed to prepare for tomorrow.
Sessions will focus on the areas that influence profitability, resilience and long-term success, including:
- Making better feed decisions from the field to the bunk during Feed Starts in the Field: The Economics of Better Silage Management. Forage specialists, nutritionists and producers will discuss how harvest timing, storage practices, nutrient preservation and precision technologies can influence feed efficiency, milk production and the value of every ton harvested.
- Finding technology that delivers a return in Technology That Pays: Moving from Data Fatigue to the Efficiency Edge. Producer leaders will share how they evaluate new tools, measure return on investment and determine which technologies truly improve efficiency, from automation to precision health monitoring.
- Building stronger leadership teams during Leading the Way: Women Driving Dairy Forward. Farm and business leaders will discuss workforce development, strategic decision-making and the role of leadership in building dairy businesses prepared for the future.
- Capturing more value from beef-on-dairy in Beyond the Crossbred Calf: The Next Phase of Beef on Dairy. Industry leaders from the feedyard and processing sectors will explore how genetics, consistency, carcass performance and emerging branded beef opportunities are shaping the next phase of this growing revenue stream.
- Understanding the forces changing dairy’s business landscape during Industry Outlook: The Forces Transforming Dairy. Panelists will examine trends including the protein market, beef-on-dairy opportunities, access to capital and evolving labor models while discussing the decisions producers will need to make in the years ahead.
The conference also creates space for producers to learn from each other. Through producer-to-producer conversations and discussions with industry experts, attendees can compare strategies, evaluate new ideas and gain perspective on how other operations are approaching similar challenges.
Recognizing Dairy Leadership
Another highlight of the conference is recognizing dairy producers and employees who continue raising the bar for the industry.
Presented during the conference, the MILK Business Awards recognize producers, employees and dairy operations whose leadership, innovation and dedication are shaping the future of the industry. The awards are presented in three categories: Leader in Technology, Young Producer and Employee Excellence.
Last year’s recipients represent three very different paths to success.
The 2025 Leader in Technology Award went to McCarty Family Farms of Kansas, where the McCarty family has embraced automation, genomics and precision management tools to grow from a 200-cow dairy into a 20,000-cow operation while preparing for future challenges such as labor availability and water use.
Wybrand Vander Dussen of Prado Dairy in Colorado received the Young Producer Award after stepping into a leadership role early in his career and helping expand the family dairy through technology, facility improvements and a focus on long-term growth.
The Employee Excellence Award honored Travis Ties of Holdgrafer Dairy in Iowa. During more than 25 years with the operation, Ties has become a trusted leader in feed management, crop production and daily herd management while mentoring the next generation on the farm.
The 2026 winners will be announced during this year’s conference, giving attendees the opportunity to hear firsthand how these producers and employees have tackled challenges, adopted new ideas and helped strengthen their operations.
Nominations for the 2026 awards are open through Aug. 1. Winners receive a complimentary trip for two to Scottsdale, where they’ll be recognized on stage and join dairy producers from across the country for education, networking and industry discussions.
Take Ideas Home
Whether you’re looking for a fresh perspective on your business, new connections across the industry or strategies to prepare for what’s next, the MILK Business Conference offers a chance to step away from the daily routine and focus on the long-term success of your dairy.
Registration is open, with early-bird pricing available through Oct. 15. Additional information, the full agenda and award applications are available on the conference website.
