Search - Dairy Herd

If December was a warning, the projections for the first half of 2026 are a siren. The latest price predictions updated on Jan. 30 suggest a sharp economic turn is underway.

USDA’s annual report reveals the smallest total herd since 1951, with beef cow numbers falling to 27.6 million despite a slight uptick in replacement heifers.

Treatment timing is not a single choice, but a moving target, that must balance sensitivity, percision and group-level signals to intervene effectively.

Trevor DeVries reveals robotic milking boosts farmer quality of life. Explore the link between automation, mental health and reciprocal welfare in modern dairy farming.

When the pressure is on, the right leadership can keep both your farm and your people steady.

The outlook for 2026 is one of cautious optimism anchored by structural evolution. The U.S. dairy industry is no longer just a milk business; it is a component and beef business supported by high-tech processing and sophisticated risk management tools.

The problems you don’t see can cost the most. Spotting the small, easily overlooked issues on your farm can change the way your herd performs.