In the news affecting dairy producers this fourth week of July 2025:
- Partnership formed to increase revenue opportunities for dairy farm sustainability practices
- Fluid milk sales in May remain lower than 2024
- U.S. dairy industry celebrates Julie Callahan nomination for chief agricultural negotiator
- Virtual farm tours announced for 2025 World Dairy Expo
Partnership formed to increase revenue opportunities for dairy farm sustainability practices
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), California Dairies Inc. (CDI) and Athian announced they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop a “carbon intensity” protocol supported by the FARM Environmental Stewardship (ES) Program, which seeks to define, quantify and verify how production efficiencies and new practice adoption contribute to positive environmental outcomes.
“Facilitating supply chain partnerships is an important part of our mission,” said Kendra Tolley, chief product officer for Athian. “So this MOU is a perfect demonstration of how our technology works to unite common interests around delivering new revenue opportunities for farmers and Scope 3 solutions for food companies.”
Athian is a technology company, founded in 2022, to connect food company buyers looking to source Scope 3 reductions with sustainability minded farmers in their supply chain. They have committed through this MOU to work with their scientific advisory board and accredited third-party auditors to define, verify and monetize the on-farm practices that will be part of the protocol and then identify buyers for the resulting outcomes (i.e., insets) they generate.
“This partnership supports dairy farmers interested in carbon claim opportunities by creating a streamlined process,” said Nicole Ayache, chief sustainability officer for NMPF, which administers the FARM Program. “Farms who engage in a protocol that aligns with FARM ES methodology can use data already collected by its evaluation tool to pursue efficiencies benefiting the environment and their business.”
As part of the MOU, FARM will contribute advice on quantification methodology as well as data collection and calculation support so farmers who are interested in generating carbon claims can receive additional value from the data they collect for FARM ES evaluations.
California Dairies Inc., as the largest member-owned milk marketing and processing cooperative in the state, will contribute to the MOU by supporting the development and implementation of this new protocol for the benefit of its farmer members.
“CDI is guided by a promise to move as fast as technology and farmer economics allow,” said Darrin Monteiro, senior vice president, sustainability and member relations at CDI. “This MOU supports our promise, and we believe will play a pivotal role into the future of dairy sustainability.”
Fluid milk sales in May remain lower than 2024
Continuing the trend for the first half of the year, fluid milk sales for May 2025 are 0.9% lower than the same month a year earlier. According to data from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
- Total sales: May 2025 sales of packaged fluid milk products were estimated at 3.6 billion pounds, down 0.9% from the same month a year earlier. At 17.9 billion pounds, year-to-date sales of all fluid products are 1.4% lower than last year.
- Conventional products: Monthly sales totaled 3.3 billion pounds, down 0.7% from the same month a year earlier. Sales of flavored whole milk were 6.3% higher than last year, while sales of flavored fat-reduced milk were down 8.8% from May 2024. Year-to-date 2025 sales were estimated at 16.6 billion pounds, down 1.6% from this time last year. Whole milk and flavored whole milk year-to-date sales continue to be slightly higher than 2024.
- Organic products: May sales totaled 252 million pounds, 4% less than a year earlier. Flavored whole milk sales were up 3.5%, but lowfat (1%) milk sales were down 20%. Year-to-date organic fluid milk sales were estimated at 1.3 billion pounds, up 1.1% from this time last year. Organic represented about 7.1% total fluid product sales in May.
The U.S. figures are based on consumption of fluid milk products in Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) areas, which account for approximately 92% of total U.S. fluid milk sales, and adding the other 8% from outside FMMO-regulated areas. Sales outlets include food stores, convenience stores, warehouse stores/wholesale clubs, nonfood stores, schools, the food service industry and home delivery.
U.S. dairy industry celebrates Julie Callahan nomination for chief agricultural negotiator
NMPF, U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN) commended President Donald Trump’s nomination of Dr. Julie Callahan to serve as chief agricultural negotiator for the office of the U.S. trade representative (USTR).
“The role of chief agricultural negotiator is critical to ensuring that American dairy farmers have a voice in trade negotiations,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF and a former USTR chief agricultural negotiator. “Dr. Callahan is the right choice. Her expertise and leadership in agricultural trade policy is second to none. Dairy farmers and the entire U.S. dairy industry look forward to working with her to open new export markets and hold our trading partners accountable. We ask that the Senate move swiftly to advance her confirmation process.”
Callahan currently serves as the assistant U.S. trade representative for agricultural affairs and commodity policy where she leads on expanding and preserving market access opportunities for U.S. farmers and food manufacturers. Her impressive tenure in agricultural trade policy spans across a variety of leadership roles with USTR and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in addition to early career experience with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and the American Chemical Society.
Virtual farm tours announced for 2025 World Dairy Expo
World Dairy Expo (WDE) Virtual Farm Tours have brought some of the best dairy operations from near and far to Madison for over 20 years. The four dairies to be featured during WDE 2025 continue that tradition while showcasing environmental stewardship, quality genetics, technology advancements, diversification and more. During WDE’s Virtual Farm Tours, dairy owners and managers share a visual presentation, with time for questions and an open discussion afterward. Tours are presented daily in Mendota Room 1 of the Exhibition Hall at 10 a.m.
The tours can be enjoyed in person at WDE or online through ExpoTV.
The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, Sept. 30
Hurtgenlea Holsteins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Adam Hurtgen and Cynthia Bartel, along with Leo and Karen Hurtgen, milk 160 cows in two box robots after retrofitting their freestall barn in 2023. Hurtgenlea’s main goal is to improve each generation so their cows live longer, healthier and more productive lives. They’re able to achieve this with the help of internal monitoring technology, which provides real-time insights to support early intervention and long-term herd improvement.
Three bulls from Hurtgenlea Holsteins have been ranked in the top 75 Total Performance Index (TPI) International Proven Sires list, including the No. 1 TPI bull, Hurtgenlea Richard Charl-ET. Through their breeding program and technology use, they have 115 female descendants in the herd that come from Hurtgenlea Yoder Modesto-ET, the dam of Charl. Modesto was a former No. 1 Net Merit Cow in the world and was nominated for Global Cow of the Year by Holstein International magazine.
Wednesday, Oct. 1
MoDak Dairy Inc., Goodwin, South Dakota
MoDak Dairy has been in operation for the past 130 years. The Moes family milks 2,600 head in a double-30 parallel parlor and breeds for quality milk components while also maintaining a beef on dairy program. The Moes family strongly values community engagement and education. The family routinely hosts students from their local technical college, South Dakota State University, and, recently, from the Midwest Regional Dairy Challenge for the on-farm evaluation competition.
All MoDak Dairy’s heifers are managed on-site, where calves are raised in a state-of-the-art mechanically ventilated facility, designed to promote calf growth and well-being. Calves are group-housed and fed using a headlock bottle feeding rail. Their facilities and management provide a balance of new-age technology and commonsense heifer practices to raise healthy, productive youngstock, and the facilities draw numerous tours annually.
Thursday, Oct. 2
Norm-E-Lane, Chili, Wisconsin
Norm-E-Lane is a multigenerational, progressive farm that continually advances their enterprises through passionate people, meaningful relationships, leading-edge farming practices and exceptional animal care. Currently, the Meissners milk 4,100 cows in two, double-25 parallel parlors (two locations), raise 3,200 youngstock and operate 7,700 acres of cropland.
Norm-E-Lane has seen numerous expansions since starting in Chili, Wisconsin, in 1946, including installing a digester in 2008 and a manure bedding dryer in 2019. Now, Norm-E-Lane separates solids that are then run through a dryer postseparation to be reduced to 50% moisture and used for bedding. In 2022, they pivoted from electricity and are now capturing the gas from the digester and turning it back into liquid natural gas and injecting that directly into the pipeline behind their farm.
Friday, Oct. 3
Wagner Farms Inc., Oconto Falls, Wisconsin
Wagner Farms, a fifth-generation dairy located in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, milks 950 cows in a double-16 parallel parlor. The Wagners focus on developing functional cows that combine strong production with excellent health traits, ensuring long-term herd retention. Their motto – People. Animals. Environment. – emphasizes their commitment to creating a positive operation.
By fostering an environment where people love what they do, it helps fuel the passion behind their daily operations. Caring for their animals isn’t just a priority but a fundamental principle of their philosophy. Strategic protocols and well-established systems – including the CowManager Youngstock Monitor along with the use of buddy hutches – support growth rates of more than 2.5 pounds per day and result in near 0% death loss. Additionally, the farm is a demonstration site, providing an opportunity to showcase various conservation practices that support environmental stewardship while also boosting productivity.
