In dairy-related news this week:
- FSA: Dairy Margin Coverage premium payments due Sept. 1
- This week’s PDP Farm Technology Tours feature nutrient management solutions
- FARM Program solicits nominations for Farmer Advisory Council
- American Dairy XPO preparing for launch in November
- Fluid milk sales bounce back in June
- Wisconsin leads nation in specialty cheese
- CoBank: Can large-scale solar installations coexist with agriculture?
FSA: Dairy Margin Coverage premium payments due Sept. 1
The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is issuing letters to farmers enrolled in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for 2025 regarding program premiums.
Participating dairy operations that elect margin protection coverage above the catastrophic level coverage are required to pay a premium fee.
Typically, these premiums are deducted from DMC payments, however, no payments were issued this year due to higher margins.
The letter states outstanding premium balances are due by Sept. 1, and failure to pay may affect your eligibility for participation in the DMC program in future years.
Dairy producers should find payment information within the letter and are encouraged to contact their local FSA office with questions.
This week’s PDP Farm Technology Tours feature nutrient management solutions
There is still time to register and attend the 2025 Wisconsin Farm Technology Tours facilitated by the Professional Dairy Producers (PDP). Three dairy farms will host tours on Aug. 19, 20 and 21, in Wisconsin to provide inside looks at the latest technologies and innovations in nutrient management.
Each tour will begin promptly at their start time; attendees are to meet on site and encouraged to carpool. Registration information and more details are available online or by contacting PDP at (800) 947-7379. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is preferred so host farms can be prepared.
Tuesday, Aug. 19, 1 to 3 p.m.
Dairy Dreams, Casco, Wisconsin
Tour the dairy and learn about the aqua system that is part of the dairy’s sustainability initiative. The system concentrates the dairy’s nutrients and separates phosphorus and nitrogen into separate pits, allowing for more specific nutrient application. They also reuse water for sprinklers and flush tanks and have reduced hauling costs and kept trucks off the road. Dairy Dreams is owned and operated by the Pagel family.
Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1 to 3 p.m.
Endres Berryridge Farms, Waunakee, Wisconsin
Owned and operated by Steve, Jeff and Randy Endres, Berryridge Farms' diversified composting manure systems compost separated solids from liquid manure into high-quality bedding for lactating cows while maintaining high milk quality. Learn about various composting practices including edge of field, compost spreading and value-added mixes of compost and other soil amendments.
Thursday, Aug. 21, 10 a.m. to noon
Double S Dairy, Markesan, Wisconsin
See the 360 Rain system as brothers Dan and Steve Smits are implementing it. Designed to deliver bands of water, manure, leachate and/or fertilizer directly to the base of plants, 360 Rain has helped Double S Dairy save 90% in manure application cost and $50,000 a year for leachate application compared to custom application.
FARM Program solicits nominations for Farmer Advisory Council
The FARM Program is seeking nominations for its Farmer Advisory Council (FAC), uplifting farmer voices and helping shape the future of the FARM Program. The FARM Program will accept nominations until Sept. 15; new members will be notified by Oct. 15.
“Farmer input is critical for serving the collective industry to the best of our ability,” said Meggan Hain, chief veterinary officer for the FARM Program. “Through the Farmer Advisory Council, farmers have the opportunity to represent their community and help shape the program, producing FARM Program standards that meet market needs and are practical for dairy farmers.”
The FAC serves as a unified voice of the dairy producer community related to on-farm social responsibility areas. The council provides farm-level expertise for all FARM Program standards development, materials and implementation. The FAC champions the FARM Program to their fellow producers and assures that FARM Program workstreams are executed with farmer insights and the best interest of the entire dairy community.
FARM Program participants, industry stakeholders and fellow dairy farmers may nominate farmers to serve on the FAC. A maximum of two dairy farmers can be nominated by each FARM Program participant. A selection committee comprised of FARM Program participants and program staff will select the newly seated FAC members.
American Dairy XPO preparing for launch in November
With just three months until the first American Dairy XPO (ADX) launches on Nov. 5-6 in Vermont, preparations are in full swing. The exhibition layout is taking shape with more than 100 dairy brands already confirmed, all set to showcase innovations tailored to the needs of dairy producers in the U.S.
Best known in North America for its international trade fairs Agritechnica and EuroTier in Germany, DLG (German Agricultural Society) has launched the American Dairy XPO to expand its event portfolio. Building on the success of the Stratford, Ontario-based Canadian Dairy XPO – which DLG acquired last year – the ADX brings a new platform directly to American dairy producers. The event will showcase the latest innovations in the sector for dairy producers.
With 108 exhibitors and dairy specific brands already confirmed, ADX is quickly gaining momentum. Founding partners include John Deere, Lely Center New England, Agriplastics, and Progressive Dairy serving as the official media partner.
The new expo is designed to serve producers from Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania – ranked second and third in the U.S. for number of licensed dairy herds – as well as from Quebec, Canada’s leading dairy province.
In addition to the many innovations showcased by exhibitors, ADX features practical programming designed to equip dairy producers not only with hands-on know-how, but also with opportunities for networking and entertainment.
Throughout the show, the “Dairy Delivers” Classroom offers practical, data-driven education sessions on key topics that are presented by the Vermont Department of Agriculture, with speakers from top universities, industry associations and leading companies.
DAIRYfest, an evening networking event, takes place on Nov. 5 featuring live entertainment and a buffet showcasing dairy commodities. A highlight is the 4-H fundraiser event where local 4-H clubs serve grilled cheese and milkshakes, raising funds to support their programs in the region.
Fluid milk sales bounce back in June
Reversing the trend in the first half of the year, fluid milk sales for June 2025 are 0.5% higher than the same month a year earlier. According to data from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
- Total sales: June 2025 sales of packaged fluid milk products were estimated at 3.2 billion pounds, up 0.5% from the same month a year earlier. At 21.1 billion pounds, year-to-date sales of all fluid products are still 1.1% lower than last year.
- Conventional products: Monthly sales totaled 2.98 billion pounds, up 0.6% from the same month a year earlier. Sales of flavored whole milk were 19.7% higher than last year, while sales of fat-free (skim) milk and flavored fat-reduced milk were down 12.7% and 14.4%, respectively, from June 2024. Year-to-date 2025 sales were estimated at 19.6 billion pounds, down 1.3% from this time last year.
- Organic products: June sales totaled 231 million pounds, 1.1% less than a year earlier. Whole milk sales were up 7.9%, but reduced-fat, low-fat and skim milk sales were all lower. Year-to-date organic fluid milk sales were estimated at 1.5 billion pounds, up 0.7% from this time last year. Organic represented about 7.2% total fluid product sales in June.
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.
Wisconsin leads nation in specialty cheese
New data reveals that more than half of the nation’s specialty cheese is crafted in Wisconsin. Specialty varieties now make up 28.3% of Wisconsin’s total cheese production, a growing share that rose 7.6% over the previous year.
“This growth in specialty cheese isn’t just a statistic; it speaks to the culture of cheese-making excellence that defines Wisconsin,” says Chad Vincent, CEO of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. “As the home to more than 1,200 licensed cheesemakers, the country’s only Master Cheesemaker program and the Center for Dairy Research, it’s a reflection of the unmatched expertise and dedication driving our industry forward.”
While Wisconsin continues to lead the nation in total production, with 3.6 billion pounds of cheese produced in 2024, or 25% of the nation’s supply, its true impact is seen in the diversity and caliber of what’s produced. Wisconsin wins more awards for its cheese than any other state or country, underscoring the excellence of its craft.
Wisconsin ranks No. 1 in the U.S. in producing feta, Parmesan, provolone, Muenster, Romano, cheddar and other American cheeses, including colby, colby jack and Monterey Jack. It also holds the No. 2 national rank for Hispanic-style cheeses and mozzarella. Wisconsin cheesemakers craft over 600 types, styles and varieties of cheese.
CoBank: Can large-scale solar installations coexist with agriculture?
Local opposition to utility-scale solar installations in rural areas is growing following the rapid pace of new solar developments in recent years. Concerns about land use in areas largely dominated by agricultural production are fueling much of the community-level resistance. With crop production revenue currently under intense pressure and subject to annual volatility, some landowners are welcoming the more consistent revenue advantages of solar land-lease payments. But wider opposition could stymie additional solar developments in rural areas, slowing growth in the U.S. energy supply.
According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, solar expansion could deliver the fastest, most affordable means for increasing the nation’s razor-thin energy reserves while driving new revenue streams for rural communities. However, success will be dependent on regional policy and site planning guidelines that ensure the local communities’ needs and interests are prioritized.
“Concerns surrounding the pace of solar developments in rural areas and the implications for land use in agricultural regions are warranted,” said Teri Viswanath, lead power, energy and water economist with CoBank. “But there are guardrails to reduce the risk of land-use tensions and other conflicts that would enable landowners and rural communities to capture the financial benefits of solar projects without displacing or disturbing agriculture farmland.”
Growing resistance to solar installations in rural communities is likely in response to the speedy development that has already taken place and concerns about what future construction might look like. More than one-half of all U.S. solar installations have materialized since 2020, with 25% of that development occurring since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022.
Solar energy generation can be installed at a rate five times faster than all other new electricity sources combined and remains the lowest cost solution to expanding energy supplies, even without government subsidies. While federal policy has recently become much less supportive of renewable energy and tax credits are now limited, the costs of solar development remain favorable. The biggest headwind for expanding solar energy production is local opposition.
A recent analysis by USA Today found that around 15% of counties in the U.S. have some form of restriction on building new utility-scale solar energy projects. This includes outright bans, zoning restrictions, specialized land-use rules or political stonewalls. At least 395 local restrictions across 41 states, in addition to 19 state-level restrictions, are so severe that they effectively block renewable development in these areas.
“Regardless of the pace of solar development ahead, future installations will inevitably affect local communities so more engagement from the solar industry is needed,” Viswanath said. “Strengthening partnerships with agricultural stakeholders and implementing effective land management strategies will be critical to mitigating challenges and gaining acceptance.”
