In dairy-related news the last full week of September 2025:

New World screwworm found 70 miles from southern border

On Sept. 21, Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) confirmed a new case of New World screwworm (NWS) in Sabinas Hidalgo, located in the state of Nuevo León, less than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

This is now the northernmost detection of NWS during this outbreak. The previous northernmost detection was reported on July 9, 2025, in Veracruz, approximately 370 miles farther south.

Preliminary reports from SENASICA indicate that the affected animal had recently been moved to a certified feedlot in Nuevo León from a region in southern Mexico with known active NWS cases.

Currently, U.S. ports remain closed to imports of cattle, bison and horses from Mexico.

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Sabinas Hidalgo is located near the major highway from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, to Laredo, Texas, which is one of the most heavily trafficked commercial thoroughfares in the world.

Protecting the U.S. from NWS remains a top priority as the USDA continues to execute its five-pronged plan announced in June.

As part of the plan, the USDA and Mexico have been actively monitoring nearly 8,000 traps across Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. Since July, more than 13,000 screening samples have been submitted, with no NWS flies detected.

WDPA announces grand champions in 2025 World Dairy Expo Dairy Product Contest

The Wisconsin Dairy Products Association (WDPA) is proud to announce the three grand champions and the top three winners in each of 97 product classes from the 2025 World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest. The highest honors were awarded to entries in the categories of cheese and butter; Grade A; and ice cream, sherbet, frozen yogurt and gelato.

Now in its 22nd year, the contest was held over three days, with cheese and butter judged on day one, Grade A products on day two and frozen desserts on the final day.

The grand champion winner in the cheese and butter category is vanilla mascarpone made by Lake Country Dairy – Schuman Cheese.

The grand champion winner of Grade A is triple-cream vanilla Greek yogurt from Cabot Creamery Cooperative – Waitsfield, Vermont.

The grand champion winner of ice cream, sherbet, frozen yogurt and gelato is peanut butter chocolate ice cream from Kurschner’s Super Premium Ice Cream – Chetek, Wisconsin.

All three grand champions – along with the first, second and third place winners in each of the 97 product classes – will be recognized at the awards reception and auction on Monday, Sept. 29, in the Tanbark Building at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. First-place winning products, and the three grand champions, will be auctioned at the event, with proceeds supporting WDPA’s dairy food security and scholarship programs.

To view the full list of winners or learn more about the contest and auction, visit the WDPA website.

Dairy Checkoff unveils ‘Smart Swaps’ initiative for schools

The Dairy Checkoff has introduced “Smart Swaps,” a dairy-focused initiative designed to help schools meet evolving nutrition standards and student expectations.

The farmer-founded National Dairy Council (NDC) created Smart Swaps for school nutrition professionals to include dairy on breakfast menus and adapt to evolving meal standards. The program offers training resources along with kid-approved breakfast recipes featuring dairy.

“We have reimagined what’s possible with delicious, dairy-centric menu items,” said Alyson Kirchner, senior vice president of youth and schools for Dairy Management Inc. (DMI). “These menu options are aligned with the new added sugar and sodium guidelines while ensuring students receive the nutrient-rich foods they love and need.”

Student preferences were included in the development of Smart Swaps recipes with 2,500 students nationwide testing 10 menu offerings. The recipes include Strawberry Pancake Yogurt Parfait, Cherry Lime Smoothie Bowl and Broccoli, Egg and Cheese Pizza, among others.

State and regional checkoff teams are making Smart Swaps resources available to school food service professionals across the country. 

The Dairy Alliance optimizes dairy milk education in Southeast schools

The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit funded by dairy farm families in the Southeast, expands its reach in schools across the region through youth wellness programs that increase dairy milk consumption. This year, the organization awarded Dairy Optimization (DO), Fuel Up and GENYOUth grants, benefiting nearly 375,000 students in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

“Dairy nutrition education in schools plays a vital role in shaping healthy habits early,” said Laura Buxenbaum, vice president of health and wellness at The Dairy Alliance. “These grants give schools the resources to serve milk in fresh and engaging ways, whether through smoothies, milk dispensers or other fun programs, while providing students with the energy and nutrition they need to learn, grow and excel.”

The Dairy Alliance awarded 124 Dairy Optimization (DO) grants in spring 2025, funding programs such as Moo Brew, Smoothies and Milk Dispensers to enhance the school milk experience for more than 80,000 students. Later, in May and June, 191 Fuel Up and GENYOUth grants provided Smoothie Kits and Mobile Meal Kits to benefit over 128,000 students in the 2025-26 school year. Additionally, 258 GENYOUth NFL Flag-In-School Football kits were distributed, engaging more than 166,000 students.

IDFA Senior Vice President J. David Carlin announces retirement

J. David Carlin, senior vice president of legislative affairs and economic policy for the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), recently announced his plans to retire at the end of 2025 following nearly four decades in leadership positions across the food and agriculture sector, including 11 years with IDFA. The association has begun a national search for Carlin’s successor to lead IDFA’s government relations team.

“It has been an honor to represent the dairy processing industry in Washington, D.C. As the son and grandson of dairy farmers, working at IDFA has been more than a job to me – it has been a true labor of love. I am proud of the work everyone on the IDFA team does to support our industry, and I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to work with our members to improve health and nutritional outcomes for many Americans by increasing access to all varieties of dairy products in federal nutrition programs,” Carlin said.

“Under Dave’s direction, IDFA was instrumental in creating the SNAP Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives Program in the 2018 Farm Bill, expanding flavored milk options in schools through the federal appropriations process and securing millions of dollars in federal funding to support our industry’s policy priorities while ensuring the safety and quality of dairy foods for consumers around the world,” said Michael Dykes, DVM, president and CEO of IDFA. “His accomplishments with IDFA culminated in 2025 with the successful implementation of the first meaningful reforms to milk pricing in nearly two decades – a testament to his collaborative approach on one of the most challenging of dairy policy issues. On behalf of IDFA, our board and our members, we thank Dave for his years of service to U.S. dairy.”

Learn from forage producers and researchers at World Dairy Expo

Presented by industry experts during World Dairy Expo, Dairy Forage Seminars are centered around cutting-edge research and information regarding forage quality, harvest and storage. These seminars, scheduled for 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, will be presented on the Dairy Forage Seminar Stage located at the south end of the Trade Center.

Below is the 2025 schedule of Dairy Forage Seminars. Each seminar is approved for one continuing education credit for Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs).

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 10 a.m.

Corn Silage Utilization in Dairy Rations

Luiz Ferraretto, Ph.D., assistant professor and extension specialist – ruminant nutrition, animal and dairy science, UW – Madison, Madison, Wisconsin

Approved for: (1) Nutrient Management CEU from Certified Crop Advisor

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1:30 p.m.

Use of Cover Crops in Dairy Cattle Nutrition

Ken Kalscheur, Ph.D., research animal scientist, USDA-ARS, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, Madison, Wisconsin

Approved for: (1) Crop Management CEU from Certified Crop Advisor

Thursday, Oct. 2, 10 a.m.

Forage Makes Milk on Woldt Farms

Kelsey Woldt, HR manager, and Jeff Evenson, dairy manager, Woldt Farms LLC, Brillion, Wisconsin

Approved for: (1) Crop Management CEU from Certified Crop Advisor

Thursday, Oct. 2, 1:30 p.m.

What’s New in Corn Silage Harvesting Research

Brian Luck, associate professor and extension specialist, UW – Madison, Madison, Wisconsin

Friday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m.

Improving Weed Management by Adding Alfalfa to Your Rotation

Mark Renz, Ph.D., professor and extension specialist, UW – Madison, Madison, Wisconsin

Approved for: (1) Crop Management CEU from Certified Crop Advisor

Friday, Oct. 3, 1:30 p.m.

Harvesting the Benefits of Dairy Manure Application

Eric Young, Ph.D., research soil scientist, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, Marshfield, Wisconsin

Approved for: (1) Nutrient Management CEU from Certified Crop Advisor