In dairy-related news the second week of November 2025:
- USDA extends livestock disaster recovery assistance application deadline
- USDA announces opening of sterile fly facility to combat NWS in Mexico
- DCRC annual meeting highlights emerging reproductive technologies
- Edge launches farmer-led approach to lowering GHG emissions
- Holstein Association USA invites nominations for 2026 awards, scholarship
- Lloyd receives A.C. ‘Whitie’ Thomson Memorial Award
USDA extends livestock disaster recovery assistance application deadline
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that the deadline for livestock producers to apply for assistance through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire (ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW) is being extended to Nov. 21, 2025. The program is expected to provide approximately $1 billion in recovery benefits to producers whose livelihoods were adversely impacted by disrupted feed availability and poor forage conditions following catastrophic floods and wildfires in 2023 and 2024.
To streamline program delivery, FSA determined eligible counties with qualifying floods and wildfires in 2023 and 2024. For losses in these counties, livestock producers are not required to submit supporting documentation for floods or wildfire.
For losses in other counties, livestock producers may still be eligible for ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW but must provide supporting documentation to demonstrate that a qualifying flood or wildfire occurred in the county where the livestock were physically located or would have been physically located if not for the disaster event. FSA county committees will determine if the disaster event meets program requirements.
To learn more about FSA programs and schedule an appointment, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center.
USDA announces opening of sterile fly facility to combat NWS in Mexico
The USDA announced the next milestone in the fight against New World screwworm (NWS) – the opening of a sterile fly dispersal facility in Tampico, Mexico. The Tampico facility will allow the USDA to disperse sterile flies aerially across northeastern Mexico, including in Nuevo Leon.
The USDA continues to disperse 100 million sterile flies per week in Mexico, but until now, aerial operations have been limited to southern Mexico, necessitating the use of ground release chambers in more northern areas of the country. Mass production and targeted dispersal of sterile flies remain critical components of an effective response.
Although Mexico continues to confirm new cases of NWS, the overwhelming majority of these remain in the far southern part of the country, with no significant northward expansion over the past several months. Should that change, the Tampico facility will allow the USDA to immediately tackle any cases that occur elsewhere in Mexico.
The USDA is also investing $21 million to support Mexico’s renovation of an existing fruit fly facility in Metapa – which will double NWS production capacity once complete. With ongoing support from APHIS technical experts, Mexico anticipates this sterile fly production to begin as soon as summer 2026.
The USDA has also begun construction on a sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas, that is projected to begin operating in early 2026. APHIS is also expediting design and construction of a sterile fly production facility in southern Texas, with a targeted maximum capacity of 300 million sterile flies per week.
DCRC annual meeting highlights emerging reproductive technologies
America’s Dairyland hosted more than 175 Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) members, representing 24 U.S. states, three Canadian provinces and nine countries, in Middleton, Wisconsin (and virtually), Nov. 11-13, for its 2025 annual meeting.
Attendees included reproductive physiologists, animal health researchers, dairy producers, bovine veterinarians, animal health suppliers and dairy industry partners. Presenters shared ideas to help attendees create effective approaches to fostering sustainable reproductive programs for dairy cattle.
DCRC’s annual meeting was delivered in a hybrid format – for in-person and online attendees. This feature helped deliver reproduction-focused presentations to DCRC members around the world and broaden the group’s reach. All sessions were recorded, so DCRC annual meeting attendees may access the recordings after Dec. 8.
The DCRC honored 24 dairies for reaching exceptional reproduction achievements. These dairies received Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze in DCRC’s Excellence in Dairy Reproduction Awards program during the group’s annual meeting, held Nov. 11-13 in Middleton, Wisconsin. The 24 dairies excel at reproductive efficiency, fertility and well-implemented management procedures.
Platinum recognition went to: Cottonwood Dairy LLC, Jim Winn, South Wayne, Wisconsin; Felling Dairy LLC, Jason Felling, Sauk Centre, Minnesota; Hendriks Dairies, Tyler Hendriks, Brucefield, Ontario, Canada; Mar-Bec Dairy, Marty and Becky Hallock, Mondovi, Wisconsin; Pleasant View Farm, Rodney Metzler and John Proskine, Martinsburg, Pennsylvania; and Schumacher Farms, Kurt and Trisha Schumacher, Elgin, Minnesota.
In addition to the six Platinum winners, there were six Gold, six Silver and six Bronze winners. One hundred thirty-four nominations came from four countries, 18 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces. Farms were nominated by dairy professionals who serve the dairy industry, such as veterinarians, extension specialists and artificial insemination and pharmaceutical company representatives.
For the first time, DCRC offered a research poster competition for graduate students. Ana Laplacette, Cornell University, won the contest. The second place winner was Iago Leão, University of Wisconsin – Madison, and third place went to Gabriela Macay, University of Florida. All three winners received a one-year DCRC membership. Laplacette also won free registration for next year’s DCRC annual meeting.
Outgoing DCRC President Ralph Bruno, Zoetis, handed over the gavel to Jennifer Spencer, Texas A&M University. Other board members include Vice President Kim Egan, Genex; Secretary-Treasurer Alex Scanavez, Progressive Dairy Solutions; past President Bruno; and director members Caio Figueiredo, Washington State University; Augusto Madureira, Michigan State University; and Mark Doornink, Parnell.
DCRC thanks outgoing board member Tracy Burnett, University of Guelph, for her outstanding service to DCRC.
Next year’s DCRC annual meeting is set for Nov. 10-12, in Columbus, Ohio.
Edge launches farmer-led approach to lowering GHG emissions
Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and Farmers for Sustainable Food announced the launch of EmPower+, a program that connects farmer-led innovation directly to environmental goals of the dairy value chain.
EmPower+ offers data support services and a portfolio of production efficiency solutions designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The program pairs on-farm innovation with a robust accounting methodology to measure, report and verify emission reductions at the farm level.
This farmer-led, data-driven initiative creates a practical, transparent path for verified emission reductions to be embedded directly into milk procurement, creating new opportunities to recognize and reward measurable environmental performance across the dairy value chain.
Built on credible data, third-party verification and full-farm GHG performance metrics, in alignment with the global GHG Protocol, the program establishes a foundation for shared value and accountability across the entire value chain.
Farms participating with their processors are supported in creating a comprehensive data stream with protected information to both the farmer and the processor. Farms can choose to participate independently. In both cases, farmers and processors can use the program to meet their business goals.
Holstein Association USA invites nominations for 2026 awards, scholarship
Holstein Association USA recognizes exceptional breeders and dairy industry leaders through its annual awards program, including the Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder, Distinguished Leadership and Elite Breeder honors.
“We encourage everyone to nominate a peer or mentor who has made a difference, or even apply yourself,” said Lindsey Worden, Holstein Association USA CEO.
Applications for the 2026 awards are due Jan. 31. Holstein enthusiasts are invited to submit nominations for the Elite Breeder and Distinguished Leadership awards, which remain eligible for consideration for three years after initial submission. Young breeders between the ages of 21 and 40 are encouraged to apply for the Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder Award. Honorees will be recognized at the 2026 National Holstein Convention, June 22-25, in Orlando, Florida.
Holstein Association USA also offers the Robert H. Rumler MBA Scholarship, which provides $3,000 to a student pursuing a master’s degree in business administration with an interest in agriculture. Applications are due April 15.
Lloyd receives A.C. ‘Whitie’ Thomson Memorial Award
At this year’s World Dairy Expo, the 2025 A.C. “Whitie” Thomson Memorial Award was presented to Jason Lloyd of Middleburgh, New York, in recognition of his exemplary leadership, sportsmanship and contributions to the dairy industry. This honor is awarded to herdsmen or showmen who embody the same values the award was founded upon.
Lloyd is a partner in Maple-Downs Farms II, which he operates alongside his fiancee, Lexie Payne. Breeding Holsteins under the Maple-Downs prefix, the herd has achieved consistent success in the show ring, producing multiple All-Americans and more than 150 Excellent cows. Lloyd has also played an instrumental role in several breeding partnerships, most notably in developing the MD-Delight Durham Atlee-ET cow family and breeding the influential sire Maple-Downs-I G W Atwood-ET.
An accomplished dairy cattle judge, Lloyd has officiated at leading shows throughout the Northeast and Midwest. His judging assignments have also taken him internationally to Brazil, Peru and the Dominican Republic.
At home, he and Lexie milk 125 registered Holsteins and care for boarded show cattle, representing six breeds. Their show care program has earned numerous All-American nominations. They cared for 40 head in their 2025 World Dairy Expo string.
In addition to their dairy herd, Lloyd manages 1,000 acres of cropland and provides custom work on another 2,000 acres. He currently serves as president of the New York Holstein Association and is a member of the National Holstein Association Show Committee.
