This week's dairy-related news as 2025 comes to a close:

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Karen Lee
Managing Editor / Progressive Dairy
Karen Lee covers current news and events, and manages the dairy editorial team for the U.S. and C...

Dairy industry praises Julie Callahan confirmation as chief agricultural negotiator

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN) commended the Senate confirmation of Dr. Julie Callahan to serve as chief agricultural negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

“Dr. Callahan will be an incredible chief agricultural negotiator,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “This is a critical position for U.S. agriculture, and Dr. Callahan is the right person for the job. Her work to open new markets and opportunities for U.S. agricultural producers is second to none. U.S. dairy will be greatly served by her skilled hand and her commitment to delivering meaningful, lasting results.”

Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC, added, “This is an important moment for American agriculture, and her leadership comes at exactly the right time. Dr. Callahan’s deep understanding of global markets and unwavering commitment to America’s farmers and food manufacturers will serve the country well. We look forward to working with her to expand market access, resolve long-standing trade barriers and champion U.S. dairy on the world stage.”

“Few individuals combine the depth of expertise, diplomatic talent and unshakable commitment to America’s producers that Dr. Callahan brings to this role. She has demonstrated herself as a champion for the rights of American producers to use the common food and beverage terms that global consumers have come to know and love. We look forward to joining her in the fight to preserve and grow global market opportunities for our farmers, ranchers and exporters for generations to come,” said Jaime Castaneda, executive director of CCFN.

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NMPF: Milkfat supply outpaces demand in recent months

Falling milk prices spurred largely by an imbalance between milkfat supply and demand have continued in recent months and may continue into 2026, according to a report from NMPF.

Summarizing dairy markets in the December 2025 Dairy Management Inc./NMPF Dairy Market Report, U.S. fluid milk sales in October were just 0.1% lower than a year earlier. Total domestic commercial use of milkfat was down moderately from a year earlier during June-August, while total skim solids use rose by 3%. U.S. exports of butter and American-type cheese were up by triple-digit percentages during July-September. Total U.S. milkfat production grew by 5.5% from a year earlier during August-October, almost two percentage points faster than liquid milk production during the same period. U.S. cheddar cheese production rose 3.2% year over year during August-October, down considerably from its 8.8% annual growth rate during May-July.

Prices for cheese, nonfat dry milk and dry whey showed moderate changes from September to November, but butter prices dropped by over 40 cents per pound during the same period. Overall retail price inflation ticked down to a 2.7% year-over-year gain in November, while average retail dairy product prices dropped by 1.6% that month. The DMC margin dropped by $1 per hundredweight (cwt) from August to October, to $10.52 per cwt, mostly on a drop of 90 cents per cwt in the all-milk price, to $20 per cwt.

For more information on commercial use, dairy trade, milk production, product inventories, prices and margins, view the December 2025 Dairy Market Report. Note: Some of the data normally reported in the Dairy Market Report was still not available due to the recent government shutdown.

Genetic sequencing results released for Wisconsin dairy herd detection of HPAI

Three days after the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a dairy herd in Wisconsin, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) completed whole genome sequencing and confirmed that the virus is H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b genotype D1.1. Analysis indicates that this detection is a new spillover event from wildlife into dairy cattle, separate from previous events.

Most detections in U.S. dairy herds have resulted from movements linked to the original spillover event that occurred in the Texas Panhandle in late 2023, involving the B3.13 strain.

In early 2025, through the National Milk Testing Strategy, the USDA detected two spillover events in Nevada and Arizona dairy herds. Both were identified early, and no further herd infections occurred through animal movements. These events involved the D1.1 strain.

The Wisconsin herd, also detected through the National Milk Testing Strategy, represents a new, separate spillover event and involves the D1.1 strain. At this time, no additional dairy herds have been identified as infected in association with this event.

DFA mourns the passing of Gary Hanman, founding CEO

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is saddened at the recent passing of Gary Hanman, a visionary leader whose influence transformed the landscape of American dairy. Hanman served as CEO of DFA from its inception in 1998 until 2005, guiding the cooperative and the dairy industry through a period of unprecedented growth and unity.

Prior to his role at DFA, Hanman was CEO of Mid-America Dairyman, where he established a reputation for strategic leadership and industry expertise. In 1998, as four major regional cooperatives sought to join together and strengthen the voice of American dairy farmers, Hanman was unanimously chosen to lead the newly formed DFA. Under his stewardship, DFA became the nation’s first truly national dairy cooperative, setting a new standard for collaboration and farmer advocacy.

“Gary was probably the only person in the country who could have brought dairy farmers together to form Dairy Farmers of America,” says Randy Mooney, chairman of DFA’s board of directors and a farmer-owner in Rogersville, Missouri. “He was a dynamic figure and visionary in his work for American dairy farmers.”

Throughout his tenure, Hanman was credited with uniting diverse organizations and fostering a culture of partnership and commitment to farmers. His strategic foresight and dedication not only helped shape DFA but also delivered lasting benefits to dairy producers across the U.S.

Texas Tech’s School of Veterinary Medicine receives $250,000 USDA grant

Texas Tech University’s School of Veterinary Medicine is tackling the nationwide shortage of food animal veterinarians with the creation of the school’s first food animal residency program designed to strengthen veterinary services in rural and agricultural communities.

Jennifer Koziol, associate professor of food animal medicine and surgery, is leading the groundbreaking initiative made possible by a $250,000 USDA Veterinary Service Grant.

“The lack of veterinary coverage in rural regions has far-reaching consequences, from diminished livestock health and welfare to threats against food security and community economic viability,” Koziol said. “The USDA project aligns with national strategic goals of supporting rural prosperity and ensuring a safe, nutritious food supply.”

The residency, which is planned to launch in 2026, will recruit early-career veterinarians and provide them with advanced clinical and research training to help them become future educators in food animal medicine. By mentoring veterinarians into teaching roles, the program aims to meet a critical need for more qualified food animal faculty at veterinary schools as institutions struggle to recruit and retain specialists.

Educators trained through the residency will work to influence more students to pursue careers in food animal, large-animal or mixed-animal practice, helping alleviate the shortage of practitioners in underserved rural and regional communities.

Graduates of the residency will serve as vital resources in their communities, bringing expertise in antimicrobial stewardship, disease control and One Health leadership.

CowManager recognizes award winners at the winter CowManager Training Summit

CowManager recently recognized the following individuals and dairies during its winter training summit:

  • Schaap Dairies, based in eastern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle, has been named the 2025 CowManager Success Story of the Year. The Schaap Family Dairy network includes three operations – Pleasant Hill Dairy, High Lonesome Dairy and North Point Dairy – collectively managing about 20,000 cows. The dairies first experienced CowManager through an XL Program trial and have since fully implemented the system, including the company’s sort-gate technology at all three locations. Since then, they’ve seen notable improvements in pregnancy, conception and heat detection rates, resulting in stronger overall reproductive performance.
  • Carson Hillberg of Select Sires Members Cooperative in California has been named the 2025 Up-and-Coming CowManager Specialist. Hillberg was recognized for consistently going above and beyond for both colleagues and customers, exemplifying what it means to be a true team player. He has played a pivotal role in the success of the XL Program, guiding large-herd dairies from initial trials through full adoption. His contributions extend across several key areas, including CowManager sort gates, calf trials, blinking wand technology and system integrations. Hillberg is also on track to finish near the top of the leaderboard for tag sales in 2025.
  • Matt Staner of CentralStar Cooperative in Wisconsin earned the 2025 CowManager Specialist of the Year Award. This award honors Stef Booijink and is given annually to a specialist who demonstrates exceptional system knowledge, extensive installation experience and expert guidance on system integration. Staner was recognized for his passion for the product, outstanding customer support and meticulous attention to detail. His accomplishments in 2025 include completing six installations, further underscoring his dedication and expertise.
  • Brandon Thesing of Select Sires Member Coop in Minnesota received the Dr. Ray Nebel Legacy Award. This award honors Ray Nebel, Ph.D., retired vice president of technical services and a driving force behind Select Sires’ partnership with CowManager. Thesing was recognized for his exceptional work ethic, collaborative approach to promoting and selling CowManager, and his commitment to going above and beyond to meet customer needs. A true advocate for the cow monitoring system, he is dedicated to making a meaningful, everyday difference for producers.
  • In addition, the company recognized Jared Krull for his outstanding leadership, dedication and unwavering commitment to excellence. As vice president of sales and service at CowManager USA, Krull has played a pivotal role in driving the company’s growth across the U.S. His strategic vision and hands-on support have helped producers not only adopt CowManager’s technology but also maximize its value on their operations. His contributions continue to strengthen the company’s presence in the U.S. market and elevate the success of producers nationwide.