In dairy-related news the second week of April 2026:
- NMC announces agenda for June regional meeting in Wisconsin
- GDT index drops 3.4%
- Farmer sentiment improves despite rising input costs
- Cole honored for scientific excellence as 2025 AAAS Fellow
- Hiland Dairy hosts grand opening at Texas production facility
- Midwest Dairy releases results from 2025 investments
NMC announces agenda for June regional meeting in Wisconsin
The 2026 NMC Regional Meeting will be held June 16-18 at the Tundra Lodge Resort Waterpark and Conference Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. With a theme of “Tackling Milk Quality in Titletown,” this year’s regional meeting features expert-led sessions on milking systems evaluation, emerging mastitis pathogens, on-farm milk quality strategies, antimicrobial stewardship and cow-handling research and training resources.
The NMC Regional Meeting provides a phenomenal opportunity for dairy producers, veterinarians and allied industry partners to gain hands-on experiences and take home practical information to further the dairy industry’s pursuit in producing and marketing outstanding quality milk. This event includes short courses on Tuesday, general sessions and panel discussions on Wednesday, dairy farm tours on Thursday and networking opportunities designed to foster practical learning and actionable solutions.
For more information, visit the NMC websites for regional meeting details and registration.
GDT index drops 3.4%
The price index of dairy product prices sold on the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) platform is down 3.4% in the auction held April 7.
Compared to the previous auction, prices for individual product categories were mostly lower. Butter was down by 8.1%. Anhydrous milkfat and mozzarella were down 7.1% and 6.2%, respectively. Cheddar cheese was down 3.1%, and skim milk powder was 1.6% lower. Lactose and whole milk powder were lower by less than 1%. Buttermilk powder was the only product to trade higher, up 0.7%.
The GDT platform offers dairy products from several global companies: Fonterra (New Zealand), Darigold, Valley Milk and Dairy America (U.S.), Inalpi (Italy), Arla (Denmark), Arla Foods Ingredients (Denmark), BMI (Germany), Kerry Dairy (Ireland) and Solarec (Belgium).
The next GDT auction is April 21.
Farmer sentiment improves despite rising input costs
While survey respondents cited growing concern with high input costs, the overall sentiment increased based on future expectations, according to the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.
“The increase in sentiment for future expectations was larger than the corresponding increase in sentiment for current conditions,” said Michael Langemeier, the barometer’s principal investigator and director of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture.
In March, the percentage of producers who expected good times in the next five years was 37%, which is 12% lower than the share reported in March 2025. There continues to be a large disparity in expectations between crop and livestock producers. Approximately 31% of respondents expected good times for crop producers, while 63% expected good times for livestock producers.
The Ag Economy Barometer provides a monthly snapshot of farmer sentiment regarding the state of the agricultural economy. The survey collects responses from 400 producers whose annual market value of production is equal to or exceeds $500,000. Minimum targets by enterprise are as follows: 53% corn/soybeans, 14% wheat, 3% cotton, 19% beef cattle, 5% dairy and 6% hogs. Latest survey results, released April 7, reflect ag producer outlooks as of March 16-20.
Cole honored for scientific excellence as 2025 AAAS Fellow
John B. Cole, Ph.D., chief research and development officer for the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB), has been named to the 2025 class of Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). AAAS is one of the world’s largest scientific societies and publisher of the Science family of peer-reviewed journals.
Scientists, engineers and innovators who demonstrate research excellence, make notable contributions to advance science and deliver important services to their communities have been recognized as AAAS Fellows since 1874. The 2025 class includes 449 individuals across 24 disciplines. Cole is one of 16 Fellows in the Section on Agriculture, Food and Renewable Resources.
Over the course of his career, Cole has contributed to the improvement of dairy cattle genetics in both research and commercial settings. After completing his Ph.D. in animal breeding and genetics at Louisiana State University, he spent 17 years as a research geneticist and acting research leader at the USDA’s Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory. He then joined Peak Genetics to oversee genetics and reproductive biology research for the largest producer of cattle genetics in the world. Since coming to CDCB in March 2024, Cole has led research initiatives focused on improving and developing genetic selection tools for dairy cattle breeders. He has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed research articles, mentored many students, and spoken at numerous dairy industry and scientific meetings around the world.
Cole will be recognized with the 2025 Fellows class at a forum in Washington, D.C., on May 29. The group will also be featured in the April 2026 edition of Science.
Hiland Dairy hosts grand opening at Texas production facility
A ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 1 marked the grand opening of the Hiland Dairy production facility in Tyler, Texas.
Hiland Dairy Foods invested $100 million in a 96,000-square-foot facility expansion to install new filling lines for different product sizes and expand milk storage and processing capabilities.
The facility’s upgrades grew production capacity from 2 million gallons a month to 100 million gallons a year.
Midwest Dairy releases results from 2025 investments
Midwest Dairy released its 2025 Annual Report, demonstrating a strong year of progress building trust and demand on behalf of dairy farmers.
Projects and activations drove dairy demand and expanded consumer trust in 2025. Campaigns across retail, convenience stores, and coffee chains generated more than 4 million incremental pounds of milk sales while reaching millions of consumers across the region.
Midwest Dairy focused on campaigns to highlight dairy product benefits. Retail and food service promotions capitalized on the protein trend to deliver measurable sales growth and inspired fresh ways to consume dairy products. In fact, limited-time seasonal offers at Kwik Trip/Kwik Star drove 1.8 million incremental pounds of milk sold, and a partnership with Chicory focused on digital recipe innovation resulted in over 3 million incremental pounds of milk sold.
Midwest Dairy programs connected farmers directly with consumers, students and health professionals to build confidence and trust in dairy. In 2025:
- More than 162,000 students reached through the 2025 Discover Dairy Adopt a Cow program.
- NCAA Big 12 college athletics partnerships generated 10,000,000-plus impressions.
- Influencer partnerships delivered 10.5 million views.
- Wellness Warriors initiative connected dairy farmers with health and nutrition professionals to highlight dairy’s role in healthy lifestyles.
Checkoff investments in research, innovation and leadership development capitalized on opportunities for dairy.
- $355,000 in Undeniably Dairy grants supported 136 dairy promotion projects.
- 17 farmers graduated from the Dairy Experience and Agricultural Leadership (DEAL) program.
- Lasso grants supported on-farm innovation projects, while the Accelerator Program supported entrepreneurs in bringing innovative dairy products to market.
- Youth leadership programs helped extend dairy outreach and advocacy with 29 dairy ambassadors and princesses.
