In dairy-related news the last week of April 2026:
- USDA eases requirement for HPAI testing of dairy cows for interstate movement
- Dairy bills before Congress
- USDA issues second supplemental disaster payment to farmers, extends application deadline
- Leaders elect board officers to guide dairy checkoff strategy
- National FFA Organization partners with World Dairy Expo
USDA eases requirement for HPAI testing of dairy cows for interstate movement
Two years ago, in response to the emerging highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in dairy cattle, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a federal order that required testing of lactating dairy cattle before they move across state lines.
Today, the USDA announced it is removing that requirement for states that are deemed unaffected by HPAI in dairy.
In a statement, APHIS said, “Effective immediately, lactating dairy cattle moving interstate from states with unaffected state status under the National Milk Testing Strategy are no longer required to be tested for HPAI H5N1 prior to movement.”
To maintain an unaffected status, states must perform ongoing testing and surveillance activities to confirm the absence of HPAI in their dairy herds.
This update does not change the USDA’s HPAI eradication strategy. Biosecurity is still key to mitigating the risk of disease introduction or spread between premises. Producers should immediately report any livestock with clinical signs, or any unusual sick or dead wildlife, to their state veterinarian.
Dairy bills before Congress
- Reps. John Joyce (R-Pennsylvania) and Josh Riley (D-New York) reintroduced the Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, milk, and cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday (DAIRY PRIDE) Act in the House of Representatives last week. The bill is aiming to crack down on plant-based products that use traditional dairy terms like “milk,” “cheese” and “yogurt.” The legislation would deem food products that are making inaccurate claims about milk content “misbranded” and require the FDA to issue guidance for nationwide enforcement of mislabeled imitation dairy products within 90 days.
- The U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration took action to advance its fiscal year 2027 funding bill, including key dairy priorities. According to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the bill will invest $4 million in Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives projects that builds on the program’s proven success in stretching Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) dollars and helping SNAP participants purchase more milk. Additionally, provisions in the bill preserve dairy benefits in the federal supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, known as WIC, and ensure that whole and 2% milk, made available by the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, is applicable to all school meals. Sustained funding for the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative will also help drive innovation, strengthen regional supply chains, and create new market opportunities for dairy farmers and processors.
- The full House of Representatives is expected to take up the farm bill this week. In early March, the House Agriculture Committee approved the legislation with bipartisan action, with a vote of 34 to 17. If passed by the House, the next step will be action by the Senate. The Senate has not yet introduced its own version of the farm bill, which means this action by the House could be the push it needs to move the process forward.
USDA issues second supplemental disaster payment to farmers, extends application deadline
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the USDA is maximizing disaster assistance support for producers by issuing a second Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) payment to eligible producers who have approved program applications for losses due to natural disasters in calendar years 2023 and 2024.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already provided $6.7 billion in SDRP payments to eligible producers. Additionally, the USDA is extending the program deadline to give producers and the FSA more time to address any program application changes that could impact payments. The original April 30 deadline has been extended to Aug. 12 for SDRP Stage 1 and Stage 2.
Initial SDRP payments were factored at 35%, but after further analysis, the USDA is increasing the payment factor to 70%, meaning producers with approved applications will receive an additional 35% of their calculated SDRP payment. Future SDRP payments will also be made using a 70% payment factor.
For more information on SDRP, visit the program's website.
Leaders elect board officers to guide dairy checkoff strategy
Leaders of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB) and the United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA) announced newly elected officers who will help guide national dairy checkoff strategies and programs aimed at protecting and growing dairy sales.
“I’m honored and excited to continue working alongside dairy farmers nationwide to strengthen demand and build new opportunities for our industry,” said Marilyn Hershey, a Cochranville, Pennsylvania, farmer who was reelected chair of DMI. “Together, our boards play a critical role in guiding investments and ensuring the checkoff delivers meaningful value for farmers and importers.”
DMI, which manages the national checkoff program, is co-funded by NDB and UDIA. In addition to Hershey, other DMI officers elected are:
- Vice chair – Mary Kraft, Fort Morgan, Colorado
- Secretary – Roger Fluegel, Visalia, California
- Treasurer – Becky Nyman, Hilmar, California
The NDB elected the following officers:
- Chair – Lolly Lesher, Bernville, Pennsylvania
- Vice chair – Marv Post, Volga, South Dakota
- Secretary – Arlene VanderEyk, Tulare, California
- Treasurer – Gail Klinkner, Viroqua, Wisconsin
The 37-member NDB carries out coordinated promotion and research programs to help build demand and expand domestic and international markets for dairy products.
UDIA officers elected during the 2025 joint annual meeting of UDIA, NDB and the National Milk Producers Federation are:
- Chair – Charles Krause, Buffalo, Minnesota
- First vice chair – Kris Wardin, St. Johns, Michigan
- Second vice chair – Audrey Donahoe, Clayville, New York
- Secretary – Daniel Buttars, Lewiston, Utah
- Treasurer – Tom Walsh, De Graff, Minnesota
The UDIA is a federation of state and regional dairy farmer-funded promotion organizations that provide marketing programs developed and implemented in coordination with its members. The UDIA is overseen by a board comprised of dairy farmers elected by respective local and regional boards of UDIA member organizations.
National Dairy Council officers elected are:
- Chair – Audrey Donahoe, Clayville, New York
- Vice chair – Perry Tjaarda, Shafter, California
- Secretary – Sutton Rucks, Okeechobee, Florida
- Treasurer – Michael Ferguson, Senatobia, Mississippi
National FFA Organization partners with World Dairy Expo
World Dairy Expo announced that the National FFA Organization has officially endorsed and will promote World Dairy Expo’s 2026 FFA Dairy Judging Contest to its national membership. This collaboration expands opportunities for leadership, hands-on learning and meaningful connections within agricultural education.
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,042,245 student members as part of 9,407 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In 2025, more than 100 schools from across the U.S. participated in the FFA Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at World Dairy Expo, underscoring the enthusiasm and commitment of FFA members nationwide.
“Historically, this contest has drawn strong participation from Midwest chapters, along with dedicated teams traveling from as far as California, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Texas,” said Lexa Miller, cattle show and contests coordinator for World Dairy Expo. “This partnership will encourage even more chapters to make the trip to Madison and further strengthen an already outstanding competition and educational experience.”
The 2026 FFA Dairy Cattle Judging Contest will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 29, in Madison, Wisconsin. FFA chapters across the country are encouraged to learn more by visiting the “Contests” section at World Dairy Expo's website. Registration opens July 13 and closes Sept. 11.
