In dairy-related news at the beginning of May 2026:
- USDA seeks nominees for the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board
- May FSA interest rates hold steady
- USTR report underlines landmark wins for common name protections
- ‘Plant a Seed’ campaign raises $42K to support dairy education, outreach programs
- Holstein Association USA names Star of the Breed, Herds of Excellence
- Lallemand Animal Nutrition opens 2026 scholarship applications
USDA seeks nominees for the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominees for the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. The deadline for nominations is May 29.
From the nominees, the secretary of agriculture will appoint 13 individuals to succeed members whose terms expire on Oct. 31. Newly appointed members will serve three-year terms from Nov. 1, 2026, through Oct. 31, 2029.
The USDA is seeking nominees for:
- One seat for Region 1 (Alaska, Oregon and Washington)
- One seat for Region 3 (Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming)
- Two seats for Region 4 (Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas)
- One seat for Region 5 (Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota)
- Two seats for Region 6 (Wisconsin)
- One seat for Region 7 (Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska)
- One seat for Region 8 (Idaho)
- One seat for Region 9 (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia)
- One seat for Region 10 (Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia)
- One seat for Region 12 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont)
- One seat for an importer
Nominees for the regional positions must be dairy producers who produce milk in the region for which they are nominated. Nominees for the importer position must be dairy importers. The 37-member board consists of 36 dairy producers from 12 regions and one dairy importer.
Nomination forms are available on the AMS National Dairy Promotion and Research Board webpage. For more information, contact Jill Hoover.
May FSA interest rates hold steady
The announced interest rates on loans through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) are unchanged from last month. As we begin May 2026, interest rates for operating and ownership loans (compared to April) are as follows:
- Farm operating loans (direct): 4.75%, unchanged
- Farm ownership loans (direct): 5.75%, unchanged
- Farm ownership loans (direct, joint financing): 3.75%, unchanged
- Farm ownership loans (down payment): 1.75%, unchanged
- Emergency loan (amount of actual loss): 3.75%, unchanged
The FSA also offers guaranteed loans through commercial lenders at rates set by those lenders. For more information, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center.
USTR report underlines landmark wins for common name protections
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN) welcomed the release of the U.S. trade representative’s (USTR) 2026 Special 301 Report, which details the significant progress made over the past year in securing commitments from U.S. trade partners to protect the free use of generic food and beverage terms.
The annual report documenting the most pressing intellectual property issues facing U.S. exporters this year spotlights the administration’s successful efforts to protect American producers’ use of common names such as Parmesan and feta against the European Union’s (EU) protectionist geographical indication (GI) policies. NMPF, USDEC and CCFN have been proud to coordinate with the administration on combatting policies that restrict the use of widely recognized food and beverage terms to only specific European producers and effectively cut U.S. producers out of certain key markets.
“The EU’s approach to geographical indications is simply a dressed-up trade barrier. It is entirely unacceptable,” Jaime Castaneda, executive director of CCFN, said. “Too many trading partners have been coerced into imposing barriers on products using common food names. We greatly appreciate the administration’s leadership in reversing this trend.”
“This past year’s reciprocal trade agreements are a sea change, and we welcome USTR’s leadership and persistence in addressing this issue,” Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC, said.
All three organizations will continue to work closely with the USTR and U.S. government partners to monitor implementation of the reciprocal trade agreements and to ensure that U.S. trade partners fully meet their commitments to maintaining open and predictable access for U.S. dairy and other common name products.
‘Plant a Seed’ campaign raises $42K to support dairy education, outreach programs
The ninth annual “Plant a Seed” campaign supporting Dairy’s Foundation raised over $42,000 to support programs that develop dairy leaders, strengthen on-farm skills and build stronger connection between dairy producers and their communities.
Three companies – Grassland Dairy Products, Mullins Cheese and Pipping Concrete Inc. – provided leadership as the campaign’s “industry heroes” by matching donations from individuals, farms and businesses.
For more than 20 years, Dairy’s Foundation has been focused on raising funds and awarding grants to support educational and sustainability initiatives for the dairy industry and those it impacts. It is the only public-held national foundation supporting dairy education and initiatives across the entire dairy industry food chain.
Holstein Association USA names Star of the Breed, Herds of Excellence
The Star of the Breed award recognizes a cow that excels in both type and production. Receiving the 2025 recognition from Holstein Association USA is Oakfield Solomon Sunset-ET EX-96 2E. Sunset is bred and owned by Jonathan and Alicia Lamb of Oakfield Corners Dairy in New York.
“The cow milks like crazy. As of today, she has over 178,000 pounds of lifetime milk, which is huge for any cow, so we’re really proud of her in that regard,” Alicia Lamb says. “And when you see her, she’s a beautiful cow – she’s been one of the greatest show cows we’ve had over the years.”
Sunset qualified for the award with her 5-year-old production record of 51,710 pounds of milk with 2,087 pounds of fat (4%) and 1,674 pounds of protein (3.2%), along with her third-place finish in the Aged Cow Class at the 2025 Northeast Spring Holstein Show.
Jonathan and Alicia purchased Sunset’s dam, Bella-Rosa GW Sara-ET EX-96 3E, at the National Holstein Convention Sale in 2013. Sunset was sold to Adam Liddle at Oakfield Corners Dairy’s Spring Sensations Sale in 2019, and Jonathan and Alicia purchased Sunset back from Adam in 2022.
Notable show ring achievements include Sunset being named Champion Bred and Owned at the Eastern Fall National Holstein Show for three years running, along with placing first in her class and being named Grand Champion of the show in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, Sunset once again placed first in her class at the Eastern Fall National and took home Reserve Grand Champion honors.
Herds of Excellence
Three outstanding registered Holstein herds have qualified for Holstein Association USA’s 2025 Herds of Excellence recognition. Each year, the award recognizes primarily homebred herds that excel in conformation and production.
- Fustead Holsteins – The Fust Family, Wausau, Wisconsin
- 73.4% homebred; AACS – 83.3 points
- ME production averages – 32,630 milk; 1,524 fat; 1,076 protein
- Second-year honoree
- Doorco Holsteins – The Vandertie Family, Brussels, Wisconsin
- 100% homebred; AACS – 90.5 points
- ME production averages – 37,225 milk; 1,557 fat; 1,154 protein
- Eight-year honoree
- Ever-Green-View Holsteins LLC – The Kestell Family, Waldo, Wisconsin
- 98.9% homebred; AACS – 87.6 points
- ME production averages – 39,430 milk; 1,707 fat; 1,227 protein
- Sixteen-year honoree
Lallemand Animal Nutrition opens 2026 scholarship applications
Lallemand Animal Nutrition announced the opening of applications for its 12th annual Lallemand Scholarship Program. The program supports outstanding students pursuing careers in agriculture, veterinary medicine and related fields, helping invest in the future of animal agriculture.
Lallemand will award five scholarships to students pursuing agriculture-related degrees:
- Two undergraduate scholarships of $2,500 each
- One master’s level scholarship of $3,000
- One doctoral level (Ph.D.) scholarship of $3,000
- One doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) level scholarship of $3,000
The program is open to full-time students enrolled at accredited institutions in the U.S., Canada or Mexico. Eligible majors are not limited to animal science or nutrition; students pursuing any agriculture or agriculture-related field are encouraged to apply.
Applications open May 1 and close Sept. 30. Submissions are evaluated based on academic achievement, leadership, a demonstrated interest in agriculture and an essay highlighting creativity, originality and forward-thinking perspectives.
For more information about eligibility and how to apply, visit the Lallemand Animal Nutrition website.
