In the news related to dairy farming the first week of July 2026:
- U.S. declines USMCA renewal in current form
- Corn planted acreage down 3%, soybean acreage up 5%
- Nominate dairies for NMC’s National Dairy Quality Awards program
- World Dairy Expo cattle show entries now open
- REAL Butter Act introduced
- Dairy State Cheese completes modernization project
U.S. declines USMCA renewal in current form
Following the long-awaited joint review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced “the U.S. did not agree to renew USMCA in its current form.
“As a result, the USMCA is not renewed. The United States will continue to engage with Mexico and Canada to address the agreement’s shortcomings and our trade deficits with these countries,” he said.
USMCA will remain in place for another 10 years with annual reviews or until the three countries reach a new agreement.
“Getting USMCA right matters enormously to our industry, which ships more than 40 percent of all U.S. dairy exports by value to Mexico and Canada,” said Shawna Morris, executive vice president, trade policy and global affairs at the National Milk Producers Federation and U.S. Dairy Export Council.
“We strongly support the U.S. government’s efforts to address these challenges and urge focused, intensive work by our trading partners to resolve them. A stronger, durable, renewed USMCA is key to the long-term prosperity of dairy producers and exporters across North America,” Morris added.
The U.S. plans to meet with Mexico the week of July 20 for a third round of bilateral negotiations related to the USMCA joint review.
Corn planted acreage down 3%, soybean acreage up 5%
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimated 95.3 million acres of corn planted in the U.S. for 2026, down 3% from last year, according to the Acreage report released on June 30. Soybean area planted is estimated at 85.4 million acres, up 5% from last year.
Following up on the Prospective Plantings report released in March, NASS surveyed approximately 90,300 farm operators during the first two weeks of June to gather information on what farmers actually planted. Key findings released in the Acreage report include:
- Growers expect to harvest 87.4 million acres of corn for grain, down 4% from 2025.
- Soybean-harvested area for 2026 is estimated at 84.4 million acres, up 5% from last year.
- All cotton-planted area for 2026 is estimated at 9.85 million acres, 6% above 2025.
- All wheat-planted area for 2026 is estimated at 42.7 million acres, down 6% from last year.
NASS also released the quarterly Grain Stocks and Rice Stocks reports to provide estimates of on-farm and off-farm stocks as of June 1. Key findings in those reports include:
- Corn stocks totaled 5.29 billion bushels, up 14% from the same time last year.
- Soybeans stored totaled 1.06 billion bushels, up 5% from June 1, 2025.
- All wheat stored totaled 920 million bushels, up 8% from a year ago.
Nominate dairies for NMC’s National Dairy Quality Awards program
It’s time to submit nominations for NMC’s National Dairy Quality Awards (NDQA) program. This program recognizes U.S. and Canadian dairies that excel in producing high-quality milk. Nominations close Aug. 31.
Coordinated by NMC: The Global Milk Quality Organization, the NDQA program honors dairy producers who market milk with a low somatic cell count (SCC) and low standard plate count (SPC). Additionally, judges evaluate dairy producers’ systems of monitoring udder health, milking routine, protocols for detection and treatment of clinical and subclinical cases of mastitis, and strategies for overall herd health and animal welfare.
Dairy industry professionals – including veterinarians, extension agents, dairy processor field staff and consultants – are encouraged to nominate dairy herds that exemplify milk quality excellence. To nominate a dairy producer, complete the online nomination form. Dairy producers cannot nominate themselves or their peers.
Judges will name approximately 50 finalists from the NDQA nominations. Finalists, along with their nominators, will complete a more detailed final application. From the finalists, judges will rank dairy operations as Platinum, Gold or Silver. The Platinum winners receive international recognition, complimentary lodging and registration, and a travel stipend to attend the NMC’s 65th Annual Meeting, Jan. 25-28, at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida.
World Dairy Expo cattle show entries now open
Entries for the Dairy Cattle Show at the 59th World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, are now being accepted exclusively online. The entry deadline is Monday, Aug. 31, at 11:59 p.m. (CDT). Late entries will be accepted, but at an increased fee.
The Dairy Cattle Show will run Sunday, Sept. 27, through Friday, Oct. 2. Entry information, the schedule of events, rules and other updates can be found in the premium book, available at World Dairy Expo's website. Exhibitors may request a mailed copy of the premium book by contacting Laurie Breuch, dairy systems manager, or Lexa Miller, dairy cattle and contests coordinator.
World Dairy Expo continues to monitor highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) and all other health concerns impacting dairy cattle. While H5N1 testing has been rescinded for animals in those states that have unaffected state status under the USDA National Milk Testing Strategy surveillance, the required test for HPAI/H5N1 is an influenza A PCR test for lactating cattle from states with affected or provisional unaffected state status. World Dairy Expo also requires animals being transported with animals from affected states or provisional unaffected states to be tested. Reference testing timelines in the health regulations and with your state animal health official prior to departure for the show. World Dairy Expo will share new information and directives as provided.
REAL Butter Act introduced
Congressman Tony Wied (R-Wisconsin) has introduced the bipartisan Recognizing Engineered Alternatives as Lab-Created (REAL) Butter Act, co-led with Congressman Josh Riley (D-New York).
“Bill Gates is currently funding a carbon-based, lab-grown butter project created from carbon dioxide instead of milk from a cow. ...The REAL Butter Act would simply require that it be clearly labeled as ‘lab-created butter’ directly on the product,” Wied said.
“Our bipartisan bill strengthens labeling standards for imitation butter, helping families make informed choices at the grocery store and protecting dairy farmers in upstate New York and across the country,” Riley said.
According to the American Dairy Coalition (ADC), the legislation goes beyond the retail package itself. Under the bill, foods containing a covered synthesized butter ingredient would be required to disclose that fact with labeling stating “contains lab-created butter.” As drafted, the bill is intended to provide transparency not only for consumers purchasing a butter substitute directly, but also for consumers purchasing packaged foods made with the ingredient.
Dairy State Cheese completes modernization project
A $150 million investment transformed Dairy State Cheese’s Rudolph, Wisconsin, facility through upgrades to production and packaging operations, as well as its wastewater treatment infrastructure.
The project was completed over three years and included eight 55,000-pound cheese vats, six high-capacity 40-pound cheese block formers, two new whey separators and clarifiers, a UV water purification system and more.
Dairy State Cheese supports milk markets for 120 dairy farms and produces hard Italian cheeses, including Parmesan, Asiago and Romano, as well as dry whey protein concentrate for retail and food service customers. The plant also produces a large amount of sweet cream that is shipped daily to a local butter production facility.
The wastewater treatment improvements include a UV water purification system to facilitate water reuse in the facility, as well as a greensand water filtration system to efficiently remove contaminants and improve water quality.
