Progressive Dairy

State of Dairy: 2026 brings renewed excitement for school milk, on-farm technology and beef-on-dairy

New technology, a next generation that is excited to step up into leadership positions, a new law placing whole milk back on school menus and beef-on-dairy are some of the things bringing optimism to dairy producers this year.

March 9, 2026

Kimmi Devaney

The beginning of a new year is often a time to refresh goals and evaluate the vision for one’s life. Similarly, multiple people interviewed for this year’s State of Dairy coverage said late 2025 and early 2026 will be remembered as a reset.

Reduce transport stress for healthier calves

March 9, 2026

Craig J. Louder

Not only do we deal with stress in our lives, but we often create stressful situations for the animals we care for. Recognizing these events and taking measures to provide the animals with mechanisms to deal with stress can help them bounce back more quickly.

State of the dairy economy in 2026

Dairy markets begin 2026 under pressure from strong global milk production and lower prices. Robust protein demand supports some products, but surplus butterfat and weak U.S. cheese consumption limit gains, leaving price recovery dependent on supply cuts or stronger demand.

March 6, 2026

Will Loux

In contrast to the start of last year, U.S. dairy markets are in a far more unsettled place to begin 2026. Dairy farmers are seeing noticeably lower pay prices than this time a year ago.

The evolution of dairy promotion

As consumer demand in dairy foods has changed throughout the years, so has the nation’s checkoff organizations. And as the industry evolves, change may be the only constant.

March 6, 2026

Jenn Coyne

Last year, Dairy West, representing dairy producers in Idaho and Utah, was also approved to oversee dairy product education and promotion for producers in Washington and Oregon. The board-approved merger, a solution to address consolidation and industry needs, is an example of the ever-changing landscape of dairy product promotion for U.S. consumers.

Farm bill passes House Agriculture Committee, moves to House floor

March 5, 2026

Kimmi Devaney

After a markup session lasting more than 20 hours, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee advanced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 out of committee with a 34-17 vote.

February milk prices to get boost from dairy byproducts

February’s Federal Milk Marketing Order milk prices rise in response to price improvements in nonfat dry milk and whey.

March 5, 2026

Jenn Coyne

After a disappointing start to the new year, the milk markets are starting to look better for February based on a review of Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) milk class prices.

Economic Update: GDT index moves higher in fifth consecutive event

March 5, 2026

Karen Lee

In the news affecting a dairy farmer's bottom line the first week of March 2026: GDT index moves higher in fifth consecutive event, AFBF economist examines the Dairy Margin Coverage program, and DMI CEO Barbara O’Brien announces her retirement.

[Podcast] Farm Safety Essentials: Safety training and audits with Joe Buschor from Agri-Services Agency

March 5, 2026

On-farm accidents are costly, and farm injuries can happen during everyday tasks. In this episode, host Mike Opperman talks with Joe Buscher about what to expect during a safety audit, common safety hazards and the safety gaps that can happen among employees.

Making sense of the data: Insights and action items for your calf records

Having easily accessible, relevant data is key to making educated decisions. Purposeful data collection and employee buy-in can help improve the farm’s chance of success.

March 5, 2026

Sarah Eck

A successful calf program doesn’t happen by chance. It takes time, focus, attention and, of course, proper data collection. When gathering data, we should think about what we are measuring, our purpose and how we can improve upon these measurements.

Should you pretrain your heifers for automated milking?

Pretraining heifers for automated milking can provide significant returns, but producers should consider logistics, management and farm-specific goals.

March 4, 2026

Jim Salfer

Is pretraining heifers a worthwhile investment of time and labor? The evidence shows that a strong, consistent training program can provide significant returns, but the results of pretraining research are mixed.