While messages in our industry about inbreeding can be mixed, the facts are clear. Published trends show a steep upward trajectory in inbreeding. This is a natural consequence of high selection intensity and rapid genetic gain. That gain has brought significant genetic progress, which, by current estimates, often outweighs the financial costs of inbreeding depression.

By now, the dust has settled on the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) changes and it is possible to look back on their direct impacts.

Modern dairy technology isn't just about collecting data; it's about extracting value from it. By utilizing advanced software to monitor the milking routine, producers can identify costly bottlenecks and milk more cows in less time while significantly improving teat health.

Reproductive performance is one of the most powerful and easily eroded drivers of dairy profitability. Every missed heat, delayed insemination or unnoticed pregnancy loss quietly adds days open. Increasingly, dairies are turning to technology to measurably improve reproductive outcomes.

As dairy producers increasingly adopt precision livestock farming technologies, the debate between wearable neck sensors (collars/eartags) and internal devices (rumen boluses) has intensified.

In modern agriculture, where profit margins are eroding making efficiency a necessity, dairy producers’ mindsets must shift from management based on raw production to management based purely on economic metrics, most notably income over feed costs.

First detected in U.S. dairy cattle in 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) quickly proved to be a costly problem.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Ag Prices report, released Feb. 27, established January’s Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program calculations. Factors contributing to the margin include a milk price $1.50 below December 2025’s price and feed costs 11 cents higher than that of the month prior.