Digest Highlights: A Missouri program reimburses MPP-Dairy participants. CDC’s investigation into a salmonella Heidelberg outbreak tied to dairy calves is closed. Alan Zepp compares margin protection options. Find a summary of this and other news here.

While the budget bill signed by President Donald Trump earlier this month made changes to the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy), details remain to be worked out before the 2018 enrollment period reopens.

A USDA survey showed the percentage of dairy farmers with health care coverage was far less than other agricultural groups. Progressive Dairyman looks at some options to raise those numbers.

Progressive Dairyman Editors Walt Cooley and Audrey Schmitz attended World Ag Expo in Tulare, California, Feb. 13-15, 2018. They walked the show looking for new products and industry trends. Below are their thoughts on what they found.

Thanks to researchers at the University of Florida, it is now possible to breed a Holstein that can better withstand heat stress.

Milk is the perfect sports drink due to its nutrient density and optimal ratio of carbohydrates and protein. Milk is the most hydrating beverage you can drink – a great source of protein for rebuilding muscle and an excellent source of fat for rebuilding your body’s cellular membranes.

More than 100 dairy producers and allied industry representatives from 15 states toured Iron Bridge Regional Water Reclamation Facility, Orlando Easterly Wetlands and the Walt Disney World Parks in January 2018. The group was part of Professional Dairy Producers’ annual Managers Academy. The three-day event was held in Orlando, Florida, this year.

Top bedding can make or break cow comfort, cleanliness and milk quality, but the materials used to top stall surfaces are not created equally.

Editor’s note: The CEO Corner contains editors’ compilations of business insights and analysis of current news, which they have tailored for the dairy industry. This column inspires million-dollar dairy operations to think like CEOs in other industries do. In his book Creating Magic, Lee Cockerell presented 10 leadership strategies he identified from his career at Disney. One of those strategies is learn the truth.

In addition to the information that will be available from the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding later this year, several dairy companies have already taken the lead in providing options for dairy producers to improve herd health through genetic selection.