Progressive Dairy

Milk production climbs as dairy herd expands in February USDA estimate

February U.S. milk production decreased from January but was up about 2.9% from USDA’s estimates a year earlier.

March 23, 2026

Twenty states including Kansas, California and Texas boosted milk production a combined 602 million pounds in February.

Hygiene from parlor to trough

Maintaining adequate hygiene from the udder and parlor to bedding and water troughs can make all the difference in the health of your animals.

March 23, 2026

David Kolb

Creating a clean environment should always be present on a dairy producer’s mind, for many reasons. There are the obvious reasons like food safety, milk quality, animal welfare and more. But it also paints a better picture for consumers and it’s just a good business strategy.

From assumptions to actuals: What farm data can tell us about heifer supply

Analyzing farm data can aid in creating the correct number of replacements.

March 20, 2026

Mark Doornink, Douglas Duhatschek, and Romulo Germano

Higher beef prices have created opportunities for dairy operations to generate additional revenue through dairy-beef crosses, raising an important and recurring question: Should I be breeding more beef semen or more dairy sexed semen in my herd?

Economic Update: April Class I base milk price gets a boost to $18.66 per cwt

Dairy checkoff launches online database to help farmers find grant opportunities.

March 19, 2026

Jenn Coyne and Karen Lee

In the news affecting a dairy farmer's bottom line the third week of March 2026: April Class I base price gets a boost to $18.66 per cwt, the dairy checkoff launches an online database to help farmers find grant opportunities, fluid milk sales start the year lower, and applications are now open for Holstein Foundation memorial scholarships.

U.S. dairy product exports keep moving into new year

Strong U.S. dairy export growth continued in the first month of 2026 as volume was up 12% year over year. It is too soon to tell how the war in Iran will affect the dairy export market.

March 19, 2026

Jenn Coyne

The momentum of U.S. dairy exports in 2025 carried on as the calendar turned to 2026. January proved international interest in U.S. dairy products remains as year-over-year growth reached 12% in milk solids equivalent volume, with cheese and butterfat continuing to lead the way.

[Podcast] Controlling What You Can: Feed, Forage and Efficiency in a Tough Milk Market

March 19, 2026

Today we’re diving into a timely challenge facing dairy producers right now: managing feed costs and efficiency in a tight milk price environment.

Nutrition to fuel your mind and help with stress

Focusing on adding better nutrition options, increasing hydration and eating three square meals per day can make you feel better and improve your health.

March 19, 2026

Michele Payn

Ultimately, eating isn’t about hitting an ideal – it’s about giving your brain and body what they need to handle life’s demands. Learn how to create a balanced diet to help optimize energy and health.

Monitoring transition cow management using fresh cow data

The Fresh Cow Index provides a single measurement at the start of each lactation, making it easier to evaluate management changes and combine with other fresh cow data to explore areas for improvement.

March 19, 2026

Robert Fourdraine

There are many single measurements that you can use to monitor your transition cow program, like gestation length, dry period length, calving ease, abortions, etc. However, combining all these into a single easy-to-understand measure will save time and will be easier to track over time. The new Fresh Cow Index (FCI) was developed to determine if your herd transition cow management program is successful.

Dairy replacement cow prices fall back to last spring

Quarterly average prices in January fell back to $2,860 per head according to estimates from the USDA.

March 18, 2026

Audrey Schmitz

Prices for U.S. replacement dairy cows dropped in January, falling back to levels similar to those seen in April 2025, according to latest quarterly estimates from the USDA. U.S. replacement dairy cow prices averaged $2,860 per head in January 2026, down $250 (9%) from October 2025 but up $200 (7%) from January 2025.

Balancing efficacy, precision and sustainability: How advanced footbath automation supports the dairy industry’s 2050 goals

Reaching the next level in sustainability will require even more scrutiny of everyday operations. Many of the changes that support environmental goals also improve efficiency, reduce costs and strengthen animal health and welfare.

March 18, 2026

Dustin Lessley

Digital dermatitis (DD) remains one of the most persistent and costly challenges on dairies. Effective prevention requires proper hoof immersion, consistent chemical concentration and repeatable exposure.