Progressive Dairy

Lifelong Learning: Progress starts with identifying gaps

January 27, 2026

We hear it over and over again: The dairy industry is changing faster than ever. And it’s true. We’re all living it every day.

Dairy cows culled for beef to rise into 2026

January 26, 2026

Audrey Schmitz

Based on latest USDA monthly Livestock Slaughter report data, the number of dairy cull cows marketed through U.S. slaughter plants in December 2025 was estimated at 248,400.

Milk production increases in December as dairy herd expands

December U.S. milk production increased from November and is also up about 4.4% from USDA’s estimates a year earlier.

January 26, 2026

Audrey Schmitz

Nineteen states including California, Kansas and Idaho boosted milk production a combined 904 million pounds in December.

Nicole Morris blends farming, teaching and digital advocacy

Nicole Morris is an advocate for agriculture, inspiring students and consumers with her creativity, hard work and passion for sharing the dairy story.

January 26, 2026

Frances Pierce

An open mind to listen to others’ advice may steer you in the direction of a lifetime. Taking others’ advice led Nicole Morris to become a dairy science instructor at Modesto Junior College (MJC) as well as grow her social media platform beyond Instagram and into Tik Tok. Morris juggles those passions along with running J&M Dairy with her husband, Johnny.

A gut check for calf programs: A multipronged approach for gut health

The use of gut health additives and management strategies are key factors in making calves more resilient to disease and stress. This in turn sets calves up for long-term success.

January 26, 2026

Marisol Orellana

A calf’s gut is a blank slate at birth, but bacterial microbes quickly establish themselves within the first weeks of life. During this narrow window, the calf’s gastrointestinal (GI) tract is rapidly colonized by bacteria from equipment, colostrum and bedding – both beneficial as well as harmful.

Leveling up and rising above: Three dairy producers open up about their financial journeys

From forming a profit team to adding cows to bring their barn to capacity, three dairy producers share how they pivoted amidst challenging obstacles and what helped their farm businesses succeed.

January 23, 2026

Emily Barge

How can farms rise above financial risks and a volatile market to eventually move toward growth? Three dairy producers opened up about their journeys and offered honest insight during a recent panel discussion.

Economic Update: February Class I base milk price hits 68-month low

January 22, 2026

Karen Lee and Dave Natzke

In the news affecting a dairy producer's bottom line the third week of January 2026: February Class I base milk price hits 68-month low, fluid milk sales were down 1.8% in November, the GDT index is higher again, and a reminder to sign up for the Milk Loss Program and HPAI biosecurity webinars.

Equipment, chemistry and people: A three-tier checklist for modern parlors

Consistent, thorough protocols ensure success in the parlor. Creating daily, weekly and quarterly checklists can aid in organization and eliminate room for error.

January 22, 2026

Shaun Hardtke

Milking parlors perform at the intersection of three forces: equipment performance, chemical effectiveness and human compliance. Each one can elevate milk quality or quietly sabotage it.

Country artist Hailey Whitters highlights dairy in recent album campaign

Bringing agriculture to the bright lights of Nashville, Hailey Whitters works with dairy organizations for her latest album cover and subsequent campaigns.

January 21, 2026

Matti McBride

Butter busts of cows, dairy princesses or other prominent regional figures often populate state fairs across the country. Spectators “ooo” and “ahh” at artists’ hard work, displayed in a large, cooled glass case. For many, it’s a cool sculpture. To Hailey Whitters, 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards New Female Artist of the Year, it became inspiration.

How is this year’s corn silage feeding?

Making yourself aware of the impact of the growing environment each season through early sampling and testing is the first step to benchmarking silage annually and addressing those impacts.

January 20, 2026

Jim Smith

Understanding and implementing all the best management practices every season for producing high-quality corn silage that are under your control is critical. Making yourself aware of the impact of the growing environment each season through early sampling and testing is the first step. Benchmarking it annually and addressing those impacts with proven and cutting-edge technology will provide the consistency your herd thrives on and is critical to your bottom line.