Progressive Dairy

Weekly Digest: DFA, Select Milk Producers settle milk price-fixing lawsuit

July 28, 2025

Here are the dairy-related headlines as we start the last week of July 2025: DFA, Select Milk Producers settle milk price-fixing lawsuit; the U.S. dairy industry praises Indonesia trade agreement; a new study shows genetic selection with DWP$ supports measurable productivity gains; and more.

8 mastitis prevention strategies during the dry period

Controlling mastitis in dry cows will reinforce udder health and set cows up for a successful next lactation.

July 28, 2025

Jennifer Roberts

Mastitis is always a concern around the dairy, but staying extra vigilant at dry-off and during the dry period is important for preventing clinical infections.

June USDA report shows slowing dairy cull cow slaughter rates

Cull cow slaughter rates have slowed since March due to a smaller dairy herd and increased demand and prices for dairy cow replacements.

July 25, 2025

Audrey Schmitz

Cull cow slaughter rates have slowed since March due to a smaller dairy herd and increased demand and prices for dairy cow replacements.

Essential tips to optimize cow comfort in the holding area

To increase efficiency and productivity, dairy operations should focus on holding area management, ventilation, cooling, lighting and proper footing. This helps ensure cows remain calm, comfortable and healthy.

July 25, 2025

Shaun Hardtke

In our operations, holding area management and the proper use of a crowd gate play a crucial role in promoting a cow’s comfort and ensuring an optimal milk harvest experience during her daily parlor visits. While these tasks may seem straightforward, they require much more than just moving cows and running them through a parlor.

June milk production higher as dairy cow numbers rise

June U.S. milk production increased from May and is up about 3.3% from USDA’s estimates a year earlier.

July 24, 2025

Audrey Schmitz

Twenty states including Idaho, Texas and California boosted milk production a combined 659 million pounds in June.

Ran in print 1425 PD page

August Class I base milk price rises to $18.93

The Federal Milk Marketing Order released the advanced Class I base price for August.

July 24, 2025

Jenn Coyne

The Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) advanced Class I base price rose 11 cents per hundredweight (cwt) from July to August for a Class I base price of $18.93 per cwt.

Dairy risk management calendar: August 2025

Progressive Dairy provides monthly online updates to important dates, reports and advice affecting risk management decisions.

July 24, 2025

Jenn Coyne

The first milk checks reflecting the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) revisions are arriving in producers’ mailboxes, reflecting both benefits and drawbacks of the revisions. At the same time, milk prices are softening after several months of relatively strong performances, perhaps the result of increased cow numbers and expanded processing capacity available in the marketplace now, among other influencing factors.

[Podcast] Turning Cow Movement into Management Power with Nedap SmartSight

July 24, 2025

In this sponsorcast, Tera Baker, North American marketing manager at Nedap, sits down with Roxie Muller, head of innovation, to introduce SmartSight Locomotion – a new computer vision tool designed to take control of your herd’s hoof health management.

Lifelong Learning: Building a strong team pays dividends

July 24, 2025

A quick Google search will turn up dozens of quotes and plenty of advice about the importance of surrounding yourself with people who are positive and who will challenge and support you. Unlike a lot of other information you can find online, those pieces of advice are completely true.

Execute an insight-driven hoof health program

Increase productivity and minimize lameness by leveraging tools and reports in herd management software to enhance your hoof health program.

July 23, 2025

Clay Reese

Maintaining optimal hoof health in dairy herds is paramount for ensuring peak productivity and minimizing lameness, a prevalent issue that can severely affect cow welfare and farm economics.