How does a dairy that regularly sees temperatures over 110°F create pregnancies? Keeping cows cool. For Dickman and Sons Dairy, it really is that simple.

Semiautomated milking technology captured the attention of dairy producers awarding this year’s Nexus Innovation Awards. The new technology from GEA improves upon and brings the fully automated teat preparation common in box-style milking robots to parallel parlors.

This episode introduces you to the 2026 Nexus Innovation Award winners, recently recognized at the Professional Dairy Producers Business Conference.

SenseHub Dairy Youngstock monitoring technology from Merck Animal Health tracks calves from birth and flashes an indicator light when activity, rumination, eating or other behaviors deviate from the baseline. The same eartag can also continue tracking behaviors throughout the animal’s entire life.

The future of the dairy industry depends on more than technology, genetics or markets. While all of these are critical, the true future of dairy lies in recruiting, educating and supporting the next generation of dairy producers, managers and innovators.

Administering cows an innovative technology in bolus form at dry-off has been shown to decrease milk production 50% to 60% in the first 24 hours after dry-off. Research on the new product – StopLac from AHV – shows it also doesn’t negatively impact the health of the cow or milk production in her next lactation.

Making good silage is an art, and utilizing technologies can help us improve the process to deliver consistent feed to our animals.