Audrey Schmitz

After serving as an intern for Progressive Publishing and graduating from Kansas State University with majors in agricultural communications/journalism and animal sciences with a dairy emphasis, Audrey Schmitz started as a full-time editor at Progressive Dairy. She covers feed and nutrition, herd health, dry and transition cows and specialty topics, like June Dairy Month and Christmas.

Dairy herd growth pushes June milk production higher

June U.S. milk production increased from May and was also up about 2.3% from USDA’s estimates a year earlier.

July 23, 2026

Audrey Schmitz

Twenty-two states including Texas, Kansas and Wisconsin boosted milk production a combined 444 million pounds in June.

Dairywoman and artist Caitlin Leline Hatch finds creativity in agriculture

First-generation dairy farmer and artist Caitlin Leline Hatch draws inspiration from farm life, creating artwork that celebrates agriculture and rural culture while balancing family, farming and a nationally recognized creative career.

July 19, 2026

Audrey Schmitz

For Caitlin Leline Hatch, agriculture and art are not separate pursuits but are deeply intertwined. Hatch helps manage a unique seasonal grazing dairy while also building a successful career as an artist whose work celebrates rural life, agriculture and Western culture.

USDA milk production forecasts edge slightly higher

The USDA’s World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report offers forecasts for dairy, beef and feedstuffs.

July 10, 2026

Audrey Schmitz

USDA’s July WASDE raised 2026 milk production slightly to 236.6 billion pounds on expectations of a larger cow herd and a decrease in milk output per cow.

Generations of dairy along the Mason-Dixon Line

Mason Dixon Farms in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, traces nine generations of dairy farming from colonial roots along the Mason-Dixon Line.

July 1, 2026

Audrey Schmitz

Mason Dixon Farms stands today as both a working dairy and a living record of American agricultural history, with its roots stretching back to the earliest years of the nation. Located on both sides of the Pennsylvania-Maryland line, the farm encompasses roughly 2,900 acres and milks 1,700 Holstein cows in a double-24 parallel parlor.

Dairy cow culling slows as herd expansion continues

June 26, 2026

Audrey Schmitz

Based on the latest USDA monthly Livestock Slaughter data, the number of dairy cull cows marketed through U.S. slaughter plants in May 2026 was estimated at 191,700.

U.S. dairy herd growth drives higher milk production in May

May U.S. milk production increased from April and was also up about 2.3% from USDA’s estimates a year earlier.

June 22, 2026

Audrey Schmitz

Nineteen states including Kansas, Wisconsin and Texas boosted milk production a combined 494 million pounds in May.

USDA feed supply, price forecasts remain stagnant

The USDA’s World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report offers forecasts for dairy, beef and feedstuffs.

June 11, 2026

Audrey Schmitz

USDA’s June WASDE raised 2026 milk production to 236.4 billion pounds on expectations of a larger cow herd and an increase in milk output per cow.

April report on dairy cows culled for beef

May 26, 2026

Audrey Schmitz

Based on latest USDA monthly Livestock Slaughter data, the number of dairy cull cows marketed through U.S. slaughter plants in April 2026 was estimated at 215,100.

June Dairy Month butter carving contest churns up fun

Washburn County Fairground’s butter carving contest challenges youth and adults to create butter sculptures, combining fun, dairy promotion and lively competition.

May 25, 2026

Audrey Schmitz

A block of butter, plastic cutlery and just 10 minutes on the clock may not sound like the recipe for a crowd-pleaser, but at the Washburn County Fairgrounds in Spooner, Wisconsin, it proved to be the perfect dairy activity for June Dairy Month.

Milk production, cow numbers continue to increase in April USDA estimates

April U.S. milk production increased from March and was also up about 2.7% from USDA’s estimates a year earlier.

May 22, 2026

Audrey Schmitz

Nineteen states including Kansas, California and Wisconsin boosted milk production a combined 574 million pounds in April.

Progressive Dairy

Progressive Dairy Canada

PD Canada en Francais

Progressive Cattle

Progressive Cattle Canada

Progressive Forage

Agproud Idaho

Home

Audrey Schmitz

ARTICLES

Dairy herd growth pushes June milk production higher

Dairywoman and artist Caitlin Leline Hatch finds creativity in agriculture

USDA milk production forecasts edge slightly higher

Generations of dairy along the Mason-Dixon Line

Dairy cow culling slows as herd expansion continues

U.S. dairy herd growth drives higher milk production in May

USDA feed supply, price forecasts remain stagnant

April report on dairy cows culled for beef

June Dairy Month butter carving contest churns up fun

Milk production, cow numbers continue to increase in April USDA estimates

Beyond the trim chute: Why keeping cows cruising takes a whole crew

Posterized

Economic Update: August Class I base milk price falls more than $2

FREE NEWSLETTERS

SUBSCRIBE to Leading Industry Magazines

I'm looking for ________