The beginning of a new year is often a time to refresh goals and evaluate the vision for one’s life. Similarly, multiple people interviewed for this year’s State of Dairy coverage said late 2025 and early 2026 will be remembered as a reset. 

After a markup session lasting more than 20 hours, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee advanced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 out of committee with a 34-17 vote. 

Discover the latest technology and agricultural products while networking with other agriculturalists at World Ag Expo, which will be held Feb. 10-12, 2026, at the International Agri-Center in Tulare, California. Numerous seminars, demonstrations, farm tours and opportunities to visit with exhibitors and other attendees are available during the show.

On my first day working for Progressive Dairy nearly four years ago, our office manager handed me a keyring with a key to the building and a charm engraved with the word “DREAM.” That charm is still on my keyring and takes on even more meaning every single day: While I’m living my dream, I get to tell stories about others who are also living theirs.

During a Dairyland Initiative podcast episode, Courtney Halbach and Dr. Nigel Cook discussed how to manage sand bedding in freestalls. Progressive Dairy visited with Cook to follow up on a few of the topics covered and discuss the most important points he would like dairy producers to know when bedding freestalls with sand.

There is finally light at the end of the tunnel after weeks of disruptions caused by the record-setting 43-day government shutdown and ongoing disputes in Congress over a continuing resolution package. On Nov. 12, lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives voted 222 to 209 to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government through Jan. 30, 2026, and it was signed into law by President Donald J. Trump that evening.