May 25, 2025

May 25, 2025 Progressive Dairy digital magazine

May 25, 2025

The latest issue of Progressive Dairy magazine is available. To view, make sure you're logged into your agproud.com account. If you do not have access, click "Subscribe" in the top-right corner of agproud.com to add permission to view.

3 Open Minutes with Shawna Nelson

May 8, 2025

Kimmi Devaney

Organic Valley recently named Shawna Nelson as its new CEO. Progressive Dairy Editor Kimmi Devaney interviewed Nelson to learn about her background, vision for the cooperative and current state of the organic dairy sector.

Progressive Events: Labor, precision management and butter highlighted at the 2025 Western Dairy Management Conference

May 15, 2025

Kimmi Devaney

Dairy producers and industry professionals traveling to the Western Dairy Management Conference were greeted with a familiar sight – a snowy arrival into Reno, Nevada. Despite the weather’s early April Fools' joke, the networking opportunities and variety of presentation topics provided something for each of the more than 1,100 registered attendees to enjoy.

Assurance Watch: FARM Biosecurity remains a leader against H5N1

May 12, 2025

Miquela Hanselman

When the first confirmed case of the H5N1 virus was diagnosed in a Texas herd in March 2024, the industry came together to counteract the spreading virus. The FARM Program's biosecurity program area quickly became a leader in the effort, using the latest science and best on-farm practices to help mitigate the bird flu’s spread.

What dairy farming is to me

May 25, 2025

Julianne McCormick

What do you think of when you hear the terms "dairy farm" or "dairy farmer"? For most, I think the images that first come to mind are black and white cows, milk, red barns, long days and/or physical work. All of these are very true, but there is so much more to dairy farming than just those keywords. Those five things being cows, family, determination/perseverance, faith and hard work.

FMMO modernization: What changes will go into effect in June 2025?

There are multiple changes to the pricing formulas, including changes to make allowances, Class I differentials, milk composition factors, the Class I mover, removing barrel cheese prices from the Class III pricing formulas and provisions for extended shelf life milk.

May 15, 2025

Chuck Nicholson

In November 2024, the USDA released their final decision detailing changes to milk pricing under Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMO), most of which goes into effect in June 2025. There are multiple changes to the pricing formulas, including changes to make allowances, Class I differentials, milk composition factors, the Class I mover, removing barrel cheese prices from the Class III pricing formulas and provisions for extended shelf-life milk.

How CO2 chiller systems are changing the future of dairy refrigeration

Carbon dioxide milk chilling systems have proven benefits in efficiency, cost savings and sustainability.

May 20, 2025

Jim VanderGiessen

Dairies have long been navigating complex challenges that make it difficult to lean into forward-looking innovations. But certain cutting-edge solutions have the ability to address numerous priority areas all at once and simultaneously yield a substantial return on investment. Chief among these are milk chilling systems that replace synthetic chemical-based refrigerants with naturally occurring, readily available carbon dioxide (CO₂) or R744, its refrigerant-grade version.

Unlocking dairy genetic potential: The role of selection indexes in enhancing productivity and profitability

Understanding the principles of genetic selection and the value of selection indexes is key to making informed breeding decisions that yield long-term benefits.

May 20, 2025

Victor Pedrosa

In the ever-evolving dairy industry, genetic selection plays a crucial role in shaping the future of herd productivity, efficiency and profitability. Understanding the principles of genetic selection and the value of selection indexes is key to making informed breeding decisions that yield long-term benefits.

Don't overcomplicate milk quality: It's not rocket science

The recipe for great milk quality includes attentive employees, a healthy environment and the proper tools.

February 12, 2025

Shaun Hardtke

A farm decides on its own what its milk quality is. Wait, what? That’s right – the choices made daily determine milk quality. High-quality milk doesn’t happen by accident; it’s the result of intentional decisions in three key areas: 1) the people on the farm, 2) the environment the cows live in and 3) the tools provided to both the employees and the cows to ensure success. Let’s break it down.

Affordable automation: Preowned automated milking systems offer cost-effective entry

Preowned equipment provides an affordable way to access the benefits of automated milking. With lower capital investment, producers can maximize efficiency, reduce waste and enhance cost and yield predictability. But it’s important to know different categories and options available in the preowned market.

April 28, 2025

Ben Guelker

Whether dairy producers are making the switch to automation for the first time or adding to existing equipment, preowned systems offer access to the benefits of automation at significant savings from new pricing.

Evaluating KPIs for automated milking systems

Use key performance indicators to fully track and improve outcomes in automated milking systems.

March 31, 2025

Nicky Tsai

Dairy farming, like any other industry, operates with clear goals and strategic plans. In automated dairy systems, a vast array of data is collected from a variety of performance indicators.

Why concentrated milk has longer shelf life than regular milk

Concentrated milk has a longer shelf life than regular milk because water is removed and sugar is often added. It retains nutrients and is widely used in cooking and packaged foods.

May 21, 2025

Ankita Padiyar

Over the years, there have been significant changes in the way milk is stored, preserved and consumed. Since its development in the 19th century, the method of preserving milk by evaporating and storing it in sealed containers has grown into a large-scale industry. In this article we delve into the realm of concentrated milk, covering everything you need to know about the milk type, from basics to types and benefits.

Michigan dairy farm gives back through school nutrition program

De Saegher Dairies’ Fuel Up Little Learners program meets the nutritional needs of children during non-school hours, specifically over the weekends or longer breaks.

May 13, 2025

Audrey Schmitz

Motivated by their journey as Belgium immigrants turned American citizens, De Saegher Dairies launched Project FULL – Fuel Up Little Learners, a weekend nutrition program feeding hundreds of local schoolchildren. What began as a desire to give back has evolved into a movement aimed at ending childhood hunger – one backpack at a time.

Kids offer ice cream flavor ideas in June Dairy Month contest

The “Create-A-Cone” contest by Stockyards Ag Experience and Stensland Family Farms celebrates June Dairy Month through a sweet, hands-on experience.

May 23, 2025

Audrey Schmitz

June Dairy Month is all about honoring the hardworking hands behind our favorite dairy products, and in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, one local nonprofit is scooping up a creative way to celebrate.

How to support cows through the marathon of heat stress

A checklist of tasks involved in preparing cooling equipment, feeding strategies and more for the warmer months to keep your cows comfortable all summer long.

April 29, 2025

Matt Dodd

Even with all the available information, the challenges around heat stress still exist, and each summer we see cows struggling to maintain production and reproductive health through high temperatures and humidity across the U.S. While we know a lot about heat stress, there are still areas of learning to lean into and help support herds throughout the summer heat and humidity.

The data TMR: From silos to mixed rations

Dairies and consults should consider how technology can be integrated with existing datasets to leverage the information to its full extent. The goal should be finding a way to turn individual data silos into a data TMR.

April 3, 2025

Katie Raver

Just as feed handling and management has evolved greatly over the last 50 years, the same will be true about data management as we move into the future. Identifying all of the data silos on farms and working to integrate them into a singular dataset will empower dairies to make more informed decisions that yield more substantial results quicker.

Considerations in feeding roasted high-oleic soybeans in automated milking systems

Feeding high-oleic soybeans at varying levels in the robot from fresh cows through peak production can aid in improving energy balance, body condition and persistency through peak lactation.

April 14, 2025

Laura Zagorski

As roasted high-oleic soybeans gain more attention and adoption in the industry, consider how they may find a place on your farm. With an automated milking system, the producer has a unique opportunity to embrace the technology in their system.

Detection, prevention and treatment of lameness

Spring weather conditions heighten the risk of lameness in dairy cows. Use traditional best management practices and new tools to detect and respond early.

May 8, 2025

Alvaro Garcia

Spring often brings heavy rains and melting snow, especially in regions of the Northern Hemisphere, creating humid conditions that can significantly increase the risk of lameness in dairy cows. Maintaining hoof health through regular trimming and the use of footbaths is essential. Noninvasive tools like 3D camera systems have also transformed how producers detect and respond early to these health issues.

Faber's Food for Thought: Grilled cheese and digested TMR

May 25, 2025

Dwayne Faber

It’s a big month for us in the dairy world. Happy June Dairy Month to those who celebrate. It seems appropriate to celebrate the work of all those who care for cows 365 days a year and turn grasses and corn into delicious cheese and ice cream.

Is milk the one food you could live on?

May 22, 2025

Rebecca Shaw Pfeffer

Every family has their own quirky ways to pass the time. In my circle, one of our favorites is a simple game that usually results in a heated debate: If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? The answers usually vary – pizza, steak (specifically, a perfectly cooked medium rare filet mignon), crispy fries or even dill pickles – but my dad had a more serious and considerate response that made me pause: milk.

Life on the Family Farm: An amazing story

May 25, 2025

Tom Heck

It’s been my privilege over the years to write many stories about life on our farm here. I’ve been blessed over the years to get a fair bit of feedback on my stories and my book.

The Milk House: Cowboys of the sky

May 25, 2025

Ryan Dennis

As in many places, the size of ranches in Australia – or stations, as they’re called Down Under – have increased. One change that has allowed stations to grow that big is the use of the helicopter to herd, or “muster,” the cattle. When cattle need to be brought back to the station, a team of trained helicopter musterers are deployed in the air.

Just Dropping By: Turning hearts

May 25, 2025

Yevet Crandell Tenney

The dynamic of the family is constantly changing. In my youth, it was common for the mother to stay at home, and the father would have a job to provide for the family.

Pregnant cows and me

May 25, 2025

Matti McBride

I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve thought having four legs might be an advantage over two. My husband and I are expecting our first child in August, and I can’t help but feel a little jealous of the dairy cows I know and love.

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