June 12, 2026

June 12, 2026 Progressive Dairy digital magazine

June 12, 2026

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.

Progressive Publishing welcomes Patryce LeFevre as a summer editorial intern for Progressive Dairy

May 19, 2026

Patryce (Eldredge) LeFevre is no stranger to the dairy industry. She grew up on a dairy farm in southeastern Idaho on the Idaho-Utah border, and is Progressive Dairy's editorial intern this summer.

Foundation Watch: Leave a legacy behind

May 26, 2026

There’s a certain sound that lives in the countryside. It’s not a song you hear on the radio, but one that settles into your bones over a lifetime. The value and assets dairy producers build over a lifetime can’t be taken with them, but they can be directed with a purpose.

Replacement dairy cow prices hit new record high

Quarterly average prices in April increased to $3,130 per head according to estimates from the USDA.

May 4, 2026

Audrey Schmitz

Prices for U.S. replacement dairy cows continued climbing into the first half of 2026, reaching a new record high in April, according to the latest quarterly estimates from the USDA.

6 practical steps to create a safety culture on your farm

Aside from getting buy-in from employees, it’s important to have a written safety policy, communicate regularly and track progress.

May 11, 2026

Hernando Duarte

Creating a culture of safety is vital in addressing these challenges and must be the foundation of any farm safety program. It encourages proactive hazard identification and management, reduces injuries and near misses, and ensures that everyone returns home safely at the end of the day.

AED initiative aims to provide training that could save lives

Dairies can strengthen their emergency preparedness by adding an AED, training employees in CPR and creating clear safety plans before a crisis occurs.

June 1, 2026

Bryce Chambers

In rural communities, emergency response times can be longer. Having an AED on-site can bridge that gap and give someone a fighting chance before help arrives. It’s an investment not just in your operation, but in your people, your family and your community.

Making time for the conversations that matter to improve farm safety

Regular conversations about farm safety that reflect real-time work in that season can keep it relevant and top of mind for employees.

June 3, 2026

Maddy Vanderkooy

One of the strongest returns on investment for any farm is proactive, effective communication about safety, which is a practice that protects valuable employees while sustaining performance.

Data-driven work done right

Data should help dairy owners and managers determine what should be done right now, what needs to happen next and what can be done differently.

June 3, 2026

Clay Reese

Most dairies collect a lot of information. But ask yourself this: Is that information helping you answer the questions that matter? If not, you are not really using your data. You’re just storing it. And there’s a big difference between the two.

The overtime deduction and agriculture: Clearing up the confusion

The federal overtime deduction does not create tax savings related to agricultural overtime. Instead, it introduces additional tracking requirements to separate regular wages from overtime premiums for reporting purposes.

June 9, 2026

Brandie O’Dell

News of a new federal overtime tax deduction has created confusion across the agricultural sector. While the deduction has been promoted as a form of relief related to overtime pay, it does not provide a meaningful benefit to employers – and it does not apply to agricultural employees at all under current federal law.

Maximizing heifer reproduction in a changing dairy landscape

Today, replacement heifers are worth more than in past years – both economically and genetically. Creating pregnancies in these animals at the right time is crucial to productivity for your herd.

May 8, 2026

Mark Doornink and Douglas Duhatschek

There is a need for a more intentional and strategic approach to heifer management, particularly in reproduction. With fewer animals in the pipeline, mistakes such as delayed breeding or missed opportunities can have a greater impact on herd performance and profitability.

The mystery of the night shift: Why protocol drift happens after dark

Creating an engaging environment, open communication and clear expectations are the foundation of creating a successful night shift in the parlor.

February 9, 2026

Shaun Hardtke

Whether it’s a five-man double-50, a small flat barn or a rotary, night shifts consistently show the highest deviation from standard operating procedures (SOPs). But the real question is, why? And more importantly, what can we do about it?

Using the tools available to manage mastitis in automated milking systems

We can categorize automated milking system data into tools for detecting new infections in individual cows and tools for monitoring the herd level of existing infection. The tools will be more valuable if we use them correctly.

June 8, 2026

John Gerbitz

Brickstead Dairy at forefront of industry progress

The long-term vision of an eastern Wisconsin dairy focuses on caring for the land and community.

June 12, 2026

Jenn Coyne

Taking care of the cows, land and people. That statement and its variations are ones heard often across the dairy industry as producers work to establish sustainability practices that meet the needs of their farms and the ever-growing demand from consumers.

Free cow traffic in automated milking systems

Promote calm milking robot entries and support natural behaviors with free cow traffic.

April 30, 2026

Paul Peetz

The introduction of automated milking systems nearly 30 years ago raised a key question: When should cows be milked?

Turning lameness data into measurable ROI

Artificial intelligence mobility scoring is no longer just identifying lame cows. Lameness insights help refine trim decisions, standardize employee training and improve reproduction and production.

April 14, 2026

Terry Canning

For decades, hoof health programs relied on routine schedules and human observation. Cows were trimmed at set points in lactation or flagged by employees who noticed visible signs of lameness.

From stress to success: Everyday ways to improve herd health and profitability

The most profitable herds focus on tracking data closely and focusing on creating a consistent, clean and comfortable environment for the cow which introduces the least amount of stress.

April 10, 2026

Megan Abeyta

Recent research from multiple labs suggests some of the most expensive stressors cows experience are the ones we don’t see.

Today’s measurements build tomorrow’s cows: Why one dairyman invests in data

Data collection is integral to genetic improvements for Greg Andersen’s dairies.

May 12, 2026

Katie Schmitt

Idaho dairyman Greg Andersen elevates herd efficiency with better production, fertility and fitness. For him, the most successful way to do this is through genetic selection, backed by quality data.

From the experts: A genetic planning guide for dairy producers

To create a successful genetic plan for your herd, establish a baseline, create a strategy and stick to it.

May 14, 2026

Matti McBride

Progressive Dairy interviewed genetic experts from across the industry with one goal in mind: to arm you with the knowledge and questions needed to make an effective genetic plan.

Why early lameness detection matters for reproductive performance

Lameness impacts reproduction earlier and more significantly than you might think, making early detection and timely intervention vital to herd performance.

June 1, 2026

Arnold Harbers

Mildly lame cows, or those just starting to decline, often go unnoticed. This hidden group is where the real losses begin to accumulate, especially when it comes to reproduction.

Feed variability outlook: Maximizing nutritional consistency

Frequent sampling and averaging improve accuracy, enabling better ration adjustments, reduced risk and increased profitability despite inevitable nutrient fluctuations.

May 19, 2026

Katie Raver

Feed costs are the largest contributor to total costs on a farm, so identifying opportunities to optimize feed ingredients without sacrificing nutrition to the cow should garner appropriate attention. However, very few resources are available to help us check and predict feed variability.

Betaine affects dairy herd health and performance during heat stress

Betaine is a natural ingredient capable of dramatically affecting animal health and performance, specifically under an increasing temperature and humidity index and heat stress-inducing conditions.

June 4, 2026

Gary J. Mitchell

Betaine is a natural ingredient capable of dramatically affecting animal health and performance, specifically under increasing THI and heat stress-inducing conditions.

6 steps to maximize dry-off comfort and productivity

A well-managed dry-off period pays dividends in higher milk yield, healthier cows and fewer fresh cow problems.

March 24, 2026

Jenna Williamson

A well-managed dry-off period pays dividends in higher milk yield, healthier cows and fewer fresh cow problems. By prioritizing comfort, health and body condition, producers can turn this resting phase into one of the most productive investments in the herd’s future performance.

Smarter cooling starts at the bunk: How precision sprinklers are reshaping heat stress management in dairy barns

Precision cooling strategies triggered by cow presence help dairy producers manage heat stress, conserve water, maintain cleaner barns, protect infrastructure and safeguard animal health across all life stages.

March 24, 2026

Ruth Robertshaw

As heat events become more frequent and more intense, dairy producers are reevaluating when – and how – they cool their cows.

Future-proofing the herd: Rethinking calf care

Building resilient, high-producing cows starts in the first 60 days of life. To do this, calves need a program that focuses on early rumen development, strategic nutrition and gut health management.

June 11, 2026

Tricia Wood

Faced with higher milk replacer costs, it can be tempting to trim milk replacer rates or step calves down sooner. But the first 60 days of life are not the place to cut corners.

The Courage to Evolve: Mothers

June 12, 2026

Hank Wagner

I realize that as you are reading this, Mother’s Day has already passed. Yet, the mothers in our lives deserve far more than just one day of recognition each year.

The Milk House: Confessions of an addict

June 12, 2026

Ryan Dennis

My wife sometimes asks why I keep ordering wings where we live, even if I know they won’t be good. In the end, I believe it’s a way to explain to myself where I come from and how that place has shaped me.

Just Dropping By: Dads in shining armor

June 12, 2026

Yevet Crandell Tenney

In my lifetime, I have seen dads come and go. Some who would be classed as knights in shining armor and those who would not.

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